είμαι

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See also: εἶμαι and εἷμαι

Greek

Etymology

From Byzantine Greek εἶμαι (eîmai), from Ancient Greek εἰμί (eimí, to be), from Proto-Hellenic *ehmi, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésmi (I am, I exist).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈi.me/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: εί‧μαι

Verb

είμαι (eímai) (imperfect ήμουν, past —)

  1. (most senses, location and existence) to be
    Είμαι φίλος της.Eímai fílos tis.I'm her friend.
    Είναι γιατρός.Eínai giatrós.He's a doctor.
    Συνεχώς ήταν θλιμμένηSynechós ítan thlimméniShe was constantly sad.
    Είμαι στο σπίτι μουEímai sto spíti mouI am at my home.
  2. (intransitive) there is, there are, to exist
    Είναι μία γυναίκα στην πόρτα.Eínai mía gynaíka stin pórta.There is a woman at the door.
  3. (transitive) to support, be a supporter of (team, political party etc)
    Αυτός εκεί είναι ΣΥΡΙΖΑ.Aftós ekeí eínai SYRIZA.That guy over there is a SYRIZA supporter.
    Τι ομάδα είσαι;Ti omáda eísai;What team do you support?
  4. (grammar, auxiliary verb) to be + participles to form alternative passive perfect tenses
    Έχει λυθεί το πρόβλημα, είναι λυμένο.Échei lytheí to próvlima, eínai lyméno.The problem has been solved, it is solved.

Usage notes

  • All inflectional forms also occur with apheresis of the first vowel, when preceded by vowel. An apostrophe is used in its place: e.g. να ’μαι (na ’mai, here I am), πού ’σουν; (poú ’soun?, where were you?), θα ’μαστε (tha ’maste, we will be).

Conjugation

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • έσομαι (ésomai, I will be) (archaic, in set phrases from Ancient Greek)
  • έσο (éso, be!, may you be!, imperative) (archaic, in set phrases from Ancient Greek)
  • έστω (ésto, let it be!, imperative) (archaic, in set phrases from Ancient Greek)
  • έστωσαν (éstosan, let them be!, imperative) (archaic, inset phrases from Ancient Greek)

See also