Learning a new language often involves diving deep into the subtleties of its vocabulary. Greek is no exception. Today, we’ll explore two Greek verbs that might seem similar at first glance but are used in different contexts: Βλέπω (Vlèpo) and Κοιτάζω (Koitázo). Both can be translated into English as “to see” or “to watch,” but their usage in Greek is distinct. This article will help you understand these differences and use these verbs correctly in your conversations.

Βλέπω (Vlèpo)

Βλέπω is commonly translated as “to see.” It refers to the act of perceiving something with your eyes, often without any deliberate focus or attention. It’s more about the sensory experience of sight.

Βλέπω
To see; to perceive with the eyes.

Βλέπω το βουνό από εδώ.
I see the mountain from here.

Εγώ
I; the first person singular pronoun.

Εγώ βλέπω την ταινία.
I see the movie.

Τοπίο
Landscape; scenery; the visible features of an area of land.

Βλέπω ένα όμορφο τοπίο.
I see a beautiful landscape.

Πουλί
Bird; a feathered vertebrate animal.

Βλέπω ένα πουλί στο δέντρο.
I see a bird in the tree.

Ουρανός
Sky; the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.

Βλέπω τον ουρανό.
I see the sky.

Usage of Βλέπω in Daily Life

Βλέπω is used in various contexts where you refer to the act of seeing something without necessarily paying close attention. For example, you might use it when you casually notice something while walking down the street.

Τηλεόραση
Television; a device that receives broadcast signals and reproduces them on a screen.

Βλέπω τηλεόραση κάθε βράδυ.
I watch television every night.

Άνθρωποι
People; human beings in general.

Βλέπω πολλούς ανθρώπους στο πάρκο.
I see many people in the park.

Αυτοκίνητο
Car; a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine.

Βλέπω ένα κόκκινο αυτοκίνητο.
I see a red car.

Σπίτι
House; a building for human habitation.

Βλέπω το σπίτι μου από εδώ.
I see my house from here.

Κοιτάζω (Koitázo)

Κοιτάζω, on the other hand, is usually translated as “to watch” or “to look at.” It implies a more intentional act of focusing your gaze on something. When you use Κοιτάζω, you are actively paying attention to what you are looking at.

Κοιτάζω
To watch; to look at with attention.

Κοιτάζω την θάλασσα.
I watch the sea.

Βιβλίο
Book; a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.

Κοιτάζω το βιβλίο μου.
I look at my book.

Ρολόι
Clock; a mechanical or electrical device for measuring time.

Κοιτάζω το ρολόι μου.
I look at my clock.

Πίνακας
Painting; a picture or design executed in paints.

Κοιτάζω τον πίνακα.
I look at the painting.

Οθόνη
Screen; a flat panel or area on an electronic device such as a television, computer, or smartphone, on which images and data are displayed.

Κοιτάζω την οθόνη του υπολογιστή.
I look at the computer screen.

Usage of Κοιτάζω in Daily Life

Κοιτάζω is used when you are directing your attention towards something specific. For example, you might use it when you are watching a movie or looking at a piece of art.

Ταινία
Movie; a story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a theater or on television.

Κοιτάζω μια ταινία απόψε.
I am watching a movie tonight.

Παράσταση
Show; a performance, especially a theatrical one.

Κοιτάζω μια παράσταση στο θέατρο.
I am watching a show at the theater.

Παιχνίδι
Game; a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one.

Κοιτάζω το παιχνίδι στο γήπεδο.
I am watching the game at the stadium.

Φωτογραφία
Photo; a picture made using a camera.

Κοιτάζω την φωτογραφία.
I am looking at the photo.

Ουρανό
Sky; the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.

Κοιτάζω τον ουρανό το βράδυ.
I watch the sky at night.

Comparing Βλέπω and Κοιτάζω

To better understand the nuances between Βλέπω and Κοιτάζω, let’s compare them directly in a few contexts.

Βλέπω τον ήλιο
I see the sun (I notice it without focusing).

Βλέπω τον ήλιο.

Κοιτάζω τον ήλιο
I watch the sun (I focus on it, perhaps watching a sunset).

Κοιτάζω τον ήλιο.

Βλέπω τα παιδιά να παίζουν
I see the children playing (I notice them playing).

Βλέπω τα παιδιά να παίζουν.

Κοιτάζω τα παιδιά να παίζουν
I watch the children playing (I focus on them playing).

Κοιτάζω τα παιδιά να παίζουν.

Common Phrases and Expressions

Here are some common phrases and expressions that use Βλέπω and Κοιτάζω.

Βλέπω τηλεόραση
I watch TV (a common activity).

Βλέπω τηλεόραση.

Κοιτάζω την ώρα
I look at the time (to check what time it is).

Κοιτάζω την ώρα.

Βλέπω έναν φίλο
I see a friend (I notice or meet a friend).

Βλέπω έναν φίλο.

Κοιτάζω τον καθρέφτη
I look at the mirror (to see my reflection).

Κοιτάζω τον καθρέφτη.

Βλέπω τα νέα
I watch the news (more casual, like catching the news).

Βλέπω τα νέα.

Κοιτάζω την τηλεόραση
I watch the TV (more focused, like watching a specific program).

Κοιτάζω την τηλεόραση.

How to Practice

To get comfortable with these verbs, practice using them in sentences that describe your daily activities. Notice when you are simply seeing something versus when you are watching or looking at something with attention.

Περίπατος
Walk; an act of traveling or an excursion on foot.

Κάνω έναν περίπατο και βλέπω τα δέντρα.
I take a walk and see the trees.

Ζώο
Animal; a living organism that feeds on organic matter.

Κοιτάζω ένα ζώο στον ζωολογικό κήπο.
I watch an animal at the zoo.

Δρόμος
Street; a public road in a city or town, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides.

Βλέπω τον δρόμο από το παράθυρο.
I see the street from the window.

Αστέρι
Star; a fixed luminous point in the night sky that is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.

Κοιτάζω τα αστέρια τη νύχτα.
I watch the stars at night.

By consistently practicing and paying attention to the context in which these verbs are used, you’ll become more adept at distinguishing between Βλέπω and Κοιτάζω. This will not only improve your Greek vocabulary but also enhance your overall language proficiency. Happy learning!