What does “just” mean in Modern Greek?
Question: What does “just” mean in Modern Greek?
Answer: The English adverb “just” corresponds to several distinct Greek adverbs, each capturing a different shade of meaning. The primary equivalent is μόλις (mólis), meaning “just now, barely, as soon as.” When “just” means “only” or “merely,” Greek uses μόνο (móno). For “just” in the sense of “simply,” Greek employs απλώς (aplós). And when “just” means “exactly” or “precisely,” the Greek word is ακριβώς (akrivós). This lesson focuses primarily on μόλις, the most distinctive and frequently used equivalent, while incorporating the other forms to build a complete picture.
This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute Modern Language Course series, which uses a frequency-based vocabulary approach. Each lesson introduces one of the 1000 most common English words and shows how it functions in the target language through interlinear construed texts. For the full course index, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
How μόλις will appear in the 15 examples: You will see μόλις used as a temporal adverb meaning “just now” (indicating something that happened very recently), as a degree adverb meaning “barely/hardly” (echoing its Ancient Greek root), and as a conjunction meaning “as soon as” (one of its most distinctive modern functions). The supporting adverbs μόνο, απλώς, and ακριβώς will also appear to demonstrate the full range of “just” in Greek.
FAQ Schema: Name: What does “just” mean in Modern Greek? Accepted Answer: The English adverb “just” translates primarily as μόλις (mólis) meaning “just now / barely / as soon as,” μόνο (móno) meaning “only / merely,” απλώς (aplós) meaning “simply,” and ακριβώς (akrivós) meaning “exactly / precisely.”
Educational Schema: This is a Modern Greek language learning lesson for autodidact students at the intermediate level, covering adverbs of time, degree, and manner.
Key Takeaways
One English word, four Greek adverbs: μόλις (just now/barely), μόνο (only), απλώς (simply), ακριβώς (exactly). Greek forces speakers to disambiguate what English leaves vague. The word μόλις has an extraordinary dual life as both an adverb and a conjunction, a feature that has no direct parallel in English. Its Ancient Greek ancestor meant “with difficulty” — a semantic echo that survives in modern usage when μόλις means “barely.” Understanding when to reach for each Greek equivalent is one of the subtle skills that separates textbook Greek from natural Greek.
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Modern Greek uses the Greek alphabet (ελληνικό αλφάβητο), a left-to-right script with 24 letters. The romanization system used in this lesson follows ISO 843, with some common simplifications for readability. Key pronunciation points for this lesson:
The letter combination ολ in μόλις is pronounced as in English “mole” — the ο is an open-mid back vowel /o/, and the λ is a clear, dental /l/. The stress falls on the first syllable: ΜΟ-λις. Greek stress is always marked with an acute accent (΄) on the stressed vowel in polysyllabic words. In this lesson, stressed syllables are indicated in the romanization.
Common learner mistakes with this lesson’s vocabulary: confusing μόλις (just/barely) with μόνο (only), since both start with μ- and both translate as “just” in different English contexts. Remember: μόλις is about TIME and DEGREE, while μόνο is about RESTRICTION.
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85.1a Μόλις έφτασα στο σπίτι. 85.1b mólis (MO-lis) just-now éftasa (EF-ta-sa) arrived-1SG.PAST sto (sto) to-the spíti (SPI-ti) house
85.2a Αυτή μόλις τελείωσε το βιβλίο της. 85.2b aftí (af-TI) she mólis (MO-lis) just-now teleíose (te-LI-o-se) finished-3SG.PAST to (to) the vivlío (vi-VLI-o) book tis (tis) her-GEN
85.3a Μόλις μπήκε στο δωμάτιο, όλοι σηκώθηκαν. 85.3b mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as bíke (BI-ke) entered-3SG.PAST sto (sto) to-the domátio (dho-MA-ti-o) room óloi (O-li) all-NOM.PL sikóthikan (si-KO-thi-kan) stood-up-3PL.PAST
