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Use of Greek: verb to switch on Posted by on Aug 10, 2015 in Vocabulary

by Joonie under a CC license on Flickr

by Joonie under a CC license on Flickr

Sometimes students are not sure which verb means to turn an appliance on. The most common verb is ανοίγω (aneego) which means “to open” but also “to turn/switch on”: Ανοίγω τα μάτια μου. (Anigo ta matia mou). I open my eyes. / Ανοίγω το παράθυρο. (Anigo to parathiro). I open the window. With some nouns we also use the verb ανάβω (anavo): to light (fire)/ to turn / switch on.

Below, there are some examples of their use.

Ανοίγω

Note that the nouns are put in the accusative case (αιτιατική).

  • το φως (to fos)= the light. (The verb ανάβω (anavo) can be also used: ανάβω τα φώτα (anavo ta fota): I turn the lights on)

Μην ανάβεις το φως, θα μπουν κουνούπια. (Min anavis to fos, tha boun kounoupia). Don’t turn the light on, it will attract mosquitoes (lit: the mosquitoes will enter).

  • την τηλεόραση (tin tileorasi) = the television

Ο Πέτρος άνοιξε την τηλεόραση για να δει τις ειδήσεις. (O Petros anikse tin tileorasi gia na di tis idisis).Petros turned the television on to watch the news.

  • το ραδιόφωνο= the radio

Άνοιξα το ραδιόφωνο για να ακούσω μουσική. (Anixa to radiofono gia na akouso mousiki). I turned the radio on to listen to music (lit).

  • τον υπολογιστή / το λάπτοπ (ton ipologisti / to laptop)= the computer / the laptop

Άνοιξε τον υπολογιστή για να δει τα email της. (Anixe ton ipologisti gia na di ta email tis). She turned her PC on to see her emails (lit).

  • την οθόνη (tin othoni)= the screen

“Δε βλέπω τίποτα.” “Δεν άνοιξες την οθόνη!” (Den vlepo tipota. Den anixes tin othoni).I can’t see anything.” “You haven’t turned the screen on.

  • το κλιματιστικό (to klimatistiko)= the air-conditioner

Κάνει πολύ ζέστη! Να ανοίξουμε το κλιματιστικό; (Kani poli zesti. Na aniksoume to klimatistiko?) It’s too hot. Shall we turn the air-conditioner on?

  • το θερμοσίφωνα (to thermosifona)= the boiler (water heater).

Άνοιξα το θερμοσίφωνα γιατί δεν είχε ζεστό νερό. (Anixa to thermosifona giati den ihe zesto nero). I turned the water heater on because there was no hot water.

(The verb ανάβω can also be used: ανάβω το θερμοσίφωνα (anavo to thermosifona): I turn the water-heater on)

  • τον απορροφητήρα (ton aporofitira)= the fan

(The verb ανάβω can also be used: ανάβω το θερμοσίφωνα (anavo to thermosifona): I turn the water-heater on)

Μη μαγειρεύεις χωρίς να ανοίξεις τον απορροφητήρα. (Mi magirevis horis na anixis ton aporofitira). Don’t cook without turning the fan on.

 

by Claricethebakergardener under a CC license on Flickr.

by Claricethe bakergardener under a CC license on Flickr.

 

The verb ανοίγω is not used with the following appliances:

  • πλυντήριο (plintirio)= washing machine

The expression βάζω μπροστά (vazo brosta) or βάζω μπρος (vazo bros), which is more colloquial, is used. It means “to start”.

Μπορείς να βάλεις μπρος το πλυντήριο; Τα ρούχα είναι μέσα. (Boris na valis bros to plintirio? Ta rouha ine mesa). Can you start the washing machine? The clothes are inside.

  • κουζίνα (kouzina)= stove

The verb ανάβω (to turn on) is used.

Φωνάξαμε τον ηλεκτρολόγο γιατί η κουζίνα δεν άναβε. (Fonaksame ton ilektrologo giati ee kouzina den anave).We called the electrician because the stove wouldn’t turn on.

  • ηλεκτρική σκούπα (ilektriki skoupa)= vacuum cleaner

The expression βάζω μπροστά / or βάζω μπρος is used.

“Σκούπισες το πάτωμα;” “Όχι. Δεν ήξερα πώς να βάλω μπρος την ηλεκτρική σκούπα.” (Skoupises to patoma? Ohi. Den ixera pos na valo bros tin ilektriki skoupa).Did you sweep the floor?” “No. I didn’t know how to start the vacuum cleaner.”

The opposite of the verb ανοίγω is κλείνω which can be used to mean “to close” or “to turn off / switch off”. The opposite of the verb ανάβω is σβήνω. It means “to put out a fire” or “to turn / switch off”.

Έκλεισα / Έσβησα το φως. (Eklisa / esvisa to fos). I turned the light off.

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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.


Comments:

  1. Stella Lambrou:

    Dear Ourania,
    Thank you very much for the generocity to share your work with the world. I am a very busy teacher(like you) and I am very pleased when I find resources that can help my students.
    Your effort is much appreciated.
    Thank you
    Stella

    • Ourania:

      @Stella Lambrou Thank you Stella, I’m glad you find my posts useful!