For all lessons in this course, see the course index.
What does “where” mean in Modern Greek?
The Greek interrogative adverb πού (poú) means “where” and is one of the most essential question words in the language. It is used to ask about location, direction, and destination. In Modern Greek, πού carries an accent mark (οξεία) — this is critically important, because the same word without an accent, που (pou), functions as a relative pronoun meaning “that,” “which,” or “where” in relative clauses. This accent distinction — πού (question) versus που (relative) — is one of the few cases in Modern Greek where a monosyllabic word receives a written accent, and mastering it is essential for both reading and writing.
In this lesson, we will explore πού in direct questions (Πού είσαι; — Where are you?), in indirect questions (Δεν ξέρω πού πήγε — I don’t know where he went), and in combination with prepositions (Από πού είσαι; — Where are you from?). We will also examine the related forms όπου (ópou, “wherever/where”) and the unaccented που as a relativizer, since understanding the full family of these words deepens comprehension of Greek clause structure.
Key Takeaways -
πού (with accent) = interrogative “where?” — used in questions -
που (without accent) = relative “that/which/where” — connects clauses -
όπου (ópou) = “wherever” or “where” in relative clauses of place -
Greek uses the semicolon ; as its question mark -
πού combines with prepositions: από πού (from where), προς πού (toward where), μέχρι πού (until where) -
The unaccented που is the most common relativizer in Modern Greek, replacing the more formal ο οποίος/η οποία/το οποίο
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Modern Greek uses the Greek alphabet (Ελληνικό αλφάβητο), a left-to-right script with 24 letters. The romanization in this lesson follows ISO 843 conventions with common academic adaptations. Key pronunciation points for English speakers: -
ου = /u/ (like English “oo” in “food”) -
πού is pronounced /pu/ — a single syllable -
The accent mark (΄) indicates stress — in πού, the stress falls on the single vowel -
Greek ; is the question mark (the semicolon function is served by the raised dot · called άνω τελεία) -
γ before ε or ι sounds is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/ or palatal /ʝ/ -
χ = /x/ (like Scottish “loch”) or /ç/ before front vowels
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86.1a Πού είναι το βιβλίο μου; 86.1b (poú) where (íne) is (to) the-NEUT (vivlío) book (mou) my-GEN
86.2a Πού πας τώρα; 86.2b (poú) where (pas) go-2SG (tóra) now
86.3a Δεν ξέρω πού μένει ο Γιάννης. 86.3b (den) not (xéro) know-1SG (poú) where (méni) lives-3SG (o) the-MASC (Yiánnis) Yiannis
86.4a Από πού είσαι; 86.4b (apó) from (poú) where (íse) are-2SG
86.5a Πού θα πάμε απόψε; 86.5b (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (páme) go-1PL (apópse) tonight
86.6a Ξέρεις πού είναι η τράπεζα; 86.6b (xéris) know-2SG (poú) where (íne) is (i) the-FEM (trápeza) bank
86.7a Πού ακριβώς βρίσκεται το σπίτι σου; 86.7b (poú) where (akrivós) exactly (vrísketai) is-located-3SG-REFL (to) the-NEUT (spíti) house (sou) your-GEN
