λέω (léo)

Pronunciation

Definitions & Examples

• verb:
  (most senses) to say, tell
  Examples:

  • Tο παιδί είπε την πρώτη του λέξη. (To paidí eípe tin próti tou léxi.) — The child said his first word.
  • Ο διευθυντής μού είπε ότι πρέπει να τελειώνουμε. (O diefthyntís moú eípe óti prépei na teleiónoume.) — The director told me that we have to hurry up.
• verb:
  (transitive) to discuss, converse
  Examples:

  • Τα λένε μεταξύ τους. (Ta léne metaxý tous.) — They are discussing.
• verb:
  (intransitive) to talk (with one another)
  Examples:

  • Καιρό έχουμε να τα πούμε. (Kairó échoume na ta poúme.) — It's been a while since we talked.
• verb:
  to recite, tell, recount, sing (a poem, song, etc)
  Examples:

  • Το παιδάκι είπε ένα τραγούδι. (To paidáki eípe éna tragoúdi.) — The child sang a song.
  • Να τα πούμε; (Na ta poúme;) — Shall we sing them? (
• verb:
  (often in imperative) to suppose, imagine (a hypothetical scenario)
  Examples:

  • Λέμε τώρα, αν γινόταν πόλεμος. (Léme tóra, an ginótan pólemos.) — We're supposing now, if there were a war.
  • Πες πως κάτι γινόταν. Τι θα έκανες; (Pes pos káti ginótan. Ti tha ékanes?) — Let's say something happened. What would you do?
• verb:
  (intransitive, often with για (gia)) refer to, talk about
  Examples:

  • Λες για τον φίλο σου τώρα; (Les gia ton fílo sou tóra?) — Are you talking about your friend now?
• verb:
  (transitive) to mean, say (to clarify etc)
  Examples:

  • Θέλω να πω ότι δεν είναι τόσο απλά τα πράγματα. (Thélo na po óti den eínai tóso aplá ta prágmata.) — I mean that things aren't that simple.
  • Τι θα πει, «ξέχασα τις ασκήσεις μου»; (Ti tha pei, «xéchasa tis askíseis mou»?) — What do you mean, “I forgot my homework”?
• verb:
  (intransitive, figuratively) to remind of, mean something to
  Examples:

  • Αυτό το όνομα δε μου λέει τίποτα. (Aftó to ónoma de mou léei típota.) — That name means nothing to me.
• verb:
  (intransitive, figuratively) to be any good, be worth anything
  Examples:

  • Λέει τίποτα αυτό το κομπιούτερ; (Léei típota aftó to kompioúter?) — Is this computer any good?
• verb:
  (intransitive) to suggest, advise
  Examples:

  • Λέω να πάμε μια βόλτα. (Léo na páme mia vólta.) — I say that we should go for a walk.
• verb:
  (transitive) to call (name someone or something)
  Examples:

  • Με λένε Γιώργο. (Me léne Giórgo.) — I am called Giorgos.
  • Τον είπα βλάκα. (Ton eípa vláka.) — I called him a fool.
• verb:
  used with δεν (den), indicates something is slow to come:
  Examples:

  • Αυτή η μέρα δε λέει να τελειώσει. (Aftí i méra de léei na teleiósei.) — This day doesn't want to end.
• verb:
  (intransitive, often with να (na)) think (something will happen)
  Examples:

  • Λες να μας προδώσει; (Les na mas prodósei?) — Do you think he'll betray us?
• verb:
  (transitive, colloquial) to read, explain (fortell using cards etc.)
  Examples:

  • Μου είπε τον καφέ. (Mou eípe ton kafé.) — He/she told me the coffee. (