Greece is a beautiful country with a rich history, culture and cuisine. Whether you are planning to visit the ancient ruins of Athens, the stunning islands of Santorini and Mykonos, or the scenic countryside of Peloponnese, you will surely have an unforgettable experience. But to make your trip even more enjoyable and memorable, why not learn some basic Greek words and phrases before you go?
Greek is not an easy language to learn, especially if you are not familiar with the Greek alphabet. But don’t let that stop you from trying to communicate with the locals. Greeks are very friendly and hospitable people, and they will appreciate your efforts to speak their language. Even if you make some mistakes or have a funny accent, they will likely help you out or laugh with you, not at you.
In this blog post, we will teach you some of the most useful and common Greek words and phrases that you should know when visiting Greece. We will also provide you with pronunciation guides and tips to help you sound more natural and confident. By the end of this post, you will be able to greet people, introduce yourself, ask for directions, order food, express gratitude, and more in Greek.
Basic Greek Words
Let’s start with some basic Greek words that you will need in almost any situation. These are words like yes, no, please, thank you, excuse me, etc. Memorize these words and use them often to be polite and respectful.
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Ναι | Ne |
| No | Όχι | O-hee |
| Please | Παρακαλώ | Pa-ra-ka-lo |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | Ef-ha-ree-sto |
| You’re welcome | Παρακαλώ | Pa-ra-ka-lo |
| Excuse me / I’m sorry | Συγγνώμη | See-gno-mee |
| Cheers! | Γεια μας! | Ya-mas! |
| Help! | Βοήθεια! | Voh-ee-the-aa! |
Greetings in Greek
The next set of words and phrases that you should learn are greetings in Greek. These are words like hello, goodbye, good morning, good evening, etc. Greeting people is a great way to start a conversation and show your interest in their culture.
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Bye (informal) | Γειά σου / Γειά σας (plural) | Yah-soo / Yah-sas |
| Hello / Goodbye (formal) | Χαίρετε / Αντίο σας | Hai-re-te / An-dee-o sas |
| Good morning | Καλημέρα | Ka-li-mer-a</t |
