Bedeutung
Failing to catch public transport.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Athens, the bus system is often criticized for being late. Saying 'έχασα το λεωφορείο' is a way to bond with others over the shared struggle of urban life. In villages, the 'KTEL' bus might only come once or twice a day. Missing it is a serious event that can strand you for 24 hours. Public transport is less common in Cyprus than in Athens; most people drive. Using this phrase might more often be figurative or refer to intercity buses. For Greeks abroad, this phrase is a nostalgic reminder of the chaos of Greek cities, often used humorously to describe their new, more punctual lives.
Use it as an excuse
In Greece, this is a very 'safe' excuse. Even if you were just slow, blaming the bus is culturally understood.
Don't forget the 'το'
Without the article, it sounds like you lost a toy bus or a bus you owned.
Bedeutung
Failing to catch public transport.
Use it as an excuse
In Greece, this is a very 'safe' excuse. Even if you were just slow, blaming the bus is culturally understood.
Don't forget the 'το'
Without the article, it sounds like you lost a toy bus or a bus you owned.
The 'Boat' alternative
If you want to sound more like a native when talking about a BIG missed opportunity, use 'έχασα το πλοίο' (I missed the boat).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'χάνω' in the past tense.
Χθες το πρωί, έτρεξα στη στάση αλλά ______ το λεωφορείο.
We use the Aorist (έχασα) because the action happened 'χθες' (yesterday).
Which sentence uses the phrase figuratively?
Select the figurative usage:
This refers to a missed financial opportunity, not a physical vehicle.
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
Situation: You are 15 minutes late to a meeting with a friend.
While all are possible, 'έχασα το λεωφορείο' is the classic excuse for lateness in a city.
Complete the dialogue.
Α: Γιατί είσαι λυπημένος; Β: Ήθελα να πάω στην εκδρομή, αλλά ______.
The context of being 'λυπημένος' (sad) suggests a missed opportunity.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenΧθες το πρωί, έτρεξα στη στάση αλλά ______ το λεωφορείο.
We use the Aorist (έχασα) because the action happened 'χθες' (yesterday).
Select the figurative usage:
This refers to a missed financial opportunity, not a physical vehicle.
Situation: You are 15 minutes late to a meeting with a friend.
While all are possible, 'έχασα το λεωφορείο' is the classic excuse for lateness in a city.
Α: Γιατί είσαι λυπημένος; Β: Ήθελα να πάω στην εκδρομή, αλλά ______.
The context of being 'λυπημένος' (sad) suggests a missed opportunity.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, you can say 'έχασα το αεροπλάνο', but it's usually literal. For figurative use, 'λεωφορείο' or 'πλοίο' are better.
No, it's a neutral statement of fact or a common excuse.
'Έχασα' means you missed it. 'Δεν πρόλαβα' means you didn't have enough time to catch it. They are often interchangeable.
You say 'Παραλίγο να χάσω το λεωφορείο'.
No, for a meeting you would say 'έχασα το ραντεβού' or 'άργησα στο ραντεβού'.
Yes, 'μου έφυγε' is slightly more informal and very common in spoken Greek.
Usually, yes, unless you are using it figuratively to mean you missed a chance entirely.
Only if you mean 'I missed *a* bus (any bus)', but usually you mean the specific one you needed, so use 'το'.
Because the act of missing the bus is a completed event in the past.
Yes, many Greek songs use the bus as a metaphor for life passing by.
Verwandte Redewendungen
έχασα το τρένο
similarI missed the train.
έχασα το πλοίο
similarI missed the boat.
έχασα την ευκαιρία
synonymI missed the opportunity.
έχασα την μπάλα
contrastI lost the ball / I'm confused.
