Plans are one of the most useful subjects for an everyday Greek conversation. You may want to ask what someone is doing, suggest meeting the next day, explain that you are unavailable, or say how you prefer to spend an evening. Greek handles these situations with a few flexible structures built around σκοπεύω (“I plan”), θέλω (“I want”), μπορώ (“I can”) and ας (“let’s”).
Those structures also reveal an important feature of modern Greek: after words such as να and ας, the following verb changes according to the person and often according to whether the action is viewed as a general activity or a single planned event. The examples below show these patterns inside complete phrases, so you can hear both the grammar and the natural rhythm. Each main example is spoken by a native Greek speaker.
Asking what someone is planning
Τί σκοπεύεις να κάνεις;
Natural translation: What are you planning to do?
Pronunciation: tee skoh-PEH-vees nah KAH-nees
Word for word: Τί = what · σκοπεύεις = you plan/intend · να κάνεις = to do
This is an informal question for one person. The ending -εις in σκοπεύεις identifies informal singular “you.” After να, the verb κάνεις also matches the person being addressed.
The question asks about an intention rather than a fixed appointment. It can refer to the evening, the weekend or a holiday when the time is already clear. You can make the time explicit:
- Τί σκοπεύεις να κάνεις απόψε; — What are you planning to do tonight?
- Τί σκοπεύεις να κάνεις αύριο; — What are you planning to do tomorrow?
- Τί σκοπεύεις να κάνεις το Σαββατοκύριακο; — What are you planning to do at the weekend?
For formal singular or plural “you,” use Τί σκοπεύετε να κάνετε; Both verbs change from the informal -εις form to -ετε.
Describing a specific plan
Σκοπεύω να πάω για ψάρεμα.
Natural translation: I’m planning to go fishing.
Pronunciation: skoh-PEH-voh nah PAH-oh yah PSEE-reh-mah
Word for word: Σκοπεύω = I plan/intend · να πάω = to go · για ψάρεμα = fishing
The useful frame is Σκοπεύω να + verb. In this sentence, να πάω refers to going on a particular occasion. Greek often distinguishes between a single intended event and an activity viewed as habitual or ongoing.
The expression πάω για ψάρεμα literally means “go for fishing.” The same pattern works with several leisure activities:
- πάω για περπάτημα — go for a walk
- πάω για ψώνια — go shopping
- πάω για καφέ — go for coffee
- πάω για φαγητό — go out for food/a meal
These are supplementary expressions rather than additional recorded examples. They show why learning πάω για… as a unit is more useful than translating each word separately.
Σκοπεύω να διαβάσω.
Natural translation: I’m planning to study. / I’m planning to read.
Pronunciation: skoh-PEH-voh nah thee-ah-VAH-soh
Word for word: Σκοπεύω = I plan · να διαβάσω = to study/read
Διαβάζω can mean either “read” or “study,” and context determines the natural English translation. The form διαβάσω presents the activity as the intended action or outcome. If someone asks about the weekend before an exam, “study” is the likely meaning; with a novel already under discussion, “read” may be more natural.
You can add an object when needed: Σκοπεύω να διαβάσω ένα βιβλίο means “I’m planning to read a book,” while Σκοπεύω να διαβάσω για τις εξετάσεις means “I’m planning to study for the exams.”
Δεν σκοπεύω να κάνω τίποτα.
Natural translation: I’m not planning to do anything.
Pronunciation: then skoh-PEH-voh nah KAH-noh TEE-poh-tah
Word for word: Δεν = not · σκοπεύω = I plan · να κάνω = to do · τίποτα = anything/nothing
Greek normally keeps δεν and τίποτα together in a negative sentence. Although τίποτα can correspond literally to “nothing,” the complete phrase is naturally translated as “I’m not planning to do anything.” This double-negative structure is normal Greek, not an error.
Depending on tone, the sentence may mean that you have no arrangements or that you deliberately want a quiet day. You can clarify with Θα μείνω σπίτι (“I’ll stay home”) or Θέλω να ξεκουραστώ (“I want to rest”).
