Language and Communication

If all you can say is "kalimera" or "Yassou", people will smile and open up

kalimera = good morning. Used both when coming to and going away from a place.

kalispera = good afternoon. Used only when coming to a place or meeting someone in the evening or at night.

kalinihta = good night. Used only as a goodbye greeting in the evening or at night.

herete (e as in egg) = hello, used between 10:00 and 14:00

yassou = hello or goodbye (greeting to one person or a friend)

yassas = hello or goodbye (greeting to more persons or a more formal and polite way to greet an unknown person)

adio = goodbye

Yassou file mou Niko = Hello my friend Niko, an easy way to please a Greek friend of yours.

pronunciation below): 

Αα, Ββ, Γγ, Δδ, Εε, Ζζ, Ηη, Θθ, Ιι, Κκ, Λλ, Μμ, Νν, Ξξ, Οο, Ππ, Ρρ, Σσς*, Ττ, Υυ, Φφ, Χχ, Ψψ, Ωω.

*Note that σ is written as ς at the end of a word, e.g. σüς (=yours) and is called final sigma. In Byzantine Greek you will also find Σ written as C.

*Note that the Greek P is the English R (this is how it sounds). What in English is P in Greek is Π.

*Note that H in Greek is a vowel, corresponding to the English E. Don't confuse it's small version η with the English n. The English n in Greek is ν.

*Don't confuse ν with the English v. The English v in Greek is β.

Learn Common Greek Phrases

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

Efharisto = Thank you

Parakalo = Your Welcome

Milate Anglika? = Do you speak English?

Milate Yermanika? = Do you speak German?

Then katalaveno = I don't understand

Pos se lene? = What is your name?

Me lene ... = My name is ...

Apo pou eisai? = Where are you from?

Eimai apo Anglia = I am from England

Thelo ena kafe = I want a coffee

Thelo ena tsai = I want a tea

Thelo mia mpira = I want a beer

Thelo ena poto = I want a drink

Thelo ena thomatio = I want a room

Ehete thomatio? = Do you have a room?

ya mia mera = for one day

ya thio meres = for two days

ya mia vthomatha = for one week

ya thio vthomathes = for two weeks

Poso kanei? = How much is it?

Poso hrostao = How much do I owe?

Logariasmo parakalo = The bill, please.

Mporo na bgalo mia fotografia? = May I take a photo?

Ela = Come

Fiye = Go away! (fi as in fish, ye as in yellow)

Ise omorfi = you are beautiful

M' areseis = I like you

S' agapo = I love you

M' agapas? = Do you love me?

Agapi mou = My love, Darling

Filise me = kiss me

Fili = kiss

Filos / F ili = friend (male) / (female). Pay attention to the small difference from "kiss".

Eho filo = I have a boyfriend

Eimai pantremeni = I am married (female)

Learn the Greek Numbers:

- Count in Greek, flash movie with all numbers in Greek

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

ena = one

thio = two

tria = three

tessera = four

pente = five

eksi = six

epta or efta = seven

okto = eight

ennia = nine

theka = ten

entheka = eleven

thotheka = twelve

theka-tria = thirteen

theka-tessera = 14

theka-pente = 15

theka-eksi = 16

theka-epta = 17

theka-okto = 18

theka-ennia = 19

eikossi = 20

eikossi-ena = 21

trianta = 30

ssaranta = 40

peninta = 50

eksinta = 60

evthominta = 70

ogthonta = 80

eneninta = 90

ekato = 100

ekaton theka pente = 115

ekaton peninta tria = 153

thiakossia = 200

triakossia = 300

tetrakossia = 400

pentakossia = 500

eksakossia = 600

eptakossia = 700

oktakossia = 800

eniakossia = 900

hilia = 1000

ena ekatomirio = one million

ena thisekatomirio = one billion

Greek Colours

aspro, lefko = white

mavro = black

kokkino = red

mple = blue

kitrino = yellow

prassino = green

kafe = brown

mov = purple

galazio = light blue

Countries

Alvania = Albania

Ameriki = USA

Anglia = England

Finlanthia = Finland

Gallia = France

Iaponia = Japan

Ispania = Spain

Italia = Italy

Kanathas = Canada

Kina = China

Norviyia = Norway

Ollanthia = Holland

Polonia = Polland

Rossia = Russia

Souithia = Sweden

Thania = Denmark

Tourkia = Turkey

Velyio = Belgium

Voulgaria = Bulgaria

Yermania = Germany

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

kalimera = good morning. Used both when coming to and going away from a place.

kalispera = good afternoon. Used only when coming to a place or meeting someone in the evening or at night.

kalinihta = good night. Used only as a goodbye greeting in the evening or at night.

herete (e as in egg) = hello, used between 10:00 and 14:00

yassou = hello or goodbye (greeting to one person or a friend)

yassas = hello or goodbye (greeting to more persons or a more formal and polite way to greet an unknown person)

adio = goodbye

Yassou file mou Niko = Hello my friend Niko, an easy way to please a Greek friend of yours.

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

Ellatha = Greece

Ellinas = Greek (man)

Ellinitha = Greek (woman)

Kriti = Crete

kritikos = Cretan man

kritikia = Cretan woman

Iraklio = Heraklion

Hania = Chania

Rethimno = Rethymnon

Ayios Nikolaos = Agios Nikolaos

Sitia = Sitia

Knossos = Knossos

Festos = Festos

Samaria = Samaria (Gorge). Most tourist guides call it Samaria which is wrong. The emphasis is on the last syllable.