BASIC GREEK
THE GREEK ALPHABET
This table shows the Greek alphabet, with equivalent English letters, and tips for pronouncing letters that are pronounced differently from their English equivalents.
Sigma (s, V):There are two forms for the letter Sigma. When written at the end of a word, it is written like this: V. If it occurs anywhere else, it is written like this: s.
Upsilon (u):In the above table, we suggest that you pronounce this letter like "u" in "put". The preferred pronunciation is actually more like the German "ü" as in "Brücke", or like the French "u" as in "tu". If you do not speak German or French, don't worry about it, just pronounce it the way the table suggests.
Xi (c): This is the same sound as "ch" in "Bach", which does not sound like "ch" in "chair". The same sound occurs in the Scottish "Loch", as in "Loch Lomond", or the German "ach!".
BASIC GREEK WORDS
|
Yes |
Nai' |
|
No |
O'hi |
|
Thank you |
Efharisto' |
|
Thank you very much |
Efharisto' poli' |
|
You're welcome |
Parakalo' |
|
Please |
Parakalo' |
|
Excuse me |
signo'mi |
|
Hello |
gia'sou |
|
Goodbye |
andi'o sas |
|
So long |
gia' hara' |
|
Good morning |
kalime'ra |
|
Good afternoon |
kalo' mesime'ri |
|
Good evening |
kalispe'ra |
|
Good night |
kalini'hta |
|
|
|
|
I do not understand |
Den katalave'no |
|
How do you say this in [English]? |
Pos to le'te sta [Agglika'] |
|
Do you speak ... |
Mila'te ... |
|
English |
Agglika' |
|
French |
Gallika' |
|
German |
Germanika' |
|
Spanish |
Ispanika' |
|
|
|
|
I |
Ego' |
|
We |
emi's |
|
What is your name? |
Pos se le'ne? |
|
Nice to meet you. |
He'ro poli' |
|
How are you? |
Ti ka'nete? |
|
Good |
kala' |
|
Bad |
a'shima |
|
|
|
|
Where is the toilet? |
Pu' i'ne i tuale'ta? |
| USEFUL PHRASES |
|
I want |
|
Thelo |
|
I would like |
|
Tha ithela |
|
I like Greece |
|
Moo aresee i elatha |
|
Good bye |
|
Adio |
|
It (the weather) is cold/hot |
|
Kani Krio/zesti |
|
Going Shopping |
|
How much does it cost? |
|
Poso Kanee |
|
It's expensive |
|
Eene akriboh |
|
It's cheap |
|
Eene phtino |
|
Eye glasses |
|
Ghala |
|
Coat |
|
PanophOri |
|
Rain Coat |
|
AdhiAbhrokho |
|
Dress |
|
PhOrema |
|
Trousers |
|
PandelOni |
|
Shirt |
|
PukAmiso |
|
Shoes |
|
PapUtskh'a |
|
Bag |
|
TsAnda |
|
At the Coffee Shop |
|
Do you have Greek/American coffee? |
|
Ekh'ete
ElinikO/amerikAniko kaphE? |
|
Orange soda |
|
PortokalAdha |
|
Fresh juice |
|
PhrEskos kh'imOs |
|
Beer/lager |
|
BIra |
|
Could I have some cold water, please? |
|
Mu dhInete lIgho nero parakalO? |
|
Grilled cheese and ham sandwich |
|
TOst |
|
Chocolate cake |
|
PAsta sokolatIna |
|
Cheese pie |
|
TirOpita |
|
Apple pie |
|
MilOpita |
|
Getting Around |
|
Where is the bus stop to Athens? |
|
PU Ine i stAsi leophorIon gh'a tin athIna? |
|
How can I get to...? |
|
POz borO na pAo se...? |
|
Is there a bus to...? |
|
Ekh'i leophorIo gh'a...? |
|
When do ships leave? |
|
POte Ekh'i plIo? |
|
Train |
|
TrEno |
|
Airplane |
|
AeroplAno |
|
Where is the museum? |
|
PU Ine to musIo? |
|
Port |
|
LimAni |
|
Airport |
|
AerodhrOmio |
|
I want one ticket to Mykonos |
|
ThElo Ena isitIrio gh'a ti mIkono |
|
Station |
|
StathmOs |
|
Taxi |
|
TaksI |
|
At the Taverna/Restaurant |
|
What would you like to order? |
|
TI tha pArete? |
|
Restaurant with local foods |
|
Tabherna |
|
Formal restaurant |
|
EstiatOrio |
|
Mousaka (Greek dish) |
|
MusakAs |
|
Omelette |
|
OmelEta |
|
French fries |
|
PatAtes tighanitEs |
|
Steak |
|
BrizOla |
|
Shish-kebab |
|
SubhlAk'i |
