How To Ask For Something In Greek ? There are two verbs you can use!
For any Greek language learner, memorizing verbs and learning to conjugate them correctly, is one of the first things you need, in order to make a correct Greek sentence.
The two Greek verbs that many Beginners and even Intermediate students find quite confusing are ‘ρωτάω‘ and ‘ζητάω’. The main obvious cause of this confusion is that both verbs mean „to ask“ in English. However, in Greek, there is a difference in „asking“!
Here we explain how to use both verbs, and help you understand when to use which one and how to conjugate them.
The verb ‘ρωτάω’ = to ask (a question)
The verb ‘ζητάω΄ = to ask for something – (so something you can actually touch!)
Conjugation of the verb ‘ρωτάω’ = to ask (a question)
Ρωτάω I ask a question
Ρωτάς You ask a question
Ρωτάει He/she asks a question
Ρωτάμε We ask a question
Ρωτάτε You ask a question (the „you – plural form“, or the „you – polite form)
Ρωτάνε They a question
Examples:
Ρωτάει αν θέλεις γάλα στο καφέ.
He/She asks if you want milk in your coffee.
H μητέρα σου ρωτάει πότε θα πάμε στην ταβέρνα.
Your mother asks when we will go to the tavern.
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Conjugation of the verb ‘ζητάω΄ = to ask for something
Ζητάω I ask for something
Ζητάς You ask for something
Ζητάει He / She asks for something
Ζητάμε We ask for something
Ζητάτε You ask for something ( (the „you – plural form“, or the „you – polite form))
Ζητάνε They ask for something
Examples:
Ζητάω βοήθεια.
I ask for help.
Η κόρη μου ζητάει λεφτά για το θέατρο.
My daughter asks for money for the theatre.
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In the video below, teacher Myrto exlains how to use these verbs.
The video will also help you with the correct pronunciation.
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Some grammar
* ρωτάω και ζητάω, as well as all the verbs ending in -άω, can be also conjugated in a different way, less in use but equally correct.
Good to know, not necessary to use it. If you are interested, just take a look!
ρωτάω or ρωτώ, ζητάω or ζητώ
ρωτάς, ζητάς
ρωτάει or ρωτά, ζητάει or ζητά,
ρωτάμε or ρωτούμε, ζητάμε or ζητούμε
ρωτάτε, ζητάτε
ρωτάνε or ρωτούν ζητάνε or ζητούν
If you are already more advanced, and you would like to repeat your tenses, then take a look below
‘ρωτάω’ and ‘ζητάω’: Tenses (Active Voice)
| Present |
ρωτάω |
ζητάω |
| Past Continuous |
ρωτούσα |
ζητούσα |
| Past Simple |
ρώτησα |
ζήτησα |
| Future Simple |
θα ρωτήσω |
θα ζητήσω |
| Future Continuous |
θα ρωτάω |
θα ζητάω |
| Present Perfect |
έχω ρωτήσει |
έχω ζητήσει |
| Past Perfect |
είχα ρωτήσει |
είχα ζητήσει |
| Future Perfect |
θα έχω ρωτήσει |
θα έχω ζητήσει |
Grammar exercise ! ‘Ρωτάω’ or ‘Ζητάω’?
Take the following quiz to find out if you still have doubts about these two verbs! Just choose the correct type! You can find the answer key below
1. Σήμερα το πρωί η δασκάλα ρώτησε/ζήτησε όλους τους μαθητές πώς τα πέρασαν το καλοκαίρι.
2. Χτες ο δάσκαλος μάς ρώτησε/ζήτησε να γράψουμε μία πρόταση στα ελληνικά.
3. Ο Νίκος ρώτησε/ζήτησε την Ελένη αν θέλει να βγει μαζί του το βράδυ.
4. Δεν έχουμε ιδέα πώς θα πάμε στο σπίτι του! Θα ρωτήσουμε/θα ζητήσουμε κάποιον περαστικό.
5. Συγνώμη! Μπορώ να ρωτήσω/ζητήσω μία ερώτηση;
6. Θα ήθελα να σου ρωτήσω/ζητήσω μία χάρη!
7. Μήπως έφερες τα βιβλία που σου είχα ρωτήσει/είχα ζητήσει;
8. Σε έχω ρωτήσει/έχω ζητήσει τόσες φορές πού μπορώ να βρω αυτά τα βιβλία. Απάντησέ μου!
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Now that you started learning Greek verbs in different tenses, it is the perfect time to proceed and start using more Greek verbs.
The special eBooks, with verbs of A and B category, will help you further to start communicating in Greek.
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The answers of the grammar exercise :
1. ρώτησε / 2. ζήτησε / 3. ρώτησε / 4. θα ρωτήσουμε / 5. ρωτήσω / 6. ζητήσω / 7. είχα ζητήσει / 8. έχω ρωτήσει
