Twenty Essential Greek Verbs With Their Forms
A starter list of the most useful Greek verbs in the present tense with meanings, the past (aorist) forms, and tips for learning them as pairs.
A small group of verbs carries a huge share of everyday Greek. Because dictionaries list Greek verbs in the first person singular of the present, that's the form to learn first, together with the past (aorist) form.
Movement and being
| Present (I ...) | Meaning | Past (aorist) |
|---|---|---|
| είμαι | I am | ήμουν |
| πάω / πηγαίνω | I go | πήγα |
| έρχομαι | I come | ήρθα |
| μένω | I stay, live | έμεινα |
| φεύγω | I leave | έφυγα |
| φτάνω | I arrive | έφτασα |
| περπατάω | I walk | περπάτησα |
Doing and having
| Present | Meaning | Past |
|---|---|---|
| έχω | I have | είχα |
| κάνω | I do, make | έκανα |
| παίρνω | I take | πήρα |
| δίνω | I give | έδωσα |
| βρίσκω | I find | βρήκα |
| αγοράζω | I buy | αγόρασα |
| δουλεύω | I work | δούλεψα |
Perceiving and communicating
| Present | Meaning | Past |
|---|---|---|
| βλέπω | I see | είδα |
| ακούω | I hear | άκουσα |
| λέω | I say, tell | είπα |
| μιλάω | I speak | μίλησα |
| ξέρω | I know | ήξερα |
| καταλαβαίνω | I understand | κατάλαβα |
Wanting, eating and drinking
| Present | Meaning | Past |
|---|---|---|
| θέλω | I want | ήθελα |
| τρώω | I eat | έφαγα |
| πίνω | I drink | ήπια |
Using them in sentences
- Πάω στην παραλία. — I'm going to the beach.
- Έχω ένα ραντεβού. — I have an appointment.
- Κάνω μια ερώτηση. — I ask a question.
- Βλέπω τον φίλο μου. — I see my friend.
- Λέω την αλήθεια. — I'm telling the truth.
- Θέλω να φάω. — I want to eat.
- Ξέρω ελληνικά λίγο. — I know a little Greek.
Modals with να
Greek has no infinitive. Combine these verbs with να + verb: θέλω να, μπορώ να (I can), πρέπει να (I must), ξέρω να (I know how to).
- Μπορώ να πάω. — I can go.
- Πρέπει να φύγω. — I must leave.
Learning strategy
- Learn present and aorist together: πάω – πήγα.
- Group by type: movement, communication, daily life.
- Say the forms aloud, noting stress.
- Use each verb in a sentence about your day.
- Review with a friend or on flashcards.
Which verb where?
- πάω / πηγαίνω — the same; πάω is more colloquial.
- βλέπω (see) versus κοιτάω (look at) versus παρακολουθώ (watch).
- ακούω means both "hear" and "listen": context decides.
- μιλάω (speak, talk) versus λέω (say, tell).
Common mistakes
- Looking for an infinitive in the dictionary.
- Forgetting irregular aorists.
- Mixing λέω and μιλάω.
Look up Greek verbs and their forms with English Greek Dictionary →
English Greek Dictionary
Offline English–Greek dictionary with meanings in proper Greek script
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