86.8a Δεν θυμάμαι πού άφησα τα κλειδιά μου. 86.8b (den) not (thimáme) remember-1SG-REFL (poú) where (áfisa) left-1SG-PAST (ta) the-NEUT-PL (klidiá) keys (mou) my-GEN
86.9a Πού να πάω με αυτόν τον καιρό; 86.9b (poú) where (na) SUBJ (páo) go-1SG (me) with (aftón) this-MASC-ACC (ton) the-MASC-ACC (keró) weather
86.10a Πες μου πού θέλεις να φας. 86.10b (pes) tell-IMP-2SG (mou) me-DAT (poú) where (thélis) want-2SG (na) SUBJ (fas) eat-2SG
86.11a Όπου κι αν πας, θα σε βρω. 86.11b (ópou) wherever (ki) also/even (an) if (pas) go-2SG (tha) will-FUT (se) you-ACC (vro) find-1SG
86.12a Το μέρος που μένουμε είναι ήσυχο. 86.12b (to) the-NEUT (méros) place (pou) where-REL (ménoume) live-1PL (íne) is (ísycho) quiet-NEUT
86.13a Πού βρήκες αυτό το ωραίο φόρεμα; 86.13b (poú) where (vríkes) found-2SG-PAST (aftó) this-NEUT-ACC (to) the-NEUT (oréo) beautiful-NEUT (fórema) dress
86.14a Η πόλη όπου γεννήθηκα είναι μικρή. 86.14b (i) the-FEM (póli) city (ópou) where-REL (yenníthika) was-born-1SG-PAST-PASS (íne) is (mikrí) small-FEM
86.15a Από πού κι ως πού είναι ο δρόμος αυτός; 86.15b (apó) from (poú) where (ki) and (os) until (poú) where (íne) is (o) the-MASC (drómos) road (aftós) this-MASC
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86.1 Πού είναι το βιβλίο μου; (Poú íne to vivlío mou?) “Where is my book?”
86.2 Πού πας τώρα; (Poú pas tóra?) “Where are you going now?”
86.3 Δεν ξέρω πού μένει ο Γιάννης. (Den xéro poú méni o Yiánnis.) “I don’t know where Yiannis lives.”
86.4 Από πού είσαι; (Apó poú íse?) “Where are you from?”
86.5 Πού θα πάμε απόψε; (Poú tha páme apópse?) “Where will we go tonight?”
86.6 Ξέρεις πού είναι η τράπεζα; (Xéris poú íne i trápeza?) “Do you know where the bank is?”
86.7 Πού ακριβώς βρίσκεται το σπίτι σου; (Poú akrivós vrísketai to spíti sou?) “Where exactly is your house located?”
86.8 Δεν θυμάμαι πού άφησα τα κλειδιά μου. (Den thimáme poú áfisa ta klidiá mou.) “I don’t remember where I left my keys.”
86.9 Πού να πάω με αυτόν τον καιρό; (Poú na páo me aftón ton keró?) “Where can I go in this weather?”
86.10 Πες μου πού θέλεις να φας. (Pes mou poú thélis na fas.) “Tell me where you want to eat.”
86.11 Όπου κι αν πας, θα σε βρω. (Ópou ki an pas, tha se vro.) “Wherever you go, I will find you.”
86.12 Το μέρος που μένουμε είναι ήσυχο. (To méros pou ménoume íne ísycho.) “The place where we live is quiet.”
86.13 Πού βρήκες αυτό το ωραίο φόρεμα; (Poú vríkes aftó to oréo fórema?) “Where did you find this beautiful dress?”
86.14 Η πόλη όπου γεννήθηκα είναι μικρή. (I póli ópou yenníthika íne mikrí.) “The city where I was born is small.”
86.15 Από πού κι ως πού είναι ο δρόμος αυτός; (Apó poú ki os poú íne o drómos aftós?) “From where to where does this road go?”
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86.1 Πού είναι το βιβλίο μου; (Poú íne to vivlío mou?)
86.2 Πού πας τώρα; (Poú pas tóra?)
86.3 Δεν ξέρω πού μένει ο Γιάννης. (Den xéro poú méni o Yiánnis.)
86.4 Από πού είσαι; (Apó poú íse?)
86.5 Πού θα πάμε απόψε; (Poú tha páme apópse?)
86.6 Ξέρεις πού είναι η τράπεζα; (Xéris poú íne i trápeza?)
86.7 Πού ακριβώς βρίσκεται το σπίτι σου; (Poú akrivós vrísketai to spíti sou?)
