είπαν

In a sentence

• Οι μαθητές είπαν ότι η άσκηση ήταν δύσκολη.

  The students said that the exercise was difficult.

  Here, 'είπαν' conveys direct speech as a past action of stating something.

• Τα παιδιά μου είπαν ένα αστείο και γέλασα πολύ.

  My children told me a joke, and I laughed a lot.

  Here, 'είπαν' serves as a past action of telling something.

• Οι γείτονες είπαν ότι θα ταξιδέψουν το σαββατοκύριακο.

  The neighbors said they will travel during the weekend.

  Here, 'είπαν' indicates reporting something stated by someone in the past.