PolyLingo
🇬🇷 Greek
ΕλληνικάGreek

Word order: what’s normal (and how to sound natural)

Understand the default word order and a simple strategy to avoid ‘translation‑English’.

The key idea

Modern Greek is often SVO, but word order can be flexible.

  • Memorize patterns (whole sentences), not just single words.
  • When you change the meaning, keep the grammar skeleton the same.
  • If word order is flexible, use ‘neutral’ order first — emphasis comes later.
Είμαι εδώ.
Eímai edó
I am here.
Θέλω νερό.
Thélo neró
I want water.
Δεν καταλαβαίνω.
Den katalavaíno
I don't understand.
Μιλάτε αγγλικά;
Miláte angliká
Do you speak English? (formal)
Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;
Poú eínai i toualéta
Where is the toilet?
Αυτός είναι ο φίλος μου.
Aftós eínai o fílos mou
This is my friend.

Tiny practice routine

Pick one sentence and create 5 variations. Example: ‘I want water’ → water/coffee/tea/ticket/help.

  • Speak each variation out loud.
  • Record yourself and compare rhythm.

Mini‑quiz

Mini-quiz
1/9 • Score: 0
Typical word order for this language is closest to…