To be and to have: είμαι, έχω
The two most frequent verbs in Greek — irregular, and needed from your very first sentence.
είμαι — to be
The only Greek verb with an ending set all of its own. Note the shared form είναι for both “he is” and “they are” — context decides.
Which verb introduces identity: “I am a teacher”?
είμαι — to be
The only Greek verb with an ending set all of its own. Note the shared form είναι for both “he is” and “they are” — context decides.
- Είμαι από την Ελβετία.I am from Switzerland.
- Η Μαρία είναι εδώ.Maria is here.
- Οι φίλοι είναι εδώ.The friends are here.
| πρόσωπο | είμαι |
|---|---|
| εγώ | είμαι |
| εσύ | είσαι |
| αυτός/αυτή/αυτό | είναι |
| εμείς | είμαστε |
| εσείς | είστε |
| αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά | είναι |
έχω — to have
Regular in the present, with the normal 1st-conjugation endings. It also serves as the auxiliary of the compound tenses you will meet later (έχω φάει).
- Έχουμε ένα σπίτι στη θάλασσα.We have a house by the sea.
- Έχω ένα βιβλίο.I have a book.
- Έχουμε δύο παιδιά.We have two children.
| πρόσωπο | έχω |
|---|---|
| εγώ | έχω |
| εσύ | έχεις |
| αυτός/αυτή | έχει |
| εμείς | έχουμε |
| εσείς | έχετε |
| αυτοί | έχουν |
What they express in Greek
είμαι: identity, origin, profession, age (είμαι είκοσι χρονών). έχω: possession, but also states: έχω δίκιο (I’m right), έχει ζέστη (it’s hot), τι έχεις; (what’s wrong?).
- Είμαι γιατρός.I’m a doctor.
- Είμαι είκοσι χρονών.I’m twenty years old.
- Έχω δύο αδερφές.I have two sisters.
- Τι έχεις;What’s wrong?
There is: υπάρχει, έχει
“There is / there are” is υπάρχει/υπάρχουν, or colloquially έχει: Έχει πολύ κόσμο σήμερα — there are a lot of people today.
- Υπάρχει ένα φαρμακείο εδώ κοντά.There’s a pharmacy near here.
- Υπάρχουν δύο στάσεις κοντά.There are two stops nearby.
- Έχει πολύ κόσμο σήμερα.There are a lot of people today.
Your turn
Choose the correct form.
Pyetjet e bëra shpesh
How do you conjugate «είμαι» in the present?
«Είμαι, είσαι, είναι, είμαστε, είστε, είναι» — it is the one Greek verb with an ending set all of its own, so it has to be memorised. Note that «είναι» covers both “he is” and “they are”: «Η Μαρία είναι εδώ», «Οι φίλοι είναι εδώ».
How do you say “there is / there are” in Greek?
Use «υπάρχει» for the singular and «υπάρχουν» for the plural: «Υπάρχει ένα φαρμακείο εδώ κοντά» (there's a pharmacy nearby). Colloquially you will also hear «έχει»: «Έχει πολύ κόσμο σήμερα» (there are a lot of people today).
When does Greek use «έχω» where English uses “to be”?
«Έχω» covers possession but also states: «έχω δίκιο» (I'm right), «έχει ζέστη» (it's hot), «τι έχεις;» (what's wrong?). «Είμαι» carries identity, origin, profession and age: «Είμαι είκοσι χρονών» (I'm twenty years old).