85.4a Μόνο ένα παιδί ήρθε σήμερα. 85.4b móno (MO-no) only éna (E-na) one pedí (pe-DHI) child írthe (IR-the) came-3SG.PAST símera (SI-me-ra) today
85.5a Απλώς ρωτάω, μη θυμώνεις. 85.5b aplós (a-PLOS) simply/just rotáo (ro-TA-o) ask-1SG.PRES mi (mi) not-PROHIB thimóneis (thi-MO-nis) be-angry-2SG.PRES
85.6a Ο καφές είναι ακριβώς όπως τον θέλω. 85.6b o (o) the-NOM.MASC kafés (ka-FES) coffee íne (I-ne) is akrivós (a-kri-VOS) exactly/just ópos (O-pos) as/how ton (ton) it-ACC.MASC thélo (THE-lo) want-1SG.PRES
85.7a Μόλις που πρόλαβα το τρένο. 85.7b mólis (MO-lis) barely pu (pu) that-PART prólava (PRO-la-va) caught-1SG.PAST to (to) the tréno (TRE-no) train
85.8a Μόλις μάθεις τα νέα, θα καταλάβεις. 85.8b mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as mátheis (MA-this) learn-2SG.SUBJ ta (ta) the-ACC.NEUT.PL néa (NE-a) news tha (tha) will-FUT kataláveis (ka-ta-LA-vis) understand-2SG.SUBJ
85.9a Δεν είναι μόνο δικό μου πρόβλημα. 85.9b den (dhen) not íne (I-ne) is móno (MO-no) only/just dikó (dhi-KO) own-NEUT mu (mu) my-GEN próvlima (PRO-vli-ma) problem
85.10a Μόλις πριν λίγο τον είδα στο δρόμο. 85.10b mólis (MO-lis) just prin (prin) before lígo (LI-gho) a-little ton (ton) him-ACC ída (I-dha) saw-1SG.PAST sto (sto) on-the drómo (DHRO-mo) road
85.11a Η αλήθεια είναι απλώς ότι δεν ξέρω. 85.11b i (i) the-NOM.FEM alítheia (a-LI-thi-a) truth íne (I-ne) is aplós (a-PLOS) simply/just óti (O-ti) that-CONJ den (dhen) not xéro (KSE-ro) know-1SG.PRES
85.12a Μόλις τελειώσει η βροχή, θα βγούμε έξω. 85.12b mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as teleióseis (te-li-O-si) finishes-3SG.SUBJ i (i) the-NOM.FEM vrohí (vro-HI) rain tha (tha) will-FUT vgúme (VGHU-me) go-out-1PL.SUBJ éxo (E-kso) outside
85.13a Αυτό είναι ακριβώς αυτό που χρειαζόμουν. 85.13b aftó (af-TO) this íne (I-ne) is akrivós (a-kri-VOS) exactly/just aftó (af-TO) that pu (pu) which-REL hriazómun (hri-a-ZO-mun) needed-1SG.PAST
85.14a Μόλις και μετά βίας κατάφερε να περάσει τις εξετάσεις. 85.14b mólis (MO-lis) barely ke (ke) and metá (me-TA) with vías (VI-as) force-GEN katáfere (ka-TA-fe-re) managed-3SG.PAST na (na) to-SUBJ perási (pe-RA-si) pass-3SG.SUBJ tis (tis) the-ACC.FEM.PL exetásis (e-kse-TA-sis) exams-ACC.PL
85.15a Μην ανησυχείς, μόνο αστειεύομαι, απλώς ήθελα να δω την αντίδρασή σου. 85.15b min (min) not-PROHIB anisihís (a-ni-si-HIS) worry-2SG.PRES móno (MO-no) only/just asteiévome (a-sti-E-vo-me) joke-1SG.PRES aplós (a-PLOS) simply/just íthela (I-the-la) wanted-1SG.PAST na (na) to-SUBJ do (dho) see-1SG.SUBJ tin (tin) the-ACC.FEM antídrasí (an-DI-dhra-si) reaction-ACC su (su) your-GEN
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85.1 Μόλις έφτασα στο σπίτι. Mólis éftasa sto spíti. “I just arrived at the house.”
85.2 Αυτή μόλις τελείωσε το βιβλίο της. Aftí mólis teleíose to vivlío tis. “She just finished her book.”
85.3 Μόλις μπήκε στο δωμάτιο, όλοι σηκώθηκαν. Mólis bíke sto domátio, óloi sikóthikan. “As soon as he entered the room, everyone stood up.”
85.4 Μόνο ένα παιδί ήρθε σήμερα. Móno éna pedí írthe símera. “Only one child came today.”
85.5 Απλώς ρωτάω, μη θυμώνεις. Aplós rotáo, mi thimóneis. “I’m just asking, don’t get angry.”
85.6 Ο καφές είναι ακριβώς όπως τον θέλω. O kafés íne akrivós ópos ton thélo. “The coffee is just the way I want it.”
85.7 Μόλις που πρόλαβα το τρένο. Mólis pu prólava to tréno. “I barely caught the train.”
85.8 Μόλις μάθεις τα νέα, θα καταλάβεις. Mólis mátheis ta néa, tha kataláveis. “As soon as you learn the news, you’ll understand.”
85.9 Δεν είναι μόνο δικό μου πρόβλημα. Den íne móno dikó mu próvlima. “It’s not just my problem.”
85.10 Μόλις πριν λίγο τον είδα στο δρόμο. Mólis prin lígo ton ída sto drómo. “I just saw him on the street a moment ago.”
85.11 Η αλήθεια είναι απλώς ότι δεν ξέρω. I alítheia íne aplós óti den xéro. “The truth is simply that I don’t know.”
