Όταν έχει παγετό, οδηγώ πιο αργά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς.

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Breakdown of Όταν έχει παγετό, οδηγώ πιο αργά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς.

• έχω: to have
• πιο: more
• αργά: slowly

Questions & Answers about Όταν έχει παγετό, οδηγώ πιο αργά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς.

Why does Όταν mean when here, but the sentence seems to mean whenever?

In Greek, όταν can introduce both:

• a specific time: when
• a repeated/habitual situation: whenever

In this sentence, the verbs are in the present tense and the meaning is general, so Όταν έχει παγετό is understood as:

• When/Whenever there is frost
• more naturally in English here: Whenever it’s frosty / when there’s frost

So even though Greek uses όταν, the overall sentence shows that this is a repeated habit, not one single event.

Why is it έχει παγετό and not something with είναι?

Έχει παγετό is an idiomatic Greek weather expression. Literally, it means it has frost, but naturally it means:

• there is frost
• it’s frosty
• there are icy conditions

Greek often uses έχει with weather or environmental conditions:

• έχει κρύο = it’s cold
• έχει ζέστη = it’s hot
• έχει αέρα = it’s windy
• έχει παγετό = there is frost / it’s frosty

So this is just the normal Greek way to say it.

What form is οδηγώ?