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Uses of the Greek verb “to hit” Posted by on Jun 20, 2018 in Vocabulary

One of the most common verbs is the verb χτυπάω (to hit). It is used in many contexts and has various meanings.

byrev via Pixabay

#Example 1: to hit a person

Μαμά! ο Γιάννης με χτύπησε!

Mom! Yannis hit me!

 

#Example 2: to hit (one’s head, arm etc.)

Ο Θάνος σκόνταψε στο τραπέζι και χτύπησε το πόδι του.

Thanos stumbled on the table and hit his leg.

 

#Example 3: to knock on the door.

Πας να δεις ποιος χτυπάει την πόρτα, σε παρακαλώ;

Can you go see who’s knocking on the door, please?

 

#Example 4: to beat egg whites

Για να βγει αφράτη η ζύμη, πρέπει πρώτα να χτυπήσεις τα ασπράδια των αυγών.

To make a puff pastry, you must beat the egg whites first.

 

#Example 5: to shake

Ποιος χτύπησε τον φραπέ; Έχει κομματάκια καφέ!

Who shook the frappe? There are coffee grounds inside!

 

#Example 6: χτυπάω κόκκινο (κόκκινο means red) is an expression used when a situation is going to be really bad.

Ο υδράργυρος χτύπησε κόκκινο: 40 βαθμούς στην Αθήνα!: υδράργυρος means mercury. This is a standard expression we use when there is a heat wave.

Heat wave alarm: 40 degrees in Athens!(104 degrees F).

 

#Example 7: to be injured after car crash

Η Στεφανία χτύπησε με το αυτοκίνητο και είναι στο νοσοκομείο.

Stefania had a car crash and she is in hospital.

#Example 8: something that someone said made me a bad impression, to be offended

Μου χτύπησε πολύ άσχημα αυτό που μου είπε για την κόρη μου.

I was really offended by what he told me about my daughter.

 

#Example 9: to do something illegal

Συνέλαβαν τους ληστές που χτύπησαν το σούπερ μάρκετ.

They arrested the thieves who attacked the super market.

 

#Example 10: to have a serious disease

Τον χτύπησε εγκεφαλικό και πέθανε.

He had a stroke and died.

 

#Example 11: to feel dizzy by the sun or the hot weather

Τι βλακείες  λες; Μήπως σε χτύπησε ο ήλιος;

What nonsense are you talking about? Did the sun strike you?

 

#Example 12: to defeat, to extinguish

Οι κυβερνήσεις πρέπει να χτυπήσουν την εμπορία ανθρώπων.

Governments must defeat human trafficking.

 

#Example 13: to get a tattoo

“Η Ρένα χτύπησε τατού!” “Σιγά… Ακόμα κι η κουτσή Μαρία έχει τατού.” (Κουτσή Μαρία literally means one-legged Mary. This expression is used to mean everyone).

“Rena got a tattoo!” “Big deal… Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a tattoo.”

 

#Example 14: to ring

Χτυπάει το τηλέφωνο. Δεν θα το σηκώσεις;

Your phone is ringing. Won’t you pick it up?

 

A-r-e-s via 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.