85.12 Μόλις τελειώσει η βροχή, θα βγούμε έξω. Mólis teleióseis i vrohí, tha vgúme éxo. “As soon as the rain stops, we’ll go outside.”
85.13 Αυτό είναι ακριβώς αυτό που χρειαζόμουν. Aftó íne akrivós aftó pu hriazómun. “That’s just what I needed.”
85.14 Μόλις και μετά βίας κατάφερε να περάσει τις εξετάσεις. Mólis ke metá vías katáfere na perási tis exetásis. “He just barely managed to pass the exams.”
85.15 Μην ανησυχείς, μόνο αστειεύομαι, απλώς ήθελα να δω την αντίδρασή σου. Min anisihís, móno asteiévome, aplós íthela na do tin antídrasí su. “Don’t worry, I’m just joking — I simply wanted to see your reaction.”
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85.1 Μόλις έφτασα στο σπίτι. Mólis éftasa sto spíti.
85.2 Αυτή μόλις τελείωσε το βιβλίο της. Aftí mólis teleíose to vivlío tis.
85.3 Μόλις μπήκε στο δωμάτιο, όλοι σηκώθηκαν. Mólis bíke sto domátio, óloi sikóthikan.
85.4 Μόνο ένα παιδί ήρθε σήμερα. Móno éna pedí írthe símera.
85.5 Απλώς ρωτάω, μη θυμώνεις. Aplós rotáo, mi thimóneis.
85.6 Ο καφές είναι ακριβώς όπως τον θέλω. O kafés íne akrivós ópos ton thélo.
85.7 Μόλις που πρόλαβα το τρένο. Mólis pu prólava to tréno.
85.8 Μόλις μάθεις τα νέα, θα καταλάβεις. Mólis mátheis ta néa, tha kataláveis.
85.9 Δεν είναι μόνο δικό μου πρόβλημα. Den íne móno dikó mu próvlima.
85.10 Μόλις πριν λίγο τον είδα στο δρόμο. Mólis prin lígo ton ída sto drómo.
85.11 Η αλήθεια είναι απλώς ότι δεν ξέρω. I alítheia íne aplós óti den xéro.
85.12 Μόλις τελειώσει η βροχή, θα βγούμε έξω. Mólis teleióseis i vrohí, tha vgúme éxo.
85.13 Αυτό είναι ακριβώς αυτό που χρειαζόμουν. Aftó íne akrivós aftó pu hriazómun.
85.14 Μόλις και μετά βίας κατάφερε να περάσει τις εξετάσεις. Mólis ke metá vías katáfere na perási tis exetásis.
85.15 Μην ανησυχείς, μόνο αστειεύομαι, απλώς ήθελα να δω την αντίδρασή σου. Min anisihís, móno asteiévome, aplós íthela na do tin antídrasí su.
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These are the grammar rules for μόλις (just) and its related adverbs.
The Four Greek Equivalents of “Just”
Modern Greek requires speakers to choose among four distinct adverbs where English uses one. This is not merely a vocabulary difference — it reflects how Greek categorizes meaning more precisely than English in this semantic space.
μόλις (mólis) carries three related but distinct functions. As a temporal adverb, it means “just now” and indicates very recent completion of an action. It almost always pairs with a past tense verb: Μόλις έφυγε (Mólis éfige) = “He just left.” As a degree adverb, it means “barely, scarcely, hardly” — a meaning inherited directly from Ancient Greek μόλις, which meant “with difficulty.” The idiomatic phrase μόλις και μετά βίας (mólis ke metá vías), literally “barely and with force,” is a common intensified form meaning “just barely.” As a temporal conjunction, μόλις means “as soon as” and introduces subordinate time clauses. When used this way, the verb in the μόλις-clause takes either the past indicative (for completed events) or the subjunctive (for future/anticipated events): Μόλις τελειώσει (subjunctive) = “As soon as it finishes”; Μόλις τελείωσε (past) = “As soon as it finished.”
μόνο (móno) means “only, merely, just” and restricts quantity or scope. It derives from the adjective μόνος (mónos), meaning “alone, only, single,” by using the neuter singular form as an adverb. μόνο is invariable — it never changes form. It typically precedes the word or phrase it restricts: μόνο ένας (only one), μόνο αύριο (only tomorrow). The phrase μόνο και μόνο (móno ke móno) is an emphatic doubling meaning “solely, just for that reason alone.”
απλώς (aplós) means “simply, just, merely” and carries a sense of plainness or lack of complication. It retains the learned -ως (-os) suffix from Ancient Greek adverb formation, based on the adjective απλός (aplós, “simple”). It is used to downplay the importance of an action or statement: Απλώς ρωτάω = “I’m just asking” (i.e., it’s a simple question, nothing more).
