πατάω

Greek

Alternative forms

• πατώ (pató)

Etymology

From πατ(ώ) (pat(ó)) + -άω (-áo). Inherited from Ancient Greek πατῶ (patô), contracted form of πατέω (patéō).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paˈta.o/
• Hyphenation: πα‧τά‧ω

Verb

πατάω • (patáo) / πατώ (past πάτησα, passive πατιέμαι, p‑past πατήθηκα, ppp πατημένος)

1. (transitive) to tread, tread on, trample, trample on, step on

   Ο παππούς πατάει τα σταφύλια στα αμπελοχώραφά του.

   O pappoús patáei ta stafýlia sta ampelochórafá tou.

   Grandad is trampling the grapes in his fields.

   Κατά λάθος με πάτησε με τα τακούνια της.

   Katá láthos me pátise me ta takoúnia tis.

   She accidentally stepped on me with her heels.

2. (transitive) to press, depress (exert weight or force against)

   Πάτα το κουμπί για να σταματήσει το λεωφορείο.

   Páta to koumpí gia na stamatísei to leoforeío.

   Press the button to stop the bus.

   Πατάω τα πλήκτρα του πιάνου.

   Patáo ta plíktra tou piánou.

   I'm pressing the piano's keys.

3. (transitive, colloquial) to iron (pass an iron over in order to remove creases)

   Μπορείς να μου πατήσεις το πουκάμισο;

   Boreís na mou patíseis to poukámiso?

   Can you iron my shirt?

4. (transitive) to conquer, defeat (overcome in combat or sports)

   Οι Ρωμαίοι ποτέ δεν πάτησαν την Ιρλανδία.

   Oi Romaíoi poté den pátisan tin Irlandía.

   The Romans never conquered Ireland.

5. (transitive, of vehicles) to run over (drive over, causing injury or death)

   Τον πάτησε λεωφορείο και πέθανε.

   Ton pátise leoforeío kai péthane.

   A bus ran him over and he died.

6. (transitive, figuratively) to violate (an oath, etc)

   Πάτησε την συμφωνία χωρίς να νοιάζεται.

   Pátise tin symfonía chorís na noiázetai.

   He violated the agreement without caring.

7. (transitive, figuratively, with a number) to reach, hit, become (an age)

   Τώρα που πάτησα τα πενήντα, αρχίζει να χειροτερεύει η όρασή μου.

   Tóra pou pátisa ta penínta, archízei na cheiroterévei i órasí mou.

   Now that I've hit fifty, my eyesight is starting to get worse.

   • 1946, “Μπέμπα [Baby]”, Yiorgos Tzavellas (lyrics), Michalis Souyioul (music), performed by Nikos Gounaris:

     Πριν πατήσει τα δεκάξι,
     Ήταν όλα της εντάξει.

     Prin patísei ta dekáxi,
     Ítan óla tis entáxei.

     Before she hit sixteen,
     Everything was fine.

8. (transitive, colloquial, with a noun) to indicate that an excess or a lot of that noun is being done or used

   πατάω δουλειά ― patáo douleiá ― to get hard to work

   πατάω φαϊ ― patáo faï ― to eat excessively

   πατάω φωνές ― patáo fonés ― to shout loudly

9. (intransitive) to stand, step, walk, tread

   Πρόσεχε εκεί που πατάς, το σανίδιο έχει σαπίσει.

   Próseche ekeí pou patás, to sanídio échei sapísei.

   Be careful stepping there, the board has rotted.

10. (intransitive, colloquial, of vehicles) to step on it, put pedal to the metal (drive fast)

    Πάτα να τους προλάβουμε! ― Páta na tous prolávoume! ― Step on it so we can catch them!

Conjugation

Derived terms

• την πατάω (tin patáo, “I fall for it, be fooled”), frequently in the past tense την πάτησα (tin pátisa) (colloquial expression, vulgar)

Related terms

• and see: πάτος m (pátos, “bottom”), πάτωμα n (pátoma, “floor”)

References