Should-Know Greek Phrases for Vacationers and Learners



Likelihood is, you’re already aware of these primary phrases and phrases. However you’ll hear them in virtually any dialog, so let’s brush up on them earlier than shifting ahead with longer phrases.

EnglishGreekAudio
“Hey” (formal or plural)Γειά σας (Yassas)
“Hey” (casual)Γειά σου (Ya sou)
“Sure”Ναι (Ne)
“No”Όχι (Ochi)
“Please”Παρακαλώ (Parakalo)
“Thanks”Ευχαριστώ (Efcharisto)
“Sorry”Συγγνώμη (Signomi)
“How are you?” (casual)Tι κάνεις? (Ti kanis)
“How are you?” (formal)Τι κάνετε; (Ti kanete?)

Frequent Greek Greetings and Partings

Subsequent up in our record of frequent Greek phrases is a particular class — greetings and partings. We already lined how one can say hiya in Greek above — γεια σου (yasou) for casual conditions and γεια σας (yassas) for formal conditions or if you’re talking to a number of individuals.

Listed here are different phrases for various occasions of day and conditions:

EnglishGreekAudio
“Good morning”Καλημέρα (Kalimera)
“Good night”Καλησπέρα (Kalispera)
“Have a great afternoon”Καλό απόγευμα (Kalo apogevma)
“Welcome” (singular)Καλώς ήρθες (kalos irthes)
“Welcome” (plural)Καλώς ήρθατε (kalos irthate)
“Goodbye”Αντίο (Adio)
“Good evening”Καληνύχτα (Kalinihta)
“Goodbye” or “Communicate quickly” (casual)Τα λέμε (Ta leme)

Fundamental Greek Phrases for On a regular basis Life

Now that the fundamentals like “hiya,” “thanks,” and “good morning,” let’s transfer on to longer, however nonetheless frequent phrases you’ll hear and use in your day by day life:

EnglishGreekAudio
“How a lot is it?”Πόσο κάνει; (Poso kani?)
“The place is the lavatory?”Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Pou ine i tualeta?)
“The place are you?”Πού είσαι; (Pou ise?)
“Do you converse English?”Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Milate anglika?)
“May you repeat please?”Μπορείτε να επαναλάβετε παρακαλώ; (Borite na epanalavete parakalo?)
“Can I’ve the invoice, please?”Μπορώ να έχω τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ; (Boro na eho ton logariasmo, parakalo?)
“I don’t perceive”Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalaveno)
“There’s…”Υπάρχει… (Iparhi…)
“There are…”Υπάρχουν… (Iparhoun…)
“Sounds good!”Καλό ακούγεται (Kalo akougete)
“Cheers!” (used when consuming)Γεια μας! (Yamas!)
“Get pleasure from your meal”Καλή όρεξη (Kali orexi)
“Good luck”Καλή τύχη (Kali tihi)
“Good/Lovely”Ωραία (Orea)

Survival Greek Phrases for Touring in Greece

Touring to Greece? You’ll need to be aware down these journey phrases that may save the day:

EnglishGreekAudio
“The place is…?”Πού είναι…; (Pou ine…?)
“How a lot does it price?”Πόσο κοστίζει; (Poso kostizi?)
“Are you able to assist me?”Μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε; (Borite na me voithisete?)
“I’ve a reservation”Έχω μια κράτηση (Eho mia kratisi)
“What’s the perfect seaside right here?”Ποια είναι η καλύτερη παραλία εδώ; (Pia ine i kaliteri paralia edo?)
“Can I’ve a menu, please?”Μπορώ να έχω ένα μενού παρακαλώ; (Boro na eho ena menou, parakalo?)
“I would love…”Θα ήθελα…. (Tha ithela…)
“I would love a espresso, please”Θα ήθελα έναν καφέ παρακαλώ (Tha ithela enan kafe parakalo)
“The invoice, please”Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ (Ton logariasmo, parakalo)
“I would like a physician”Χρειάζομαι ένα γιατρό (Hriazomai ena yiatro)
“The place is the closest pharmacy?”Πού είναι το πλησιέστερο φαρμακείο; (Pou ine to plisiestero farmakio?)
“Can I pay by card?”Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα; (Boro na pliroso me karta?)
“Is there an ATM close by?”Υπάρχει ΑΤΜ κοντά; (Iparhi ATM konta?)
“Is there a great restaurant close to right here?”Υπάρχει κάποιο καλό εστιατόριο κοντά εδώ; (Iparhi kapio kalo estiatorio konda edo?)
“The place is the bus cease?”Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου; (Pou ine i stasi tou leoforiu?)
“The place can I lease a automotive?”Πού μπορώ να νοικιάσω ένα αυτοκίνητο; (Pou boro na nikiaso ena aftokinito?)
“Are you able to name me a taxi?”Μπορείτε να μου καλέσετε ένα ταξί; (Borite na mu kalesete ena taxi?)

