How to ask the examiner to repeat in the A2 Greek exam
If you didn’t understand the question, don’t go quiet and don’t stop at “I don’t understand”: ask the examiner to repeat, to speak more slowly or to say it more simply.
The examiners speak fast, and past candidates call asking them to repeat one of the most useful skills in the exam. With the examiner you always use the polite form of “you”.
What you can say
Greek has two ways to say “you”: an informal one for a friend and a polite one for strangers. In English the phrases sound the same either way, but in Greek the verb changes, so learn the polite version for the examiner: Μπορείτε, not Μπορείς.
Learn one phrase for each of these situations. Press the button to hear it.
- Δεν κατάλαβα.dhehn kah-TAH-lah-vah · I didn’t understand.
- Μπορείτε να το πείτε πάλι;bo-REE-teh nah to PEE-teh PAH-lee · Could you say that again?
- Ξανά, παρακαλώ.ksah-NAH pah-rah-kah-LO · Again, please.
- Μπορείτε να μιλήσετε πιο αργά;bo-REE-teh nah mee-LEE-seh-teh pyo ahr-GHAH · Could you speak more slowly?
- Πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.pyo ahr-GHAH pah-rah-kah-LO · Slower, please.
- Μπορείτε να το πείτε πιο απλά;bo-REE-teh nah to PEE-teh pyo ah-PLAH · Could you say that more simply?
The ; at the end is the Greek question mark. In Δεν κατάλαβα the δ is the th of “this”, never a d.
If you don’t know a word
If there is a word you don’t know in the question or on your card, say so and ask what it means. That is better than guessing.
- Τι σημαίνει αυτό;tee see-MEH-nee af-TO · What does this mean?
- Δεν ξέρω αυτή τη λέξη.dhehn KSEH-ro af-TEE tee LEH-ksee · I don’t know this word.
- Μιλάω λίγο ελληνικά.mee-LAH-o LEE-gho eh-lee-nee-KAH · I speak a little Greek.
With your partner: the informal “you”
In the dialogue in pairs, your partner usually uses the informal “you” if, in the role-play, you are colleagues or friends. Then it is easier to make your request with the informal “you” too: Μπορείς instead of Μπορείτε.
- Μπορείς να μιλήσεις πιο αργά;bo-REES nah mee-LEE-sees pyo ahr-GHAH · Can you speak more slowly?
- Δεν ξέρω.dhehn KSEH-ro · I don’t know.
How to get the conversation back
- Say you didn’t understand, using one of the phrases above.
- Wait for them to repeat: don’t answer until you understand the question.
- Answer with the plan “answer, ‘because’, detail”: this is how to answer questions about yourself.
“I don’t understand” is fine to say too, but don’t leave it as your only answer: follow it with a request.