κατεβαίνω
Wordform Details
Translation: go downcome downdescendget off
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
first-personsingularpresentIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: κατεβαίνω
Translation: to go down; to descend; to come down; to get off; to decrease; to run for election (verb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek καταβαίνω (katabaínō), from κατά (katá, 'down') + βαίνω (baínō, 'to go, walk'). The root βαίνω shares the same Indo-European root (*gʷem-) as English 'come' and 'base'. This connection helps explain why κατεβαίνω can mean both physical descent and 'coming down' to a place.
Example Usage
Κατεβαίνω στην επόμενη στάση.
I'm getting off at the next stop.
Κατέβα από τη σκάλα προσεκτικά.
Come down the stairs carefully.
Κατεβαίνω τις σκάλες κάθε πρωί.
I go down the stairs every morning.
Πρέπει να κατέβεις στην επόμενη στάση.
You need to get off at the next stop.
Οι τιμές κατεβαίνουν το χειμώνα.
Prices go down in winter.
Θα κατέβει στις εκλογές του Σεπτεμβρίου.
He will run in the September elections.
Mnemonics
- Think 'cata-' (down) + 'base' (go) = 'go down'
- Remember 'κατά' means 'down' in many Greek compounds
- The 'κατ' sound is like 'cut down' - helping you remember it means to descend
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Greek politics, 'κατεβαίνω' is commonly used to describe running for election or putting oneself forward as a candidate. It's also frequently used in everyday contexts for physical movement (getting off buses, going downstairs) and for prices or temperatures decreasing.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'κατεβαίνω' means 'I go down' (intransitive), 'κατεβάζω' means 'I bring down' or 'I download' (transitive).
Notes: The distinction follows a common pattern in Greek verbs where related pairs often have one intransitive form and one transitive form.
Mnemonic: 'κατεβαίνω' ends with '-αίνω' like many intransitive verbs (I do the action myself), while 'κατεβάζω' ends with '-άζω' like many transitive verbs (I make something else do the action).