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“Clean” vocabulary in Greek Posted by on Mar 16, 2016 in Vocabulary

By Zeal Harris under a CC license on Flickr

By Zeal Harris under a CC license on Flickr

One of the most common stereotypes is that for Greek women the housework never ends.This stereotype doesn’t apply to the “new-generation” women, because most of them work so they spend very few time for cleaning the house compared to their grand-mothers. Τhis post is not about Greek housewives though, it is about vocabulary related to housework.

 

Ρήματα – verbs

αερίζω: to clean the air

απλώνω: to hang to dry, to peg

απολυμαίνω: to disinfect

βάζω πλυντήριο: to do laundry

βάζω ηλεκτρική (σκούπα): to vacuum

αφαιρώ / βγάζω: to remove

γυαλίζω (τα έπιπλα): to polish (the furniture)

καθαρίζω: to clean

ξεβγάζω, ξεπλένω:to rinse out

ξεσκονίζω: to dust off

πιγκάλ (το): toilet brush

πλένω τα ρούχα, τα πιάτα: to wash the dishes, the clothes

σιδερώνω: to iron

σκουπίζω: to sweep / to dry

στρώνω το κρεβάτι: to make the bed

σφουγγαρίζω: to mop

τρίβω: to scrub

ψεκάζω: to spray

 

By Keith Williamson under a CC license on Flickr

By Keith Williamson under a CC license on Flickr

 

Ουσιαστικά – nouns

άπλυτα (τα) / το καλάθι με τα άπλυτα:laundry basket

απλώστρα (η):drying rack

απολυμαντικό (το): disinfectant

απορρυπαντικό (το):detergent

αποσμητικό χώρου (το): air freshener

γυαλιστικό (το):polish (liquid or wax)

εντομοκτόνο (το): insecticide

καθαριστικό (το): cleaner

κερί (το): wax

κουβάς (ο):bucket

λάστιχο (το): hose

μαλακτικό (το):fabric softener

μανταλάκι (το): peg

ξεσκονόπανο (το): rag,duster

οικολογικό καθαριστικό (το): eco-friendly cleaner

πλυντήριο πιάτων (το): dishwasher

πλυντήριο ρούχων (το):washing machine

σαπούνι (το):soap

σκοροκτόνο (το): moth repellent

σκούπα (η):broom

σκουπιδοτενεκές: dustbin

στεγνωτήριο (το): spin dryer

σύρμα (το): wire wool

σφουγάρι (το): sponge

σφουγγαρίστρα (η):mop

σκόνη (η):powder / dust

υγρό (το):liquid

φαράσι (το):dustpan

 

Usually, we refer to the cleaning products by their brand name.

 

Common expressions

Αερίζω το δωμάτιο, το σπίτι: to clean the air in the room, in the house (by opening the windows)

Απλώνω τα ρούχα: to hung the clothes to dry

Βάζω τα ρούχα στα άπλυτα: to put the clothes in the laundry basket

Βγάζω / αφαιρώ τους λεκέδες, τα άλατα: to remove stains, lamscale

Κατεβάζω / βγάζω τα σκουπίδια:to take the garbage out

Κάνω τις δουλειές του σπιτιού: to do the housework

Πλένω / Καθαρίζω / Κάνω τα τζάμια: to wash the window glasses

 

And a funny expression:

Παστρικοθοδώρα: a woman who is constantly cleaning her house because she wants to show off. (http://www.slang.gr/lemma/10224-pastrikothodora) : Η παστρικοθοδώρα η Μαρία πλένει το μπαλκόνι της τρίτη φορά σήμερα/ It’s the third time Maria washes her balcony today. She’s such a “pastrikothodora”.

By Brett Jordan under a CC license on Flickr

By Brett Jordan under a CC license on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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. Mimi:

    Hello,
    You made mistake, you mix washing machine and dishwasher.
    Have a nice day!