Greek Verbs Conjugation in Group B
Group B verbs, with their stressed -ώ endings, split into two flavors: B1 (e.g., μιλώ) and B2 (e.g., μπορώ). This guide covers both, plus the αγαπώ vs. αγαπάω debate—perfect for beginners moving beyond Group A (e.g., τρέχω).
What Are Group B Verbs? 🧐
Group B verbs are active voice verbs ending in -ώ in the first person singular present tense, with stress on the ending (e.g., μιλώ). They divide into:
- B1: Common verbs with dual forms (e.g., μιλώ/μιλάω).
- B2: A rare handful closer to Group A patterns (e.g., μπορώ).
Group B1 Verbs
Most Group B verbs are B1. Find the stem (e.g., μιλ- from μιλώ) and add these endings:
| Subject | Ending | Example: μιλώ (to speak) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Εγώ (I) | -ώ | μιλώ | miló |
| Εσύ (You) | -άς | μιλάς | milás |
| Αυτός (He/She/It) | -ά | μιλά | milá |
| Εμείς (We) | -άμε | μιλάμε | miláme |
| Εσείς (You pl.) | -άτε | μιλάτε | miláte |
| Αυτοί (They) | -ούν | μιλούν | milún |
Dual Forms
B1 verbs often have two options:
- Εγώ: μιλώ or μιλάω
- Αυτός: μιλά or μιλάει
- Αυτοί: μιλούν or μιλάνε
Common B1 Verbs
| Greek Verb | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| μιλάω/μιλώ | miláo/miló | to speak |
| πεινάω/πεινώ | peináo/peinó | to be hungry |
| διψάω/διψώ | dipsáo/dipsó | to be thirsty |
| κολυμπάω/κολυμπώ | kolympáo/kolympó | to swim |
| ζητάω/ζητώ | zitáo/zitó | to ask for |
Group B2 Verbs
B2 verbs also end in -ώ, but the rest of their endings mimic Group A more closely (-ώ, -είς, -εί instead of: -ώ, -άς, -ά).
Here is one example of a B2 verb 👇
| Subject | Ending | Example: μπορω (to be able) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Εγώ (I) | -ώ | μπορώ | boró |
| Εσύ (You) | -είς | μπορείς | boreís |
| Αυτός (He/She/It) | -εί | μπορεί | boréi |
| Εμείς (We) | -ούμε | μπορούμε | boroúme |
| Εσείς (You pl.) | -είτε | μπορείτε | boreíte |
| Αυτοί (They) | -ούν | μπορούν | borún |
Subscribe for more free lessons
The Seven B2 Verbs
There are 7 verbs that belong to B2 group and their endings are the same with the previous table.
| Greek Verb | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| αργώ | argó | to slow down |
| ζω | zo | to live |
| μπορώ | boró | to be able |
| οδηγώ | odigó | to drive |
| συγχωρώ | synchoró | to forgive |
| τηλεφωνώ | tilefonó | to call |
| χρησιμοποιώ | chrisimopoió | to use |
Αγαπώ or Αγαπάω?
B1 verbs like αγαπώ (to love) spark chatter:
- Roots: From ancient ἀγαπῶ (contracted) and ἀγαπάω (uncontracted)—both mean “I love you.”
- Vibes: Natives say they’re equal, like “can’t” vs. “cannot.” Some call αγαπάω poetic or casual (Southern Greek), αγαπώ formal or regional (Northern).
Note
Known as “contracted verbs” (συνηρημένα), these verbs trace back to Ancient Greek, where forms like ἀγαπάω could shrink to ἀγαπῶ (α+ω → ω). In Modern Greek, this contraction—e.g., πεινάω → πεινώ (I’m hungry), διψάω → διψώ (I’m thirsty), κοιτάω → κοιτώ (I look)—is less common but still alive. Today, it’s optional, letting you choose your style!
Key Differences: Group A vs. Group B
Tip: Notice how B2 endings follow the ones from Group A
| Group | Accent Example | Romanization | Translation | Endings Example | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | τρέχω | trécho | I run | -ω, -εις, -ει | -o, -is, -i |
| Group B1 | μιλώ | miló | I speak | -ώ, -άς, -ά | -ó, -ás, -á |
| Group B2 | μπορώ | boró | I can | -ώ, -είς, -εί | -ó, -ís, -í |
Practical Examples and Exercises
Example Sentences
- Εγώ φωνάζω δυνατά. (Egó fonázo dynáta.) – I shout loudly.
- Εσύ ζητάς βοήθεια. (Esý zitás voíthia.) – You ask for help.
- Αυτός οδηγεί γρήγορα. (Aftós odigí grígora.) – He drives fast.
- Εμείς κολυμπάμε στη θάλασσα. (Emeís kolympáme sti thálassa.) – We swim in the sea.
Exercises
- Conjugate ζητάω (to ask for) in present tense.
- Use πεινάω (to be hungry) in a sentence for “he.”
- Fill in: Ο Πέτρος ______ (τηλεφωνώ) στον φίλο του.
- Translate: Εμείς χρησιμοποιούμε το αυτοκίνητο.
Next Steps
Got Group B? Try Group A verbs (opens in a new window) or pair with pronouns (opens in a new window)!
Subscribe for more free lessons
