# γελάω
## Ancient Greek
### Alternative forms

* γέλαιμι (gélaimi) — Aeolic
* γελόω (gelóō) — Epic

### Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *ǵelh₂- (“to laugh”) (which Beekes incorrectly reconstructs as *gelh₂-). Cognates include Old Armenian ծաղր (całr, “laughter”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɡe.lá.ɔː/ → /ʝeˈla.o/ → /ʝeˈla.o/
* (5th BCE Attic) IPA: /ɡe.lá.ɔː/
* (1st CE Egyptian) IPA: /ɡeˈla.o/
* (4th CE Koine) IPA: /ʝeˈla.o/
* (10th CE Byzantine) IPA: /ʝeˈla.o/
* (15th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA: /ʝeˈla.o/

### Verb

γελάω • (geláō)
* to laugh
* to laugh at
** to deride

#### Usage notes

The Doric participle form γελᾶσα (gelâsa) is attested.

#### Derived terms

* γελασείω (gelaseíō)
* γελάσιμος (gelásimos)
* γελασῖνος (gelasînos)
* γέλασις (gélasis)
* γέλασμα (gélasma)
* γελαστής (gelastḗs)
* γελαστικός (gelastikós)
* γελαστός (gelastós)
* καταγελάω (katageláō)

#### Related terms

* γελοῖος (geloîos)
* γέλως (gélōs)

### References

* ↑ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “γελάω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 264-5

### Further reading

* “γελάω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
* “γελάω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
* “γελάω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
* γελάω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
* γελάω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
* γελάω in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2025)
* “γελάω”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
* G1070 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible

## Greek
### Alternative forms

* γελώ (geló) (interchangeable, but more formal)

### Etymology

With ending -άω to γελώ (geló) in the pattern of 3rd person -άει. From Byzantine Greek γελῶ (gelô), from Ancient Greek γελῶ (gelô), contracted form of γελάω (geláō), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵelh₂-.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ʝeˈla.o/
* Hyphenation: γε‧λά‧ω

### Verb

γελάω • (geláo) / γελώ (past γέλασα, passive γελιέμαι, p‑past γελάστηκα, ppp γελασμένος)
* (most senses) to laugh
    Όταν τον είδα να έρχεται, άρχισα να γελώ.Ótan ton eída na érchetai, árchisa na geló.When I saw him coming, I started laughing.
    Γελάει καλύτερα όποιος γελάει τελευταίος.Geláei kalýtera ópoios geláei teleftaíos.He who laughs last laughs best.
* (transitive, figuratively) to cheat, trick, deceive
    Μην τον εμπιστεύεσαι, θα σε γελάσει!Min ton empistévesai, tha se gelásei!Don't trust him, he'll trick you!
    Αυτός είναι ή με γελούν τα μάτια μου;Aftós eínai í me geloún ta mátia mou?Is that him or do my eyes deceive me?
    Τώρα θα σε γελάσω, δεν ξέρω πού είναι η Οδός Κολοκοτρώνη.Tóra tha se geláso, den xéro poú eínai i Odós Kolokotróni.I don't want to give you wrong information, I've no idea where Kolokotronis Street is.(literally, “I will deceive you...”)

#### Synonyms

* (cheat): ξεγελώ (xegeló), κοροϊδεύω (koroïdévo), παραπλανώ (paraplanó)

#### Antonyms

* κλαίω (klaío, “cry”)

#### Derived terms

* γελάει καλύτερα όποιος γελάει τελευταίος (geláei kalýtera ópoios geláei teleftaíos, “he who laughs last laughs best”)
* γελούν και οι κότες μαζί μου (geloún kai oi kótes mazí mou, “to be a laughing stock”, literally “even the chickens laugh at me”)

#### Related terms

* αγέλαστος (agélastos, “sullen”)
* απεριγέλαστος (aperigélastos, “unmocked, not laughed at”)
* γελάκια n pl (gelákia, “titters, snickers, giggles”)
* γέλασμα n (gélasma, “laughing”)
* γελαστής m (gelastís, “mocker”)
* γελαστός (gelastós, “laughing”, adjective)
* γέλιο n (gélio, “laughter”)
* γελοίος (geloíos, “ridiculous, laughable”)
* χασκογελάω (chaskogeláo, “jeering, sniggering, snickering”)