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stelingo Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5824 days ago 722 posts - 1076 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian Studies: Russian, Czech, Polish, Greek, Mandarin
| Message 33 of 84 13 January 2013 at 5:13pm | IP Logged |
Today I did lesson 3 from Άκου να δεις 1. This book is from a series of three which is designed to improve listening skills. There are 12 lessons, each containing a dialogue, and various listening comprehension exercises, such as true or false, fill in the missing words, multi-choice. the transcripts are also included. I would estimate book 1 is about A2 level. Although not authentic material, the speakers do speak fast, but with clear diction. They like to include lots of bachground noise, to make it more 'realistic'. Lesson 2 is a dialogue at a party and a Eurythmics song practically drowns out the dialogue. Good job I like the Eurythmics.
There are still certain Greek words which trip me up. because they don't mean what I expect them to. In lesson 3 as well as ναι (nai=yes, rather than no) there was φίλος (filos = friend, although it always reminds me of Romance figlio/filho son), and εκεί (ekei = there, but reminds me of Spanish aquí here)
Some questions I have from the dialogue. How would you translate the highlighted words into English?
Δεν παίρνουμε καμία πίτσα; Γιατί όχι;
Αν και, εδώ που τα λέμε, εγώ προτιμώ μια μακαρονάδα.
Έγινε.
Do παραγγέλνω and παραγγέλλω both mean the same thing?
Finally, what does Άκου να δεις actually mean? Listen here, perhaps?
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| renaissancemedi Bilingual Triglot Senior Member Greece Joined 4350 days ago 941 posts - 1309 votes Speaks: Greek*, Ancient Greek*, EnglishC2 Studies: French, Russian, Turkish, Modern Hebrew
| Message 34 of 84 13 January 2013 at 5:26pm | IP Logged |
Αν και, εδώ που τα λέμε, εγώ προτιμώ μια μακαρονάδα.
Έγινε.
(My own version of it).
Even though, speaking about it, I'd rather have spaghetti.
Done.
Do παραγγέλνω and παραγγέλλω both mean the same thing? Yes. The first is more colloquial, but they are both correct and they are considered alternate forms of the same thing.
Finally, what does Άκου να δεις actually mean? Listen here, perhaps? Precisely. It is colloquial and familiar, and it is ok if you talk to friends or family etc, and you are having a nice conversation. Avoid it in an argument, it sounds horribly rude, particularly if accompanied with shaking your finger in someone's face. I am not suggesting you would ever do that of course.
Edited by renaissancemedi on 13 January 2013 at 5:34pm
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| stelingo Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5824 days ago 722 posts - 1076 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian Studies: Russian, Czech, Polish, Greek, Mandarin
| Message 35 of 84 13 January 2013 at 5:54pm | IP Logged |
Thanks for your quick reply, Πηνελόπη. However I'm trying to understand the grammar behind the phrase εδώ που τα λέμε. Can you use εδώ που in other contexts?
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| renaissancemedi Bilingual Triglot Senior Member Greece Joined 4350 days ago 941 posts - 1309 votes Speaks: Greek*, Ancient Greek*, EnglishC2 Studies: French, Russian, Turkish, Modern Hebrew
| Message 36 of 84 13 January 2013 at 6:11pm | IP Logged |
That is a very standard expression that you use as is. It means something like: just as we are sitting here talking about it, right now, I am having a second thought on this subject that supports or contradicts my previous statements, or I am making a small confession (bad English, I know...)
It is used to make some sort of point, whatever you want. For example, you are explaining to a friend how your car broke down.
You say
εδώ που τα λέμε το περίμενα (you know, I was expecting it)
or he says
εδώ που τα λέμε δεν είναι καλή μάρκα (you know, it's not a good brand)
===============================
You can also say
εδώ που φτάσαμε
εδώ που καταντήσαμε/ εδώ που μας κατάντησαν
εδώ που ήρθαν/ έφτασαν τα πράγματα/πράματα
(all very common as we reflect on the crisis)
(very colloquial, spoken language mainly)
These phrases express dissapointment in the current situation, and are always negative.
Edited by renaissancemedi on 13 January 2013 at 6:19pm
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| renaissancemedi Bilingual Triglot Senior Member Greece Joined 4350 days ago 941 posts - 1309 votes Speaks: Greek*, Ancient Greek*, EnglishC2 Studies: French, Russian, Turkish, Modern Hebrew
| Message 37 of 84 13 January 2013 at 6:37pm | IP Logged |
I just thought that I should explain it like this:
εδώ που τα λέμε
τα λέμε is a standard good buy phrase, like: see you. In greek you say we talk, meaning we will talk again.
Anyway, you are having a conversation, so τα λέτε, you're talking, discussing things.
εδώ που τα λέμε
εδώ που καθόμαστε και τα λέμε
as we are sitting here, talking about things...
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| embici Triglot Senior Member CanadaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4602 days ago 263 posts - 370 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Greek
| Message 38 of 84 13 January 2013 at 8:24pm | IP Logged |
That's a very interesting expression. It sounds like εδώ που τα λέμε means "now that you mention it."
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| renaissancemedi Bilingual Triglot Senior Member Greece Joined 4350 days ago 941 posts - 1309 votes Speaks: Greek*, Ancient Greek*, EnglishC2 Studies: French, Russian, Turkish, Modern Hebrew
| Message 39 of 84 13 January 2013 at 8:30pm | IP Logged |
"By the way" would also be a good alternative explanation, but not in every case.
Edited by renaissancemedi on 13 January 2013 at 8:32pm
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| stelingo Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5824 days ago 722 posts - 1076 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian Studies: Russian, Czech, Polish, Greek, Mandarin
| Message 40 of 84 13 January 2013 at 8:45pm | IP Logged |
I see, thanks for your examples. I guess I will have to try and develop a feeling for this phrase.
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