Saying what you feel like doing tonight
Θέλω να βγω έξω απόψε.
Natural translation: I feel like going out tonight. / I want to go out tonight.
Pronunciation: THEH-loh nah vghoh EH-ksoh ah-POH-pseh
Word for word: Θέλω = I want · να βγω = to go out · έξω = outside/out · απόψε = tonight
English often softens a current desire with “I feel like…,” while Greek naturally uses θέλω. In a relaxed discussion about evening plans, this does not have to sound demanding.
The form βγω points to the single event of going out tonight. Compare it with Μου αρέσει να βγαίνω—“I like going out”—which describes a general preference. The contrast is practical:
- Θέλω να βγω απόψε. — I want to go out tonight.
- Μου αρέσει να βγαίνω τα Σαββατοκύριακα. — I like going out at weekends.
The word απόψε can appear earlier for emphasis: Απόψε θέλω να βγω έξω. The core meaning remains the same.
Talking about free-time activities
Μου αρέσει να περπατάω.
Natural translation: I like walking. / I like to walk.
Pronunciation: moo ah-REH-see nah per-pah-TAH-oh
Word for word: Μου = to me · αρέσει = is pleasing · να περπατάω = to walk
Use Μου αρέσει να… for an activity you generally enjoy. Its structure is closer to “It is pleasing to me to…” than to the English verb “like.” The activity after να is treated as the thing that is pleasing.
Περπατάω describes walking as an activity. If you want to propose one particular walk, Greek instead uses Ας πάμε για περπάτημα—“Let’s go for a walk.” The difference between a general interest and a specific proposal helps keep a conversation clear.
Μου αρέσει να ταξιδεύω.
Natural translation: I like travelling. / I like to travel.
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 the th in English “this,” while ξ represents the sounds ks. This phrase describes travel as a general interest; it does not itself say that a journey has been booked.
To move from preference to intention, say Σκοπεύω να ταξιδέψω τον επόμενο μήνα—“I’m planning to travel next month.” The change from ταξιδεύω to ταξιδέψω reflects the shift from an ongoing activity to a particular future trip.
Πηγαίνω συχνά για ψώνια.
Natural translation: I often go shopping.
Pronunciation: pee-YEH-noh see-HNAH yah PSON-yah
Word for word: Πηγαίνω = I go · συχνά = often · για ψώνια = shopping
This sentence combines an activity with a frequency word. Συχνά can move to the beginning—Συχνά πηγαίνω για ψώνια—when frequency is the point being emphasized.
Other useful frequency words are πάντα (“always”), μερικές φορές (“sometimes”), σπάνια (“rarely”) and ποτέ (“never”). In a negative sentence, “never” appears with δεν: Δεν πηγαίνω ποτέ για ψώνια το Σάββατο—“I never go shopping on Saturday.”
Making and declining arrangements
Μπορούμε να μιλήσουμε αύριο αν θέλεις.
Natural translation: We can talk tomorrow if you want.
Pronunciation: boh-ROO-meh nah mee-LEE-soo-meh AH-vree-oh an THEH-lees
Word for word: Μπορούμε = we can · να μιλήσουμε = talk · αύριο = tomorrow · αν θέλεις = if you want
This is a flexible, low-pressure suggestion. Αν θέλεις softens the proposal by leaving the choice open. The formal or plural version is αν θέλετε.
The structure can be adapted with a complete, correctly inflected verb: Μπορούμε να συναντηθούμε αύριο αν θέλεις means “We can meet tomorrow if you want.” Because μπορούμε already identifies “we,” the verb after να also takes a first-person plural form.
Δεν μπορώ να μιλήσω αύριο.
Natural translation: I can’t talk tomorrow.
Pronunciation: then boh-ROH nah mee-LEE-soh AH-vree-oh
Word for word: Δεν = not · μπορώ = I can · να μιλήσω = talk · αύριο = tomorrow
Place δεν directly before μπορώ to make “can” negative. This phrase declines a suggestion clearly without implying that you do not want to speak at all.
