Talking about what you enjoy can turn a basic Greek conversation into something more personal. Food, music, books, travel and free time all offer easy ways to find common interests—or discover that your tastes are very different.
The central Greek expression is μου αρέσει (mou arési), usually translated as “I like.” Its structure, however, is closer to “it is pleasing to me.” Greek changes the small word showing who experiences the feeling, and the verb changes according to whether the thing liked is singular or plural.
Greek also has straightforward ways to say that you do not like something, prefer one choice or strongly dislike something. You can hear each main example below spoken by a native Greek speaker. The pronunciation guides are approximate, but they can help English speakers get close to the sound.
Asking what someone likes to do
Τι σου αρέσει να κάνεις;
Natural translation: What do you like to do?
Pronunciation: tee soo ah-REH-see nah KAH-nees
Word for word: Τι = what · σου = to you · αρέσει = is pleasing · να κάνεις = to do
This is an informal question addressed to one person. The small word σου literally means “to you” here. Rather than making “you” the person performing the action of liking, Greek presents the activity as something that is pleasing to you.
The phrase να κάνεις corresponds naturally to “to do,” although Greek does not use an infinitive in the same way English does. The small word να is followed by a verb whose form reflects the person—in this case, informal singular “you.”
When speaking formally to one person, or when asking more than one person, use:
Τι σας αρέσει να κάνετε;
Natural translation: What do you like to do? — formal singular or plural
Pronunciation: tee sas ah-REH-see nah KAH-neh-teh
Here, σου becomes σας, and κάνεις becomes κάνετε.
Saying that you like an activity
Μου αρέσει να περπατάω.
Natural translation: I like to walk. / I like walking.
Pronunciation: moo ah-REH-see nah per-pah-TAH-oh
Word for word: Μου = to me · αρέσει = is pleasing · να περπατάω = to walk
To talk about an activity you enjoy, Greek commonly uses this pattern:
Μου αρέσει να + verb
The verb after να changes to match the person doing the activity. In Μου αρέσει να περπατάω, the ending of περπατάω identifies “I” as the person walking.
Other recorded phrases follow the same structure:
- Μου αρέσει να διαβάζω βιβλία. — I like to read books.
- Μου αρέσει να ακούω μουσική. — I like to listen to music.
- Μου αρέσει να κολυμπάω. — I like to go swimming.
- Μου αρέσει να κοιμάμαι πολύ. — I like to sleep a lot.
The verb αρέσει remains singular because the entire activity is treated as one thing that is pleasing. The stress mark in Greek shows which syllable receives emphasis: ah-REH-see, thee-ah-VAH-zoh and moo-see-KEE.
Likes connected to friends and travel
Μου αρέσει να περνάω χρόνο με φίλους.
Natural translation: I like to spend time with friends.
Pronunciation: moo ah-REH-see nah per-NAH-oh HRO-no meh FEE-loos
Word for word: Μου = to me · αρέσει = is pleasing · να περνάω = to spend · χρόνο = time · με φίλους = with friends
This is still the same basic μου αρέσει να pattern, even though the activity contains several words. A related recorded phrase Μου αρέσει να περνάω χρόνο με οικογένεια means “I like to spend time with family.”
The Greek letter χ in χρόνο has a sound produced farther back in the mouth than an English h. An approximate h sound is enough to make the word understandable while you become familiar with the native pronunciation.
Μου αρέσει να ταξιδεύω.
Natural translation: I like to travel. / I like travelling.
Pronunciation: moo ah-REH-see nah tah-ksee-THEH-voh
Word for word: Μου = to me · αρέσει = is pleasing · να ταξιδεύω = to travel
The Greek δ in ταξιδεύω sounds like th in the English word “this,” not like English d. The combination ξ represents the two sounds ks, as in “taxi.”
Another recorded example uses Μου αρέσει να πηγαίνω στην Ιταλία for “I enjoy visiting Italy.” The natural English translation uses “enjoy,” but Greek retains the ordinary μου αρέσει structure.
Liking a thing
Μου αρέσει η πίτσα.
Natural translation: I like pizza.
Pronunciation: moo ah-REH-see ee PEET-sah
Word for word: Μου = to me · αρέσει = is pleasing · η πίτσα = the pizza
When Greek talks about liking something as a general category, the noun commonly appears with the definite article. English says “I like pizza,” while Greek says Μου αρέσει η πίτσα, with η before the feminine noun πίτσα.