86.8 Δεν θυμάμαι πού άφησα τα κλειδιά μου. (Den thimáme poú áfisa ta klidiá mou.)
86.9 Πού να πάω με αυτόν τον καιρό; (Poú na páo me aftón ton keró?)
86.10 Πες μου πού θέλεις να φας. (Pes mou poú thélis na fas.)
86.11 Όπου κι αν πας, θα σε βρω. (Ópou ki an pas, tha se vro.)
86.12 Το μέρος που μένουμε είναι ήσυχο. (To méros pou ménoume íne ísycho.)
86.13 Πού βρήκες αυτό το ωραίο φόρεμα; (Poú vríkes aftó to oréo fórema?)
86.14 Η πόλη όπου γεννήθηκα είναι μικρή. (I póli ópou yenníthika íne mikrí.)
86.15 Από πού κι ως πού είναι ο δρόμος αυτός; (Apó poú ki os poú íne o drómos aftós?)
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These are the grammar rules for πού (where).
The Accent Distinction: πού vs. που
The single most important grammar point in this lesson is the distinction between the accented πού and the unaccented που. In Modern Greek, monosyllabic words generally do not carry an accent mark. However, πού and πώς (how) are exceptions: they receive an accent when used as interrogative words (in questions), and lose it when functioning as relative words (connecting clauses).
πού (poú) with accent = interrogative “where?” — Πού είσαι; (Where are you?)
που (pou) without accent = relative pronoun “that/which/where” — Το σπίτι που μένω (The house where I live)
This distinction exists only in writing. In speech, context and intonation distinguish the two uses. However, in written Greek, omitting the accent on interrogative πού is considered a spelling error.
Interrogative πού in Direct Questions
In direct questions, πού typically appears at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb. Greek question word order is relatively flexible, but fronting the interrogative is standard. Remember that Greek uses the semicolon (;) as its question mark.
Pattern: Πού + verb + (rest of sentence)?
Examples: Πού είναι; (Where is it?), Πού πηγαίνεις; (Where are you going?), Πού μένεις; (Where do you live?)
Interrogative πού in Indirect Questions
When embedded in a statement, πού retains its accent and functions as an indirect question word, equivalent to English “where” in clauses like “I don’t know where...”
Pattern: main clause + πού + verb
Examples: Δεν ξέρω πού είναι (I don’t know where it is), Ρώτησε πού πάμε (He asked where we’re going)
Combinations with Prepositions
πού combines with several prepositions to create more specific spatial questions:
από πού (apó poú) = “from where / where from” — Από πού είσαι; (Where are you from?)
προς πού (pros poú) = “toward where” — Προς πού πηγαίνεις; (Which direction are you going?)
μέχρι πού (méchri poú) = “until where / how far” — Μέχρι πού φτάνει; (How far does it reach?)
ως πού (os poú) = “up to where” — Ως πού θα πάμε; (How far will we go?)
The Relative που (unaccented)
The unaccented που is the most common way to form relative clauses in Modern Greek. It is indeclinable (does not change for gender, number, or case) and can replace the more formal relative pronoun ο οποίος / η οποία / το οποίο (who/which). It functions like English “that,” “which,” “who,” or “where” depending on context.
Examples: Ο άνθρωπος που ήρθε (The man who came), Το βιβλίο που διάβασα (The book that I read), Το μέρος που μένω (The place where I live)
The Relative Adverb όπου (ópou)
Όπου means “where” or “wherever” and is used specifically for relative clauses of place. It can also mean “wherever” when combined with κι αν: όπου κι αν (wherever).
Examples: Η πόλη όπου γεννήθηκα (The city where I was born), Όπου κι αν πας (Wherever you go)
Exclamatory πού
In colloquial Greek, πού can also express surprise or disbelief: Πού να φανταστώ! (How could I have imagined! / Who would have thought!)
The Subjunctive with πού
When πού is combined with να (the subjunctive particle), it creates a rhetorical or despairing question: Πού να πάω; (Where am I to go? / Where can I possibly go?)
