Question

What is the difference between βλέπω, γυρεύω και κοιτάζω ?

Comments

Too many words for looking!

Answer 1

Hello

Βλέπω and κοιτάζω are synonymes, they both mean "see, look". In some phrases they can be used interchangeably.

ex: Κοιτάζω τις φωτογραφίες. / Βλέπω τις φωτογραφίες. = I look at the photographs.

The difference between them is that βλέπω means "I realise the presence of an object with my eyes", whereas κοιτάζω means  "I objerve, I pay attention to something."

ex:

Τι βλέπεις στην εικόνα; = What do you see in the picture?

Τι κοιτάζεις με τόσο ενδιαφέρον; = What are you looking at with so much interest?

Γυρεύω is different, it means "search for, seek" (informal)

ex:

Τι γυρεύεις; = What are you looking for?

Γυρεύω τα γυαλιά μου. = I am looking for my glasses.

Comments

What about "watch"?

Example: "I am watching a movie." or "Watch and learn!" or
"he went to watch the soccer game"

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Watch means κοιτάζω (or κοιτώ).  Similar to βλέπω, but with more intensity, increased attention, taking the meaning of “παρακολουθώ”.  

So "I am watching a movie" means “βλέπω μια ταινία” if I am watching casually or “παρακολουθώ μια ταινία” if I am really paying attention to it.

"Watch and learn!" translates to “κοίτα να μάθεις!” which is also a common phrase in Greek.  In fact it means “παρακολούθα να μάθεις” because what we really mean is to watch closely in order to learn.

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Thank you for the reply. Can we elaborate a little on παρακολουθώ. Would it be "observe"? And what about παρατηρώ, would that be "notice"?

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Παρακολουθώ =  παρα  (prefix) + ακολουθώ (follow).  It means watch/observe, something that moves, something I can follow.

Παρατηρώ means watch/notice.  When watching, it is used for still objects, like a plant or a stone.

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Thank you very much. I appreciate all that you have done for us in this community. You are of much help. :)

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You are very much welcome!