Learn Greek › C1 › γελάω
γελάω
to laugh /ʝeˈla.o/
verbC1#3143 most common
Also: to fool or deceive someone (with a direct object), to be mistaken (reflexive: γελιέμαι)
Example sentences
Το παιδί γελάει.
The child is laughing.
Γελάμε πολύ μαζί.
We laugh a lot together.
Γέλασα με το αστείο του.
I laughed at his joke.
Θα γελάσεις πολύ με αυτή την ταινία.
You will laugh a lot at this movie.
Γελούσε τόσο πολύ που δεν μπορούσε να σταματήσει.
He was laughing so hard he couldn't stop.
Όποιος γελάει τελευταίος, γελάει καλύτερα.
He who laughs last laughs best.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | γελάω / γελώ | γέλασα | θα γελάσω |
| 2sg | γελάς | γέλασες | θα γελάσεις |
| 3sg | γελάει / γελά | γέλασε | θα γελάσει |
| 1pl | γελάμε | γελάσαμε | θα γελάσουμε |
| 2pl | γελάτε | γελάσατε | θα γελάσετε |
| 3pl | γελάνε / γελούν | γέλασαν | θα γελάσουν |
Word family
γέλιοlaughter, a laughχαμογελάωto smile
γελαστόςsmiling, cheerful
γελοίοςridiculous, laughableγελιέμαιto be mistaken (reflexive form)
Etymology
Γελάω comes from Ancient Greek γελάω, meaning to laugh, already common in Homer. Its origin before that point is not settled. Beekes considers it possibly a Pre-Greek word, so no secure Indo-European root can be given. Later Greek kept the verb largely unchanged in meaning, and it also picked up a secondary sense of fooling or tricking someone.
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