ξέρω
See also: ξερό
Greek
Alternative forms
Etymology
Inherited from Byzantine Greek ξέρω (xérō), ἐξέρω (exérō), from Ancient Greek ἐξεῦρον (exeûron), aorist of ἐξευρίσκω (exeurískō, “to find out”), from ἐξ- (ex-, “ex-”) + εὑρίσκω (heurískō, “to find”) (whence modern βρίσκω (vrísko)).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkse.ɾo/
- Hyphenation: ξέ‧ρω
Verb
ξέρω • (xéro) (imperfect ήξερα) found only in the imperfective tenses
- (most senses) to know of, be familiar with (a fact, a person or a language)
- Το ήξερα ότι ήταν γιατρός. ― To íxera óti ítan giatrós. ― I knew he was a doctor.
- Τους άλλους φίλους του δεν τους ξέρω. ― Tous állous fílous tou den tous xéro. ― I don't know his other friends.
- Ξέρεις καθόλου Γερμανικά; ― Xéreis kathólou Germaniká? ― Do you know any German?
- Ξέρεις να κολυμπάς; ― Xéreis na kolympás? ― Do you know how to swim?
- (transitive, with για (gia)) know someone as, know someone to be
- Εγώ, τουλάχιστον, την ξέρω για άνθρωπο πολύ χαλαρό.
- Egó, touláchiston, tin xéro gia ánthropo polý chalaró.
- I, at least, know her as a very calm person.
Conjugation
ξέρω (active forms only imperfective)
| Active voice ➤ — Imperfective aspect ➤ | ||||
| Indicative mood ➤ | Present ➤ | Imperfect ➤ | Future ➤ | |
| 1 sg | ήξερα | θα ξέρω | ||
| 2 sg | ξέρεις | ήξερες | θα ξέρεις | |
| 3 sg | ξέρει | ήξερε | θα ξέρει | |
| 1 pl | ξέρουμε, [‑ομε] | ξέραμε | θα ξέρουμε, [‑ομε] | |
| 2 pl | ξέρετε | ξέρατε | θα ξέρετε | |
| 3 pl | ξέρουν(ε) | ήξεραν, ξέραν(ε) | θα ξέρουν(ε) | |
| Subjunctive mood ➤ | Formed using present tense from above with a particle (να, ας). | |||
| Imperative mood ➤ | 2 sg | 2 pl | ||
| Imperfective aspect | ξέρε | ξέρετε | ||
| Other forms | Present participle ➤ | |||
| ξέροντας ➤ | ||||
| Notes Appendix:Greek verbs |
• (…) optional or informal. […] rare. {…} learned, archaic. • Multiple forms are shown in order of reducing frequency. • Periphrastic imperative forms may be produced using the subjunctive. | |||
Synonyms
- (know a fact or person): γνωρίζω (gnorízo)
- (know a fact): μαθαίνω (mathaíno, “to learn”)
- (know a fact): πληροφορούμαι (pliroforoúmai, “to be informed”)
- (know a language): κατέχω (katécho, “to master, to hold”)
- (know a language): μιλώ (miló, “to speak”)
Derived terms
- ξέρω ’γω; (xéro ’go?, “I've no idea”, literally “do I know?”)
Related terms
- ξερόλας (xerólas)