Learn Greek › A2 › καταστρέφω
καταστρέφω
to destroy /kataˈstrefo/
verbA2#935 most common
Also: to ruin, to wreck, to demolish
Example sentences
Μην καταστρέφεις τα βιβλία σου!
Don't destroy your books!
Η καταιγίδα κατέστρεψε τα δέντρα στον κήπο.
The storm destroyed the trees in the garden.
Αν συνεχίσεις έτσι, θα καταστρέψεις τη φιλία μας.
If you keep going like this, you'll destroy our friendship.
Ο σεισμός κατέστρεψε ολοσχερώς το χωριό μέσα σε λίγα δευτερόλεπτα.
The earthquake completely destroyed the village within a few seconds.
Η αλόγιστη χρήση των φυσικών πόρων καταστρέφει σταδιακά το περιβάλλον.
The reckless use of natural resources gradually destroys the environment.
Παρασυρμένος από τη ζήλια του, κατέστρεψε με τα ίδια του τα χέρια ό,τι είχε με κόπο χτίσει.
Carried away by his jealousy, he destroyed with his own hands everything he had painstakingly built.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | καταστρέφω | κατέστρεψα | θα καταστρέψω |
| 2sg | καταστρέφεις | κατέστρεψες | θα καταστρέψεις |
| 3sg | καταστρέφει | κατέστρεψε | θα καταστρέψει |
| 1pl | καταστρέφουμε | καταστρέψαμε | θα καταστρέψουμε |
| 2pl | καταστρέφετε | καταστρέψατε | θα καταστρέψετε |
| 3pl | καταστρέφουν | κατέστρεψαν | θα καταστρέψουν |
Word family
καταστροφήdestruction, catastrophe, disaster
καταστροφικόςcatastrophic, disastrous
καταστρεπτικόςdestructive, devastating
κατεστραμμένοςdestroyed, ruined (perfect participle)
Etymology
Inherited from Ancient Greek καταστρέφω, a compound of the prefix κατά 'down, against, completely' and the verb στρέφω 'to turn'. The original sense was 'to turn down, overturn, trample', which broadened to 'overthrow, subdue, ruin'. Its derived noun καταστροφή is the direct source of the English word 'catastrophe'.
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