καταλαβαίνω
Greek edit
Greek phrasebook
 | This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. For other Greek entries on this topic, see Basic. |
Etymology edit
Inherited from the mediaeval Byzantine Greek καταλαβαίνω (katalabaínō), from Ancient Greek καταλαμβάνω (katalambánō) with metaplasm according to λαμβάνω (lambánō) > λαβαίνω (lavaíno).[1] Morphologically, κατα- (kata-) + λαβαίνω (lavaíno, “receive”). Doublet of καταλαμβάνω (katalamváno).
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
καταλαβαίνω • (katalavaíno) (past κατάλαβα) passive: only plural present stem
- to understand, realise
Usage notes edit
- Although λαμβάνω (lamváno) and λαβαίνω (lavaíno) are alternative forms having the same meaning, this is not true of καταλαβαίνω (katalavaíno, “to understand, to realise, to notice”) and καταλαμβάνω (katalamváno, “to seize, to acquire sovereignty”).
- Passive voice: only plural present stem, with sense: "we understand each other"
Conjugation edit
καταλαβαίνω - (καταλαβαινόμαστε)
| Active voice ➤ | Passive voice ➤ | |||
| Indicative mood ➤ | Imperfective aspect ➤ | Perfective aspect ➤ | Imperfective aspect | Perfective aspect |
| Non-past tenses ➤ | Present ➤ | Dependent ➤ | Present | Dependent |
| 1 sg | καταλαβαίνω | καταλάβω | — | — |
| 2 sg | καταλαβαίνεις | καταλάβεις | — | — |
| 3 sg | καταλαβαίνει | καταλάβει | — | — |
| 1 pl | καταλαβαίνουμε, [‑ομε] | καταλάβουμε, [‑ομε] | καταλαβαινόμαστε | — |
| 2 pl | καταλαβαίνετε | καταλάβετε | καταλαβαίνεστε, καταλαβαινόσαστε | — |
| 3 pl | καταλαβαίνουν(ε) | καταλάβουν(ε) | καταλαβαίνονται | — |
| Past tenses ➤ | Imperfect ➤ | Simple past ➤ | Imperfect | Simple past |
| 1 sg | καταλάβαινα | κατάλαβα | — | — |
| 2 sg | καταλάβαινες | κατάλαβες | — | — |
| 3 sg | καταλάβαινε | κατάλαβε | — | — |
| 1 pl | καταλαβαίναμε | καταλάβαμε | καταλαβαινόμασταν, (-όμαστε) | — |
| 2 pl | καταλαβαίνατε | καταλάβατε | καταλαβαινόσασταν, (-όσαστε) | — |
| 3 pl | καταλάβαιναν, καταλαβαίναν(ε) | κατάλαβαν, καταλάβαν(ε) | καταλαβαίνονταν, καταλαβαινόντουσαν | — |
| Future tenses ➤ | Continuous ➤ | Simple ➤ | Continuous | Simple |
| 1 sg | θα καταλαβαίνω ➤ | θα καταλάβω ➤ | plural 1st: θα καταλαβαινόμαστε ➤ | — ➤ |
| 2,3 sg, 1,2,3 pl | θα καταλαβαίνεις, … | θα καταλάβεις, … | plural 2nd: θα καταλαβαίνεστε, θα καταλαβαινόσαστε, ... | — |
| Perfect aspect ➤ | Perfect aspect | |||
| Present perfect ➤ | έχω, έχεις, … καταλάβει | — | ||
| Past perfect ➤ | είχα, είχες, … καταλάβει | — | ||
| Future perfect ➤ | θα έχω, θα έχεις, … καταλάβει | — | ||
| 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 | Imperfective aspect | Perfective aspect |
| 2 sg | καταλάβαινε | κατάλαβε | — | — |
| 2 pl | καταλαβαίνετε | καταλάβετε | — | — |
| Other forms | Active voice | Passive voice | ||
| Present participle➤ | καταλαβαίνοντας ➤ | — | ||
| Perfect participle➤ | έχοντας καταλάβει ➤ | — | ||
| Nonfinite form➤ | καταλάβει | — | ||
| Notes Appendix:Greek verbs |
• (…) 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 edit
- κατανοώ (katanoó)
Related terms edit
- ακαταλαβίστικος (akatalavístikos, “incomprehensible”)
- δεν καταλαβαίνω (den katalavaíno, “I do not understand”)
- πολυκαταλαβαίνω (polykatalavaíno, “understand too well”) (usually negative)
- στραβοκαταλαβαίνω (stravokatalavaíno, “understand incorrectly”)
References edit
- ^ καταλαβαίνω - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.