ακριβώς (akrivós) means “exactly, precisely, just” and emphasizes precision or identity. Also formed with the -ως suffix from the adjective ακριβής (akrivís, “exact, accurate”). It modifies manner or degree: Ακριβώς έτσι = “Just like that / Exactly so.”
Syntactic Position of Adverbs in Greek
Greek adverbs are indeclinable — they never change form for gender, case, number, or tense. Their position in the sentence is relatively flexible, but certain patterns are standard. μόλις typically appears sentence-initially (especially as a conjunction) or immediately before the verb. μόνο generally precedes the element it restricts. απλώς and ακριβώς usually precede the verb or the adjective/adverb they modify.
The Subjunctive After μόλις
When μόλις functions as a conjunction referring to a future or anticipated event, the verb in its clause takes the subjunctive form (formed with the particle να or, in this context, the bare subjunctive stem). This contrasts with English, where “as soon as” takes the present or past indicative. Compare: Μόλις φτάσει (subjunctive) = “As soon as he arrives” vs. Μόλις έφτασε (past indicative) = “As soon as he arrived.”
The Fixed Expression μόλις που
The combination μόλις που (mólis pu) is a colloquial intensifier meaning “barely, hardly at all.” The particle που here is not the relative pronoun but a reinforcing particle. Μόλις που πρόλαβα = “I barely caught (it) / I only just managed.”
Common Mistakes
Using μόλις when μόνο is needed (or vice versa): “I just want water” = Μόνο νερό θέλω (not Μόλις νερό θέλω). Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after μόλις when referring to future events: Μόλις τελειώσει (correct subjunctive) not Μόλις τελειώνει (present indicative). Confusing ακριβώς (exactly) with ακριβά (expensively) — they derive from related but different adjective forms (ακριβής = exact vs. ακριβός = expensive). Placing μόνο after the element it should restrict, which can change meaning: Μόνο εγώ ήρθα (Only I came) vs. Εγώ ήρθα μόνο (I came alone).
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Register and Formality
All four adverbs are used across formal and informal registers in Modern Greek. However, απλώς and ακριβώς, with their learned -ως endings, carry a slightly more formal or educated tone than their spoken alternatives. In very casual speech, a Greek speaker might use απλά (aplá) instead of απλώς — the -α ending being the demotic (popular) adverb form derived from the neuter plural of the adjective. Both forms are considered correct in Standard Modern Greek, but απλώς appears more frequently in writing and formal speech.
μόλις in Everyday Greek Life
μόλις is one of the most frequently heard words in daily Greek conversation. Greeks are culturally oriented toward recency and timeliness — questions like “Πότε ήρθες;” (When did you come?) frequently receive answers beginning with μόλις: “Μόλις τώρα” (Just now). The conjunction use (”as soon as”) is equally pervasive, reflecting a Greek conversational habit of linking events in immediate temporal sequence.
The “Barely” Sense and Greek Resilience
The “barely/with difficulty” sense of μόλις carries a cultural resonance in Greek. The expression μόλις και μετά βίας (barely and with force) is used not just literally but with a characteristic Greek fatalism and humor about surviving difficulties. It appears frequently in stories about economic hardship, examinations, bureaucratic encounters, and daily challenges — contexts where the idea of “just barely making it through” resonates with Greek social experience.
Regional Variation
μόλις is standard across all Greek-speaking regions, including Cyprus, where Cypriot Greek is spoken. The Cypriot dialect sometimes uses τζιαμέ (tziamé) or related forms for “just now,” but μόλις is universally understood and used in formal Cypriot Greek as well.
Idiomatic Expressions Using μόλις
μόλις τώρα (mólis tóra) — “just now, this very moment.” μόλις και μετά βίας (mólis ke metá vías) — “just barely, by the skin of one’s teeth.” μόλις που (mólis pu) — “barely, hardly at all.” μόλις χτες (mólis htes) — “just yesterday” (emphasizing recency).
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Source: Nikos Kazantzakis (Νίκος Καζαντζάκης), Αναφορά στον Γκρέκο (Report to Greco), published posthumously 1961.
