The Many Uses of Να#
Να is a Grammatical Particle
Subjunctive Particle#
The particle να can be used to indicate the subjunctive. Θέλω να μαγειρέψω σήμερα -> I want to cook today
See also Simple Subjunctive.
Indicative Particle#
Να can also be used to indicate where something is. This is constructed as να + noun or να + pronoun.
When using να with αυτός/αυτή/αυτό, the αυ gets cut off: να αυτός -> να τος (here he is). This can also be translated as “here he comes.”
See more at Να with noun or pronoun.
Examples#
Να ο Γιάννης, τον βλέπω, έρχεται -> Here is Yiannis, I see him, he’s coming - να + noun Εμείς είμαστε εδώ -> να μάστε -> “we are here” - να + pronoun
Polite Imperative/“Should”#
Related to the § Polite Imperative, να with a verb can act like “should” or a polite command.
Examples#
Όλοι οι μαθητές να βγούνε στην αυλή -> All of the students should go out to the yard Να σου τηλεφωνήσω αύριο στις 5:00 το απόγευμα -> Let me call you at 5pm tomorrow