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the accent on interrogative πού — always write πού with an accent in questions. Confusing που (relative) with πού (interrogative) when reading. Using πού where όπου is more appropriate in formal writing for relative clauses of place. Translating English “where” word-for-word without considering whether Greek requires the interrogative or relative form.
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πού is among the most frequently used words in everyday Greek conversation. The question Από πού είσαι; (Where are you from?) is perhaps the most common ice-breaker in Greek social interaction. Greeks place great importance on regional identity — whether someone is from Crete, the Peloponnese, the islands, or Athens shapes social perceptions and conversation. Answering this question often leads to extended discussion of family roots, local customs, and regional cuisine.
The word που (unaccented, relative) is statistically one of the most common words in written Modern Greek. Its versatility as a relativizer — replacing who, which, that, and where — makes it appear in nearly every paragraph of Greek prose. Linguists note that the invariable που has largely supplanted the more complex inflected relative pronouns (ο οποίος etc.) in everyday speech, though the formal variants persist in legal, academic, and journalistic writing.
In regional dialects, πού sometimes appears with variant pronunciations. Cretan Greek, for example, preserves certain archaic phonological features that affect how question words are intoned. The Pontic Greek dialects (historically spoken around the Black Sea) have their own interrogative forms.
The idiomatic expression από πού κι ως πού (from where to where) is used colloquially to express skepticism or to question someone’s authority or right to do something — roughly equivalent to English “who do you think you are?” or “since when?”
The rhetorical use of πού in laments and songs is deeply embedded in Greek folk tradition. In μοιρολόγια (funeral laments), women would traditionally cry Πού πας; (Where are you going?) or Πού σε πάνε; (Where are they taking you?) — addressing the deceased. This tradition connects the interrogative of place to profound questions of existence and the afterlife.
Greek literature is permeated with existential uses of πού — the question of “where” extends beyond physical space to encompass spiritual and philosophical searching, from the Homeric nostos (homecoming) tradition through modern poetry.
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Source: Constantine P. Cavafy (Κωνσταντίνος Π. Καβάφης), Ιθάκη (”Ithaka”), 1911.
Cavafy’s “Ithaka” is widely considered one of the greatest poems in Modern Greek literature. Drawing on Homer’s Odyssey, the poem meditates on the journey of life and the meaning of destination. The word που (relative) appears in the poem connecting the experience of travel to delight and joy, while the entire poem is an extended meditation on the question implicit in πού — where are we going, and what matters more, the destination or the journey?
Selected excerpt (opening lines):
Σα βγεις στον πηγαιμό για την Ιθάκη, (Sa) when (vyis) set-out-2SG-SUBJ (ston) to-the-MASC-ACC (piyemó) journey-ACC (ya) for (tin) the-FEM-ACC (Itháki) Ithaca-ACC
να εύχεσαι νάναι μακρύς ο δρόμος, (na) SUBJ (éfchese) wish-2SG-REFL (nánai) to-be-SUBJ (makrís) long-MASC (o) the-MASC (drómos) road-MASC
γεμάτος περιπέτειες, γεμάτος γνώσεις. (yemátos) full-MASC (peripéties) adventures-ACC-PL (yemátos) full-MASC (gnósis) knowledge-ACC-PL
Σα βγεις στον πηγαιμό για την Ιθάκη, να εύχεσαι νάναι μακρύς ο δρόμος, γεμάτος περιπέτειες, γεμάτος γνώσεις. (Sa vyis ston piyemó ya tin Itháki, na éfchese nánai makrís o drómos, yemátos peripéties, yemátos gnósis.)
“When you set out on the journey to Ithaca, hope that the road is long, full of adventures, full of knowledge.”
