Learning to express agreement or disagreement in any language is fundamental to engaging in conversations and sharing your opinions. In Greek, there are various expressions you can use to agree or disagree with someone. They are not only simple words or phrases but also reflect the cultural nuances of communication in Greece. Here’s a look at some of the most commonly used expressions for agreeing or disagreeing in Greek.
Συμφωνώ (seem-fo-NO)
This translates to “I agree” in English. It is used when you concur with someone’s opinion or statement.
– Πιστεύω ότι αυτή η ταινία είναι εκπληκτική.
– Συμφωνώ, είναι πραγματικά καλή.
Διαφωνώ (dee-a-fo-NO)
The direct translation of this is “I disagree,” which is apt for instances where you do not share the same viewpoint as the other speaker.
– Νομίζω ότι αυτό το βιβλίο είναι βαρετό.
– Διαφωνώ, έχει πολύ ενδιαφέρον.
Ακριβώς (ak-ree-VOS)
This word means “exactly” and is used when you strongly agree with what has been said, emphasizing the accuracy of the statement.
– Τα εστιατόρια πρέπει να προσφέρουν πιο υγιεινές επιλογές.
– Ακριβώς, οι άνθρωποι χρειάζονται καλύτερες επιλογές.
Όχι και τόσο (o-hee ke TO-so)
Meaning “not really,” this phrase is a polite way to disagree or to say that you only partially agree with something.
– Βρίσκεις την ταινία αστεία;
– Όχι και τόσο, είχε μερικές καλές στιγμές αλλά δεν ήταν τόσο αστεία.
Για να σκεφτώ (ya na skef-TO)
This phrase translates to “let me think,” which can be used when you are not sure if you agree or disagree and need a moment to consider your standpoint.
– Θα ήθελες να πάμε σε εκείνο το μέρος για φαγητό αύριο;
– Για να σκεφτώ, ίσως να προτιμούσα κάπου αλλού.
Πείθομαι (pee-THO-meh)
This means “I am convinced” or “I am persuaded.” It is often used after someone has presented an argument that has changed your viewpoint to one of agreement.
– Μετά από όλα τα επιχειρήματα που άκουσα, πείθομαι ότι έχεις δίκιο.
Καθόλου (ka-THO-lou)
Translated as “not at all,” this is a strong way to disagree with someone.
– Πιστεύεις ότι το πρόβλημα λύθηκε;
– Καθόλου, ακόμα υπάρχουν πολλά θέματα.
Ίσως (EE-sos)
This means “maybe” and can be used when you neither agree nor disagree entirely, indicating that you see merit in both sides of the argument.
– Πιστεύεις ότι θα είναι καλό το νέο έργο;
– Ίσως, αλλά χρειάζεται να δούμε περισσότερα.
Understanding and using these expressions can greatly enhance your conversational skills in Greek, and they can be particularly useful in debates or discussions where sharing your point of view is essential. As with any language, practice is key, so try using these phrases in your next Greek conversation and see how they can help you express agreement or disagreement effectively.