"Its all Greek to me!"

Greek Language 101

The Greek Alphabet

The Greek alphabet was developed about 1000 BC, it contains 24 letters including seven vowels. While it looks different, all European alphabets are actually dervied from it's letters.

You may already recognise some of the Greek letters from Mathematics and Science, like PI (π)

Other commonly known letters are ALPHA, OMEGA DELTA & SIGMA

Basic Greek

Basic Greek Words, Phrases, and Slang to Learn Before You Go to Greece

Hello: Γειά σου (YAH-soo)

The less formal way to say "Hi" would just be "Γεια" (Yah). If addressing a group, say "YAH-sas".

Nice to meet you: Χάρηκα πολύ

(HA-ree-ka po-LEE)

How are you?: Tι κανείς

(tee-KA-nis)?

Good morning: Καλημέρα

(ka-lee-MER-ah)

Good afternoon/evening: Καλησπέρα (kah-lee-SPER-ah)

Goodnight: Καληνύχτα

(ka-lee-NEEKH-tah)

Yes: Ναί (neh); No: όχι (OH-hee)

Just to be confusing it sounds like the opposite of English "no" and "okay"!

Thank you: Ευχαριστώ (eff-ka-ri-STO)

Please/You're welcome: Παρακαλώ (para-kah-LO)

My name is: Με λένε (may LEH-neh)

What is your name?: πως σε λένε? (pos-oh LEH-neh)

Goodbye: Γειά σου (YAH-soo)

The more informal way of saying bye would just be "Yah." If addressing a group, say "YAH-sas."

See/Talk to you later: Τα λέμε

(tah-LEH-meh)

Excuse me/Sorry: Συγνώμη

(Sigh-NO-mee)

Water: Νερό (Nai-rho)

OK: Εντάξει (EN-da-xi)

Come: Έλα (Ey-la)

Cheers!: Γεια μας! (YAH-mas)

How are you?:Τι κάνεις (Tee kanis)

I'm fine: Καλά (Kala)

What time is it?: Τι ώρα είναι (Ti oh-ra in-eh)

Where is the bathroom?: Πού είναι η τουαλέτα (Poh-EE-nay ee tua-LEH-tah)?

Helpful hint: "Poh-EE-nay" means "Where is?" so you can ask for help with locating something by saying this while pointing to a specific object / location .

Do you speak English?: Μιλάτε αγγλικά (Mee-LAH-teh ag-li-KAH)?

I would like the bill please: τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ (Ton LO-ga-rias-mo para-kah-LO)

How much is it?: Πόσο κάνει αυτό (POH-soh KAH-nee af-TOH)?

You can get by with asking "POH-soh KAH-nee" (How much?)

I don't understand: Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den Kah-tah-lah-VEN-oh)

I love Greece: Αγαπώ την Ελλάδα (Ah-gah-POH teen Eh-LAH-tha)

A beer/coffee/tea/shot, please: Μια μπύρα/έναν καφέ/ένα τσάι/ ένα σφηνάκι, παρακαλώ

(Mia-bee-ra/en-an ka-fe/en-a chai/en-a sfin-aki, para-kah-LO)

Do you speak English?: Μιλάτε Αγγλικά (Mi-late Agg-li-ka)

Useful Phrases

For those who've got the basics, try these phrases when out and about!

Also a famous Greek word you might already know

Oops!: Ωπα (OH-pa)

Used to exclaim joy, approval, fun or enthusiam. People use it when they are enjoying themselves or to congratulate something great. You may also hear it when somebody breaks something or bumps into another person, the same way we use oops!