Greek Horses

Troy: “Dada?”
Me: “Yes?”
Troy: “What’s your name?”
Me: “Dada.”
Troy: “What’s this on my face?”
Me: “A nose.”
Troy: “What’s in my hand?”
Me: “Nothing.”
Troy [giggling]: “Dada knows nothing!”
Me: “Then xero tipota.”
Troy: “What does that mean?”
Me: “It means ‘I know nothing.’ ‘Then xero’ means ‘I don’t know’ and ‘tipota’ means ‘nothing.’ So, whenever I ask you what you want to do or what you want to eat, you can answer me ‘then xero.’”
Troy: “Why would I do that?”
Me: “Because you’re always telling me ‘I don’t know’!”
Troy: “I see.”
Me: “Katalavaines?”
Troy: “What does that mean?”
Me: “Do you understand?”
Troy: “Yes.”
Me: “Then, you’d say ‘nai,’ which is Greek for ‘yes.’”
Troy: “Like a horse?”
Me: “Well, that’s the same sound, but it’s not spelled the same. The horse sound is spelled ‘n-e-i-g-h’ while the Greek word is spelled ‘n-a-i.’”
Troy: “That makes no sense at all.”
Me: “Hey, did you know that Greek horses are the most positive horses in the world?”
Troy: “Really? Why?”
Me: “Because they’re always saying ‘nai’ no matter what question you ask them. Would you like an apple? Naaaaiiiii! Are you the best horse in the world? Naaaaiiiii! Do you like living here? Naaaaiiiii! Are you saying that just because you want this apple? Naaaaiiiii! Am I the most handsome man you’ve ever seen? Oxi!”
Troy [laughing]: “Why would he say ‘no’ to the last question?”
Me: “Because much like you, he’s a cheeky horse!”