Σα βγεις στον πηγαιμό για την Ιθάκη, να εύχεσαι νάναι μακρύς ο δρόμος, γεμάτος περιπέτειες, γεμάτος γνώσεις. (Sa vyis ston piyemó ya tin Itháki, na éfchese nánai makrís o drómos, yemátos peripéties, yemátos gnósis.)
This passage showcases several important grammatical features. Σα (sa) is a colloquial/poetic contraction of σαν (san), meaning “when/as.” The verb βγεις (vyis) is the second-person singular aorist subjunctive of βγαίνω (vyéno, “to go out/set out”), used here with subjunctive force after σα. The construction νάναι is a contraction of να είναι (na íne, “to be” in subjunctive) — such contractions are characteristic of Cavafy’s slightly older Demotic style.
The noun πηγαιμό (piyemó) means “journey/going” and is derived from πηγαίνω (piyéno, “to go”). Γεμάτος (yemátos, “full”) agrees with δρόμος (drómos, “road”) in masculine gender. The repetition of γεμάτος is a rhetorical device emphasizing abundance.
While πού does not appear in this specific excerpt, the entire poem is an answer to the implicit question Πού πηγαίνεις; (Where are you going?) — Cavafy’s profound answer being that the destination matters less than the journey itself. The poem later uses the relative που to connect the pleasures of summer mornings to the harbors one will enter.
Constantine Cavafy (1863–1933) was born in Alexandria, Egypt, to a Greek family. He is regarded as one of the most important poets of the twentieth century and arguably the most translated Greek poet worldwide. “Ithaka” was published in 1911 and has become a touchstone of modern Greek culture. The poem was memorably read at the funeral of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1994, bringing it to global attention.
Cavafy’s language occupies a fascinating middle ground between the formal Katharevousa and the vernacular Dimotiki — his personal idiom draws on the Greek of educated Alexandrians. The poem’s meditation on journey versus destination resonates with the Greek concept of nostos (νόστος, “homecoming”) that stretches back to Homer’s Odyssey itself.
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86.16a Πού θα πάμε φέτος για διακοπές; 86.16b (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (páme) go-1PL (fétos) this-year (ya) for (diakopés) vacation-ACC-PL
86.17a Δεν έχω αποφασίσει ακόμα πού θέλω να πάω. 86.17b (den) not (écho) have-1SG (apofasísi) decided-PERF (akóma) yet (poú) where (thélo) want-1SG (na) SUBJ (páo) go-1SG
86.18a Τι λες για ένα νησί; Πού σε αρέσει περισσότερο; 86.18b (ti) what (les) say-2SG (ya) for (éna) one-NEUT (nisí) island (poú) where (se) you-ACC (arési) pleases-3SG (perisótero) more
86.19a Η Μαρία είπε ότι ξέρει ένα μέρος που είναι υπέροχο. 86.19b (i) the-FEM (María) Maria (ípe) said-3SG-PAST (óti) that-CONJ (xéri) knows-3SG (éna) one-NEUT (méros) place (pou) that-REL (íne) is (ipérocho) magnificent-NEUT
86.20a Πού βρίσκεται αυτό το μέρος; Είναι μακριά; 86.20b (poú) where (vrísketai) is-located-3SG-REFL (aftó) this-NEUT (to) the-NEUT (méros) place (íne) is (makriá) far
