An invitation needs more than the word for coffee. Practise suggesting an activity, checking whether the other person can come and agreeing on a time and place. This fictional exchange is between two people who use informal singular forms. It is about arranging a meeting, rather than ordering drinks.
A short invitation
| Θέλεις να πάμε για καφέ αύριο; | Would you like to go for coffee tomorrow? |
| Ναι, ευχαρίστως. Τι ώρα; | Yes, gladly. What time? |
| Στις πέντε το απόγευμα; | At five in the afternoon? |
| Στις πέντε δεν μπορώ. Μπορούμε στις έξι; | I can’t at five. Can we do six? |
| Βεβαίως. Στο καφέ δίπλα στον σταθμό; | Of course. At the café next to the station? |
| Ωραία, τα λέμε αύριο στις έξι! | Great, see you tomorrow at six! |
Make the invitation
Θέλεις να πάμε για καφέ; invites someone to go for coffee together. Θέλεις addresses one person informally; πάμε refers to going together. Add αύριο, “tomorrow”, if you want to suggest a day. Keep the invitation as a complete phrase while learning it.
Distinguish accepting from availability
Ναι, ευχαρίστως accepts the invitation. It does not mean every suggested time is possible. In the dialogue, the person wants to meet but cannot at five. Στις πέντε δεν μπορώ rejects that time, not the whole invitation. Μπορούμε στις έξι; proposes an alternative.
Decline without inventing a reason
You can say Ευχαριστώ, αλλά δεν μπορώ αύριο, “Thank you, but I can’t tomorrow”. If you want another day, add Μπορούμε την Παρασκευή; — “Can we do Friday?” You do not need to explain private plans in order to practise declining politely. A simple refusal and, if wanted, an alternative are enough.
Confirm the final arrangement
Στο καφέ δίπλα στον σταθμό means “at the café next to the station”. Δίπλα identifies the café through a nearby landmark. The final line confirms tomorrow at six, replacing the earlier suggestion of five. Listen to the last agreed time rather than remembering the first number you hear.
Check the plan
- Which day do they agree to meet?
- What time is first suggested, and what time is finally agreed?
- Is the café next to or opposite the station?
- Decline an invitation for tomorrow with thanks.
See the answers
1. Tomorrow: αύριο. 2. Five is suggested first; six is agreed. 3. Next to the station: δίπλα στον σταθμό. 4. Ευχαριστώ, αλλά δεν μπορώ αύριο. Other polite refusals are possible.
Try another invitation
Change tomorrow to την Παρασκευή, “on Friday”, and suggest στις επτά το απόγευμα, “at seven in the evening”. Have your partner accept the day but suggest a different time. Finish by repeating the agreed day, time and place. Switch roles so both of you practise proposing an alternative.
Practise ordering once you reach the café. Review directions and landmarks.