λες και

Translations

• as if
• as though
• like
• it's as if

Literal Translation

you say and

Forms

Usage Notes

Always followed by a clause in the indicative mood. Can be used with past, present, or future tense verbs. The 'και' can be contracted to 'κι' before vowels.

Etymology

From the verb λέω (to say) in second person singular present tense + και (and). The phrase evolved to express comparison or hypothetical situations, moving away from its literal meaning of 'you say and'.

Cultural Context

This is one of the most common comparative expressions in Greek, used in both spoken and written language to introduce comparisons, hypothetical situations, or to express that something appears to be a certain way.

• Think 'let's say and...' but it means 'as if'
• Remember: when Greeks 'say and' they're actually comparing