The following passage, drawn from Kazantzakis’s spiritual autobiography, describes a moment of recognition at Mount Athos. The word μόλις appears in its conjunction sense (”as soon as”):
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Σαράντα μέρες περιδιαβάζαμε το Άγιον Όρος, κι όταν, τελεύοντας πια τον κύκλο, ξαναγυρίζαμε στη Δάφνη να φύγουμε, μόλις φτάσαμε, το πιο απροσδόκητο θάμα μας περίμενε: Saránta (sa-RAN-da) forty méres (ME-res) days peridiavázame (pe-ri-dhi-a-VA-za-me) wandered-1PL.PAST to (to) the-ACC.NEUT Ágion (A-yi-on) Holy-ACC Óros (O-ros) Mountain-ACC ki (ki) and ótan (O-tan) when teleúontas (te-LEF-on-das) finishing-GERUND pia (pia) now/already ton (ton) the-ACC.MASC kíklo (KI-klo) circle-ACC xanagirízame (ksa-na-yi-RI-za-me) returned-1PL.PAST sti (sti) to-the-FEM Dáfni (DHAF-ni) Daphne-ACC na (na) to-SUBJ fíghume (FI-ghu-me) leave-1PL.SUBJ mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as ftásame (FTA-sa-me) arrived-1PL.PAST to (to) the-NOM.NEUT pió (pi-O) most aprosdókito (a-pros-DHO-ki-to) unexpected-NOM.NEUT tháma (THA-ma) wonder-NOM mas (mas) us-ACC perímene (pe-RI-me-ne) awaited-3SG.PAST
μέσα στην καρδιά του χειμώνα, μια μυγδαλιά ανθισμένη! mésa (ME-sa) inside stin (stin) in-the-FEM kardiá (kar-DHI-a) heart-ACC tu (tu) the-GEN.MASC heimóna (hi-MO-na) winter-GEN mia (mi-A) one-FEM migdaliá (migh-dha-LI-a) almond-tree-NOM anthisméni (an-thiz-ME-ni) blossoming-NOM.FEM
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
Σαράντα μέρες περιδιαβάζαμε το Άγιον Όρος, κι όταν, τελεύοντας πια τον κύκλο, ξαναγυρίζαμε στη Δάφνη να φύγουμε, μόλις φτάσαμε, το πιο απροσδόκητο θάμα μας περίμενε: μέσα στην καρδιά του χειμώνα, μια μυγδαλιά ανθισμένη!
Saránta méres peridiavázame to Ágion Óros, ki ótan, teleúontas pia ton kíklo, xanagirízame sti Dáfni na fíghume, mólis ftásame, to pió aprosdókito tháma mas perímene: mésa stin kardiá tu heimóna, mia migdaliá anthisméni!
“For forty days we wandered Mount Athos, and when, completing now our circuit, we returned to Daphne to leave, as soon as we arrived, the most unexpected wonder awaited us: in the heart of winter, an almond tree in bloom!”
F-C: Original Script Only
Σαράντα μέρες περιδιαβάζαμε το Άγιον Όρος, κι όταν, τελεύοντας πια τον κύκλο, ξαναγυρίζαμε στη Δάφνη να φύγουμε, μόλις φτάσαμε, το πιο απροσδόκητο θάμα μας περίμενε: μέσα στην καρδιά του χειμώνα, μια μυγδαλιά ανθισμένη!
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
In this passage, μόλις functions as a temporal conjunction meaning “as soon as,” paired with the aorist (simple past) verb φτάσαμε (”we arrived”). The structure μόλις + aorist indicates a completed past event that immediately triggered the next event.
Notable grammar points in this passage: the verb περιδιαβάζαμε is in the imperfect tense, indicating ongoing, durative action (”we were wandering” over a period of time) — contrasting with the punctual aorists μόλις φτάσαμε (”as soon as we arrived”) and μας περίμενε (imperfect, “was awaiting us”). The gerund τελεύοντας (”finishing”) uses the -οντας suffix that forms present participle/gerund in Modern Greek. The compound verb ξαναγυρίζαμε shows the prefix ξανα- meaning “again, re-” combined with γυρίζω (”turn/return”). The phrase μέσα στην καρδιά του χειμώνα uses the metaphorical “heart” of winter, a construction common across European languages. The final phrase μια μυγδαλιά ανθισμένη is a nominal sentence fragment — no verb — creating dramatic impact through its abruptness.
F-E: Literary Commentary
This passage from Kazantzakis’s Report to Greco describes a pivotal spiritual moment during his pilgrimage to Mount Athos with the poet Angelos Sikelianos. The blooming almond tree in the dead of winter becomes a symbol of hope and divine surprise — a theme central to Kazantzakis’s philosophical vision, where life breaks through even the most barren conditions. The use of μόλις here is characteristically Kazantzakian: the conjunction creates a sense of immediacy, as if the wonder had been timed to the exact moment of their arrival.
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The following 15 examples form a coherent dialogue between family members on a Saturday morning, naturally incorporating μόλις, μόνο, απλώς, and ακριβώς in conversational Greek.
