What’s the difference between μάλιστα and ναι?

20 Feb

“I keep hearing this”, Ursula told me the other day, “and I’m still not sure when to use it. I mean, I know what μάλιστα means, but how is it different to ναι?”

Have you thought the same thing? In a chat with a Greek, μάλιστα and ναι will often be used interchangeably - not always though. Let’s see how.

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Imagine you’re at the bookshop:

Ψάχνω αυτό το βιβλίο. Το έχετε; I’m looking for this book. Do you have it?
Μάλιστα, ένα λεπτό να το φέρω. Yes/Sure, one minute and I’ll bring it.

And here’s another example. Here’s how your Greek friend Ioanna would answer the phone:

Γεια σας, μπορώ να μιλήσω με την κυρία Ιωάννα; Hello, may I speak with Mrs. Ioanna?
Μάλιστα, η ίδια. Ποιος είναι; Yes, it’s me/the same (yes, speaking). Who is it?

Did you notice it? It’s very similar to ναι, isn’t it? (Ursula was definitely right to feel confused.)

So, in this post you’ll learn what μάλιστα means and how Greeks use it in the same or even in a different way than ναι. You’ll see the casual or more formal use - so that next time you’ll be prepared whether you’re at the bank or at the convenience store chatting with the friendly owner.

Ready to dive in? (Bonus points if you just replied with a μάλιστα!)

According to the dictionary, μάλιστα used to mean “a lot”, “more than anything'', “with the utmost certainty” in ancient Greek.

But in modern Greek, there are two main uses:

#1 Absolute agreement

(This is the one that might confuse you).

Κατάλαβες; Did you understand?
Μάλιστα λοχαγέ! Yes, Captain!

This is just an affirmative answer, but - notice this! - it’s often given as a reply to an authority or a superior to show absolute understanding or agreement. Thus the “Captain” example.

However, you don’t use it always towards an authority. Μάλιστα is frequently used quite casually as well. Let’s see this below.

Remember the example above with your friend Ioanna? Here it is again:

Γεια σας, θα μπορούσα να μιλήσω με την κυρία Ιωάννα; Hello, may I speak with (to) Mrs. Ioanna?
Μάλιστα, η ίδια. Ποιος είναι; Yes, it’s me/the same (yes, speaking). Who is it?

Ioanna uses μάλιστα alongside the pronoun η ίδια (masculine: ο ίδιος, neuter: το ίδιο) to express certainty: “it’s me, speaking” similar to the English “Yes, speaking”. This is frequently used when you answer the phone.

Now notice here the difference compared to an answer which includes ναι:

Θα ήθελες καφέ; Would you like some coffee?
Ναι, ευχαριστώ. Yes, thank you.

And then:

Είσαι έτοιμη να φύγουμε; Are you ready to go?
Μάλιστα. (Yes) I sure am.

How does μάλιστα sound to you now? Does it feel a bit “stronger”, more absolute than ναι?

Although both replies are casual, in the first example, answering with μάλιστα would sound a bit strange: ναι works better. In the second example, both replies work.

Just for fun, don’t miss this movie clip from an old 50’s Greek movie. Then count how many times the actress, playing a high school student, said “μάλιστα”. You might be just as annoyed as her teacher!

Don’t worry though, μάλιστα is not annoying. On the contrary, it is so common that you definitely want to include it in your speaking.

To recap:

Ναι is what you generally use as “yes”. Μάλιστα is what you can use to mostly show agreement and certainty - as an alternative to ναι.

#2 A completely different meaning: “especially”

The second main use of μάλιστα is with και: “και μάλιστα”.

However - surprise! - it is not an answer anymore. What?!

The phrase “και μάλιστα” takes the meaning of “especially” or “moreover” to show an important or extra information about what you want to say. In short, to emphasize. In this sense it is completely different to ναι. You wouldn’t use ναι in a phrase with this structure.

Does it sound confusing? Here are a couple of examples to help you:

Δεν έχω διάθεση να τον δω, και μάλιστα τώρα που έχουμε τσακωθεί. I’m in no mood to see him, especially since we’ve fought.
Πού θα πας τέτοια ώρα, και μάλιστα με αυτόν τον αέρα! Where are you going at a time like this and especially with this wind!

And a short dialogue:

Έφαγες στο πάρτυ; Did you eat at the party?

Έφαγα και μάλιστα πολύ! I did and what’s more, I ate a lot!

To recap:

Και μάλιστα is about adding information and emphasis to your sentence.

Plus 3 more…

#3 On the contrary

This use of μάλιστα, which is again different to ναι shows a contrast or contradiction. It is less common than the first two, but still widely used.

Let’s see an example:

Γιατί δε με περίμενες χτες στο σινεμά; Why didn’t you wait for me yesterday at the cinema?
Τι; Το αντίθετο μάλιστα, σε περίμενα 1 ώρα! What? On the contrary, I was waiting for you for 1 hour!

And here is another one:

Κανένας δεν τα πήγε καλά στο τεστ. Μάλιστα όλοι απέτυχαν! No one wrote well at the test. On the contrary, everyone failed!

In this third use, μάλιστα is often used with the word το αντίθετο or αντιθέτως or απεναντίας, all expressing contrast: on the contrary, far from it, in contrast.

#4 As a filler word

Ιn Greek you’d also say μάλιστα (also imagine this with a little typical syllable dragging at the end: μάλιστααα) just before changing the subject or before stating your opinion. A little bit like έτσι λοιπόν or λοιπόν.

Μάλιστααα…και τι θα κάνουμε τώρα; Okay/So, what do we do now?

#5 One phrase, two meanings

And because you know how I love some vocabulary quirkiness, I could not leave you without “τώρα μάλιστα!”. Have you ever heard of it?

This is either said sarcastically:

Τώρα… μάλιστα! Αφού σου είπα να πας σήμερα στην τράπεζα! Oh great! But I told you to go today to the bank!

Or as an encouragement:

Τώρα μάλιστα! Τα κατάφερες! That’s it! You did it!

Hopefully things are a bit clearer now? What do you think?

As always, practice makes better so take the time to re-read this list and then try this: Write an example of yours below with any of these meanings and I’ll get back to you with feedback. Or simply ask any questions and leave your comment below!

Thank you for learning with me,

~ Danae