Hellenistic Greece
An Introduction to Hellenistic Greece
You have booked a trip to Greece. Your to-do list includes the camera to capture awe-inspiring sculptures and sunny sunsets, choose the right outfit for the most spectacular photos to upload to Instagram, and of course, prepare to return a few pounds heavier after a slice of ‘swimming in olive oil’ that you will surely taste in many picturesque taverns.
Lower on the list of priorities may be learning some Greek words that will help you talk to the locals while you are there. And although Greece may have a record number of tourists, few feel they need to learn Greek as part of their journey.
Unlike the Latin alphabet, Greek is incomprehensible to English speakers, making the language more difficult than others, such as Spanish, Italian and French.
And while you may find that almost everyone speaks a basic level of English in the most popular tourist destinations, Greeks, are very friendly and social people who are especially pleased when one can say even two words in their own language. If, at the end of your meal, you are treated to a piece of halva or an ouzo round, then you will know that you have conquered them with your Greek.
So overcome your fears and try to learn some Greek before visiting a Greek island. We assure you that if you say a few basic phrases or words to the locals, your trip will become even more memorable – and may lead to a lasting friendship.
Greek Phrases
These are the words you need to know before you go to Greece.
English Phrase
Pronunciation
Greek
Hello / Goodbye | Υ i`a sou (singular) / Υ i`a sas (plural) | Γειά σου / Γειά σας |
Good morning | Kali`mera | Καλημέρα |
Good night | Kali`nichta | Καληνύχτα |
Thank you | Efchari`sto | Ευχαριστώ |
Please / You’re welcome / Excuse me? | Paraka`lo | Παρακαλώ |
What is this? | Tee ` eenay af ` toe | Τι είναι αυτό; |
I want this | `Thelo af’toe | Θέλω αυτό |
I want to … | `Thelo na | Θέλω να … |
How much is this? | `Poso `kanee af`toe | Πόσο κάνει αυτό; |
I want to go … | ` Thelo na paow | Θέλω να παω… |
How can I get to … | Pos na paow | Πώς να παω… |
Where is … | Pu ` eenay… | Πού είναι… |
How are you? | Ti `kahnees | Τι κάνεις; |
I don’t know | Then `xero | Δεν ξέρω |
Slower, please | Pyo si`gah, paraka`lo | Πιο σιγά, παρακαλώ |
What time is it? | Tee ` ora ` eenay | Τι ώρα είναι; |
Excuse me, do you speak English? | Paraka`lo, meela`tay angli`ka | Παρακαλώ, μιλάτε αγγλικά; |
What is your name? | Pos se `lene | Πώς σε λένε; |
My name is … | Me `lene | Με λένε |
I don’t speak Greek | Then mi`laow elleeni`kah | Δε μιλάω ελληνικά |