|
Spaghetti |
|
MakaronAdha |
|
Greek village salad |
|
Khorgh'Atik'i (salAta) |
|
Lettuce salad |
|
LakhanosalAta |
|
Rice |
|
RIzi |
|
Red wine |
|
KOk'ino krasI |
|
White wine |
|
Aspro krasI |
|
At the Baker's |
|
A loaf of bread |
|
Ena psomI |
|
Crispbread |
|
Phrighan'Es |
|
Croissant |
|
KruasAn |
|
At the News Agent's |
|
Have you got foreign newspapers? |
|
Ekh'ete ksEnes ephimerIdhes? |
|
Book/books |
|
BhibhlIo/bhibhlIa |
|
Magazine |
|
PeriodhikO |
|
Newspaper |
|
ephimerIdha |
|
Map of Greece |
|
KhArtis tis elAdhas |
|
Dictionary |
|
LeksikO |
|
At the Greengrocer's |
|
Fruit |
|
PhrUto |
|
Pears |
|
AkhlAdgh'a |
|
A kilo (2.2 lbs) of oranges |
|
Ena k'ilO portokAl'a |
|
Half a kilo (1.1 lbs) of apples |
|
MisO k'ilO mIla |
|
Bananas |
|
BanAnes |
|
Tomatoes |
|
DomAtes |
|
Peaches |
|
RodhAk'ina |
|
Grapes |
|
StaphIl'a |
|
At the Grocer's |
|
Cheese |
|
TirI |
|
Olives |
|
El'Es |
|
A bottle of white wine |
|
Ena bukAli Aspro krasI |
|
Sugar |
|
ZAkhari |
|
At the Hotel |
|
Where is breakfast served? |
|
PU serbhIrete proinO? |
|
Where is the lounge? |
|
PU Ine to salOni? |
|
How much does the room cost? |
|
POso kostIzi to dhomAtio? |
|
Does the room have a bath? |
|
Ekh'i bAn'o to dhomAtio? |
|
Is there a TV in the room? |
|
IpArkh'i tileOrasi sto dhomAtio? |
|
Could I have the bill? |
|
Tha borUsa na Ekho to loghargh'asmO? |
TELLING THE TIME
|
What time is it? |
Ti o'ra I'ne |
|
7:13, Seven thirteen |
efta' ke dekatri'a |
|
3:15, Three fifteen |
tri's ke dekape'nde |
|
3:15, A quarter past three |
tri's ke te'tarto |
|
11:30, Eleven thirty |
e'ndeka ke tria'nda |
|
11:30, Half past eleven |
e'ndeka ke misi' |
|
1:45, One forty-five |
mi'a ke sarantape'nde |
|
1:45, A quarter till two |
di'o para' te'tarto |
|
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Day |
ime'ra |
|
Week |
ebdoma'da |
|
Month |
mi'nas |
|
Year |
xro'nos |
|
Monday |
Defte'ra |
|
Tuesday |
Tri'ti |
|
Wednesday |
Teta'rti |
|
Thursday |
Pe'mpti |
|
Friday |
Paraskebi' |
|
Saturday |
Sa'bato |
|
Sunday |
Kiriaki' |
|
TIMES OF YEAR
January |
Ianoua'rios |
|
February |
Febroua'rios |
|
March |
Ma'rtios |
|
April |
Apri'lios |
|
May |
Ma'ios |
|
June |
Iou'nios |
|
July |
Iou'lios |
|
August |
A'bgoustos |
|
September |
Septe'mbrios |
|
October |
Okto'brios |
|
November |
Noe'mbrios |
|
December |
Deke'mbrios |
|
Spring |
'Aniksi |
|
Summer |
Kaloke'ri |
|
Fall, Autumn |
Fthino'poro |
|
Winter |
Himo'nas |
|
Today |
Si'mera |
|
Yesterday |
Hte's |
|
Tomorrow |
A'brio |
|
Birthday |
Gene'thlia |
|
Happy Birthday! |
Hro'nia Polla' |
|
NUMBERS
1 = Ena |
20 = Ikosi |
90 = Eneninda |
|
2 = Dio |
21 = IkosiEna and so on |
91 = EnenindaEna and so on |
|
3 = Tria |
30 = Trianda |
100 = Ekato |
|
4 = Tesera |
31 = TriandaEna and so on |
200 = Diakosia |
|
5 = Pente |
40 = Saranda |
300 = Triakosia |
|
6 = Exi |
41 = SarandaEna and so on |
400 = Tetrakosia |
|
7 = Efta |
50 = Peninda |
500 = Pendakosia |
|
8 = Okto |
51 = PenindaEna and so on |
600 = Exakosia |
|
9 = Enia |
60 = Exinda |
700 = Eftakosia |
|
10 = Deka |
61 = ExindaEna and so on |
800 = Oktakosia |
|
11 = Endeka |
70 = Evdominda |
900 = Eniakosia |
|
12 = Dodeka |
71 = EvdomindaEna and so on |
1,000 = Chilia |
|
13 = DekaTria (Deka+Tria) |
80 = Ogdonda |
2,000 = Dio Chiliades etc. |
|
14 = DekaTesera (Deka+Tesera) etc.
PROPERTY WORDS AND PHRASES
|
81 = OgdondaEna and so on
|
1,000,000 = Ena Ekatomirio
| |
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Article: Basic Greek