Sample Dialog – How to Ask for the Time in Greek
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Being able to tell the time is an important, basic skill to acquire in any language. In a previous article, we discussed an easy way to do this in Greek. In this article, we will offer a sample dialog that will enable you to visualize how a conversation might go when you need to ask for the time.
Before going any further, it is important to understand that Greek uses military time, which is on a 24-hour clock. They don’t make the distinction between AM and PM as is the case in the United States and in some other countries throughout the world.
Keep in mind that this is a sample dialog only, and that it is just one possibility of many. However, this is a likely scenery that could arise while asking for the time in Greek:
Dialog on How to Ask for the Time in the Greek Language
Greet the Person First
In the Greek language, you wouldn’t simply approach a stranger and ask them for the time out of the blue. The goal is to ask in a polite way. You would start by getting someone’s attention in a polite way.
First, start by greeting the individual by greeting the individual. Here are some options:
- Hello – γεια σας – ya sas
- Hell0 (formal) – χαιρετώ – hereto
- Good morning – Καλημέρα – kalimera
- Good afternoon/evening – καλό απόγευμα – kalo apoyevma
Next, you will politely ask the person for the time by saying the following. Both are great options, but the top choice is more popular:
- What time is it? Τι ώρα είναι – Ti ora eenai
- Do you have the time? Εχεις χρόνο – ehess hrono
The individual will then respond with a time. Please refer to the article mentioned at the beginning of this article for some options on what he or she might say. After you know the time, you can then close the conversation by saying thank you (ευχαριστώ – efharisto)
When it comes to learning Greek, there are some basic skills that you need to know. Asking someone for the time is one of those skills. You might notice that people don’t always follow this dialog exactly, however the basic idea will always exist. You begin by politely greeting there person, asking the time, hearing their response, and then closing out the conversation with your gratitude.
The Learn Greek section on GreekBoston.com was written by Greeks to help people understand the conversational basics of the Greek language. This article is not a substitute for a professional Greek learning program, but a helpful resource for people wanting to learn simple communication in Greek.
Categorized in: Learn How to Speak Basic Greek
This post was written by Greek Boston
