How to Use Θέλω, Μπορώ and Πρέπει
When you are first learning Greek, expressing your needs, abilities, and obligations can feel like a huge milestone. Luckily, there are three "magic" verbs in Greek that will immediately unlock your ability to have real conversations: Θέλω (I want), Μπορώ (I can), and Πρέπει (I must).
These are similar to modal verbs in English. Let's look at how to use them!
The Magic Word: "να" (na)
Before we look at the verbs themselves, you need to know about the tiny but mighty word να (na).
In English, we say "I want to go". In Greek, we say "Θέλω να πάω". The word να connects our main verb (want, can, must) to the action we are talking about.
Structure: Verb + να + Action Verb
Now let's break down each of our three essential verbs.
1. Θέλω (I want)
Θέλω (thelo) is a regular Group A verb, meaning it follows the standard conjugation rules you might already be familiar with.
| English | Greek | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| I want | θέλω | thelo |
| You want (singular) | θέλεις | theleis |
| He/She/It wants | θέλει | thelei |
| We want | θέλουμε | theloume |
| You want (plural) | θέλετε | thelete |
| They want | θέλουν(ε) | theloun(e) |
Examples:
- Θέλω παγωτό. (I want ice cream.)
- Θέλεις να πάμε βόλτα; (Do you want to go for a walk?)
- Τα παιδιά θέλουν να παίξουν. (The children want to play.)
2. Μπορώ (I can)
Μπορώ (boro) is a Group B verb (ending in the accented -ώ). It means "I can" or "I am able to".
| English | Greek | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| I can | μπορώ | boro |
| You can (singular) | μπορείς | boreis |
| He/She/It can | μπορεί | borei |
| We can | μπορούμε | boroume |
| You can (plural) | μπορείτε | boreite |
| They can | μπορούν(ε) | boroun(e) |
Examples:
- Μπορώ να σε βοηθήσω. (I can help you.)
- Μπορείς να μιλήσεις πιο αργά; (Can you speak more slowly?)
- Δεν μπορούμε να έρθουμε σήμερα. (We cannot come today.)
3. Πρέπει (I must / I have to)
Here is some great news for beginners: Πρέπει (prepei) is an impersonal verb. For now, you only need to learn one form! It doesn't change based on who is doing the action. The person who "must" do something is indicated by the verb that follows the word να.
| English | Greek | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| It is necessary / must | πρέπει | prepei |
Examples:
- Πρέπει να φύγω. (I must leave.) - Notice how "φύγω" (I leave) shows who has to leave.
- Πρέπει να διαβάσεις. (You must study.)
- Αύριο πρέπει να δουλέψουμε. (Tomorrow we have to work.)
Subscribe for more free lessons
Putting It All Together
Learning just these three verbs and understanding how to link them with να gives you the power to create thousands of sentences in Greek.
Try practicing them throughout your day. When you want something, think "Θέλω..." When you have a task to do, think "Πρέπει..." Practice makes perfect!