Greek

Alternative forms

• κελαηδάω ‎(kelaidáo)
• κελαϊδώ ‎(kelaïdó)
• κελαϊδάω ‎(kelaïdáo)

Verb

κελαηδώ • ‎(kelaidó) ‎(simple past κελάηδησα)

1. (intransitive, of birds) sing, chirp. cheep, chirrup, tweet

   Για μας κελαηδούν τα πουλιά‎ ― Gia mas kelaidoún ta pouliá ― The birds sing for us (1939 song by Michalis Souyioul)

   Με τρελαίνουν αυτά τα αηδόνια που κελαηδούν συνεχώς.‎ ― Me trelaínoun aftá ta aidónia pou kelaidoún synechós. ― These nightingales that are constantly chirping are driving me insane.

2. (intransitive, figuratively, of a person) babble, prattle (talk at length happily)

   Τι την ακούς, αυτή την χαζή γυναίκα, που όλο κελαηδάει;‎ ― Ti tin akoús, aftí tin chazí gynaíka, pou ólo kelaidáei? ― What are you listening to this stupid woman for, who's constantly babbling on?

3. (intransitive, figuratively, idiomatic) sing like a bird, sing like a canary (reveal secrets under pressure)

   Τώρα που τον πιάσανε, το πουλάκι θα κελαηδήσει.‎ ― Tóra pou ton piásane, to pouláki tha kelaidísei. ― Now that they've got him, he'll sing like a canary.

Usage notes

This is the most common spelling. Babiniotis, in his dictionary, uses the spelling κελαϊδώ and explains the (by far) more common spelling given here as influenced by the word αηδόνη ‎(aidóni, “nightingale”).

Conjugation

Synonyms

• (chirp): λαλώ ‎(laló), τραγουδώ ‎(tragoudó)
• (babble): φλυαρώ ‎(flyaró), τραγουδώ ‎(tragoudó)

Related terms

• see: κελάηδημα n ‎(keláidima, “birdsong”)