The article depends on the noun:
- Μου αρέσει ο καφές. — I like coffee.
- Μου αρέσει η μουσική. — I like music.
- Μου αρέσει το τσάι. — I like tea.
These examples use ο, η and το because Greek nouns have grammatical gender. The noun is the grammatical subject of αρέσει, which is why it appears in the nominative form.
Αρέσει or αρέσουν?
The verb agrees with the thing that is liked, not with the person who likes it.
Use αρέσει for:
- one singular thing: Μου αρέσει η πίτσα.
- an activity: Μου αρέσει να διαβάζω.
- a longer activity: Μου αρέσει να περνάω χρόνο με φίλους.
Use αρέσουν when plural things are pleasing:
- Μου αρέσουν τα βιβλία. — I like books.
- Μου αρέσουν οι ταινίες. — I like films.
- Μου αρέσουν τα ταξίδια. — I like travelling/trips.
The person experiencing the preference is shown by a short form before the verb:
| Greek | Natural meaning |
|---|---|
| μου αρέσει | I like it |
| σου αρέσει | you like it — informal singular |
| του αρέσει | he likes it |
| της αρέσει | she likes it |
| μας αρέσει | we like it |
| σας αρέσει | you like it — formal or plural |
| τους αρέσει | they like it |
Change αρέσει to αρέσουν when the liked things are plural, but keep the person marker: Μου αρέσουν τα βιβλία and Της αρέσουν οι ταινίες.
Asking about food preferences
Τι σου αρέσει να τρως;
Natural translation: What do you like to eat?
Pronunciation: tee soo ah-REH-see nah trohs
Word for word: Τι = what · σου = to you · αρέσει = is pleasing · να τρως = to eat
This informal question follows the same structure as Τι σου αρέσει να κάνεις;, with τρως replacing κάνεις.
A formal version is:
Τι σας αρέσει να τρώτε; — What do you like to eat?
The response can name a food directly: Μου αρέσει η πίτσα (“I like pizza”). There is no need to repeat the verb for eating when the context is clear.
Saying that you do not like something
Δεν μου αρέσει ο καφές.
Natural translation: I don’t like coffee.
Pronunciation: then moo ah-REH-see oh kah-FESS
Word for word: Δεν = not · μου = to me · αρέσει = is pleasing · ο καφές = the coffee
To make the expression negative, place δεν before μου αρέσει:
- Μου αρέσει ο καφές. — I like coffee.
- Δεν μου αρέσει ο καφές. — I don’t like coffee.
The δ in δεν sounds like th in “this.” The final stress in καφές is important: kah-FESS.
For a softer reaction, you can say Δεν μου αρέσει πολύ (“I don’t like it very much”). This often sounds less blunt when you are commenting on a suggestion, meal or activity.
When the thing being discussed is already clear, Greek can simply say Δεν μου αρέσει—“I don’t like it.”
Talking about someone else’s likes
Δεν του αρέσει να βλέπει τηλεόραση.
Natural translation: He doesn’t like to watch television.
Pronunciation: then too ah-REH-see nah VLEH-pee tee-leh-OH-rah-see
Word for word: Δεν = not · του = to him · αρέσει = is pleasing · να βλέπει = to watch · τηλεόραση = television
The small word changes from μου (“to me”) to του (“to him”). The verb after να also changes because he is the person watching: να βλέπει rather than να βλέπω.
For a woman, use της:
Της αρέσει η δουλειά της.
Natural translation: She likes her job.
Pronunciation: tees ah-REH-see ee thoo-LYAH tees
Word for word: Της = to her · αρέσει = is pleasing · η δουλειά της = her job
The first της means “to her,” while the second shows possession: “her job.” They have the same written and spoken form, but their roles are clear from their positions in the sentence.
Expressing a preference
Προτιμάς το τσάι ή τον καφέ;
Natural translation: Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Pronunciation: pro-tee-MAHS toh TSAH-ee ee ton kah-FEH
Word for word: Προτιμάς = you prefer · το τσάι = tea · ή = or · τον καφέ = coffee
Use προτιμώ when choosing between alternatives or saying that one option suits you better. Προτιμάς is the informal singular “you” form. The formal or plural question is:
Προτιμάτε το τσάι ή τον καφέ;
The words for tea and coffee have different articles because τσάι is neuter and καφές is masculine. After προτιμάς, coffee appears as the direct object τον καφέ, rather than the subject form ο καφές seen in Δεν μου αρέσει ο καφές.
