Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| πίνω | píno | /ˈpi.no/ |
| απορροφώ | aporrofó | /a.po.ɾoˈfo/ |
| πώνω | pṓnō |
The primary way to express the act of consuming liquid through the mouth is with πίνω. For a specific drink or beverage, use the noun ποτό.
Which one should you use?
While απορροφώ can sometimes be translated as 'drink' in specific scientific contexts, it actually means 'to absorb', such as a sponge absorbing water. It is not used for the everyday act of a person drinking a beverage.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the regions of Attica and Euboea, you may encounter Ρετσίνα, which refers to a traditional Greek white or rosé wine flavored with pine resin.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form πίνω is the first-person singular present tense, meaning 'I drink', but it also serves as the base form to express the general concept of drinking.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of πίνω is /ˈpi.no/. It has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
When do people say it?
When making a toast, you can say Να ζήσετε! to mean 'Cheers!'
Did you know?
- When you toast with 'Να ζήσετε!', you are not actually saying 'drink' or 'cheers', but literally 'May you live'!
- The verb πίνω is often used as a euphemism for consuming alcohol, meaning that if someone says they 'drink' without specifying a liquid, they are likely referring to alcohol.
- While πίνω is the standard verb, Greeks may use it metaphorically to describe 'swallowing' an insult or a difficult situation.
Examples in context
- Δεν πίνω συχνά τεκίλα.I don't often drink tequila.This sentence shows how to use πίνω to talk about the frequency of drinking tequila.Tatoeba #7795314 by janMiso, translation #7795294 by CK
- Πίνω το τσάι χωρίς ζάχαρη.I drink my tea without sugar.This sentence uses πίνω to describe drinking tea without sugar.Tatoeba #3002897 by glavkos, translation #2726732 by WestofEden
- Πίνω καφέ σε μια καφετέρια.I drink coffee in a cafe.This sentence uses πίνω to describe drinking coffee in a cafe.Tatoeba #5523581 by Zeus, translation #4165770 by Lepotdeterre
- Ένα πότηρο πορτοκαλάδα, παρακαλώOne glass of orange juice, please.
- Ένα ποτήρι νερό, παρακαλώOne glass of water, please.
- Ένα κοκτέιλ, παρακαλώOne cocktail, please.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kyriaki and Dimitris are at a cafe.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΤι πίνω σήμερα;Ti pino simera?What am I drinking today?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΠίνεις έναν φρέσκο χυμό.Pineis enan fresko chymo.You are drinking a fresh juice.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΠίνω πάντα χυμό το πρωί.Pino panta chymo to proi.I always drink juice in the morning.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΕίναι πολύ υγιεινό.Einai poly ygieino.It is very healthy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drink” translations and entries πίνω, απορροφώ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
