ρίχνω literally makes something fall, so it is the transitive partner of πέφτω. More often, however, it lives inside collocations whose meanings cannot be predicted from English throw.
Έριξα κατά λάθος το ποτήρι από το τραπέζι.
ériksa katá láthos to potíri apó to trapézi
I accidentally knocked the glass off the table.
Το ποτήρι έπεσε, αλλά ευτυχώς δεν έσπασε.
to potíri épese, alá eftichós dhen éspase
The glass fell, but luckily it didn't break.
Principal parts
| Slot | Form |
|---|---|
| Present | ρίχνω, ρίχνεις, ρίχνει, ρίχνουμε, ρίχνετε, ρίχνουν |
| Imperfect | έριχνα |
| Aorist | έριξα |
| After θα / να | ρίξω |
| Command | ρίξε / ρίξτε |
| Perfect | έχω ρίξει |
| Mediopassive | ρίχνομαι · ρίχτηκα / ριχτώ |
| Participle | ριγμένος, -η, -ο |
| Unavailable slots | none in the ordinary active or mediopassive paradigm |
The perfective merge χν → ξ also appears in φτιάχνω → έφτιαξα and διώχνω → έδιωξα. The participle has literal readings, but νιώθω ριγμένος commonly means “feel unfairly treated or short-changed,” a lexicalized adjective rather than an event passive.
That drift matters: a ριγμένο παλτό may literally be a coat left lying somewhere, while a ριγμένος συνεργάτης is normally a colleague who believes the arrangement treated them unfairly.
Νιώθει ριγμένος στη μοιρασιά της περιουσίας.
nióthi righménos sti mirasiá tis periusías
He feels short-changed in the division of the estate.
Government
The thing moved is accusative; σε + accusative marks a target, and από + accusative a source. In weather expressions the verb is subjectless but still has a noun object: ρίχνει βροχή, χιόνι, χαλάζι.
Ρίξε τα κλειδιά στην τσάντα μου, σε παρακαλώ.
ríkse ta klidhiá stin tsánda mu, se parakaló
Drop the keys into my bag, please.
Από το πρωί ρίχνει βροχή χωρίς διακοπή.
apó to proí ríchni vrochí chorís dhiakopí
It has been pouring rain nonstop since morning.
This is different from bare πέφτω: ρίχνω το ποτήρι causes the fall; πέφτει το ποτήρι reports it.
Clitics choose the reading
In the seduction sense, a person is an accusative object. The fixed chat-up expression instead has neuter plural τα plus σε. Both are informal and can sound objectifying.
Προσπάθησε να τη ρίξει με μεγάλα λόγια.
prospáthise na ti ríksi me meghála lóyia
He tried to seduce her with big talk. (informal)
Τα ρίχνει στη νέα συνάδελφο από την πρώτη μέρα.
ta ríchni sti néa sinádhelfo apó tin próti méra
He's been chatting up the new colleague since day one. (informal)
A genitive clitic with the active verb instead marks a participant in an active frame: του έριξε μια ματιά, for example, means “she gave him a glance,” while shooting context can license του έριξε. With the mediopassive, της ρίχνεται means “he comes on to her.” Context, voice, and the rest of the clause—not the clitic alone—select the reading.
Της ρίχνεται κάθε φορά που τη βλέπει στο μπαρ.
tis ríchnete káthe forá pu ti vlépi sto bar
He comes on to her every time he sees her at the bar. (informal)
Set phrases
- ρίχνω μια ματιά — take a look
- ρίχνω το φταίξιμο σε κάποιον — put the blame on someone
- ρίχνω τις τιμές — lower prices
- το ρίχνω έξω — let loose, enjoy oneself (informal)
- ρίχνει καρεκλοπόδαρα — it is bucketing down (informal)
- ρίχνω άδεια για να πιάσω γεμάτα — fish for information (informal)
Ρίξε μια ματιά στο συμβόλαιο πριν υπογράψεις.
ríkse mia matiá sto simvóleo prin ipoghrápsis
Take a look at the contract before you sign.
Common Mistakes
έριχνα is imperfect, not the bounded past; that is έριξα. Likewise, ρίξω needs a licensing word such as θα or να and is not a present. In the courtship idioms, keep τη ρίχνει, τα ρίχνει σε and της ρίχνεται distinct; outside them, the same clitics can support other readings.
Χτες έριξαν τις τιμές σε όλα τα χειμωνιάτικα.
chtes ériksan tis timés se óla ta chimoniátika
Yesterday they cut the prices on all the winter items.
Key Takeaways
- ρίχνω · έριχνα · έριξα · ρίξω · ρίξε / ρίξτε · ρίχτηκα · ριγμένος.
- It causes what πέφτω merely reports, but its frequent collocations must be learned whole.
- Weather ρίχνει is subjectless, not objectless; the precipitation noun remains its object.
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Start learning Greek →Related Topics
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- Principal Parts: Complete IndexA2 — A consolidated index of the principal parts of 151 frequent Modern Greek verbs, including defective and register-limited paradigms.
- Verb + Noun CollocationsB1 — A practical reference to the Greek verbs conventionally used with everyday activities, decisions, exams, promises, calls, and photographs.