86.21a Είναι στην Κρήτη, κοντά στο μέρος όπου μεγάλωσε η γιαγιά μου. 86.21b (íne) is (stin) in-the-FEM-ACC (Kríti) Crete (kondá) near (sto) in-the-NEUT-ACC (méros) place (ópou) where-REL (megálosa) grew-up-3SG-PAST (i) the-FEM (yiayiá) grandmother (mou) my-GEN
86.22a Πού θα μείνουμε; Σε ξενοδοχείο ή σε σπίτι; 86.22b (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (mínoume) stay-1PL (se) in (xenodochío) hotel (í) or (se) in (spíti) house
86.23a Η γιαγιά έχει ένα σπίτι που βλέπει στη θάλασσα. 86.23b (i) the-FEM (yiayiá) grandmother (échi) has-3SG (éna) one-NEUT (spíti) house (pou) that-REL (vlépi) looks-3SG (sti) at-the-FEM-ACC (thálasa) sea
86.24a Τέλεια! Αλλά πού θα τρώμε; Υπάρχουν εστιατόρια; 86.24b (télia) perfect (alá) but (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (tróme) eat-1PL (ipárchoun) exist-3PL (estiatória) restaurants-NEUT-PL
86.25a Όπου κι αν κοιτάξεις, υπάρχουν ταβέρνες με φρέσκο ψάρι. 86.25b (ópou) wherever (ki) and/even (an) if (kitáxis) look-2SG-SUBJ (ipárchoun) exist-3PL (tavérnes) tavernas-FEM-PL (me) with (frésko) fresh-NEUT (psári) fish
86.26a Πού θα αφήσουμε τον σκύλο όσο λείπουμε; 86.26b (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (afísoume) leave-1PL (ton) the-MASC-ACC (skílo) dog (óso) while (lípoume) are-away-1PL
86.27a Ο Πέτρος είπε πού μπορούμε να τον αφήσουμε. 86.27b (o) the-MASC (Pétros) Petros (ípe) said-3SG-PAST (poú) where (boroúme) can-1PL (na) SUBJ (ton) him-MASC-ACC (afísoume) leave-1PL
86.28a Θα πρέπει να ρωτήσω πού μπορώ να νοικιάσω αυτοκίνητο. 86.28b (tha) will-FUT (prépi) must-3SG-IMPERS (na) SUBJ (rotíso) ask-1SG (poú) where (boró) can-1SG (na) SUBJ (nikiáso) rent-1SG (aftokínito) car
86.29a Μη σε νοιάζει πού θα πάρουμε αυτοκίνητο· εγώ ξέρω τον τόπο. 86.29b (mi) don’t-NEG-IMP (se) you-ACC (niázi) worry-3SG-IMPERS (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (pároume) get-1PL (aftokínito) car (eyó) I (xéro) know-1SG (ton) the-MASC-ACC (tópo) place-area
86.30a Ανυπομονώ να δω πού θα μας πάει αυτό το ταξίδι! 86.30b (anipononó) am-impatient-1SG (na) SUBJ (do) see-1SG (poú) where (tha) will-FUT (mas) us-ACC (pái) take-3SG (aftó) this-NEUT (to) the-NEUT (taxídi) trip
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86.16 Πού θα πάμε φέτος για διακοπές; (Poú tha páme fétos ya diakopés?) “Where will we go this year for vacation?”
86.17 Δεν έχω αποφασίσει ακόμα πού θέλω να πάω. (Den écho apofasísi akóma poú thélo na páo.) “I haven’t decided yet where I want to go.”
86.18 Τι λες για ένα νησί; Πού σε αρέσει περισσότερο; (Ti les ya éna nisí? Poú se arési perisótero?) “What do you say about an island? Where do you like more?”
86.19 Η Μαρία είπε ότι ξέρει ένα μέρος που είναι υπέροχο. (I María ípe óti xéri éna méros pou íne ipérocho.) “Maria said that she knows a place that is magnificent.”
86.20 Πού βρίσκεται αυτό το μέρος; Είναι μακριά; (Poú vrísketai aftó to méros? Íne makriá?) “Where is this place located? Is it far?”
86.21 Είναι στην Κρήτη, κοντά στο μέρος όπου μεγάλωσε η γιαγιά μου. (Íne stin Kríti, kondá sto méros ópou megálosa i yiayiá mou.) “It’s in Crete, near the place where my grandmother grew up.”
86.22 Πού θα μείνουμε; Σε ξενοδοχείο ή σε σπίτι; (Poú tha mínoume? Se xenodochío í se spíti?) “Where will we stay? In a hotel or in a house?”
