έπλυναν
Wordform Details
Translation: washedcleaned
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
third-personpluralaoristactiveIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: πλένω
Translation: to wash; to clean; to rinse (verb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πλύνω (plýnō), meaning 'to wash'. The word has Indo-European roots related to the concept of flowing water and cleansing. The English word 'plunge' shares distant etymological connections, both relating to immersion in water.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'plenty of water' to help remember πλένω means 'to wash'
- The 'pl' sound at the beginning is similar to 'plunge' - both involve water
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
A very common everyday verb in Greek households. Washing hands before meals is particularly emphasized in Greek culture, and the concept of cleanliness is highly valued in Greek society.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While πλένω means 'to wash', πλέω means 'to sail' or 'to float'. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Το καράβι πλέει στη θάλασσα.
The ship sails in the sea.
Notes: Both words involve water, but in different ways - one for cleaning with water, the other for moving on water.
Mnemonic: πλένω has an 'ν' (n) which can remind you of 'clean', while πλέω is about movement on water.
Explanation: πλένω (to wash) might be confused with κλαίω (to cry) by beginners due to some phonetic similarity, but they have entirely different meanings and spellings.
Notes: While tears from κλαίω (crying) involve water coming from eyes, πλένω involves using water for cleaning.
Mnemonic: κλαίω starts with 'κ' (k) like 'cry', while πλένω starts with 'π' (p) like 'pure/purify'.