Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα;

A word-by-word breakdown is:

• Μπορώ = I can
• να = a particle used before many verb forms, often introducing something like to ... in English
• μείνω = stay / remain in this structure
• λίγη = a little
• ώρα = time / hour
• ακόμα = still / more / longer / yet, depending on context

So the whole sentence means something like:

• Can I stay a little longer?
• May I stay a little while longer?

In natural English, Can I stay a little longer? is the best match.

Because after μπορώ να, Greek normally uses the subjunctive-type form of the verb, not the plain present form.

• μένω = I stay / I am staying
• να μείνω = to stay / that I stay / may I stay, depending on context

So:

• Μένω εδώ. = I stay / I’m staying here.
• Μπορώ να μείνω εδώ; = Can I stay here?

This is a very common pattern in Greek:

• Θέλω να φύγω = I want to leave
• Πρέπει να πάω = I must go
• Μπορώ να δω; = Can I see?

Να is a very important Greek particle. It often introduces the verb form used after verbs like:

• μπορώ = I can
• θέλω = I want
• πρέπει = I must
• μ’ αρέσει = I like

So in Μπορώ να μείνω;, να is part of the standard structure meaning can + verb.

English often uses to or an infinitive, but Modern Greek does not have the same infinitive system as English. Instead, Greek commonly uses να + verb form.

Because λίγη has to agree with ώρα.

• ώρα is a feminine singular noun
• so the adjective/quantifier must also be feminine singular

That is why we get:

• λίγη ώρα = a little time / a little while

Compare:

• λίγος χρόνος = a little time / a small amount of time (masculine)
• λίγη ώρα = a little while (feminine)
• λίγο νερό = a little water (neuter)

So λίγο ώρα is not correct because λίγο is neuter, while ώρα is feminine.

In Greek, ώρα can mean:

• hour
• time
• a while

In the expression λίγη ώρα, it means a little while or a short time, not necessarily a full hour.

So:

• Περίμενε λίγη ώρα. = Wait a little while.
• Θα μείνω λίγη ώρα. = I’ll stay a little while.

This is very natural Greek.

Here ακόμα means still more / longer / a bit more.

In this sentence, it gives the idea of extending the time:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα; = Can I stay a little while?
• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα; = Can I stay a little while longer?

So ακόμα is what adds the meaning of longer.

Yes. Ακόμα and ακόμη are variants of the same word.

Both can mean things like:

• still
• yet
• even
• more

In everyday speech, ακόμα is very common and sounds natural.
Ακόμη may sound a bit more formal or careful in some contexts, but both are correct.

So you could also say:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμη;

with the same meaning.

Yes, absolutely. Μπορώ να μείνω λίγο ακόμα; is very natural and common.

Compare:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγο ακόμα; = Can I stay a little longer?
• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα; = Can I stay a little while longer?

The version with ώρα makes the idea of time more explicit. The version without it is slightly shorter and often more conversational.

Yes, it is polite and natural in many situations.

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα; is a normal, polite way to ask
• it sounds like Can I stay a little longer?

If you want to sound a bit more formal or extra polite, you could say:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα, παρακαλώ;
• Θα μπορούσα να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα; = Could I stay a little longer?

The version with Θα μπορούσα... is softer and more formal.

In Greek, the question mark is written as ;

So:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα;

ends with a Greek question mark, even though to an English speaker it looks like a semicolon.

This is completely normal in Greek punctuation.

A rough pronunciation is:

bo-RO na MEE-no LEE-ghee O-ra a-KO-ma?

A few notes:

• Μπορώ stresses the last syllable: μπο-ΡΩ
• μείνω stresses the first syllable: ΜΕΙ-νω
• λίγη stresses the first syllable: ΛΙ-γη
• ακόμα stresses the second syllable: α-ΚΟ-μα

Also:

• γ in λίγη is the soft Greek sound before i, not a hard English g
• ει in μείνω sounds like ee

The given word order is the most natural and neutral one:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα;

But Greek word order can be somewhat flexible. For example, you may also hear:

• Μπορώ να μείνω ακόμα λίγη ώρα;

This means the same thing. The difference is mostly one of emphasis or rhythm, not basic meaning.

For a learner, the original version is an excellent one to use.

In this kind of sentence, Μπορώ να...; can cover both ideas:

• Can I ...?
• May I ...?

Greek does not always separate ability and permission the same way formal English sometimes does.

So:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα;

can be understood as either:

• Can I stay a little longer?
• May I stay a little longer?

In real life, it is a normal way to ask permission.

Yes. It is completely natural Greek.

A native speaker might say:

• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγη ώρα ακόμα;
• Μπορώ να μείνω λίγο ακόμα;

Both are common and idiomatic. The second one is a bit shorter and perhaps even more frequent in casual conversation, but the sentence you were given is perfectly good everyday Greek.