I don’t understand | Then kahtahlah`vaeno | Δεν καταλαβαίνω |
Do you have… | `Echees … (singular) /`Echetay … (plural) | ‘Εχεις… / ‘Εχετε… |
Where can I find good food? | Pu `echee ka`low fagee`toe | Που έχει καλό φαγητό; |
The cheque, please | To logaria ‘smow, paraka ‘low | Το λαγαριασμό παρακαλώ |
May I have a menu? | Bo ‘row na ‘echow to me ‘nu | Μπορώ να έχω το μενού; |
What do you suggest? | Tee mu pro ‘teenetay | Τι μου προτείνετε; |
What are your specialties? | Peeah ‘eenay ta specialee ‘tay sas | Ποιά είναι τα σπεσιαλιτέ σας; |
I’m a vegetarian | ‘ Eemay chorto ‘fagos | Είμαι χορτοφάγος |
Yes | Nay | Ναι |
No | `Ochi | Όχι |
OK | En`tahxi | Εντάξει |
Today | `Seemera | Σήμερα |
Tomorrow | ` Avrio | Αύριο |
Yesterday | Hthes | Χθες |
Morning | Prow ‘ee | Πρωί |
Midday | Mesee ‘mary | Μεσημέρι |
Afternoon | ‘Apogevma | Απόγευμα |
Evening | ‘Vradee | Βράδυ |
Night | ‘Nichta | Νύχτα |
Midnight | Me ‘sahnichta | Μεσάνυχτα |
Airport | Aero`dromeeow | Αεροδρόμιο |
Port | Lee`mahnee | Λιμάνι |
Train Station | Stahth`mos `Traynou | Σταθμός Τραίνου |
Bus Station | Stahth`mos Layowfo`reeon | Σταθμός Λεωφορείων |
Bus Stop | ‘Stasee Layowfo`reeon | Στάση Λεωφορείων |
Ship | `Pleeoh | Πλοίο |
Airplane | Aero`plahnow | Αεροπλάνο |
Train | `Traynow | Τρένο |
Bus | Layowfo`reeo | Λεωφορείο |
Taxi Station | Pee`ahtsa Ta`xi | Πιάτσα Ταξί |
Ticket | Eesee`teereeow | Εισιτήριο |
Bus Ticket | Eesee`teereeow Layowfo`reeon | Εισιτήριο Λεωφορείων |
Hotel | Ksenowdow`cheeow | Ξενοδοχείο |
Room | Dow ‘mahteeow | Δωμάτιο |
Bank | `Trah pe zah | Τράπεζα |
Hospital | Nowsowko`meeow | Νοσοκομείο |
Pharmacy | Pharma`keeow | Φαρμακείο |
Post Office | Tacheedrow`meeow | Ταχυδρομείο |
Doctor | Yia`tros | Γιατρός |
First Aid | ‘Prowtes Vo ‘eethies | Πρώτες Βοήθειες |
Help | Vo ‘eetheeah | Βοήθεια |
Toilet | Tooah`letah | Τουαλέτα |
Restaurant | Essteeah`toreeow | Εστιατόριο |
Tavern | Ta ‘vernah | Ταβέρνα |
Museum | Moo`seeow | Μουσείο |
Beach | Para `leeah | Παραλία |
Sea | ‘ Thahlahsah | Θάλασσα |
Island | Nee ‘see | Νησί |
Sites & Attractions | Axeeow`theatah | Αξιοθέατα |
Newspaper | Efeeme`reedah | Εφημερίδα |
Magazine | Pereeowdee`kow | Περιοδικό |
Coffee | Ka`fes | Καφές |
Coffee with milk | Ka`fes me ‘gala | Καφές με γάλα |
Sweet | Glee`kows | Γλυκός |
Medium Sweetness | `Mehtreeows | Μέτριος |
No sugar | ‘Sketos | Σκέτος |
Tea | Tsaey | Τσάι |
Tea with milk | Tsaey me ‘gala | Τσάι με γάλα |
Tea with lemon | Tsaey me le ‘moni | Τσάι με λεμόνι |
Squeezed juice | Physee ‘kows Chee ‘mows | Φυσικός Χυμός |
Wine | Krah`see | Κρασί |
Water | Neh`row | Νερό |
Beer | `Beerah | Μπύρα |
Ouzo | ‘Oozow | Ούζο |
Breakfast | Prowee ‘know | Πρωινό |