A natural next step is to offer another time: Δεν μπορώ αύριο, αλλά μπορώ την Τετάρτη—“I can’t tomorrow, but I can on Wednesday.” Greek uses the article την before a day when referring to a particular occurrence of that day.
Ας συναντηθούμε στο πάρκο στις επτά και τέταρτο.
Natural translation: Let’s meet at the park at quarter past seven.
Pronunciation: as see-nahn-dee-THOO-meh stoh PAR-koh stees eh-PTAH keh TEH-tar-toh
Word for word: Ας = let’s · συναντηθούμε = meet · στο πάρκο = at the park · στις επτά και τέταρτο = at quarter past seven
Ας + verb is a common way to make a “let’s” suggestion. The form συναντηθούμε includes both participants in the proposed meeting.
Greek says επτά και τέταρτο, literally “seven and a quarter.” For a simpler time, you can say Ας συναντηθούμε στις επτά—“Let’s meet at seven.” The preposition and article combine as στις before the clock time.
Talking about holiday plans
Πού θέλεις να πας διακοπές;
Natural translation: Where do you want to go on holiday?
Pronunciation: poo THEH-lees nah pas thee-ah-koh-PESS
Word for word: Πού = where · θέλεις = you want · να πας = to go · διακοπές = holidays/vacation
The phrase πάω διακοπές means “go on holiday.” Greek normally uses the plural noun διακοπές. This question is informal; use Πού θέλετε να πάτε διακοπές; formally or with several people.
Φέτος θέλω να πάω στην Ινδία.
Natural translation: This year I want to visit India.
Pronunciation: FEH-tos THEH-loh nah PAH-oh steen een-THEE-ah
Word for word: Φέτος = this year · θέλω = I want · να πάω = to go · στην Ινδία = to India
Greek expresses the idea literally as “I want to go to India.” Before a feminine country name, σε + την contracts to στην. Other countries require different forms, so it is better to learn the destination as a complete phrase: στην Ελλάδα (“to Greece”), στην Ιταλία (“to Italy”), but στον Καναδά (“to Canada”) and στο Μεξικό (“to Mexico”).
Informal and formal forms at a glance
| Meaning | Informal singular | Formal singular or plural |
|---|---|---|
| What are you planning to do? | Τί σκοπεύεις να κάνεις; | Τί σκοπεύετε να κάνετε; |
| Where do you want to go on holiday? | Πού θέλεις να πας διακοπές; | Πού θέλετε να πάτε διακοπές; |
| We can talk tomorrow if you want. | Μπορούμε να μιλήσουμε αύριο αν θέλεις. | Μπορούμε να μιλήσουμε αύριο αν θέλετε. |
| Do you want to meet tomorrow? | Θέλεις να συναντηθούμε αύριο; | Θέλετε να συναντηθούμε αύριο; |
The formal forms use plural verb endings even when addressing one person politely. In friendly settings, Greek speakers readily use the informal singular, while -ετε forms remain important with strangers, customers, older people and in professional contexts.
A natural conversation about the weekend
Person 1: Τί σκοπεύεις να κάνεις το Σαββατοκύριακο;
Person 2: Το Σάββατο σκοπεύω να διαβάσω, αλλά θέλω να βγω έξω το βράδυ.
Person 1: Μπορούμε να συναντηθούμε στο πάρκο αν θέλεις.
Person 2: Ναι. Ας συναντηθούμε στις επτά.
Natural translation:
Person 1: What are you planning to do at the weekend?
Person 2: On Saturday I’m planning to study, but I want to go out in the evening.
Person 1: We can meet at the park if you want.
Person 2: Yes. Let’s meet at seven.
The exchange moves from an open question to a plan, a contrasting preference and a concrete arrangement. The expressions are reusable because they preserve the verb forms needed for each person rather than treating planning vocabulary as isolated words.
The main examples in this article are taken from the LinguaBoost Greek course and recorded by a native Greek speaker.
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