κελαηδάω

• κελαηδώ (kelaïdó) (variant)
• κελαϊδάω (kelaïdáo), κελαϊδώ (kelaïdó) (less frequent spelling)

κελαηδ(ώ) (kelaïd(ó)) + modern suffix -άω (-áo). Inherited from the medieval form Byzantine Greek κελαηδῶ (kelaēdô) (also spelling κελαϊδῶ (kelaïdô)) of κελαδῶ (keladô), from Ancient Greek κελαδῶ (keladô), contracted form of κελαδέω (keladéō), with diphthongisation of > . The spelling with eta (κελαηδῶ), by false etymology to ἀηδών f (aēdṓn, “nightingale”), modern αηδόνι n (aïdóni).^[1][2]

• IPA^(key): /ce.lai̯ˈða.o/
• Hyphenation: κε‧λαη‧δά‧ω

κελαηδάω • (kelaïdáo) / κελαηδώ (past κελάηδησα, passive —)

1. (intransitive, of birds) to sing, chirp. cheep, chirrup, tweet

   Για μας κελαηδούν τα πουλιά ― Gia mas kelaïdoún ta pouliá ― The birds sing for us (1939 song by Michalis Souyioul)

   Με τρελαίνουν αυτά τα αηδόνια που κελαηδούν συνεχώς.

   Me trelaínoun aftá ta aïdónia pou kelaïdoún synechós.

   These nightingales that are constantly chirping are driving me insane.

2. (intransitive, figuratively, of a person) to babble, prattle (talk at length happily)

   Τι την ακούς, αυτή την χαζή γυναίκα, που όλο κελαηδάει;

   Ti tin akoús, aftí tin chazí gynaíka, pou ólo kelaïdáei;

   What are you listening to this stupid woman for, who's constantly babbling on?

3. (intransitive, figuratively) to sing like a bird, sing like a canary (reveal secrets under pressure)

   Τώρα που τον πιάσανε, το πουλάκι θα κελαηδήσει.

   Tóra pou ton piásane, to pouláki tha kelaïdísei.

   Now that they've got him, he'll sing like a canary.

This is the most common spelling. Babiniotis, in his dictionary, uses the spelling κελαϊδώ (kelaïdṓ) and explains the (by far) more common spelling given here as influenced by the word αηδόνι (aïdóni, “nightingale”).

• (chirp): λαλώ (laló), τραγουδάω (tragoudáo)
• (babble): φλυαρώ (flyaró), τραγουδάω (tragoudáo)

• τσίου τσίου n (tsíou tsíou, “cheep”)