85.16a Μόλις ξύπνησα και δεν έχω πιει ακόμα καφέ. 85.16b mólis (MO-lis) just-now xípnisa (KSI-pni-sa) woke-up-1SG.PAST ke (ke) and den (dhen) not ého (E-ho) have-1SG piéi (pi-I) drunk-PERF akóma (a-KO-ma) yet kafé (ka-FE) coffee
85.17a Μόλις βάλω μπρος την καφετιέρα, θα σου φτιάξω ένα φλιτζάνι. 85.17b mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as válo (VA-lo) put-1SG.SUBJ brós (bros) forward/on tin (tin) the-ACC.FEM kafetéra (ka-fe-ti-E-ra) coffee-maker-ACC tha (tha) will-FUT su (su) you-GEN ftiáxo (fti-A-kso) make-1SG.SUBJ éna (E-na) one flitzáni (fli-DZA-ni) cup
85.18a Μόνο μισό φλιτζάνι, παρακαλώ. Δεν θέλω πολύ. 85.18b móno (MO-no) only/just misó (mi-SO) half-NEUT flitzáni (fli-DZA-ni) cup parakaló (pa-ra-ka-LO) please den (dhen) not thélo (THE-lo) want-1SG polí (po-LI) much
85.19a Τα παιδιά μόλις σηκώθηκαν από το κρεβάτι. 85.19b ta (ta) the-NOM.NEUT.PL pediá (pe-DHI-a) children-NOM mólis (MO-lis) just-now sikóthikan (si-KO-thi-kan) got-up-3PL.PAST apó (a-PO) from to (to) the-NEUT kreváti (kre-VA-ti) bed
85.20a Ακριβώς στην ώρα τους! Το πρωινό είναι σχεδόν έτοιμο. 85.20b akrivós (a-kri-VOS) just/exactly stin (stin) at-the-FEM óra (O-ra) time-ACC tus (tus) their-GEN to (to) the-NEUT proinó (pro-i-NO) breakfast íne (I-ne) is schedón (sche-DHON) almost étimo (E-ti-mo) ready-NEUT
85.21a Μπαμπά, εγώ θέλω μόνο ψωμί με μέλι. 85.21b babá (ba-BA) daddy-VOC egó (e-GHO) I thélo (THE-lo) want-1SG móno (MO-no) only/just psomí (pso-MI) bread me (me) with méli (ME-li) honey
85.22a Απλώς φάε κάτι παραπάνω, χρειάζεσαι ενέργεια για το ποδόσφαιρο. 85.22b aplós (a-PLOS) just/simply fáe (FA-e) eat-2SG.IMP káti (KA-ti) something parapáno (pa-ra-PA-no) more hriázese (hri-A-ze-se) need-2SG enérgia (e-NER-yi-a) energy gia (ya) for to (to) the-NEUT podósfero (po-DHO-sfe-ro) football/soccer
85.23a Μόλις φάμε, πάμε στο πάρκο; 85.23b mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as fáme (FA-me) eat-1PL.SUBJ páme (PA-me) go-1PL.SUBJ sto (sto) to-the-NEUT párko (PAR-ko) park
85.24a Η μαμά μόλις γύρισε από τα ψώνια. 85.24b i (i) the-NOM.FEM mamá (ma-MA) mother-NOM mólis (MO-lis) just-now gírise (GHI-ri-se) returned-3SG.PAST apó (a-PO) from ta (ta) the-NEUT.PL psónia (PSO-ni-a) shopping
85.25a Αγόρασα μόνο τα απαραίτητα, ακριβώς αυτά που είχαμε στη λίστα. 85.25b agórasa (a-GHO-ra-sa) bought-1SG.PAST móno (MO-no) only/just ta (ta) the-NEUT.PL aparétita (a-pa-RE-ti-ta) necessities-ACC akrivós (a-kri-VOS) exactly/just aftá (af-TA) those pu (pu) which-REL eíhame (I-ha-me) had-1PL.PAST sti (sti) on-the-FEM lísta (LI-sta) list-ACC
85.26a Η γιαγιά τηλεφώνησε μόλις πριν πέντε λεπτά. 85.26b i (i) the-NOM.FEM yiayiá (ya-YA) grandmother-NOM tilesfónise (ti-le-FO-ni-se) telephoned-3SG.PAST mólis (MO-lis) just prin (prin) before pénde (PEN-de) five leptá (lep-TA) minutes
85.27a Απλώς ήθελε να μας πει καλημέρα. 85.27b aplós (a-PLOS) simply/just íthele (I-the-le) wanted-3SG.PAST na (na) to-SUBJ mas (mas) us-ACC pei (pi) say-3SG.SUBJ kaliméra (ka-li-ME-ra) good-morning
85.28a Μόλις και μετά βίας χωράνε τα ψώνια στο ψυγείο. 85.28b mólis (MO-lis) barely ke (ke) and metá (me-TA) with vías (VI-as) force-GEN horáne (ho-RA-ne) fit-3PL.PRES ta (ta) the-NEUT.PL psónia (PSO-ni-a) groceries-NOM sto (sto) in-the-NEUT psigío (psi-YI-o) fridge
85.29a Δεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι ο μικρός μόλις έμαθε να διαβάζει. 85.29b den (dhen) not boró (bo-RO) can-1SG na (na) to-SUBJ pistépso (pi-STE-pso) believe-1SG.SUBJ óti (O-ti) that-CONJ o (o) the-NOM.MASC mikrós (mi-KROS) little-one-NOM mólis (MO-lis) just-recently émathe (E-ma-the) learned-3SG.PAST na (na) to-SUBJ diavázi (dhi-a-VA-zi) read-3SG.SUBJ
85.30a Μόλις μεγαλώσει λίγο ακόμα, θα τον πάρουμε στη βιβλιοθήκη μόνοι τους. 85.30b mólis (MO-lis) as-soon-as megalósi (me-gha-LO-si) grows-up-3SG.SUBJ lígo (LI-gho) a-little akóma (a-KO-ma) more tha (tha) will-FUT ton (ton) him-ACC párume (PA-ru-me) take-1PL.SUBJ sti (sti) to-the-FEM vivliothíki (vi-vli-o-THI-ki) library-ACC móni (MO-ni) alone-NOM.MASC.PL tus (tus) their-GEN/themselves
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85.16 Μόλις ξύπνησα και δεν έχω πιει ακόμα καφέ. Mólis xípnisa ke den ého piéi akóma kafé. “I just woke up and I haven’t had coffee yet.”
85.17 Μόλις βάλω μπρος την καφετιέρα, θα σου φτιάξω ένα φλιτζάνι. Mólis válo brós tin kafetéra, tha su ftiáxo éna flitzáni. “As soon as I turn on the coffee maker, I’ll make you a cup.”
85.18 Μόνο μισό φλιτζάνι, παρακαλώ. Δεν θέλω πολύ. Móno misó flitzáni, parakaló. Den thélo polí. “Just half a cup, please. I don’t want much.”
85.19 Τα παιδιά μόλις σηκώθηκαν από το κρεβάτι. Ta pediá mólis sikóthikan apó to kreváti. “The children just got out of bed.”
85.20 Ακριβώς στην ώρα τους! Το πρωινό είναι σχεδόν έτοιμο. Akrivós stin óra tus! To proinó íne schedón étimo. “Just in time! Breakfast is almost ready.”
85.21 Μπαμπά, εγώ θέλω μόνο ψωμί με μέλι. Babá, egó thélo móno psomí me méli. “Daddy, I just want bread with honey.”
85.22 Απλώς φάε κάτι παραπάνω, χρειάζεσαι ενέργεια για το ποδόσφαιρο. Aplós fáe káti parapáno, hriázese enérgia gia to podósfero. “Just eat something more — you need energy for football.”
85.23 Μόλις φάμε, πάμε στο πάρκο; Mólis fáme, páme sto párko? “As soon as we eat, shall we go to the park?”
85.24 Η μαμά μόλις γύρισε από τα ψώνια. I mamá mólis gírise apó ta psónia. “Mum just got back from shopping.”
85.25 Αγόρασα μόνο τα απαραίτητα, ακριβώς αυτά που είχαμε στη λίστα. Agórasa móno ta aparétita, akrivós aftá pu eíhame sti lísta. “I bought just the essentials — exactly what we had on the list.”
85.26 Η γιαγιά τηλεφώνησε μόλις πριν πέντε λεπτά. I yiayiá tilesfónise mólis prin pénde leptá. “Grandma called just five minutes ago.”
85.27 Απλώς ήθελε να μας πει καλημέρα. Aplós íthele na mas pei kaliméra. “She just wanted to say good morning to us.”
85.28 Μόλις και μετά βίας χωράνε τα ψώνια στο ψυγείο. Mólis ke metá vías horáne ta psónia sto psigío. “The groceries just barely fit in the fridge.”
85.29 Δεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι ο μικρός μόλις έμαθε να διαβάζει. Den boró na pistépso óti o mikrós mólis émathe na diavázi. “I can’t believe the little one just learned to read.”
85.30 Μόλις μεγαλώσει λίγο ακόμα, θα τον πάρουμε στη βιβλιοθήκη μόνοι τους. Mólis megalósi lígo akóma, tha ton párume sti vivliothíki móni tus. “As soon as he grows up a little more, we’ll take him to the library on their own.”
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85.16 Μόλις ξύπνησα και δεν έχω πιει ακόμα καφέ. Mólis xípnisa ke den ého piéi akóma kafé.
85.17 Μόλις βάλω μπρος την καφετιέρα, θα σου φτιάξω ένα φλιτζάνι. Mólis válo brós tin kafetéra, tha su ftiáxo éna flitzáni.
85.18 Μόνο μισό φλιτζάνι, παρακαλώ. Δεν θέλω πολύ. Móno misó flitzáni, parakaló. Den thélo polí.
85.19 Τα παιδιά μόλις σηκώθηκαν από το κρεβάτι. Ta pediá mólis sikóthikan apó to kreváti.
