λέω

Greek

Alternative forms

• λέγω (légo)

Etymology

From Антички Грчки λέγω (légō, “say”), from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-, with suppletive inflections such as the simple past deriving from the aorist εἶπον (eîpon), εἶπα (eîpa).

Pronunciation

• МФА^(кључ): /ˈleo/
• Хифенација: λέ‧ω

Verb

λέω (léo) (simple past είπα, passive λέγομαι)

1. (most senses) say, tell

   Tο παιδί είπε την πρώτη του λέξη. ― To paidí eípe tin próti tou léxi. ― The child said his first word.

   Ο διευθυντής μου είπε ότι πρέπει να τελειώνουμε. ― O diefthyntís mou eípe óti prépei na teleiónoume. ― The director told me that we should finish.

2. (transitive) discuss, converse

   Τα λένε μεταξύ τους. ― Ta léne metaxý tous. ― They are discussing.

   Καιρό έχουμε να τα πούμε. ― Kairó échoume na ta poúme. ― It's been a while since we talked.

3. recite, tell, recount, sing (a poem, song, etc)

   Το παιδάκι είπε ένα τραγούδι. ― To paidáki eípe éna tragoúdi. ― The child sang a song.

   Να τα πούμε; ― Na ta poúme? ― Shall we sing them? (phrase used by Greek children carolling door to door around the New Year)

4. (often in imperative) suppose, imagine (a hypothetical scenario)

   Λέμε τώρα, αν γινόταν πόλεμος. ― Léme tóra, an ginótan pólemos. ― We're supposing now, if there were a war.

   Πες πώς κάτι γινόταν. Τι θα έκανες; ― Pes pós káti ginótan. Ti tha ékanes? ― Let's say something happened. What would you do?

5. (intransitive, often with για (gia)) refer to, talk about

   Λες για τον φίλο σου τώρα; ― Les gia ton fílo sou tóra? ― Are you talking about your friend now?

6. (transitive) mean, say (to clarify etc)

   Θέλω να πω ότι δεν είναι τόσο απλά τα πράγματα. ― Thélo na po óti den eínai tóso aplá ta prágmata. ― I mean that things aren't that simple.

   Τι θα πει, «ξέχασα τις ασκήσεις μου»; ― Ti tha pei, «xéchasa tis askíseis mou»? ― What do you mean, “I forgot my homework”?

7. (intransitive, figurative) remind of, mean something to

   Αυτό το όνομα δε μου λέει τίποτα. ― Aftó to ónoma de mou léei típota. ― That name means nothing to me.

8. (intransitive, figurative) be any good, be worth anything

   Λέει τίποτα αυτό το κομπιούτερ; ― Léei típota aftó to kompioúter? ― Is this computer any good?

9. (intransitive) suggest, advise

   Λέω να πάμε μια βόλτα. ― Léo na páme mia vólta. ― I say that we should go for a walk.

10. (transitive) call (name someone or something)

    Με λένε Γιώργο. ― Me léne Giórgo. ― I am called Giorgos.

    Τον είπα βλάκα. ― Ton eípa vláka. ― I called him a fool.

11. used with δεν (den), indicates something is slow to come:

    Αυτή η μέρα δεν λέει να τελειώσει. ― Aftí i méra den léei na teleiósei. ― This day doesn't want to end.

12. (intransitive, often with να (na)) think (something will happen)

    Λες να μας προδώσει; ― Les na mas prodósei? ― Do you think he'll betray us?

13. (transitive, colloquial) read, explain (fortell using cards etc.)

Synonyms

• (talk): μιλώ (miló)
• (converse): συζητώ (syzitó), κουβεντιάζω (kouventiázo)
• (recite): απαγγέλω (apangélo)
• (sing): τραγουδώ (tragoudó)
• (imagine): φαντάζομαι (fantázomai), σκέφτομαι (skéftomai)
• (refer to): αναφέρομαι (anaféromai)
• (mean, say): εννοώ (ennoó)
• (remind of): θυμίζω (thymízo)
• (be any good, be worth anything): αξίζω (axízo)
• (suggest, advise): προτείνω (proteíno)
• (name): ονομάζω (onomázo)
• (call): αποκαλώ (apokaló)
• (think): νομίζω (nomízo)

Derived terms

• πρωτολέω (protoléo, “say for the first time”)
• and see Derivatives of λέγω

Expressions:

• εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω (egó ta léo, egó ta akoúo, “I might as well be talking to the wall”, literally “I say it, I hear it”)
• (για) να λέμε και του στραβού το δίκιο ((gia) na léme kai tou stravoú to díkio, “speaking honestly”)
• εδώ που τα λέμε (edó pou ta léme) (beginning of a phrase showing admission or confession)
• είπε ο γάιδαρος τον πετεινό κεφάλα (eípe o gáidaros ton peteinó kefála, “the pot calling the kettle black”, literally “The donkey called the rooster 'big head'”)
• εμένα μου λες; (eména mou les?, “you're telling me!”) (expressing disbelief, doubt)
• έχουμε και λέμε (échoume kai léme)
• θέλω να πω (thélo na po, “I mean”)
• και θα πεις κι ένα τραγούδι (kai tha peis ki éna tragoúdi, “you will do it anyway”)
• κάτι μας είπες (τώρα)! (káti mas eípes (tóra)!) (on being told a well-known fact)
• λεγόμενος (legómenos, “so-called”)
• λες και (les kai, “as if”, literally “say and”)
• λέω τα σύκα σύκα και τη σκάφη σκάφη (léo ta sýka sýka kai ti skáfi skáfi, “call a spade a spade”, literally “calling figs figs, and a trough a trough”) (synonym: λέω τα πράγματα με το όνομά τους)
• σου 'πα, μου 'πες (sou 'pa, mou 'pes, “this and that”) (evasive)
• τα λέμε (ta léme, “see you, bye”, literally “We say them”)
• τα λέω στον τοίχο (ta léo ston toícho, “I might as well be talking to the wall”)