Breakdown of Αφού συναντιέσαι αύριο με τη νονά σου, δώσε της το δώρο και χαιρέτα την από εμένα.
Questions & Answers about Αφού συναντιέσαι αύριο με τη νονά σου, δώσε της το δώρο και χαιρέτα την από εμένα.
What does Αφού mean here? Doesn’t it usually mean after?
Here αφού means since / as / given that, not after.
Greek αφού can be used in two common ways:
- time: after
- Αφού έφαγα, έφυγα. = After I ate, I left.
- reason/background: since / given that
- Αφού τον ξέρεις, ρώτα τον. = Since you know him, ask him.
In your sentence, it introduces the reason for the commands:
- Αφού συναντιέσαι αύριο...
= Since you’re meeting tomorrow...
So the idea is: Given that you’re seeing her tomorrow, do these things.
Why is συναντιέσαι in the present tense if the sentence says αύριο?
Because Modern Greek often uses the present tense for a planned or arranged future event, especially when there is a time word like αύριο.
So:
- συναντιέσαι αύριο = you’re meeting tomorrow
- literally it looks present, but functionally it can refer to the near future
This is very similar to English:
- I’m meeting her tomorrow.
Greek does this very naturally with schedules, arrangements, and plans.
Why is it συναντιέσαι and not συναντάς?
This is a very common question, because the two verbs are related but not used in exactly the same way.
- συναντώ κάποιον = meet / encounter someone
- συναντιέμαι με κάποιον = meet up with someone / be meeting with someone
In this sentence, συναντιέσαι με τη νονά σου sounds natural because it suggests an arranged or mutual meeting.
So the difference is roughly:
- Συναντώ τη νονά μου.
= I meet / encounter my godmother. - Συναντιέμαι με τη νονά μου.
= I’m meeting up with my godmother.
Also, συναντιέσαι has a mediopassive-looking form, but here it is not truly passive in English terms. It is just how this verb commonly appears when it means meet up.
Why does the sentence use με τη νονά σου?
Because συναντιέμαι normally goes with με when you say who you are meeting with:
- συναντιέμαι με έναν φίλο
- συναντιέμαι με τη δασκάλα μου
- συναντιέσαι με τη νονά σου
Here:
- με = with
- τη νονά = the godmother in the accusative form after με
- σου = your
So structurally it is:
- συναντιέσαι με τη νονά σου
- you are meeting with your godmother
Why is σου placed after νονά instead of before it?
Because weak possessive pronouns in Greek usually come after the noun:
- η μαμά μου = my mother
- ο φίλος σου = your friend
- τη νονά σου = your godmother
This is the normal Greek pattern.
If you put extra emphasis on possession, Greek can use a stronger structure such as:
- η δική σου νονά
But in an ordinary sentence, τη νονά σου is exactly what you would expect.
Why is it τη νονά here, but later την?
Because the feminine article/object pronoun can appear as τη(ν), and the final -ν is kept or dropped depending on what follows.
In your sentence:
- με τη νονά σου
Here the next word starts with ν, so τη without final -ν is normal. - χαιρέτα την από εμένα
Here the next word is από, which starts with a vowel, so την keeps the -ν.
So this contrast is normal:
- τη νονά
- την αδερφή
- την απόφαση
Learners often notice this because English has no equivalent spelling change.
Why is the command δώσε and not something like δίνε?
Because Greek imperatives express aspect, not just tense.
- δώσε = aorist imperative
- δίνε = present imperative
The difference is usually:
- aorist imperative: one complete action
- present imperative: repeated, ongoing, or habitual action
Here, giving the gift is a single completed act, so δώσε is the natural choice:
- δώσε της το δώρο = give her the gift
If you said δίνε, it would sound more like keep giving or give regularly, which does not fit this situation.
Why are there two different Greek words for her: της and την?
Because Greek distinguishes between indirect object and direct object.
In this sentence:
- δώσε της το δώρο
της = to her
This is the indirect object. - χαιρέτα την
την = her
This is the direct object.
So:
- της = to her
- την = her
English often uses her for both meanings, but Greek does not.
A useful way to see it:
- Δίνω της / της δίνω something = I give to her
- Χαιρετώ την / την χαιρετώ = I greet her
Why do the pronouns come after the verb in δώσε της and χαιρέτα την?
Because with positive imperatives, weak object pronouns normally come after the verb.
So:
- δώσε της
- χαιρέτα την
But with ordinary finite verb forms, the pronouns usually come before the verb:
- της δίνεις το δώρο
- την χαιρετάς
This is an important Greek word-order rule:
- command → pronoun usually after
- normal statement → pronoun usually before
So the sentence is following a standard imperative pattern.
Why is it χαιρέτα την and not χαιρέτησέ την?
Both can be possible, but they are not exactly the same in feel.
- χαιρέτα την = present imperative
- χαιρέτησέ την = aorist imperative
In many everyday situations, χαιρέτα την από εμένα is a very natural, idiomatic way to say say hello to her from me.
If you used χαιρέτησέ την, that would also be understandable and natural, but it sounds a bit more focused on the single completed act of greeting.
So in practice:
- χαιρέτα την από εμένα = very common and conversational
- χαιρέτησέ την από εμένα = also possible, slightly different aspectual feel
What exactly does από εμένα mean here?
Literally, από εμένα means from me.
In this kind of sentence, it is the standard way to pass on a greeting:
- χαιρέτα την από εμένα
= say hello to her from me
This is very idiomatic Greek.
You may also hear:
- από μένα instead of από εμένα
That is just a shorter, very common spoken form.
Similar expressions include:
- Πες της γεια από μένα. = Say hi to her from me.
- Δώσε χαιρετίσματα από μένα. = Give my regards.
Is the whole sentence natural Greek, or does it sound translated from English?
It sounds natural.
A Greek speaker would easily say something like:
- Αφού συναντιέσαι αύριο με τη νονά σου, δώσε της το δώρο και χαιρέτα την από εμένα.
It has several very natural features of everyday Greek:
- αφού used as since / given that
- present tense for a planned future event: συναντιέσαι αύριο
- weak pronouns in the normal imperative position: δώσε της, χαιρέτα την
- the idiomatic phrase από εμένα / από μένα
So this is a good sentence to learn from, because it reflects real usage rather than textbook-only Greek.
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