The Β1 αγαπάω and Β2 μπορώ paradigms reflect older contract verbs, whose stem vowel fused with an ending. That history explains their core shapes and end-stress, but modern analogy has blurred the lexical boundary: some verbs now use both ending sets. This page separates the historical baseline from the present-day inventory.
Where the stress comes from: an ancient contraction
In Ancient Greek, stems in -α-, -ε- or -ο- contracted with following endings. Modern Greek inherited the major patterns and much of their accentuation:
- Β1 descends from the -άω (alpha-contract) verbs: αγαπά-ω → αγαπῶ. The stem vowel -α- fused with the ending.
- Β2 descends from the -έω (epsilon-contract) verbs: θεωρέ-ω → θεωρῶ, ποιέ-ω → ποιῶ. The stem vowel -ε- fused with the ending.
The Β2 set preserves -ώ, -είς, -εί, -ούμε, -είτε, -ούν. Thus μπορώ, θεωρώ and the contracted side of οδηγώ stress the ending. The history explains that set; it does not by itself predict whether a modern lexical verb has acquired a second, analogical set.
Θεωρώ ότι αυτό το έργο είναι το καλύτερό του.
theoró óti aftó to érgho íne to kalíteró tu
I consider this work to be his best. (Β2, from θεωρέ-ω)
Why doublets spread unevenly
The Β1 group widely preserves or renews an audible -άω beside the contracted -ώ: αγαπάω/αγαπώ, μιλάω/μιλώ, ρωτάω/ρωτώ. The -άω forms are especially conversational; the contracted forms are common in writing and more formal styles, though both are Standard.
Pure Β2 anchors such as μπορώ and θεωρώ have no Standard -άω partner. Yet analogy has pulled some historically Β2 verbs toward the productive Β1 pattern: οδηγώ/οδηγάω, προχωρώ/προχωράω and τηλεφωνώ/τηλεφωνάω are live doublets. Etymology predicts the starting point, not every modern speaker's complete inventory.
Άλλοι λένε «μιλάω» κι άλλοι «μιλώ» — και τα δύο σωστά.
áli léne «miláo» ki áli «miló» — ke ta dhío sostá
Some say 'miláo' and others 'miló' — both correct. (Β1 doublet)
Άλλοι λένε «οδηγώ» κι άλλοι «οδηγάω» — και τα δύο ακούγονται σήμερα και είναι σωστά.
áli léne «odhighó» ki áli «odhigháo» — ke ta dhío akúghonde símera ke íne sostá
Some say 'odigó' and others 'odigáo' — both are heard today and both are correct.
The doublet extends beyond the citation form: οδηγείς/οδηγάς, οδηγούμε/οδηγάμε, imperfect οδηγούσα/οδήγαγα, and imperfective commands οδήγα/οδήγατε. See the οδηγώ reference card for the whole paradigm.
The -άμε / -ούμε alternation in the "we" form
Β1's everyday "we" form is -άμε (αγαπάμε, μιλάμε), with a more formal -ούμε twin (αγαπούμε, μιλούμε). Pure Β2 models use -ούμε (μπορούμε, θεωρούμε), while a waverer's -άω set naturally contributes -άμε (οδηγάμε):
| "We" form | Β1 (αγαπάω) | pure Β2 (μπορώ) |
|---|---|---|
| colloquial | αγαπάμε | — (only one form) |
| formal / standard | αγαπούμε | μπορούμε |
The practical upshot is lexical: -ούμε is the contracted option, while -άμε belongs to a live Β1-style set. It is unavailable for pure μπορώ/θεωρώ but correct in verified waverers such as οδηγάμε and προχωράμε.
Στην κουβέντα λέμε συνήθως «μιλάμε»· το «μιλούμε» είναι πιο επίσημο.
stin kuvénda léme siníthos «miláme»· to «milúme» íne pio epísimo
In conversation we usually say 'miláme'; 'milúme' is more formal.
Εμείς θεωρούμε ότι είναι ακόμα πολύ νωρίς.
emís theorúme óti íne akóma polí norís
We think it's still far too early. (Β2, only -ούμε)
The near-contract irregulars: λέω, ακούω, τρώω
A small set of common verbs — λέω, ακούω, τρώω, plus κλαίω and φταίω — has a vowel-final stem and some contracted-looking short forms, but its own stress and endings. These verbs are neither Β1 nor Β2.
| Person | λέω | ακούω | τρώω |
|---|---|---|---|
| εγώ | λέω | ακούω | τρώω |
| εσύ | λες | ακούς | τρως |
| αυτός/-ή/-ό | λέει | ακούει | τρώει |
| εμείς | λέμε | ακούμε | τρώμε |
| εσείς | λέτε | ακούτε | τρώτε |
| αυτοί/-ές/-ά | λένε | ακούν(ε) | τρώνε |
The "you" forms are λες, ακούς, τρως, not full contract-style endings. Their aorists diverge too: suppletive είπα, έφαγα, but regular-looking άκουσα. See vowel-final stems.
Τι λες, πάμε για έναν καφέ αργότερα;
ti les, páme ya énan kafé arghótera;
What do you say, shall we go for a coffee later?
Τρώμε όλοι μαζί το βράδυ, είναι έθιμο στο σπίτι μας.
tróme óli mazí to vrádhi, íne éthimo sto spíti mas
We all eat together in the evening, it's a custom in our house.
