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To talk, to discuss: Greek vocabulary Posted by on Mar 23, 2016 in Culture, Vocabulary

By N Stjerna under a CC license on Flickr

By N Stjerna under a CC license on Flickr

Most people believe that the Greeks are extroverted and talkative. Even though this is not always the case, it is true that most of us enjoy spending a lot of time talking with friends. In this post you may find some basic vocabulary related to speaking. Enjoy!

  • απαντάω= to answer, to reply

Τη ρώτησα αν θα έρθει στο πάρτι αλλά δεν απάντησε.= I asked her if she would come to the party but she didn’t answer.

  • αποκρίνομαι= to answer, to reply

“Τι μεγάλα μάτια που έχεις, γιαγιά!” είπε η Κοκκινοσκουφίτσα.

“Για να σε βλέπω καλύτερα”, αποκρίθηκε η γιαγιά.

“What big eyes you have, grandmother!” said Little Red Riding Hood.

“All the better to see you with”, replied the grandmother.

  • κουβεντιάζω= to discuss

Της αρέσει να κουβεντιάζει με την Ηλέκτρα.= She likes discussing with Electra (literally)

  • λέω= to say

Η Μαργαρίτα δεν είπε τίποτα για την αδερφή της.= Margarita didn’t say anything about her sister.

  • μιλάω= to speak

Δεν μιλάνε ελληνικά με τους γονείς τους.= They don’t speak Greek with their parents.

  • ρωτάω= to ask

“Ξέρεις τι ώρα είναι;” ρώτησε ο Αλέξης.= “Do you know what time is it?” asked Alexis.

  • συζητάω= to discuss

Συζήτησαν για την αλλαγή του κλίματος.= They discussed about the climate change.

  • φλυαρώ= to blabber

Το παιδί φλυαρούσε ασταμάτητα σε όλο το ταξίδι.= The child blabbered continuously during the whole trip.

  • φωνάζω= to shout, to yell

Όταν ο Μίλτος έχει άδικο φωνάζει.= When Miltos is wrong he yells.

  • ψιθυρίζω= to whisper

Γιατί ψιθυρίζεις; Κανείς δεν κοιμάται.= Why are you whispering? Nobody’s sleeping.

By talaakso under a CC license on Flickr

By talaakso under a CC license on Flickr

 

Ιδιωματισμοί / Idioms

Δε βάζει γλώσσα μέσα του/της= to talk somebody’s had off / (literally: He / She doesn’t put his/her tongue inside)

Πάει η γλώσσα του/της ροδάνι= to talk somebody’s had off / (literally: His / Her tongue moves like a spinning wheel)

Μιας και το ΄φερε η κουβέντα= speaking of which

 

Παροιμίες / Proverbs

Η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει και κόκαλα τσακίζει.= The tongue breaks bone, though itself has none.

Μεγάλη μπουκιά φάε, μεγάλο λόγο μην πεις.= Eat a big bite but don’t say big statement.

Τα πολλά λόγια είναι φτώχεια.= Least said soonest mended.

Τα λίγα λόγια ζάχαρη και τα καθόλου μέλι.= Speech is silver, silence is golden.

By foilman under a CC license on Flickr

By foilman under a CC license on Flickr

 

 

Πηγές:

http://lexilogia.gr/home/

http://www.translatum.gr

 

 

 

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About the Author: Ourania

Ourania lives in Athens. She holds a degree in French Literature and a Master’s degree in Special Education for Children. Since 2008, she has been teaching Greek to foreigners.