έτρεχαν
Wordform Details
Translation: to runto move quickly
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
third-personpluralimperfectIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: τρέχω
Translation: to run; to flow; to hurry; to rush (verb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek τρέχω (trékhō), meaning 'to run'. This verb is cognate with English words through Indo-European roots, though not directly obvious. The root *drem- relates to running and movement. Interestingly, it shares distant ancestry with English 'track' and 'trek' through Germanic borrowings, making it easier to remember the concept of movement and pathways.
Example Usage
Έτρεξα να προειδοποιήσω τους φίλους μου για το τέρας.
I ran to warn my friends about the monster.
Τρέχω κάθε πρωί στο πάρκο.
I run in the park every morning.
Το νερό τρέχει από τη βρύση.
Water flows from the faucet.
Πρέπει να τρέξω για να προλάβω το λεωφορείο.
I have to run to catch the bus.
Τρέχα γύρευε τώρα τι έγινε με τα χαρτιά.
It's complicated now what happened with the papers.
Τρέχω στο πάρκο κάθε πρωί.
I run in the park every morning.
Πρέπει να τρέξω, αργώ!
I have to rush, I'm late!
Τρέχω να προλάβω το λεωφορείο.
I'm rushing to catch the bus.
Mnemonics
- Think 'trek' - both involve movement and travel
- The 'tr' sound suggests rapid movement like 'track'
Cultural Context
Very common in everyday Greek conversation. Used literally for physical running and metaphorically for rushing or hurrying. Often heard in contexts of being late or water flowing.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: τρέχω means 'to run' while τρέμω means 'to tremble' - both start with τρε- but have very different meanings
This word:
Τρέχω γρήγορα.
I run fast.
Confused word:
Τρέμω από το κρύο.
I tremble from the cold.
Notes: The similar spelling can confuse beginners, but the meanings are completely different - one is about movement, the other about shaking
Mnemonic: τρέχω = running (think 'track'), τρέμω = trembling (think 'tremble')