# λέω
## Greek
### Alternative forms

* λέγω (légo)

### Etymology

From Ancient Greek λέγω (légō, “to say”), with suppletive inflections such as the simple past είπα (eípa) deriving from the aorist εἶπον (eîpon), εἶπα (eîpa).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈleo/
* Hyphenation: λέ‧ω

### Verb

λέω • (léo) (past είπα, passive λέγομαι)
* (most senses) to say, tell
    Tο παιδί είπε την πρώτη του λέξη. ― To paidí eípe tin próti tou léxi. ― The child said his first word.
    Ο διευθυντής μου είπε ότι πρέπει να τελειώνουμε. ― O diefthyntís mou eípe óti prépei na teleiónoume. ― The director told me that we should finish.
* (transitive) to discuss, converse
    Τα λένε μεταξύ τους. ― Ta léne metaxý tous. ― They are discussing.
* (intransitive) to talk (with one another)
    Καιρό έχουμε να τα πούμε. ― Kairó échoume na ta poúme. ― It's been a while since we talked.
* to recite, tell, recount, sing (a poem, song, etc)
    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? (phrase used by Greek children carolling door to door around the New Year)
* (often in imperative) to suppose, imagine (a hypothetical scenario)
    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?
* (intransitive, often with για (gia)) refer to, talk about
    Λες για τον φίλο σου τώρα; ― Les gia ton fílo sou tóra? ― Are you talking about your friend now?
* (transitive) to mean, say (to clarify etc)
    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”?
* (intransitive, figuratively) to remind of, mean something to
    Αυτό το όνομα δε μου λέει τίποτα. ― Aftó to ónoma de mou léei típota. ― That name means nothing to me.
* (intransitive, figuratively) to be any good, be worth anything
    Λέει τίποτα αυτό το κομπιούτερ; ― Léei típota aftó to kompioúter? ― Is this computer any good?
* (intransitive) to suggest, advise
    Λέω να πάμε μια βόλτα. ― Léo na páme mia vólta. ― I say that we should go for a walk.
* (transitive) to call (name someone or something)
    Με λένε Γιώργο. ― Me léne Giórgo. ― I am called Giorgos.
    Τον είπα βλάκα. ― Ton eípa vláka. ― I called him a fool.
* used with δεν (den), indicates something is slow to come:
    Αυτή η μέρα δεν λέει να τελειώσει. ― Aftí i méra den léei na teleiósei. ― This day doesn't want to end.
* (intransitive, often with να (na)) think (something will happen)
    Λες να μας προδώσει; ― Les na mas prodósei? ― Do you think he'll betray us?
* (transitive, colloquial) to read, explain (fortell using cards etc.)

#### Synonyms

* (talk): μιλώ (miló)
* (converse): συζητώ (syzitó), κουβεντιάζω (kouventiázo)
* (recite): απαγγέλω (apangélo)
* (sing): τραγουδώ (tragoudó)
* (imagine): φαντάζομαι (fantázomai), σκέφτομαι (skéftomai)
* (refer to): αναφέρομαι (anaféromai)
* (mean, say): εννοώ (ennoó)
* (remind of): θυμίζω (thymízo)
* (be any good, be worth anything): αξίζω (axízo)
* (suggest, advise): προτείνω (proteíno)
* (name): ονομάζω (onomázo)
* (call): αποκαλώ (apokaló)
* (think): νομίζω (nomízo)

#### Derived terms

* πρωτολέω (protoléo, “say for the first time”)
* and see Derivatives of λέγω
Expressions:
* εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω (egó ta léo, egó ta akoúo, “I might as well be talking to the wall”, literally “I say it, I hear it”)
* (για) να λέμε και του στραβού το δίκιο ((gia) na léme kai tou stravoú to díkio, “speaking honestly”)
* εδώ που τα λέμε (edó pou ta léme) (beginning of a phrase showing admission or confession)
* είπε ο γάιδαρος τον πετεινό κεφάλα (eípe o gáidaros ton peteinó kefála, “the pot calling the kettle black”, literally “The donkey called the rooster 'big head'”)
* εμένα μου λες; (eména mou les;, “you're telling me!”) (expressing disbelief, doubt)
* έχουμε και λέμε (échoume kai léme, “first things first”)
* θέλω να πω (thélo na po, “I mean”)
* και θα πεις κι ένα τραγούδι (kai tha peis ki éna tragoúdi, “you will do it anyway”)
* κάτι μας είπες (τώρα)! (káti mas eípes (tóra)!) (on being told a well-known fact)
* λεγόμενος (legómenos, “so-called”)
* λες και (les kai, “as if”, literally “say and”)
* λέω τα σύκα σύκα και τη σκάφη σκάφη (léo ta sýka sýka kai ti skáfi skáfi, “call a spade a spade”, literally “calling figs figs, and a trough a trough”) (synonym: λέω τα πράγματα με το όνομά τους)
* σου 'πα, μου 'πες (sou 'pa, mou 'pes, “this and that”) (evasive)
* τα λέμε (ta léme, “see you, bye”, literally “We say them”)
* τα λέω στον τοίχο (ta léo ston toícho, “I might as well be talking to the wall”)