Conversational Koine Phrasebook
This Practical Conversational Koine Phrasebook summaries common words and phrases you may find in a conversational reading group.
It is recommended you complete What is this?, τίς or τίνα? before this lesson.
Below are examples of phrases, questions, and answers you might hear spoken inside a Koine Greek reading group designed to cater for beginners. It is easier to learn these phrases by hearing other people speak these phrases in the context of a real discussion. So it is recommended that you read these phrases, but don’t attempt to memorize them.
Basic Greetings
Basic ideas for opening discussion.
- καλὴ ἡμέρα.
- πῶς ἔχετε σήμερον;
- {τίτε}, πῶς ἔχεις σήμερον; καλός; ἐν μέσος; κάμνω;
- ἔχομεν {τρεῖς} ἀνθρώπους.
- ἔχομεν... ἕνα, δύο, τρεῖς, τέσσαρας, πέντε, ἕξ, ἑπτά ἀνθρώπους.
- ἔχομεν {τρεῖς} ἄνδρα.
- ἔχομεν {δύο} γυναῖκα.
- ἔχομεν {Παῦλον, Ἰακώβ, Τίτον, ...}.
- οὐκ ἔχομεν {Παῦλον, Ἰακώβ, Τίτον, ...}.
- βλέπω {Ἰακώβ, Παῦλον, Τίτον}.
- οὐ βλέπω {Παῦλον, Τίτον, Ἰακώβ}.
Reading time
Ideas for transitioning into the reading time.
- {Παῦλε}, συ ἀναγινώσκεις πρωτων. ναι;
- ἐγὼ ἀναγινώσκω πρῶτον.
- εἶτα {Μαρία} ἀναγινώσκει, ...
- εἶτα {Τίτος} ἀναγινώσκει, ...
Aorist imperative “read!” is ἀνάγνωθι. Present imperative “be reading!” is ἀναγίνωσκε
Raising a question, or encouraging others to ask a question.