Όπως να το κάνουμε

[Theseus]

A common Greek filler phrase but I have found no help to translate it into idiomatic English. The only information I can find is that it means ‘well’ and indicates a general certainty. This doesn’t help at all. And πώς τι να κάνουμε;, it seems, does not mean the same. I need help to elucidate the context of these fillers with example sentences.

 

[cougr]

It's a shortened version of "όπως και να το κάνουμε" and a precise translation would require some context as it can covey a few slightly varied meanings. The two most common translations that come to mind at the moment are:

"which ever way you look at it" (and variations thereof, e.g. "however you look at it", "no matter how you look at it")

and

"no matter how you put it" (and its variations).

Eg. Όπως να το κάνουμε η απόφαση δεν ήταν δίκαια - whichever way you look at it the decision wasn't fair.

Όπως να το κάνουμε, δεν ήταν σωστό - whichever way you put it, it wasn't right.

And an example from the Net: όπως να το κάνουμε, είναι τόσο εξωφρενικό αυτό! - no matter how you look at it, this is so outrageous!

 

[Theseus]

A quick response from cougr as I have come to expect! Thanks for the explanation and examples. BTW, is it identical in meaning with πως να το κάνουμε?

 

[cougr]

It's a different expression. It basically expresses a resigned acceptance and is similar to expressions such as "what can you do", "that's just how it is", "it can't be helped" and a few others.

Eg. Έκανε ένα λάθος. Όλοι κάνουν. Πώς να το κάνουμε. - He made a mistake. Everyone does. That's just how it is.

Δεν έχουμε πολλές επιλογές...πώς να το κάνουμε. - We don't a lot of choices...What can you do.

 

[Earion]

It surely needs the και: Όπως και να το κάνουμε. However you look at it.

Without the και you run the risk of confusing it with the (filler) question: Πώς να το κάνουμε; There's no other choice. There's no way to escape it. It's inevitable.

 

[Theseus]

Thanks both cougr and Earion! The trouble is with fillers that, if you use them wrongly, so far from sounding idiomatic, they sound unnatural and you stupid.
On the Greek course I am currently studying several of the participants who are assigned to me by the (excellent) teacher monopolise the conversation and, though their Greek is very good, it is laced with too many λοιπόνς and πωπωπωs and other fillers that it sounds ‘overcooked’. I who am naturally reticent, even shy, often can’t get a word in edgeways and when I try to contribute, my mind and words are slow to react and I feel brow-beaten. I am finding this part of the course very difficult.
To try to remedy this, I play in ‘google translate’ what I would like to have said and listen to the voice of the lady who recites clearly but at full speed what I have written and this is helping me to overcome my blatant deficiencies!