Bedeutung
Used to denote a small total amount.
Kultureller Hintergrund
During the economic crisis (2010-2018), this phrase became a staple of news headlines to describe shrinking budgets and pensions. Hosts often use this phrase to humbly describe the food they've prepared, even if it's a lot, to show modesty. In the Cypriot dialect, you might hear 'ούλλο κι ούλλο', which is the local phonetic variation of the same phrase. Second-generation Greeks often retain this phrase because it's so common in parental 'complaining' or 'budgeting' contexts.
Placement is Key
Always put 'όλο και όλο' after the number for the most natural Greek sound.
Avoid Large Numbers
Using this with 'one million' sounds like you are a snob or very rich!
Bedeutung
Used to denote a small total amount.
Placement is Key
Always put 'όλο και όλο' after the number for the most natural Greek sound.
Avoid Large Numbers
Using this with 'one million' sounds like you are a snob or very rich!
The 'Complaint' Tone
Use a slightly descending intonation to sound like a local expressing disappointment.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase to emphasize the small amount.
Έχω πέντε ευρώ ________ για το εισιτήριο.
The phrase 'όλο και όλο' emphasizes that five euros is the total, small amount available.
Which sentence sounds most natural for a native speaker complaining about a small crowd?
The party was empty...
The phrase is used for small amounts, so 'three people' is the only logical choice.
Complete the dialogue.
Α: Πόση ώρα έχουμε για το διάλειμμα; Β: ________.
This correctly answers the question about duration with an emphasis on the limit.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Common Uses for 'όλο και όλο'
Money
- • Small change
- • Low salary
- • Cheap price
Time
- • Short break
- • Quick call
- • Few days
People
- • Small team
- • Few guests
- • Only child
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenΈχω πέντε ευρώ ________ για το εισιτήριο.
The phrase 'όλο και όλο' emphasizes that five euros is the total, small amount available.
The party was empty...
The phrase is used for small amounts, so 'three people' is the only logical choice.
Α: Πόση ώρα έχουμε για το διάλειμμα; Β: ________.
This correctly answers the question about duration with an emphasis on the limit.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenBoth are used! 'Όλο και όλο' is slightly more standard, while 'όλα κι όλα' is more informal and common in spoken Greek. They mean the same thing.
Yes, absolutely. 'Ήμασταν τρεις όλο και όλο' (We were three in total).
It's better to use 'συνολικά' in a formal email, but 'όλο και όλο' is fine if you are speaking with a colleague you know well.
No, it is an adverbial expression and remains 'όλο και όλο' regardless of what you are counting.
Verwandte Redewendungen
μόνο
synonymonly
συνολικά
synonymin total
μόνο και μόνο
similarsolely for the sake of
ίσα ίσα
contrastbarely / just enough
