έλα

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from the mediaeval Byzantine Greek ἔλα (éla), imperative of the Ancient Greek ἐλαύνω (elaúnō, “drive a chariot”), possibly from a cry at the Hippodrome.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈe.la/
  • Hyphenation: έ‧λα

Verb

έλα • (éla)

  1. 2nd person singular perfective imperative form of έρχομαι (érchomai).: "Come!"
    Έλα εδώ! ― Éla edó! ― Come here!

Interjection

έλα • (éla)

  1. you don't say; come on.
    Έλα, πλάκα κάνεις! ― Éla, pláka káneis! ― come on, you must be joking!
  2. an informal greeting used when answering the telephone, "go ahead"
    Α, με παίρνει ο Γιάννης στο κινητό. "Ελα" ― A, me paírnei o Giánnis sto kinitó. "Ela" ― Oh, Yiannis is calling me on the cell. "Go ahead."

See also
  • ελάτε (eláte) (plural form of the verb, polite plural)
  • εμπρός (emprós) (interjection when answering the telephone)

References
  1. έλα - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
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