Bedeutung
Time status.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Greek Night' starts late. If you say 'Είναι αργά' at 10 PM, people might think you are tired or bored, as nightlife often peaks at 2 AM. Similar to Greece, but in smaller villages, 'Είναι αργά' might be said earlier as the pace of life follows the sun more closely. The phrase is often used as a bridge between cultures, where the Greek 'late' conflicts with the local 'early' schedule. In a professional setting, 'Είναι αργά' is a firm but polite way to decline a late-afternoon meeting request.
The 'Pia' Power
Add 'πια' (pyah) at the end to sound more native when you're frustrated or final: 'Είναι αργά πια!'
Don't be 'Argos'
Remember that 'αργός' is a person who is slow, not the time.
Bedeutung
Time status.
The 'Pia' Power
Add 'πια' (pyah) at the end to sound more native when you're frustrated or final: 'Είναι αργά πια!'
Don't be 'Argos'
Remember that 'αργός' is a person who is slow, not the time.
The Social Exit
Greeks rarely leave right after saying 'Είναι αργά'. Expect another 20 minutes of conversation!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'to be' in the present tense.
________ αργά, πρέπει να κοιμηθώ.
We use the impersonal 3rd person singular 'Είναι' for time.
Which phrase would you use to tell a friend it's time to leave a party because of the hour?
Πάμε σπίτι;
'Είναι αργά' refers to the time of day.
Complete the dialogue.
Α: Τι ώρα είναι; Β: ________. Είναι μεσάνυχτα!
Midnight (μεσάνυχτα) is considered late.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You realize it's 11 PM and you haven't finished your homework.
11 PM is late for finishing homework.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben________ αργά, πρέπει να κοιμηθώ.
We use the impersonal 3rd person singular 'Είναι' for time.
Πάμε σπίτι;
'Είναι αργά' refers to the time of day.
Α: Τι ώρα είναι; Β: ________. Είναι μεσάνυχτα!
Midnight (μεσάνυχτα) is considered late.
You realize it's 11 PM and you haven't finished your homework.
11 PM is late for finishing homework.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenUsually no. It specifically refers to the evening or night. For morning, say 'Είναι αργά το πρωί'.
You can say 'Είναι πολύ αργά' or 'Είναι αργά πια'.
No, it is the standard polite way to signal you are leaving.
'Αργά' is late/slow, 'σιγά' is slowly/quietly. They overlap but 'σιγά' is more common for speed.
Use 'Πάει αργά' or 'Περνάει η ώρα'.
Yes, it is perfectly neutral and professional.
It means 'It's never too late'—a very common proverb.
Yes, in this impersonal time expression, it never becomes plural.
Use the past tense: 'Ήταν αργά'.
It's a cultural norm tied to the climate and social values of 'parea' (company).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Είναι νωρίς
contrastIt is early
Πάει αργά
similarIt's getting late
Αργότερα
builds onLater
Είναι περασμένη η ώρα
synonymThe time has passed
Πολύ αργά
specialized formVery late
