Μπορώ να κάνω μια ερώτηση σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα;

Greek often uses the expression κάνω μια ερώτηση literally I make/do a question, which corresponds to English I ask a question.

So:

• μπορώ = I can
• να κάνω = to do / to make
• μια ερώτηση = a question

Together, Μπορώ να κάνω μια ερώτηση; is a very natural way to say Can I ask a question?

Greek also has the verb ρωτώ / ρωτάω meaning to ask, so you may also hear:

• Μπορώ να ρωτήσω κάτι; = Can I ask something?
• Μπορώ να ρωτήσω για το πρόγραμμα; = Can I ask about the schedule/program?

But κάνω μια ερώτηση is extremely common and idiomatic.

Να is a very important Greek particle. In this sentence, it introduces the verb κάνω and is part of the structure used after verbs like μπορώ.

So:

• μπορώ = I can
• μπορώ να κάνω = I can do / I can ask

You can think of να here as something like the marker that introduces the following verb, often corresponding loosely to English to or part of the infinitive-like meaning. Modern Greek does not use an infinitive the way English does, so instead of I can ask, Greek says something structurally closer to I can that-I-ask.

You will see this pattern constantly:

• Θέλω να φύγω. = I want to leave.
• Πρέπει να μιλήσω. = I must speak.
• Μπορώ να έρθω; = Can I come?

Because ερώτηση is a feminine singular noun, so the indefinite article must agree with it.

• ένας = a/an for masculine nouns
• μια / μία = a/an for feminine nouns
• ένα = a/an for neuter nouns

Since ερώτηση is feminine, you say:

• μια ερώτηση = a question

Examples of agreement:

• ένας άνθρωπος = a person (masculine)
• μια ιδέα = an idea (feminine)
• ένα βιβλίο = a book (neuter)

Both μια and μία are possible spellings. Μια is very common in everyday writing.

Πρόγραμμα is a neuter noun, so it takes the neuter singular definite article το.

So:

• το πρόγραμμα = the program / the schedule

Greek articles change for gender, number, and case, so you need the form that matches the noun. Since πρόγραμμα is neuter singular, το is the correct article.

A few examples:

• ο δάσκαλος = the teacher (masculine)
• η τάξη = the class (feminine)
• το πρόγραμμα = the schedule/program (neuter)

Σχετικά με means about, regarding, or concerning.

In this sentence:

• σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα = about the program / schedule

It is a very useful expression for introducing a topic. For example:

• Έχω μια ερώτηση σχετικά με την εργασία. = I have a question about the assignment.
• Θα μιλήσουμε σχετικά με το μάθημα. = We will talk about the lesson/class.

A close equivalent is για (about), but σχετικά με often sounds a little more formal or explicit.

Compare:

• Μια ερώτηση για το πρόγραμμα = A question about the schedule
• Μια ερώτηση σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα = A question regarding the schedule

Both are correct, but σχετικά με can sound slightly more formal.

After σχετικά με, Greek uses the accusative case.

In this sentence, the accusative form of το πρόγραμμα happens to look the same as the nominative form, because many neuter nouns have identical nominative and accusative singular forms.

So:

• nominative: το πρόγραμμα
• accusative: το πρόγραμμα

They look the same, but grammatically the accusative is being used after σχετικά με.

This is easier to see with a feminine noun:

• η εργασία = the assignment (nominative)
• σχετικά με την εργασία = about the assignment (accusative)

So in your sentence, το πρόγραμμα is in the correct case after σχετικά με.

The given order is the most neutral and natural:

• Μπορώ να κάνω μια ερώτηση σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα;

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order, but not every rearrangement sounds equally natural. You could sometimes move parts around for emphasis, but the basic order here is what a learner should use.

For example, you might hear:

• Μπορώ να κάνω σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα μια ερώτηση;

This is grammatically possible, but it sounds much less natural in ordinary conversation.

So the safest choice is to keep the original order.

In Greek, the symbol ; is used as the question mark.

So:

• Greek ; = English ?

That means:

• Μπορώ να κάνω μια ερώτηση σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα;

is a question, not a statement.

This often confuses English speakers at first. Also note that the Greek semicolon is a different punctuation mark from the English semicolon in function. Greek does have a mark for pauses similar to the English semicolon, but it is usually written as ·.

Yes, it is both polite and natural.

Μπορώ να κάνω μια ερώτηση σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα; is a good way to ask permission before asking something, especially in class, at work, or in a formal conversation.

It sounds like:

• May I ask a question about the schedule?
• Can I ask a question about the program?

If you want to sound even more polite, you could add:

• Παρακαλώ = please
• Συγγνώμη = excuse me / sorry

For example:

• Συγγνώμη, μπορώ να κάνω μια ερώτηση σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα;

That sounds very polite and natural.

You know from the context.

The Greek word πρόγραμμα can mean different but related things, including:

• program
• schedule
• timetable
• plan

In a school or work context, το πρόγραμμα often means:

• the schedule
• the timetable

In a TV or event context, it might mean:

• the program

So the exact English translation depends on the situation. The Greek sentence itself is perfectly natural either way.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

Bo-RO na KA-no mia e-RO-ti-si sche-ti-KA me to PRO-grama?

A few helpful notes:

• Μπορώ has the stress on the last syllable: -ρώ
• κάνω has the stress on κά
• ερώτηση has the stress on ρώ
• σχετικά has the stress on κά
• πρόγραμμα has the stress on πρό

The combination σχ in σχετικά can be a little tricky for English speakers. Depending on the following vowel and the speaker, it may sound somewhat like a soft skh or sh-like sound, but for a beginner, approximating it carefully is fine.