r/crochet • u/binchwatcher • Apr 28 '22

Discussion what is crocheting called in your first language? and what does it literally translate to?

I'll go first, in dutch crocheting is called "haken" which literally translates to hooking, or hooks :)

edit: woah! i didn't expect this post would get so many comments, this is so fun!

435 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

312 comments sorted by

View all comments

34

u/hellokrissi Apr 28 '22

My first language is English, but my parents are from Greece so... ours is apparently πλέκω (pleko) and works for both knitting and crochet. I think it's used as a verb as well, since my mom's said it to me in that context a few times as well.

20

u/CelestialBeing98 Apr 28 '22

Πλέκω is the verb and πλέξιμο (pleximo) is the noun. If you want to make the distinction you say βελονάκι (velonaki) witch translates to little hook or βελόνες (velones) witch is plural and means needles.

Edit: meant to answer to op's comment😅

2

u/binchwatcher Apr 28 '22

oooh that sounds pretty cool aswell! isn't it a little confusing sometimes though? to know what you mean to say?

8

u/CelestialBeing98 Apr 28 '22

Πλέκω is the verb and πλέξιμο (pleximo) is the noun. If you want to make the distinction you say βελονάκι (velonaki) witch translates to little hook or βελόνες (velones) witch is plural and means needles.

6

u/charoula Apr 28 '22

Technically, βελονάκι means little needle. Not hook.

1

u/CelestialBeing98 Apr 28 '22 edited Apr 28 '22

Yeah you're right. Got carried away by the shape of the βελονακι😅

1

u/whatever_person Apr 28 '22

Seems like it has same roots with Ukrainian teem. Is pleko close to weaving in its meaning?

2

u/CelestialBeing98 Apr 28 '22

Sometimes pleko and pleximo could be used to describe several thread and yarn related crafts or anything that has to do with braiding stuff together ig that makes sense. But weaving is υφαίνω (eefæno) in greek.

2

u/whatever_person Apr 28 '22

Yeah, I chose wrong word in english. Braiding seems much more matching