Instant Greek
It is possible to survive in Greece just knowing English. Greeks have seen so many English-speaking tourists and have such strong connections with the English-speaking world that you are always bound to find Greeks that can understand your basic utterances.
Most Athenians have some knowledge of English and most Greeks are delighted to find a visitor making stabs at speaking Greek. The Greeks do not ridicule you for making mistakes: they themselves have a hard time with Greek spelling and the complicated Greek grammar. Whatever you can accomplish will be rewarded. Good luck!
Greek Alphabet
| Α - α |
as in father |
| Β - β |
v as in visa |
| Γ - γ |
gh before consonants and a,o and oo; y before e, as in year |
| Δ - δ |
h as in Then |
| Ε - ε |
e as in let |
| Ζ - ζ |
z as in zebra |
| Η - η |
E as in keep |
| Θ - θ |
th as in theory |
| Ι - ι |
e as in keep |
| Κ - κ |
k as in king |
| Λ - λ |
l as in million |
| Μ - μ |
m as in mouse |
| Ν - ν |
n as in no |
| Ξ - ξ |
ks as in jacks |
| Ο - ο |
o as in oh |
| Π - π |
p as in pebble |
| Ρ - ρ |
r as in rasin (roll those r’s) |
| Σ - σ |
s as in sun |
| Τ - τ |
t as in table |
| Υ - υ |
e as in keep |
| Φ - φ |
f as in favor |
| Χ - χ |
h as in help |
| Ψ - ψ |
ps as in copse |
| Ω - ω |
o as in oh |
|
Numbers
| 1 |
e-na |
| 2 |
dio – “the d is like a td sound” |
| 3 |
tria – “roll those r’s!!!” |
| 4 |
te-se-ra |
| 5 |
pen-de |
| 6 |
ek-si |
| 7 |
efta |
| 8 |
ok-to |
| 9 |
en-ea |
|
10
|
deka |
| 20 |
I-ko-si |
| 30 |
tri-an-da |
| 40 |
sa-ran-da |
| 50 |
pe-nin-da |
| 60 |
ek-sin-da |
| 70 |
ev-tho-min-da |
| 80 |
og-thon-da |
| 90 |
e-ne-nin-da |
| 100 |
e-ka-to |
| 1000 |
hi-lia |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Double Consonants
| μπ |
b at the beginning of a word and mb in the middle of a word |
| ντ |
makes the d sound as in dog |
| τζ |
dz as in adze |
| γκ |
gh at the beginning of a word and ng in the middle of a word. |
|
Dipthongs
| αι |
e as in let |
| αυ |
av or af as in avert of after |
| ει |
as in keep |
| ευ |
ev or ef as in ever or effect |
| οι |
e as in keep |
| ου |
oo as in pool |
|
Days of the Week: Μέρες της εβδομάδας (Meres tis evthomathas)
Monday = Def-te-ra
Tuesday = Tri-ti
Wed. = Te-tar-ti
Thursday = Pem-pti
Friday = Pa-ras-ke-vi
Saturday = Sa-va-to
Sunday = Ki-ri-a- ki
Yesterday = ktes
Today = si-me-ra
Tomorrow = a-vri-o
Day after tomorrow = meth-a-vri-o
Next week = tin a-li ev-tho-ma-tha
Getting Around:
Thank you = ef-harry-sto (singular)
Efharry-stoume (plural/polite)
very much = para poli
excuse me = sig-no-mi
It doesn’t matter = den bi-ra-zi
It’s nothing = ti-po-ta
Certainly/polite = yes ma-li-sta
Can I…? = Bo-ro na..?
When? = Po-te? – accent on the o
Where is..? = Pou i-ne..?
Do you speak English? = Mi-la-te ta An-gli-ka?
Do you understand? = Ka-ta-la-ve-ne-te?
What time is it? = Ti o-ra i-ne?
10:10 O’clock =Einai deka kai deka
What time will it leave? = Ti o-ra tha fi-gi?
I don’t = then (plus a verb)
I want = the-lo
I have = e-ho
Here/there = e-do/e-ki
Near/far = kon-da/ma-kri-a
Small/large = mi-kro/ge-ga-lo
Quickly = gri-go-ra
Slowly = ar-ga
Good/bad = ka-lo/ka-ko
Warm/cold = zes-to/kri-o
Bus = le-o-for-i-on
Boat = ka-ra-vi or va-po-ri
Ticket = I-si-ti-ri-o
Road/street = dro-mos/o-dos
Beach = pa-ra-li-a
Sea = tha-la-sa
Church = e-kli-si-a
Ancient ruin = ar-he-a
Center = ken-dro
Square (as in village square) = pla-it-aI
s there…? = E-hi…?
How much does it cost? = Po-so Ka-ni?
It’s (too) expensive = E-ne (poli) a-kri-vo
How much? = Po-so?
How many? = Po-sa?
Basics:
Hotel = kse-no-do-he-o
Bed = kre-va-ti
Key = kli-di
Entrance = I-so-dos
Exit = ek-so-dos
Toilet = tua-le-ta
Women’s = i-ne-kon
Men’s = an-dron
Shopping:
Store = ma-ga-zi
Kiosk = pe-rip-te-ro
Open/shut = a-nik-to/klis-to
Post office = ta-ki-dro-mi-o
Stamp = gra-ma-to-simo
Letter = gra-ma
Envelope = fa-ke-lo
Telephone = ti-le-fo-no
Bank = tra-pe-za
Do you have? = E-hie-te…?
Emergencies:
Doctor = Ya-tros
Hospital = no-so-ko-mi-o
Pharmacy = far-ma-ki-o
Police = as-ti-no-mi-a
Station = stath-mos
HELP = vo-ee-thee-a!
Basic Expressions:
It doesn’t matter = den pirazi
It’s nothing = tipota
Certainly = malista
Good bye = ade yia
We will speak again = ta leme
We will see (you again) = tha doome
Where are you from = Apo pou eisai?
I am from = eimai apo tin
What is your name = pos se lene
Good = kalo
Bad = kako
Warm = zesto
Cold = krio
Window = parathiro
Kiosk = periptero
Car – amaxi = aftokinito
Cell phone = kin-i-to
Embassy = pres-vi-a
Passport = di-a-va-terio
Let’s not forget about love!
Love = a-ga-pi
Kiss = fi-li
I love you = s-aga-po
Sunset = ilio–vas-sil-ema
Out for a drink or a coffee:
Drink = po-to
Water = ne-ro
Ice = pa-go
Bottle of water = boo-ka-li ne-ro
Orange juice = porto –ka-lada
Lemon = lemoni
Soda as in Club
Carbonated = ana-psi-kti-ko
Coffee = ca-fé
*a note about coffee in Greece:
Filtered coffee is called fil-tro or Gal-li-ko (French)
Nescafé is famous in Greece – cold whipped with foam or hot whipped with foam you ask for “Frappé” for cold and “nes” for hot.
With milk = me ga-la
Sweet = gli-ko
Medium = met-rio
A frappé sweet with milk please: Ena frappe gliko me gala, para kalo.
Espresso – hot, cold or a double -with or without milk – fredo is cold
Diplo = double
Or Cappuccino! Or cold cappuccino – Fredo |
