πάει
Wordform Details
Translation: goattend
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
third-personsingularaoristsubjunctiveIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: πηγαίνω
Translation: to go; to walk; to travel; to head; to proceed (verb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πηγαίνω, derived from πηγή (spring, source) + the verb-forming suffix -αίνω. The connection to 'spring' reflects the idea of movement from a source or origin point. This verb is cognate with English 'page' through Latin pagina, both ultimately relating to the concept of 'fixing' or 'setting' something in place, though the Greek retained the motion sense while English developed the written sense.
Example Usage
Θα πάω στο γιατρό αύριο.
I will go to the doctor tomorrow.
Πηγαίνω στο σχολείο κάθε μέρα.
I go to school every day.
Πού πηγαίνεις;
Where are you going?
Πήγαμε στην Αθήνα πέρυσι.
We went to Athens last year.
Πηγαίνει καλά η δουλειά;
Is work going well?
Θα πάω στην Αθήνα αύριο.
I will go to Athens tomorrow.
Mnemonics
- Think 'PIG-ay-no' - imagine a pig going somewhere
- Remember 'peg' + 'aino' - like pegging your way to a destination
- Connect to 'page' - turning pages means going forward through a book
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This is one of the most fundamental verbs in Greek, used constantly in daily conversation. Greeks often use it with specific prepositions to indicate direction (πηγαίνω στο, πηγαίνω για). It's also commonly used in idiomatic expressions about life progression and personal development.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: πάω is the more colloquial, shortened form of πηγαίνω. Both mean 'to go' but πάω is more commonly used in everyday speech, while πηγαίνω is more formal or emphatic.
Confused word:
Πάω σπίτι τώρα.
I'm going home now.
Notes: In future tense, both verbs use the same stem: θα πάω (never θα πηγαίνω)
Mnemonic: πηγαίνω is the 'full' formal version (longer word), πάω is the casual short version