When you learn a language, you will soon understand that you need to learn verbs, in order to make sentences. And when you learn a Greek verb, you will need to learn how to conjugate it as well.
But do not worry, learning Greek verbs is fun, and the Omilo-team is here to help you 😊
The Greek verb “χαλάω”
An interesting Greek verb that we use either in its literal or its metaphorical meaning is the verb: “χαλάω”. “Χαλάω” means to “go bad” or to “break down”. Here below we will learn how to conjugate it and how to use it in everyday expressions.
Let’s start with the video below and listen to teacher Eva. She teaches you how to conjugate the verb “χαλάω” and the correct pronunciation in Greek.
Let’s start with a little bit of grammar:
In the present tense the verb is conjugated like the verbs ending in –άω. So what you have tο do is to add the following endings to the stem “χαλ-”: -άω, -άς, -άει, -άμε, -άτε, -άνε.
In the future and past tenses the stem is “χαλάσ-”. It is a regular verb, so it has the regular endings of future and past tenses.
Here below you can see how the verb is conjugated:
Present | Future Simple | Simple Past | |
| εγώ | χαλάω | θα χαλάσω | χάλασα |
| εσύ | χαλάς | θα χαλάσεις | χάλασες |
| αυτός, αυτή, αυτό | χαλάει | θα χάλασει | χάλασε |
| εμείς | χαλάμε | θα χαλάσουμε | χαλάσαμε |
| εσείς | χαλάτε | θα χαλάσετε | χαλάσατε |
| αυτοί, αυτές, αυτά | χαλάνε | θα χαλάσουν(ε) | χάλασαν/ χαλάσανε |
Most students will use the verb χαλάω mainly in the present and simple past tense, but more advanced students can also have a look at the other tenses.
| Present | χαλάω |
| Past Continuous | χαλούσα |
| Past Simple | χάλασα |
| Future Simple | θα χαλάσω |
| Future Continuous | θα χαλάω |
| Present Perfect | έχω χαλάσει |
| Past Perfect | είχα χαλάσει |
| Future Perfect | θα έχω χαλάσει |
Let’s see some examples with the verb “χαλάω”:
Tο γάλα χάλασε = The milk has gone bad.
Tο αυτοκίνητο χάλασε = The car broke down.
Ο καιρός θα χαλάσει αύριο = The weather will become bad tomorrow.
Some Greek expressions with the verb “χαλάω”:
Δεν χάλασε ο κόσμος! = It is not the end of the world!
Ο κακός καιρός χάλασε τα σχέδιά μας για πικ νικ. = The bad weather ruined our plan for a picnic.
Αυτό το γλυκό μού χάλασε το στομάχι = This sweet upset my stomach.
Χάλασε πολλά λεφτά στο ταξίδι = He spent a lot of money during his trip.
Μπορείς να μου χαλάσεις κατοστάρικο; = Can you change a 100 euro (a banknote of 100 euro)?
Δεν έπρεπε να της το πεις! Χάλασες την έκπληξη! = You shouldn’t have told her! You spoiled the surprise!
Τα σχόλιά του μού χάλασαν την μέρα. = His comments ruined my day.
Hope you liked this Free Greek Lesson.
Now that you started learning Greek verbs in different tenses, it is the perfect time to proceed and start using more Greek verbs.
The eBook “71 Everyday Greek Verbs” will help you to communicate in Greek.
