λέω

Greek

Alternative forms

• λέγω (légo)

Etymology

From , from , with suppletive inflections such as the simple past deriving from the aorist εἶπον (εἶπον), εἶπα (εἶπα).

Pronunciation

• МФА^(key): /ˈleo/
• Hyphenation: λέ‧ω

Verb

(simple past είπα, passive λέγομαι)

1. say, tell

2. discuss, converse

3. recite, tell, recount, sing

4. suppose, imagine

5. refer to, talk about

6. mean, say

7. remind of, mean something to

8. be any good, be worth anything

9. suggest, advise

10. call

11. :

12. think

13. read, explain

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”)