Meeting people in Ancient Greek.

Ancient Greek: Self-Introduction
Name | Origin | Age | Profession | Grammar Notes

Grammar: Ancient Greek Basics

Dative for "to me": μοι = "to me" (used in name answers)

Verb "εἰμί": Present tense of "to be" — no subject pronoun needed

Questions: τίς, τί = who/what; ποδαπός = from where

Prepositions: ἐκ / ἀπό + genitive = "from"

Word Order: Flexible — emphasis on first word

Ὄνομα σοι τί ἐστιν; (Ónoma soi tí estin?)

What is your name?

Lit: "Name to-you what is?"

Ὄνομά μοι ἐστίν Ἰωάννης. (Ónoma moi estin Iōánnēs)

My name is John.

Replace Ἰωάννης with your name

Ὄνομά μοι Μαρία. (Ónoma moi María)

My name is Maria.

Ὄνομα μοι... (Ónoma moi...)

My name is...

Shorter form — common in dialogue

Ποδαπὸς εἶ; (Podapós eí?)

Where are you from? (to male)

Ποδαπὴ εἶ; (Podapḗ eí?)

Where are you from? (to female)

Ποδαποί ἐστε; (Podapoí este?)

Where are you from? (plural)

Καὶ ποδαπός; (Kaì podapós?)

And where are you from?

Ἐκ Ἀθηνῶν ἔρχομαι. (Ek Athēnôn érkhomai)

I come from Athens.

Ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος εἰμί. (Ek tês Helládos eimí)

I am from Greece.

Ἐκ Σκυθίας εἰμί. (Ek Skythías eimí)

I am from Scythia.

Πόθεν εἶ; (Póthen eí?)

Where are you from? (alternative)

Ποῦ κατοικεῖς; (Poû katoikeîs?)

Where do you live?

Ἐγγύτατα οἰκῶ. (Engýtata oikô)

I live nearby.

Τηλοῦ οἰκῶ. (Tēloû oikô)

I live far away.

Ἐν ᾿Αθήναις οἰκῶ. (En Athḗnais oikô)

I live in Athens.

Πηλικὸς εἶ; (Pēlikós eí?)

How old are you? (to male)

Πηλικὴ εἶ; (Pēlikḗ eí?)

How old are you? (to female)

Ἔτεα πέντε γεγονώς. (Étea pénte gegonṑs)

I am five years old. (male)

Ἔτεα πέντε γεγονυῖα. (Étea pénte gegonuîa)

I am five years old. (female)

Ἔτεα τριάκοντα γεγονώς. (Étea triákonta gegonṑs)

I am thirty years old. (male)

Τίς ἐστιν ἡ τέχνη σου; (Tís estin hē tékhnē sou?)

What is your profession?

Γιατρός εἰμι. (Giatrós eimi)

I am a doctor.

Στρατιώτης εἰμι. (Stratiṓtēs eimi)

I am a soldier.

Φιλόσοφος εἰμι. (Philósophos eimi)

I am a philosopher.

Πόσον χρόνον ἐν Ἀθήναις εἶ; (Póson chrónon en Athḗnais eî?)

How long have you been in Athens?

Πέντε ἔτη ἐν Ἀθήναις διατρίβω. (Pénte étē en Athḗnais diatríbō)

I have been in Athens for five years.

Ancient Greek Conversation:

— Ὄνομα σοι τί ἐστιν;
— Ὄνομά μοι ἐστίν Ἀλέξανδρος.
— Ποδαπὸς εἶ;
— Ἐκ Μακεδονίας ἔρχομαι.
— Ποῦ κατοικεῖς;
— Ἐν Ἀθήναις οἰκῶ.
— Πηλικὸς εἶ;
— Ἔτεα τριάκοντα γεγονώς.
— Τίς ἐστιν ἡ τέχνη σου;
— Στρατηγός εἰμι.

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