86.23 Η γιαγιά έχει ένα σπίτι που βλέπει στη θάλασσα. (I yiayiá échi éna spíti pou vlépi sti thálasa.) “Grandmother has a house that overlooks the sea.”
86.24 Τέλεια! Αλλά πού θα τρώμε; Υπάρχουν εστιατόρια; (Télia! Alá poú tha tróme? Ipárchoun estiatória?) “Perfect! But where will we eat? Are there restaurants?”
86.25 Όπου κι αν κοιτάξεις, υπάρχουν ταβέρνες με φρέσκο ψάρι. (Ópou ki an kitáxis, ipárchoun tavérnes me frésko psári.) “Wherever you look, there are tavernas with fresh fish.”
86.26 Πού θα αφήσουμε τον σκύλο όσο λείπουμε; (Poú tha afísoume ton skílo óso lípoume?) “Where will we leave the dog while we’re away?”
86.27 Ο Πέτρος είπε πού μπορούμε να τον αφήσουμε. (O Pétros ípe poú boroúme na ton afísoume.) “Petros said where we can leave him.”
86.28 Θα πρέπει να ρωτήσω πού μπορώ να νοικιάσω αυτοκίνητο. (Tha prépi na rotíso poú boró na nikiáso aftokínito.) “I will need to ask where I can rent a car.”
86.29 Μη σε νοιάζει πού θα πάρουμε αυτοκίνητο· εγώ ξέρω τον τόπο. (Mi se niázi poú tha pároume aftokínito; eyó xéro ton tópo.) “Don’t worry about where we’ll get a car; I know the area.”
86.30 Ανυπομονώ να δω πού θα μας πάει αυτό το ταξίδι! (Anipononó na do poú tha mas pái aftó to taxídi!) “I can’t wait to see where this trip will take us!”
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86.16 Πού θα πάμε φέτος για διακοπές; (Poú tha páme fétos ya diakopés?)
86.17 Δεν έχω αποφασίσει ακόμα πού θέλω να πάω. (Den écho apofasísi akóma poú thélo na páo.)
86.18 Τι λες για ένα νησί; Πού σε αρέσει περισσότερο; (Ti les ya éna nisí? Poú se arési perisótero?)
86.19 Η Μαρία είπε ότι ξέρει ένα μέρος που είναι υπέροχο. (I María ípe óti xéri éna méros pou íne ipérocho.)
86.20 Πού βρίσκεται αυτό το μέρος; Είναι μακριά; (Poú vrísketai aftó to méros? Íne makriá?)
86.21 Είναι στην Κρήτη, κοντά στο μέρος όπου μεγάλωσε η γιαγιά μου. (Íne stin Kríti, kondá sto méros ópou megálosa i yiayiá mou.)
86.22 Πού θα μείνουμε; Σε ξενοδοχείο ή σε σπίτι; (Poú tha mínoume? Se xenodochío í se spíti?)
86.23 Η γιαγιά έχει ένα σπίτι που βλέπει στη θάλασσα. (I yiayiá échi éna spíti pou vlépi sti thálasa.)
86.24 Τέλεια! Αλλά πού θα τρώμε; Υπάρχουν εστιατόρια; (Télia! Alá poú tha tróme? Ipárchoun estiatória?)
86.25 Όπου κι αν κοιτάξεις, υπάρχουν ταβέρνες με φρέσκο ψάρι. (Ópou ki an kitáxis, ipárchoun tavérnes me frésko psári.)
86.26 Πού θα αφήσουμε τον σκύλο όσο λείπουμε; (Poú tha afísoume ton skílo óso lípoume?)
86.27 Ο Πέτρος είπε πού μπορούμε να τον αφήσουμε. (O Pétros ípe poú boroúme na ton afísoume.)
