λέω

Greek

Alternative forms

• λέγω (légo)

Etymology

From Antički Grčki 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

• MFA^(ključ): /ˈleo/
• Hyphenation: λέ‧ω

Verb

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

1. 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. 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. 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. refer to, talk about

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

6. 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. 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. be any good, be worth anything

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

9. suggest, advise

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

10. 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. think (something will happen)

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

13. 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”)