Polysemy, synonyms, collocations
γλώσσα is both tongue and language; παίρνω τηλέφωνο but κάνω μπάνιο: at Γ1 the right word is a matter of neighbourhood.
One word, several senses
γλώσσα: the organ, the spoken language, the sole (the fish!). γράμμα: the alphabet letter and the postal letter. ώρα: the hour and the right moment (είναι ώρα να φύγουμε). Context chooses — read it, not the isolated word.
Synonyms that aren’t
κοιτάζω (look) / βλέπω (see) — φέρνω (bring) / παίρνω (take) — ξέρω (know a fact) / γνωρίζω (be acquainted, more formal) — ακούω (hear AND listen: Greek doesn’t split them!). The nuance lives in usage, not in the dictionary.
Collocations: words come in pairs
Greek says παίρνω τηλέφωνο (make a call), κάνω μπάνιο, βγάζω φωτογραφία, πιάνω δουλειά, ρίχνω μια ματιά, βάζω τα δυνατά μου. The verb is unpredictable from English — learn the whole pair, never the noun alone.
Your turn
Choose the correct form.