ζω means “live,” but it is not normally the verb used to give an address. Its unusually short present tests both the spelling of Class Β2 verbs and the important difference between living a life and simply residing somewhere.
Principal parts
| Slot | Form |
|---|---|
| Present | ζω, ζεις, ζει, ζούμε, ζείτε, ζουν(ε) |
| Imperfect | ζούσα |
| Aorist | έζησα |
| Dependent | ζήσω |
| Imperative | ζήσε / ζήστε |
| Perfect | έχω ζήσει |
| Gerund | ζώντας |
The first three present forms are monosyllables, so monotonic spelling gives ζω, ζεις, ζει no accent. There is one Β2 set: neither ζάω nor a second-person ζας belongs to this verb. Unlike most Class Β aorists, έζησα has an augment.
Έζησα έξι χρόνια στο εξωτερικό και γύρισα πέρσι.
ézisa éksi chrónia sto eksoterikó ke yírisa pérsi
I lived abroad for six years and came back last year.
Θέλω να ζήσω κοντά στη θάλασσα κάποια μέρα.
thélo na zíso kondá sti thálasa kápia méra
I want to live near the sea someday.
ζω or μένω?
For an everyday answer to “Where do you live?”, Greek normally chooses μένω, the neutral verb of residence. Ζω στην Αθήνα is grammatical, but it presents Athens as the setting of one’s life and therefore feels weightier. English live covers both readings, so translating it mechanically is noticeable.
Μένω στην Κυψέλη, κοντά στην πλατεία.
méno stin Kipséli, kondá stin platía
I live in Kypseli, near the square.
Ζω στην Αθήνα από τότε που τελείωσα το πανεπιστήμιο.
zo stin Athína apó tóte pu telíosa to panepistímio
Athens has been where I've lived my life since I finished university.
See μένω for residence, staying, and remaining.
Government
The verb is usually intransitive: σε introduces the setting, με the person one lives with, and από the income or resource one lives on. It also takes a direct object when the object is a life, period, or experience.
Ζει με την αδερφή της σ' ένα μικρό διαμέρισμα.
zi me tin adherfí tis s' éna mikró dhamérizma
She lives with her sister in a small apartment.
Ζουν από τη σύνταξή του και προσέχουν πολύ τα έξοδα.
zun apó ti síndaksí tu ke proséchun polí ta éksodha
They live on his pension and watch their expenses carefully.
Το έζησα από κοντά και δεν θα το ξεχάσω ποτέ.
to ézisa apó kondá ke dhen tha to ksecháso poté
I experienced it firsthand and I'll never forget it.
Two active participles
There is no mediopassive paradigm and no -μένος participle. That does not leave the verb without participles: everyday ζώντας is the gerund, while ζων / ζώσα / ζων is a learned active participle. The latter is productive only in a small set of established expressions and has (formal) or fixed-phrase distribution.
Ζώντας μόνος για πρώτη φορά, έμαθα να φροντίζω τον εαυτό μου.
zóndas mónos ya próti forá, ématha na frondízo ton eaftó mu
Living alone for the first time, I learned to take care of myself.
Η συνέντευξη θα γίνει διά ζώσης, όχι διαδικτυακά.
i sinéndefksi tha yíni dhiá zósis, óchi dhiadhiktiaká
The interview will take place in person, not online. (formal fixed expression)
The same learned participle survives in ψυχή ζώσα “a living soul” and nominalized οι ζώντες “the living.”
Set phrases
| Phrase | Use |
|---|---|
| Να ζήσεις! | birthday or name-day wish |
| Να ζήσετε! | wish to newlyweds |
| ζω τη ζωή μου | live my life |
| ζούμε και βλέπουμε | we live and see; time will tell |
| όσο ζω | as long as I live |
| μια φορά κι έναν καιρό | once upon a time; often followed by ζούσε… |
| ζήσανε αυτοί καλά κι εμείς καλύτερα | fairy-tale closing (informal/traditional) |
Να ζήσεις, Μαρία, και να χαίρεσαι την οικογένειά σου!
na zísis, María, ke na chérese tin ikoyéniá su!
Many happy returns, Maria, and may you enjoy your family!
Common Mistakes
The verb-specific traps are the accentless present and the augmented aorist: write έζησα, not ×ζήσα.
❌ Ζείς ακόμα στην Αθήνα;
Incorrect — the monosyllable ζεις takes no written accent.
✅ Ζεις ακόμα στην Αθήνα;
zis akóma stin Athína;
Do you still live in Athens?
Key Takeaways
- ζω, ζούσα, έζησα, να ζήσω, ζήσε, έχω ζήσει, ζώντας.
- Use μένω for a neutral address; ζω frames a place as the setting of a life.
- There is no mediopassive or -μένος participle, but ζώντας and the learned ζων / ζώσα / ζων are live.
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