 | οφείλω/χρωστάω |
|
For the verb "to owe", some of my dictionaries say οφείλω...others say χρωστάω. Are they interchangeable? Is one more colloquial than the other? Are there any subtle differences? |
| Re: οφείλω/χρωστάω |
|
No, they're different. οφείλω means "owe" in its older English sense of "ought (to)", "should", or "must", and carries some sense of obligation or duty: Η Ελλάδα οφείλει να μεταρρυθμίσει τη δική της οικονομία. = Greece must reform its economy. χρωστώ/χρωστάω means "owe" or "be in debt" financially, and has to do specifically with money: Η Ελλάδα χρωστάει 50 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ στην Ευρωπαϊκή Κεντρική Τράπεζα. = Greece owes 50 billion euros to the European Central Bank. Regards, Greg Brush |
