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Common Greek verbs: to fly Posted by on Jul 20, 2016 in Vocabulary

By Miss Dilettante under a CC license on Flickr

By Miss Dilettante under a CC license on Flickr

On of the most common Greek verbs is the verb πετάω (πέταξα in the Past Simple). It can take different meanings. In this post there are just a few examples of its use.

Active voice

  1. to throw

Πετάω τα σκουπίδια.

To throw out the garbage.

Πέτα μου τη μπάλα!

Throw me the ball!

  1. to fly

Το χελιδόνι πέταξε μακριά.

The swallow flew away.

Τι ώρα πετάς;

What time do you fly? (by plane).

  1. to throw away (metaphoric)

Γιατί πετάς τα λεφτά σου;

Why do you throw your money away?

  1. to drive

Μπορείς να με πετάξεις μέχρι την παραλία;

Can you drive me to the beach?

  1. to say something foolish

Τι βλακεία ήταν αυτή που πέταξες;

What a stupid thing to say!

  1. to mention

Ξαφνικά, εκεί που μιλούσαμε, η Μαρία πέταξε ότι χωρίζει.

Suddenly, as we were talking, Maria mentioned that she is breaking up.

  1. to throw out

Δεν έπρεπε να πετάξεις τα παιδιά σου από το σπίτι επειδή πήραν το αυτοκίνητο χωρίς να σε ρωτήσουν.

You shouldn’t have thrown your kids out of the house because they took the car without asking you.

 

 

By jasoneppink under a CC license on Flickr

By jasoneppink under a CC license on Flickr

 

Medio-Passive voice

Present: πετάγομαι, Past Simple: πετάχτηκα

 

  1. to cut in

“Γιώργο, σταμάτα να πετάγεσαι!” είπε η δασκάλα.

“George, stop cutting in!” said the teacher.

  1. to jump

Τρόμαξε τόσο πολύ που πετάχτηκε μέχρι το ταβάνι.

He was so scared that he jumped to the ceiling.

  1. to spring

Η Αλεξάνδρα λιποθύμησε όταν είδε το αίμα να πετάγεται.

Alexandra fainted when she saw the blood springing.

  1. to bold out

Όταν χτύπησε το κουδούνι, τα παιδιά πετάχτηκαν από την τάξη.

When the bell rang, the children bolted out of the classroom.

  1. to pop out

Πετάγομαι μια στιγμή στο περίπτερο, θέλεις τίποτα;

I’m popping out to the periptero, do you need anything?

  1. to bob

Καθώς οδηγούσα, πετάχτηκε μπροστά μου ένα πρόβατο.

As I was driving, a sheep bobbed up ain front of me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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. Emmanuel Nifakos:

    Thank you for writing these! They are extremely helpful as a learner, given that there is almost nothing to help you with Greek on the internet. Be sure to keep making these!