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Eight colloquial Greek verbs Posted by on Feb 18, 2020 in Vocabulary

Γεια σας! Everyday life expressions are always interesting and hard to know because they cannot be found in textbooks. In this post, there are eight common verbs used in casual conversations.

 

#1. κουκουλώνομαι: to cover oneself with a blanket or with thick clothes.

Example:

Γιατί κοκουλώθηκες έτσι; Κρυώνεις; / Why did you cover yourself with so many clothes? Are you cold?

 

#2. τα βρίσκω: βρίσκω means to find. Τα βρίσκω με κάποιον means to agree.

Examples:

Τι θα γίνει με σας τους δύο; Γιατί δεν μπορείτε να τα βρείτε και όλο τσακώνεστε; / What’s going to happen with you two? Why can’t you agree but keep fighting?

Οι μέτοχοι δεν τα βρήκαν μεταξύ τους. / The shareholders did not come to an agreement with each other.

 

#3. παίρνω (τηλέφωνο): it means to take. It can be also used to mean to call.

Examples:

Πάρε με αύριο μετά τις 3.

Θα σε πάρω αύριο το απόγευμα να τα πούμε. / I will call you tomorrow afternoon to chat.

 

#4. φωνάζω: it means to shout. It can be also used to mean to invite or to call.

Examples:

Αν δεν κλείσετε τη μουσική, θα φωνάξω την αστυνομία.

Πότε θα φωνάξεις τους φιλους σου;

 

#5. ψυλλιάζομαι (from ψύλλος which means flea): to suspect, to be on to

Examples:

Η κόρη τους έβγαινε κρυφά με τον Άρη αλλά εκείνοι το ψυλλιάστηκαν όταν ένας γείτονας τους είπε ότι τους είδε μαζί στην παραλία. / Their daughter was dating Aris but they were on to her after a neighbor told them he saw them together at the beach.

 

#6. πνίγομαι: it means to drawn and to suffocate. It can be also used to mean to be busy.

Example:

Τάσος: Θα σε δω απόψε; / Will we meet tonight?

Σοφία: Αποκλείεται! Πνίγομαι! ? No way! I’m too busy!

 

#7. δουλεύω: it means to work. It can be also used to mean to kid.

Example:

Μαρία: Θέλεις ζάχαρη στον καφέ; / Do you want sugar in your coffee?

Νίκος: Όχι, κάνω δίαιτα. / No, I’m on a diet.

Μαρία: Με δουλεύεις; Χθες καταβρόχθισες όλη την τούρτα! / Are you kidding me? Yesterday you ate (literally, you devoured) the whole cake!

 

#8. μπουκώνομαι: to stuff one’s mouth

Example:

Η Στέλλα είχε αργήσει. Ήπιε μια γουλιά καφέ, μπουκώθηκε μια φέτα ψωμί και έφυγε. / Stella was late. She took a sip of coffee, stuffed her mouth with a slice of bread and off she went.

 

 

 

Φωτογραφία από Kerstin Riemer από το Pixabay

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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.