Προτιμώ τον μαύρο καφέ.
Natural translation: I prefer black coffee.
Pronunciation: pro-tee-MOH ton MAV-ro kah-FEH
Word for word: Προτιμώ = I prefer · τον μαύρο καφέ = black coffee
Unlike μου αρέσει, προτιμώ behaves more like an ordinary English verb. Its ending shows that the speaker is “I.”
The same verb can introduce an activity:
Προτιμώ να μένω σπίτι. — I prefer to stay at home.
Greek does not require both alternatives to be stated. This phrase can be used when going out has already been mentioned or when the contrast is obvious from the conversation.
A stronger dislike
Μισώ το τυρί.
Natural translation: I hate cheese.
Pronunciation: mee-SOH toh tee-REE
Word for word: Μισώ = I hate · το τυρί = the cheese
Μισώ is considerably stronger than δεν μου αρέσει. Use it for a genuine strong dislike or a deliberately emphatic comment.
Another recorded example is Μισώ τη δουλειά μου—“I hate my job.”
That sentence is forceful. Δεν μου αρέσει η δουλειά μου would mean “I don’t like my job” and would sound less intense.
Liking something versus wanting it now
Greek distinguishes a general preference from a present desire:
- Μου αρέσει να βγαίνω. — I like going out in general.
- Θέλω να βγω απόψε. — I want to go out tonight.
The phrase Θέλω να βγω έξω απόψε is naturally translated as “I feel like going out tonight.”
English “feel like” can describe a current desire, so Greek often uses θέλω (“I want”) rather than an expression with αρέσει. This distinction is useful: μου αρέσει describes what you generally enjoy, while θέλω focuses on what you want at a particular moment.
Because θέλω can sound more direct than English “feel like,” tone and context matter. In a casual conversation about plans, it is entirely natural.
Informal and formal forms
The main changes occur in the person marker and in the verb after να:
| Meaning | Informal singular | Formal singular or plural |
|---|---|---|
| What do you like to do? | Τι σου αρέσει να κάνεις; | Τι σας αρέσει να κάνετε; |
| What do you like to eat? | Τι σου αρέσει να τρως; | Τι σας αρέσει να τρώτε; |
| Do you prefer tea or coffee? | Προτιμάς το τσάι ή τον καφέ; | Προτιμάτε το τσάι ή τον καφέ; |
| Do you like coffee? | Σου αρέσει ο καφές; | Σας αρέσει ο καφές; |
Use the informal singular forms with friends, relatives, children and people with whom you have an established casual relationship. Use σας and the corresponding plural verb forms when speaking to several people or politely addressing one person.
The social choice varies with age and setting. Greek speakers often use the informal singular comfortably in friendly environments, while the plural form remains useful with strangers, customers, older people and in professional situations.
A short everyday exchange
Person 1: Τι σου αρέσει να κάνεις; Person 2: Μου αρέσει να ακούω μουσική και να διαβάζω βιβλία. Person 1: Προτιμάς να μένεις σπίτι; Person 2: Συνήθως, ναι. Δεν μου αρέσει πολύ η τηλεόραση.
Natural translation:
Person 1: What do you like to do? Person 2: I like listening to music and reading books. Person 1: Do you prefer staying at home? Person 2: Usually, yes. I don’t like television very much.
The exchange moves naturally from an open question to two interests, a preference and a mild dislike. The same small set of expressions can support many conversations without turning into a long list of unrelated vocabulary.
Making preferences part of a conversation
Greek does not map English “like” onto a single word in every situation. Μου αρέσει presents something as pleasing to you, προτιμώ compares alternatives, δεν μου αρέσει expresses a dislike and μισώ makes that dislike much stronger. A current desire may instead call for θέλω.
Learning these as complete expressions makes their structure easier to use. Μου αρέσει η πίτσα, Μου αρέσει να ταξιδεύω and Δεν μου αρέσει ο καφές each work as a natural conversational unit.
Hear Likes and Dislikes in Complete Greek Phrases
The main examples in this article are taken from the LinguaBoost Greek course and recorded by a native Greek speaker.
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