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Greek · Taverna & Toasts

κερνάω

kernáo

ker-NAH-oh · /cerˈna.o/

I'm buying / this round's on me — the ritual of treating.

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"I treat / I stand a round"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

Not a curse but the beating heart of Greek bar culture, so it belongs here. "Κερνάω" = I treat, I'm paying. Fighting over the bill is a sport; offering to κεράσω is a gesture of honor and hospitality, and letting someone else always pay makes you look cheap. "Το κερνάει το μαγαζί" = it's on the house. "Με το κέρασμα" — with a treat. Grandma-approved. Learn it, and offer at least once, loudly, even if you lose the fight for the check.

Heard in the wild

Άσε, σήμερα κερνάω εγώ. Βάλε άλλον ένα γύρο.

Leave it, today I'm buying. Bring another round.

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "κερνάω" mean?
In Greek, "κερνάω" means "I'm buying / this round's on me — the ritual of treating.". Literally it's "I treat / I stand a round". Not a curse but the beating heart of Greek bar culture, so it belongs here. "Κερνάω" = I treat, I'm paying. Fighting over the bill is a sport; offering to κεράσω is a gesture of honor and hospitality, and letting someone else always pay makes you look cheap. "Το κερνάει το μαγαζί" = it's on the house. "Με το κέρασμα" — with a treat. Grandma-approved. Learn it, and offer at least once, loudly, even if you lose the fight for the check.
Is "κερνάω" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
How do you pronounce "κερνάω"?
Say it "ker-NAH-oh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: cerˈna.o.

Related in Greek

κέφι kéfi KEH-fee The good-time feeling — soul, joy, being in the mood to celebrate. γεια μας geiá mas YAH mahss Cheers! — the standard toast. άσπρο πάτο áspro páto AH-sproh PAH-toh Bottoms up! / down it in one! στην υγειά μας stin ygeiá mas steen ee-YAH mahss To our health! — the fuller, warmer toast. δεν γαμιέται den gamiétai then gah-MYEH-teh Who gives a fuck / forget it / to hell with it — dismissive resignation. τύφλα στο μεθύσι týfla sto methýsi TEE-flah stoh meh-THEE-see Blind drunk / hammered / wasted.

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