85.20 Ακριβώς στην ώρα τους! Το πρωινό είναι σχεδόν έτοιμο. Akrivós stin óra tus! To proinó íne schedón étimo.
85.21 Μπαμπά, εγώ θέλω μόνο ψωμί με μέλι. Babá, egó thélo móno psomí me méli.
85.22 Απλώς φάε κάτι παραπάνω, χρειάζεσαι ενέργεια για το ποδόσφαιρο. Aplós fáe káti parapáno, hriázese enérgia gia to podósfero.
85.23 Μόλις φάμε, πάμε στο πάρκο; Mólis fáme, páme sto párko?
85.24 Η μαμά μόλις γύρισε από τα ψώνια. I mamá mólis gírise apó ta psónia.
85.25 Αγόρασα μόνο τα απαραίτητα, ακριβώς αυτά που είχαμε στη λίστα. Agórasa móno ta aparétita, akrivós aftá pu eíhame sti lísta.
85.26 Η γιαγιά τηλεφώνησε μόλις πριν πέντε λεπτά. I yiayiá tilesfónise mólis prin pénde leptá.
85.27 Απλώς ήθελε να μας πει καλημέρα. Aplós íthele na mas pei kaliméra.
85.28 Μόλις και μετά βίας χωράνε τα ψώνια στο ψυγείο. Mólis ke metá vías horáne ta psónia sto psigío.
85.29 Δεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι ο μικρός μόλις έμαθε να διαβάζει. Den boró na pistépso óti o mikrós mólis émathe na diavázi.
85.30 Μόλις μεγαλώσει λίγο ακόμα, θα τον πάρουμε στη βιβλιοθήκη μόνοι τους. Mólis megalósi lígo akóma, tha ton párume sti vivliothíki móni tus.
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μόλις + subjunctive for future events: In examples 85.17 (μόλις βάλω), 85.23 (μόλις φάμε), and 85.30 (μόλις μεγαλώσει), the verb after μόλις is in the subjunctive, because the event has not yet occurred. This is the standard construction for μόλις as a conjunction referring to anticipated future events. The subjunctive in Modern Greek is formed from the perfective stem without the particle να: βάλω (I put/place — subjunctive), φάμε (we eat — subjunctive), μεγαλώσει (he grows up — subjunctive).
The vocative case: In 85.21, Μπαμπά is the vocative form of μπαμπάς (daddy/father). Modern Greek preserves the vocative case for direct address. Masculine nouns ending in -ας drop the final -ς: μπαμπάς → Μπαμπά. This is one of the few environments where case distinction is clearly audible in everyday speech.
Present perfect with έχω + infinitive-like form: In 85.16, δεν έχω πιει (I haven’t drunk) uses the present perfect construction: έχω (have) + the unchangeable perfect form (πιει). This form derives historically from the infinitive and does not change for person or number — only the auxiliary έχω conjugates.
μόνοι τους vs. μόνο: In 85.30, μόνοι τους means “on their own / by themselves” — here μόνοι is the adjective μόνος in the masculine plural nominative, not the adverb μόνο. This contrast illustrates the relationship between the adjective μόνος (alone) and the adverb μόνο (only) that was noted in Section D.
βάλω μπρος (turn on): In 85.17, this is a colloquial expression meaning “to start/turn on (a machine).” Literally “put forward,” it is widely used in everyday Greek for starting engines, appliances, and machines.
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μόλις /ˈmo.lis/ — stress on first syllable, the ο is a mid-back rounded vowel, λ is dental, ι is /i/, σ is voiceless /s/
μόνο /ˈmo.no/ — stress on first syllable, both vowels are /o/
απλώς /a.ˈplos/ — stress on second syllable, the ω is pronounced identically to ο in Modern Greek (/o/), the consonant cluster πλ is pronounced as a unit
ακριβώς /a.kri.ˈvos/ — stress on third syllable, the β is pronounced /v/ in Modern Greek (not /b/)
Key pronunciation reminders for English speakers: The letter β is always /v/, never /b/. The letter δ is always /ð/ (as in English “this”), never /d/. The combination μπ at the beginning of a word is pronounced /b/ (as in μπαμπάς = babás). The combination ντ is pronounced /d/ or /nd/. The letter γ before front vowels (ε, ι) is a palatal fricative /ʝ/ (like a very soft “y”), and before back vowels (α, ο, ου) it is a velar fricative /ɣ/.
Audio reference: For pronunciation models, the Forvo.com entries for μόλις, μόνο, and ακριβώς provide native speaker recordings.
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute Modern Language Course, a series of frequency-based language lessons that use the interlinear construed text method to make any language accessible to English-speaking autodidact students.
The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006, specializing in the time-tested method of interlinear glossing. This pedagogical approach — where every word receives an immediate English gloss — eliminates the need to consult dictionaries during reading, allowing the learner to focus on pattern recognition and natural acquisition.
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