86.28 Θα πρέπει να ρωτήσω πού μπορώ να νοικιάσω αυτοκίνητο. (Tha prépi na rotíso poú boró na nikiáso aftokínito.)
86.29 Μη σε νοιάζει πού θα πάρουμε αυτοκίνητο· εγώ ξέρω τον τόπο. (Mi se niázi poú tha pároume aftokínito; eyó xéro ton tópo.)
86.30 Ανυπομονώ να δω πού θα μας πάει αυτό το ταξίδι! (Anipononó na do poú tha mas pái aftó to taxídi!)
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The dialogue section illustrates several key grammatical points involving πού and related forms in natural conversational Greek.
Future Tense with πού: The particle θα (tha) before the verb creates the future tense. When combined with πού, it forms questions about future location or destination: Πού θα πάμε; (Where will we go?), Πού θα μείνουμε; (Where will we stay?).
Indirect Questions: Several examples show πού embedded in indirect questions after verbs of saying, knowing, or asking. In 86.17, πού θέλω να πάω (where I want to go) follows δεν έχω αποφασίσει (I haven’t decided). In 86.27, πού μπορούμε (where we can) follows είπε (he said). The accent is maintained on πού in these indirect question contexts.
που vs. πού Contrast in Dialogue: The dialogue naturally alternates between interrogative πού and relative που. Compare 86.20 Πού βρίσκεται (Where is it located? — question) with 86.19 μέρος που είναι (a place that is — relative clause) and 86.23 σπίτι που βλέπει (a house that overlooks — relative clause).
όπου κι αν Construction: In 86.25, Όπου κι αν κοιτάξεις (Wherever you look) demonstrates the “wherever” construction. The verb κοιτάξεις (kitáxis) is in the aorist subjunctive, which is standard after αν in this concessive pattern.
Impersonal Constructions: In 86.29, Μη σε νοιάζει (Don’t worry — literally “let it not concern you”) is an impersonal construction common in colloquial Greek. The negative imperative uses μη (mi) rather than δεν (den).
The Greek Raised Dot: Note in 86.29 the use of · (άνω τελεία, áno telía) — this is the Greek semicolon, distinct from the period and from the question mark (;).
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πού (poú): /pu/ — rhymes with English “boo.” The π is an unaspirated voiceless bilabial stop (no puff of air, unlike English “p”). The ου digraph always represents /u/.
που (pou): /pu/ — identical pronunciation to πού. The distinction is purely orthographic.
όπου (ópou): /ˈo.pu/ — stress on the first syllable. Two syllables: “O-poo.”
βρίσκεται (vrísketai): /ˈvris.ke.te/ — note β = /v/ in Modern Greek, not /b/.
θάλασσα (thálasa): /ˈθa.la.sa/ — the θ is a voiceless dental fricative, like English “th” in “think.”
Common pronunciation errors for English speakers: Pronouncing β as /b/ instead of /v/. Pronouncing δ as /d/ instead of /ð/ (like “th” in “this”). Aspirating π, τ, κ (Greek stops are unaspirated). Pronouncing γ as a hard /g/ instead of the fricative /ɣ/ or /ʝ/.
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive Modern Greek language course developed by the Latinum Institute, which has been creating language learning materials since 2006. The course uses a frequency-based vocabulary progression drawn from a carefully structured CSV word list, ensuring that students encounter the most useful words first.
The Latinum Institute’s methodology is rooted in the tradition of the construed text (or interlinear gloss), a pedagogical technique with roots stretching back to medieval scholarship. By placing an English gloss directly beneath each Greek word, the method eliminates the need for dictionary consultation during reading, allowing the student to focus on pattern recognition and direct comprehension. This approach is particularly effective for autodidact learners who may not have access to classroom instruction.
Each lesson is self-contained: thanks to the interlinear format, every word is immediately accessible regardless of which lesson number the student is working through. This means students can engage with natural, authentic Greek from the very first lesson, rather than being restricted to artificially simplified sentences.
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