θέλω

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Ancient Greek

Etymology

Metanalysis of ἐθέλω (ethélō).

Verb

θέλω • (thélō)

  1. Alternative spelling of ἐθέλω (ethélō)

References

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek θέλω (thélō), a parallel form of ἐθέλω (ethélō).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈθelo/
  • Hyphenation: θέ‧λω

Verb

θέλω • (thélo) (imperfect ήθελα, past θέλησα, passive —)

  1. (most senses) to want, desire, will
    Θα ήθελα δύο μπύρες.
    Tha íthela dýo býres.
    I would like two beers.
    Ο Σταύρος θέλει την Ελένη.
    O Stávros thélei tin Eléni.
    Stavros desires Eleni.
    Έγινε επειδή έτσι το θέλησε ο Θεός.
    Égine epeidí étsi to thélise o Theós.
    It happened because God willed it.
  2. (transitive, most senses) to need, require
    Νομίζω ότι θέλεις κούρεμα.
    Nomízo óti théleis koúrema.
    I think you need a haircut.
    Για να έχεις επιτυχία θέλει μεγάλη προσπάθεια.
    Gia na écheis epitychía thélei megáli prospátheia.
    For you to have success requires great effort.
    Το αυτοκίνητο μου θέλει πλύσιμο.
    To aftokínito mou thélei plýsimo.
    My car needs a wash.
    Αυτός ο άνθρωπος θέλει γερό ξύλο.
    Aftós o ánthropos thélei geró xýlo.
    That person needs a good beating.
  3. (intransitive, most senses) to intend, mean to, want to (have the intention of)
    Συγγνώμη, δεν ήθελα να σε προσβάλω.
    Syngnómi, den íthela na se prosválo.
    I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you.
    Το ξέρεις ότι δεν ήθελε να σου κάνει κακό.
    To xéreis óti den íthele na sou kánei kakó.
    You know he didn't mean you any harm.
  4. (transitive) to owe (money, etc)
    Τι σου θέλω;
    Ti sou thélo;
    What do I owe you?
  5. (transitive) to have (depict as being)
    Οι φήμες θέλουν να τον είχα φιλήσει.
    Oi fímes théloun na ton eícha filísei.
    The rumours have it that I kissed him.
  6. (with two instances in the second person singular θες (thes)) either ... or
    Δεν ήρθε απόψε· θες γιατί δεν αισθανόταν καλά, θες γιατί βρήκε κάτι καλύτερο να κάνει.
    Den írthe apópse; thes giatí den aisthanótan kalá, thes giatí vríke káti kalýtero na kánei.
    He didn't come tonight; either he wasn't feeling well or he found something better to do.
  7. (transitive) to favour (be lucky at something)
    Αν δεν θέλει κάποιον η τύχη, δεν γίνεται τίποτα.
    An den thélei kápoion i týchi, den gínetai típota.
    If fortune doesn't favour someone, nothing happens.

Conjugation

θέλω   (active forms only plus passive perfect participle)
Active voice ➤
Indicative mood ➤ Imperfective aspect ➤ Perfective aspect ➤
Non-past tenses ➤ Present ➤ Dependent ➤
1 sg θέλω θελήσω
2 sg θέλεις, θες1 θελήσεις
3 sg θέλει2 θελήσει
1 pl θέλουμε, (‑ομε), (θέμε)1 θελήσουμε, [‑ομε]
2 pl θέλετε, (θέτε)1 θελήσετε
3 pl θέλουν2 (θένε)1 θελήσουν(ε)
Past tenses ➤ Imperfect ➤ Simple past ➤
1 sg ήθελα θέλησα
2 sg ήθελες θέλησες
3 sg ήθελε2 θέλησε
1 pl θέλαμε θελήσαμε
2 pl θέλατε θελήσατε
3 pl ήθελαν, θέλαν(ε)2 θέλησαν, θελήσαν(ε)
Future tenses ➤ Continuous ➤ Simple ➤
1 sg θα θέλω ➤ θα θελήσω ➤
2,3 sg, 1,2,3 pl θα θέλεις, … θα θελήσεις, …
Perfect aspect ➤
Present perfect ➤   έχω, έχεις, … θελήσει  
Past perfect ➤   είχα, είχες, … θελήσει  
Future perfect ➤   θα έχω, θα έχεις, … θελήσει  
Subjunctive mood ➤ Formed using present, dependent (for simple past) or present perfect from above with a particle (να, ας).
Imperative mood ➤ Imperfective aspect Perfective aspect
2 sg θέλε θέλησε
2 pl θέλετε θελήστε
Other forms
Active present participle ➤   θέλοντας ➤
Active perfect participle ➤   έχοντας θελήσει ➤
Passive perfect participle ➤ {ηθελημένος, ‑η, ‑o}
[θελημένος, ‑η, ‑o] ➤
Nonfinite form ➤   θελήσει
Notes  
 
Appendix:Greek verbs 		 1. Colloquial, vernacular.
 2. 3rd persons, also as impersonal: "he/she/it/they needs", "needed"
 • (…) 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

Derived terms

See also

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia