{"id":1613,"date":"2014-09-09T17:53:39","date_gmt":"2014-09-09T17:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/greek\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2014-09-09T17:53:39","modified_gmt":"2014-09-09T17:53:39","slug":"how-to-be-polite-in-greek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/greek\/how-to-be-polite-in-greek\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be polite in Greek"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rob<\/a>

Rob Boudon (under a CC license on Flickr)<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the first topics Greek students have to learn is the use of the polite form. It is a relatively \u201cnew\u201d element, as it did not exist in ancient Greek, and has its origins in French. It is formed by the second plural person. E.g.\u00a0 \u00ab\u03a4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5<\/strong> \u0394\u03ae\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5;\u00bb<\/strong> (Tee kanete\u00a0 keerie Demou?) How are you Mr. Demou?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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When do we use it?<\/span><\/strong>
\nNative speakers use formal language when addressing older people or people they don\u2019t know well. Some people also use it when they want to keep a distance with their interlocutor.<\/p>\n

 
\nHow to ask to be addressed by our first name?<\/strong><\/span>
\nSometimes, we are not sure whether we should use the polite form the first time we are introduced to someone. If our interlocutor uses the polite form, we use it too. However, if we want to be on first-name terms with them we can say:
\n\u00ab\u039d\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b9\u03bb\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc;\u00bb<\/strong> (Na milame kaleetera ston eneeko)\u00a0 which means \u201cshall we better talk on a<\/span> first-name basis?\u201d<\/span><\/strong> (\u03a3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc<\/strong> means in singular<\/span><\/strong>)<\/em>.
\nWe can also ask them directly to address us by our first name:
\n– \u03a0\u03bf\u03cd \u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03b7\u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5;<\/strong> (Pou menete keeria Demetriou?)\u00a0 Where do you live Mrs. Demetriou?<\/span><\/strong>
\n– \u039b\u03ad\u03b3\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b5 \u0388\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u2026<\/strong>(Lege me Ellie). Call me Ellie.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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How do we form it?<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe polite form is formed by a verb on the second plural person. Honorifics must be put in the vocative case <\/a>(\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae<\/strong>, kleeteekee). If we address a person that we know well, our teacher or an elderly neighbor for instance, we can address them with an honorific followed by their first name:
\n\u00ab\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1 \u03ba\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5 \u03a0\u03ad\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf!\u00bb<\/strong> (Kaleemera keerie Petro). Good morning Mr. Petro!<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u00ab\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc \u03c3\u03b1\u03b2\u03b2\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03ba\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u0391\u03b8\u03b7\u03bd\u03ac!\u00bb<\/strong> (Kalo savatokeerieeko keeria Atheena). Have a nice weekend Mrs. Athena!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Some extra tips<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n