The greek verb λέω and its derivatives

The greek verb λέω and its derivatives

(Lesson 31)

            The modern greek verb “λέω” comes from the ancient greek verb “λέγω” (I

            say). More than 1500 greek simple or compound words derive from the

            ancient greek verb λέγω. Εnglish words like “archaeology, biology, theology”

            come from the greek words “αρχαιολογία, βιολογία, θεολογία”. The second

            part of them (-λογία) derives from the ancient greek verb “λέγω”.

            In this lesson we will learn the conjugation of the modern greek verb “λέω”

            in Present tense and some important compound verbs.

            Present tense

            εγώ λέω                                  (I say)

            εσύ λες                                   (you say)

            αυτός/ αυτή/ αυτό λέει            (He/she/it says)

            εμείς λέμε                              (we say)

            εσείς λέτε                               (you say)

            αυτοί/ αυτές/ αυτά λένε          (they-male/they-female/they-neutral say)

            When the verb “λέω” is the second word of a compound verb, then we use the

            archaic form “λέγω”.

            Compound verbs:

            αντιλέγω: I contradict, I disagree

            Μην αντιλέγεις στους μεγάλους (Don’t contradict your elders).

            Νόστιμο το φαγητό, δεν αντιλέγω, αλλά έχει πολλές θερμίδες (the food is

            delicious, I don’t disagree, but it has a lot of calories).

            συλλέγω:  I collect, I gather, I pick

            Συλλέγω πληροφορίες (I collect information).

            Συλλέγω γραμματόσημα (I collect stamps).

            εκλέγω: I elect, I choose

            Σήμερα έχουμε εκλογές. Οι Έλληνες εκλέγουν νέο πρωθυπουργό (Today

            we have elections. Greeks elect a new Prime Minister).

           

            According to many dictionaries the next two compound verbs have the same

            meaning; both of them mean “I choose”. The difference between them is not

            clear to many native speakers as well.

            διαλέγω: I choose, I pick up.

            We use it when we have many same things and we choose one of them. For

            example I have many shirts and I choose to wear the red one.

            Διαλέγω το κόκκινο πουκάμισο (I choose the red shirt).

            επιλέγω: is about making a choice. Again I choose, but I choose something

            after thinking about it very well.

            Επιλέγω να μην ξαναφάω κρέας (Ι choose to not eat again meat).

                                                           Present tense

            εγώ αντιλέγω                         συλλέγω                                 εκλέγω

            εσύ αντιλέγεις                        συλλέγεις                               εκλέγεις

            αυτός αντιλέγει                       συλλέγει                                 εκλέγει

            αυτή αντιλέγει                        συλλέγει                                 εκλέγει

            αυτό αντιλέγει                        συλλέγει                                 εκλέγει

            εμείς αντιλέγουμε                  συλλέγουμε                           εκλέγουμε

            εσείς αντιλέγετε                     συλλέγετε                              εκλέγετε

            αυτοί αντιλέγουν(ε)                συλλέγουν(ε)                         εκλέγουν(ε)

            αυτές  αντιλέγουν(ε)               συλλέγουν(ε)                         εκλέγουν(ε)

            αυτά αντιλέγουν(ε)                 συλλέγουν(ε)                         εκλέγουν(ε)

                                                           Present tense

            εγώ                                         διαλέγω                      επιλέγω                     

            εσύ                                         διαλέγεις                     επιλέγεις

            αυτός/ αυτή/ αυτό                   διαλέγει                      επιλέγει

            εμείς                                       διαλέγουμε                 επιλέγουμε

            εσείς                                       διαλέγετε                    επιλέγετε

            αυτοί/ αυτές/ αυτά                  διαλέγουν(ε)               επιλέγουν(ε)

            In third Plural person we can use two different forms:

            αντιλέγουν/ αντιλέγουνε, συλλέγουν/ συλλέγουνε, εκλέγουν/ εκλέγουνε,

            διαλέγουν/ διαλέγουνε, επιλέγουν/ επιλέγουνε