Κλείνω και Κλίνω
In the last podcast episode I used the Greek verb κλείνω. When it is used in that context (κλείνω ένα δωμάτιο, κλείνω μια δουλειά) it means to book a room or to make a professional deal.
On the other hand the most usual sense of the verb is to close , so we can say :
- Kλείνω την πόρτα > I close the door
- Aυτοί έκλεισαν το παράθυρο > They closed the window
- Ο δρόμος έκλεισε μετά από κατολίσθηση> The road is closed due to landslide
The conjugation of the verb goes like that :
κλείνω
έκλεινα
έκλεισα
θα κλείσω
έχω κλείσει
είχα κλείσει
Normally out of the verb κλείνω comes the adjective κλειστός, -η , -ο and some names of localities like Κλεισούρα . Similar in meaning is also the verb κλειδώνω > lock, lock up …..
Commonly , there is a homophone verb .
Κλίνω means that one tends to do something , or is inclined or hangs out, but also when one leans. Par example :
- Αυτός κλίνει προς την Αριστερά > He is inclined (politically) to the Left
- Εκείνη έκλινε το σώμα της πάνω του > She leaned her body on him
- Η κλίση του δρόμου είναι πολύ απότομη >The gradient of the road is very steep
From the verb κλίνω comes out the noun η κλίση , but also the adjectival past participle κεκλιμένος , -η , -ο ( the inclined or something that is not straight but tends to form an angle). The declension of the noun κλίση (which also means declension in Greek) goes as following :
η κλίση οι κλίσεις
της κλίσης των κλίσεων
την κλίση τις κλίσεις
ω κλίση ω κλίσεις
I hope that this short post was useful …But, if not I would be glad to hear your suggestions for the next post.
Μέχρι τότε όμως σας εύχομαι καλό απόγευμα.
(Till then I wish you a good evening) .




That was great, Glavko – thanks!
In your declension of the noun, what is the ω form?
The vocative form ….p.e.
Ω άντρες Αθηναίοι!!!
I should add also the noun η κλίνη ( the bed) which is not used extensively …You should prefer its synonym το κρεββάτι ….Though η κλίνη has an interesting declension :
From the same root derive the adjective μονόκλινος , -η , -ο or δίκλινος, -η , -ο …
So far so good I think > Έως εδώ καλά …