Greek Phrases to Discuss About Your self

Listed here are the phrases you must introduce your self, discuss your life, and ask inquiries to others.

You’ll discover some instance solutions for every query, however don’t neglect to alter the half in daring to to match your private particulars:

EnglishGreekAudio
“What’s your title?”Πώς σε λένε; (Pos se lene?)
“My title is…”Με λένε… (Me lene)
“The place are you from?”Από πού είσαι; (Apo pou ise?)
“I’m from…”Είμαι από… (Ime apo…)
“I’m from America.”Είμαι από την Αμερική (Ime apo tin Ameriki)
“I’m from the UK.”Είμαι από το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο (Ime apo to Inomeno Vasilio)
“What do you do for work?”Τι δουλειά κάνεις; (Ti doulia kanis?)
“I’m a scholar”Είμαι φοιτητής/φοιτήτρια (Ime fititis (masculine) /fititria (female))
“I’m a trainer”Είμαι δάσκαλος/δασκάλα (Ime daskalos (masculine) / daskala (female))
“How outdated are you?”Πόσο χρονών είσαι; (Poso hronon ise?)
“How lengthy have you ever been studying Greek?”Πόσο καιρό μαθαίνεις ελληνικά; (Poso kero mathenis ellinika?)
“I’ve been studying Greek for 2 years”Μαθαίνω ελληνικά για 2 χρόνια (Matheno ellinika yia dio hronia)

Slang Greek Phrases and Casual Phrases

Nicely, μαλάκα (malaka) is a well-known one! It’s usually the primary phrase Greek audio system train their overseas buddies, and you may additionally hear buddies calling one another this manner! You’ll undoubtedly sound extra native should you use it, however bear in mind that it’s a swear phrase!

Listed here are some others — needless to say they’re slang and casual, so you must solely use them with buddies:

EnglishGreekAudio
“What’s up?”Τι λέει; (Ti lei?)
“What’s up?”Πού ‘σαι ρε; (Pou ‘se re?)
“Come on!”Έλα ρε! (Ela re!)
“Hear” or “You received’t consider this”Άκου να δεις (Akou na dis)
“What’s the take care of that?”Τι φάση; (Ti fasi?)
“I bought it (I perceive)”Το ‘χω (To ‘cho)
“Rattling it!”Γαμώτο (Gamoto)
“Relax”Άραξε (Arakse)
“In any case”Τέσπα (Tespa)

Well-known Greek Phrases

Okay, as a learner, you’ll use the essential phrases far more than these Greek proverbs. However these well-known Greek quotes may help you follow your comprehension abilities with extra complicated sentences, whereas studying extra in regards to the tradition.

Right here 5 Greek proverbs and their which means:

  1. Είπε ο γάιδαρος τον πετεινό κεφάλα. (Ite o yedaros ton petino kefala).
  1. Τα πολλά λόγια είναι φτώχεια (Ta polla logia ine ftohia).
  1. Κάλλιο αργά παρά ποτέ (Kallio arga para pote).
  1. Η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει και κόκαλα τσακίζει (I glossa kokala den ehi ke kokala tsakizi).
  1. Ο χρόνος είναι ο καλύτερος γιατρός (O hronos ine o kaliteros yiatros).

Studying Frequent Greek Phrases Will Assist You Begin Talking

A lot of the Greek phrases on this article are based mostly on day by day life conditions. Because of this you’re extra more likely to see them or use them. You can begin conversations with frequent greetings, use the journey vocabulary when in Greece, or introduce your self based mostly on our templates.

Don’t skip training Greek pronunciation as there are some sounds that don’t exist in English. And as at all times, don’t be scared to make errors and proceed studying new Greek phrases. Our Greek sources present a complete record of movies, tutoring websites, YouTube channels, and language apps!

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Yaren Fadiloglulari

Freelance Content material Author & Journalist

Initially from Cyprus, Yaren is a freelance author for a lot of digital publications, journey and training manufacturers, and start-ups.

Speaks: English, Turkish, French, and Spanish

View all posts by Yaren Fadiloglulari

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