Lunch | Meseemereea ‘know | Μεσημεριανό |
Dinner | Vradee ‘know | Βραδινό |
Food | Fahgee ‘tow | Φαγητό |
Egg | Av ‘go | Αυγό |
Omelet | Ome ‘letah | Ομελέτα |
Meat | ‘ Krayahs | Κρέας |
Fish | ‘ Psahree | Ψάρι |
Chicken | Kow ‘towpulow | Κοτόπουλο |
Salad | Sah ‘lahatah | Σαλάτα |
Greek Salad | Choree ‘ahteekee Sah ‘lahtah | Χωριάτικη Σαλάτα |
Monday | Def ‘tera | Δευτέρα |
Tuesday | ‘Treetee | Τρίτη |
Wednesday | Te ‘tartee | Τετάρτη |
Thursday | ‘Pembtee | Πέμπτη |
Friday | Paraske ‘vee | Παρασκευή |
Saturday | ‘Savatow | Σάββατο |
Sunday | Keyreeah ‘kee | Κυριακή |
One | ‘Ena | Ένα |
Two | ‘Theeow | Δύο |
Three | ‘Treeah | Τρία |
Four | ‘Tesserah | Τέσσερα |
Five | ‘Pende | Πέντε |
Six | ‘Exhee | Έξι |
Seven | Ep ‘tah | Επτά |
Eight | Och ‘toe | Οχτώ |
Nine | E ‘neah | Εννέα |
Ten | ‘Deka | Δέκα |
Eleven | ‘Endeka | Έντεκα |
Twelve | ‘Dodeka | Δώδεκα |
Thirteen | Deka ‘treeah | Δεκατρία |
Fourteen | Deka ‘tesserah | Δεκατέσσερα |
Fifteen | Deka ‘pende | Δεκαπέντε |
Sixteen | Deka ‘exhee | Δεκαέξι |
Seventeen | Dekaep ‘tah | Δεκαεπτά |
Eighteen | Dekaoch ‘toe | Δεκαοχτώ |
Nineteen | Dekae ‘neah | Δεκαεννέα |
Twenty | ‘Eekosee | Είκοσι |
Thirty | Tri ‘ahndah | Τριάντα |
Forty | Sa ‘rahndah | Σαράντα |
Fifty | Pe ‘neendah | Πενήντα |
Sixty | Ex ‘eendah | Εξήντα |
Seventy | Evdo ‘meendah | Εβδομήντα |
Eighty | Og ‘thondah | Ογδόντα |
Ninety | Ene ‘neendah | Ενενήντα |
One Hundred | Eka ‘ton | Εκατόν |
Twenty One * | ‘Eekosee ‘Ena * | Είκοσι ‘Ενα * |
Thirty Two * | Tri ‘ahndah ‘Theeow * | Τριάντα Δύο * |
Forty Three * | Sa ‘rahndah ‘Treeah * | Σαράντα Τρία * |
Fifty Four * | Pe ‘neendah ‘Tesserah * | Πενήντα Τέσσερα * |
Sixty Five * | Ex ‘eendah ‘Pende * | Εξήντα Πέντε * |
Seventy Six * | Evdo ‘meendah ‘Exhee * | Εβδομήντα Έξι * |
Eighty Seven * | Og ‘thondah Ep ‘tah * | Ογδόντα Επτά * |
Ninety Eight * | Enne ‘neendah Och ‘toe * | Εννενήντα Οχτώ * |
One Hundred Nine * | Eka ‘ton E ‘neah * | Εκατόν Εννέα * |
Two Hundred | Dia ‘kossiah | Διακόσια |
Three Hundred | Triah ‘kossia | Τριακόσια |
Four Hundred | Tetrah ‘kossia | Τετρακόσια |
Five Hundred | Pendah ‘kossia | Πεντακόσια |
Six Hundred | Exah ‘kossia | Εξακόσια |
Seven Hundred | Eptah ‘kossia | Επτακόσια |
Eight Hundred | Ochtah ‘kossia | Οχτακόσια |
Nine Hundred | Enneah ‘kossia | Εννιακόσια |
One Thousand | ‘Cheeleeah | Χίλια |
Two Thousand | ‘Theeow Chili ‘ahdes | Δύο Χιλιάδες |
One Million | ‘Enah Ekato ‘meereeow | Ένα Εκατομμύριο |
Two Million | ‘Theeow Ekato ‘meereeah | Δύο Εκατομμύρια |
One Billion | ‘Enah Theesekato ‘meereeow | ‘Ενα Δισεκατομμύριο |
Two Billion | ‘Theeow Theesekato ‘meereeah | Δύο Δισεκατομμύρια |