Learn Greek › B2 › παλεύω
παλεύω
to struggle, to fight /paˈlevo/
verbB2#2072 most common
Also: to wrestle, to grapple, to strive
Example sentences
Παλεύω κάθε μέρα.
I struggle every day.
Παλεύεις πολύ σκληρά.
You're struggling very hard.
Παλεύουμε για ένα καλύτερο μέλλον.
We are fighting for a better future.
Παλεύει με μια σοβαρή αρρώστια εδώ και ένα χρόνο.
He has been fighting a serious illness for a year.
Οι εργαζόμενοι παλεύουν εδώ και μήνες για καλύτερους μισθούς και συνθήκες εργασίας.
The workers have been fighting for months for better wages and working conditions.
Παλεύοντας ασταμάτητα με τις αμφιβολίες του, κατάφερε τελικά να πάρει μια απόφαση που τον απελευθέρωσε.
Struggling ceaselessly with his doubts, he finally managed to make a decision that freed him.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | παλεύω | πάλεψα | θα παλέψω |
| 2sg | παλεύεις | πάλεψες | θα παλέψεις |
| 3sg | παλεύει | πάλεψε | θα παλέψει |
| 1pl | παλεύουμε | παλέψαμε | θα παλέψουμε |
| 2pl | παλεύετε | παλέψατε | θα παλέψετε |
| 3pl | παλεύουν | πάλεψαν | θα παλέψουν |
Word family
πάληwrestling, struggle
παλαιστήςwrestler
παλαίστραwrestling ground, arena
πάλεμαa tussle or fight (informal)
Etymology
Παλεύω is built on the noun πάλη, meaning wrestling or struggle, with the common verb-forming ending -εύω attached. The word already meant to wrestle in Ancient Greek, describing the sport practiced in the παλαίστρα, the wrestling ground. Modern Greek kept the physical sense but extended it heavily to metaphorical struggles, against illness, hardship, or doubt.
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