A quick-reference of common members
| Β1 (-άω/-ώ) | everyday 1pl | aorist |
|---|---|---|
| αγαπάω / αγαπώ | αγαπάμε | αγάπησα |
| μιλάω / μιλώ | μιλάμε | μίλησα |
| ρωτάω / ρωτώ | ρωτάμε | ρώτησα |
| περνάω / περνώ | περνάμε | πέρασα |
| γελάω / γελώ | γελάμε | γέλασα |
| πεινάω / πεινώ | πεινάμε | πείνασα |
| φυσάω / φυσώ | φυσάμε | φύσηξα |
| Β2 set / waverer | 1pl | aorist |
|---|---|---|
| μπορώ | μπορούμε | μπόρεσα |
| οδηγώ / οδηγάω | οδηγούμε / οδηγάμε | οδήγησα |
| θεωρώ | θεωρούμε | θεώρησα |
| καλώ | καλούμε | κάλεσα |
| ζω | ζούμε | έζησα |
The honest part: the Β1 aorist is unpredictable
Most Β1 verbs form the aorist in -ησα (αγάπησα, μίλησα, ρώτησα), but frequent families use other formations:
- -ασα: γελάω → γέλασα, πεινάω → πείνασα, περνάω → πέρασα, ξεχνάω → ξέχασα, χαλάω → χάλασα.
- -ηξα: φυσάω → φύσηξα, τραβάω → τράβηξα.
Store the aorist with the verb: the present set alone does not choose among -ησα, -ασα and -ηξα.
Φύσηξε τόσο δυνατά που έπεσαν δύο δέντρα.
físikse tóso dhinatá pu épesan dhío dhéndra
It blew so hard that two trees fell. (φυσάω → φύσηξα)
Common Mistakes
1. Regularising the "you" of λέω / ακούω. These lose the vowel: λες, ακούς — not the full contract-style ending.
❌ Με ακούεις; Η γραμμή είναι πολύ κακή.
Incorrect — the 2sg of ακούω is ακούς.
✅ Με ακούς; Η γραμμή είναι πολύ κακή.
me akús; i ghramí íne polí kakí
Can you hear me? The line is really bad.
2. Treating -άμε as impossible after every Β2-looking citation form. Pure θεωρώ has θεωρούμε, but wavering οδηγώ also has οδηγάμε.
✅ Θεωρούμε ότι είναι μια καλή ιδέα.
theorúme óti íne mia kalí idhéa
We think it's a good idea. (pure Β2 set)
✅ Οδηγάμε μαζί στη δουλειά κάθε πρωί.
odhigháme mazí sti dhuliá káthe proí
We drive to work together every morning. (live -άω set)
3. Defaulting every Β1 aorist to -ησα. The pattern is common but not universal; γελάω does not give ×γέλησα.
❌ Χθες γέλησα πολύ με τα αστεία του.
Incorrect — the aorist of γελάω is γέλασα, not γέλησα.
✅ Χθες γέλασα πολύ με τα αστεία του.
chthes yélasa polí me ta astía tu
Yesterday I laughed a lot at his jokes.
Key Takeaways
- Class Β verbs are contract verbs: an ancient stem-vowel fused with the ending and fixed the stress there for good.
- Β1-style -άω/-ώ doublets are widespread; pure Β2 anchors such as μπορώ have one set, while verified waverers such as οδηγώ/οδηγάω use both.
- -ούμε belongs to the contracted set; -άμε belongs to a Β1-style set and is therefore live in waverers such as οδηγάμε.
- λέω, ακούω, τρώω look contract but are their own irregular vowel-stem class (λες, ακούς, τρως; divergent aorists: suppletive είπα/έφαγα and regular-looking άκουσα).
- The Β1 aorist is lexical: default -ησα (μίλησα), but learn the -ασα (γέλασα, πείνασα, πέρασα) and -ηξα (φύσηξα) oddballs individually.
Related Topics
- Present Tense: Class Β1 (αγαπάω/-ώ)A1 — The full present of the everyday Β1 contract verbs — αγαπάω/αγαπώ, μιλάω, ρωτάω, περπατάω, κοιτάω, ξεχνάω, περνάω — with the -άω/-ώ doublet in the 'I' and 'they' forms, the fixed -άς 'you' ending, and the crossover error ×αγαπείς that spells it as if it were Class Α.
- Present Tense: Class Β2 (μπορώ)A2 — The full present of the pure Β2 anchor μπορώ — μπορώ, μπορείς, μπορεί, μπορούμε, μπορείτε, μπορούν — and the -ώ/-είς/-εί set also used by θεωρώ and καλώ. Some lexical verbs additionally waver into a live -άω set, notably οδηγώ/οδηγάω and προχωρώ/προχωράω, so the paradigm and a verb's complete inventory must be kept distinct.
- Vowel-Final Stems (ακούω, τρώω, λέω)B1 — Seven everyday verbs — λέω, τρώω, ακούω, πάω, κλαίω, καίω, φταίω — end their stem in a vowel, and that one fact reshapes the whole verb: an active present with no ending vowel (λες, τρως, ακούς), a γ that appears in forms outside that paradigm (έλεγα, άκουγα, κλαίγοντας, ακούγεται), and three different kinds of aorist inside one small class.