"Το παιδί μιλάει σιγά σιγά."

Translation: The child speaks very slowly.

[SigurdS]

Is there a rule for using "σιγά" solely or in combination ("σιγά σιγά")?

[troll1995]

Σιγά σιγά is more emphatic.

[SigurdS]

I see. Thanks

[Snommelp]

I was just about to ask if that was the case; redoublement for emphasis.

[thalia0712]

Σιγά... Siga - in estonian it means "pig"! :D
...the boy speaks pig pig! :D

[Lng52-._]

Could you use: "aπολύ αργά" to signify "very slowly"?

[kirakrakra]

Yes, Warning μίλα σιγά, σε παρακαλώ = talk quietly, while μίλα πιο αργά = talk more slowly

σιγά-σιγά = little by little

[macaubert]

is that sentence correct : "μιλάει γρήγορα γρήγορα" ?

[mpanark]

Well you cant always double the verb for emphasis
It works with γρηγορα γρηγορα but it is rearly used like that in everyday speach. It is often used as a way to indicate to someone to hurry

"Πηγαινε γρηγορα γρηγορα"
Go imediately

It also works with αργα αργα, slowly
Ακρη ακρη, at the side

Δεξια δεξια

Αριστερα αριστερα

Διπλα διπλα side by side

And at some other phrases that you should be able to understand for the context. Just do go and double every verb because it may not always be correct

[ChrysiCh.]

I think there may be an issue with the sentence here. Σιγά σιγά indeed means very slowly and σιγά can mean slowly, but σιγά on its own it can mean quietly as well. So, in order to avoid confusion and make it more clear, maybe it would be more appropriate to use the adverb "αργά"? I understand that αργά also has the meaning of "late" but I don't thing that it would cause any ambiguity here.

[Damon312364]

Shouldn't μιλά be accepted? The speaker seems to be saying this.

[G.Georgopoulos]

It's "μιλάει" - at least in the web version.

[l_LOVE_CHlCKENS]

Wow. They could write an entire duolingo chapter on usage of σιγά.

[hjhj444]

I was recently told by a native Greek speaker that αργά would be the better choice in a sentence like this. She said σιγά σιγά doesn't sound good here. I got the impression that σιγά σιγά is best used separately in a command, i.e.: Slowly!
What do the native speakers here think?

[G.Georgopoulos]

Yes, it'd be better if "αργά" were the displayed translation here.

[Sninguistics]

σιγά σιγά = αγάλι αγάλι?

[G.Georgopoulos]

This rather means something that proceeds slowly, but steadily/gradually.

[Yoryos1]

Καλημέρα. Όταν (ανατρέχεις για βοήθεια, επειδή δεν είσαι σίγουρος και) πας τον κέρσορα στη φράση, δεν υπάρχει υπόδειξη για το «very». Οπότε μπορεί να την «πατήσεις» και -όπως εγώ- να γράψεις δύο φορές το «slowly»

[Daniel62617]

Slowly slowly also has to be accepted