Learn Greek › B2 › καίω
καίω
to burn /ˈce.o/
verbB2#2171 most common
Also: to be on fire, to scorch, to sting (of pain or spice)
Example sentences
Η φωτιά καίει.
The fire is burning.
Καίω τα παλιά χαρτιά στην αυλή.
I'm burning the old papers in the yard.
Ο ήλιος καίει πολύ σήμερα.
The sun is burning hot today.
Πρόσεχε, το φαγητό καίγεται στην κατσαρόλα!
Watch out, the food is burning in the pot!
Του καιγόταν η καρδιά από αγωνία για το παιδί του.
His heart was burning with worry for his child.
Αν δεν είχε κάψει τα έγγραφα εγκαίρως, οι αρχές θα τα είχαν βρει.
If he hadn't burned the documents in time, the authorities would have found them.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | καίω | έκαψα | θα κάψω |
| 2sg | καις | έκαψες | θα κάψεις |
| 3sg | καίει | έκαψε | θα κάψει |
| 1pl | καίμε | κάψαμε | θα κάψουμε |
| 2pl | καίτε | κάψατε | θα κάψετε |
| 3pl | καίνε | έκαψαν | θα κάψουν |
Word family
Etymology
καίω comes straight from Ancient Greek καίω (also κάω in some dialects), a verb of burning that already covered both literal fire and figurative heat, such as pain or passion. Its origin before Greek is not settled. Modern Greek kept the verb almost unchanged in form and meaning, and it remains one of the most common ways to talk about fire, heat, and sunburn.
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