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Home>Words that start with B>before>English to Greek translation
How to Say Before in GreekAdvertisement
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If you want to know how to say before in Greek, you will find the translation here. We hope this will help you to understand Greek better.
Here is the translation and the Greek word for before:
πριν
[prin]
Edit
Before in all languages
Dictionary Entries near before
- befall
- befit
- befitting
- before
- before and after
- before long
- beforehand
Cite this Entry
«Before in Greek.» In Different Languages, https://www.indifferentlanguages.com/words/before/greek. Accessed 14 Apr 2023.
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Check out other translations to the Greek language:
- absolute
- appropriation
- demo
- elongation
- fissure
- outlet
- recent events
- rusty
- throughput
- tormentor
Browse Words Alphabetically
Όλα
τα
στοιχήματα που τοποθετήθηκαν πρίν την επίσημη προγραμματισμένη ώρα θα είναι έγκυρα.
While not much detail is known-
one day before the official signing- a few key parameters have been reported by multiple news outlets.
Ενώ δεν είναι γνωστές πολλές λεπτομέρειες-
port operator noted it will still have to discuss and
negotiate
the
concession agreement before the official signing and effectivity of
the
contract.
διαχειριστής
του
λιμένα σημείωσε ότι θα πρέπει ακόμα να συζητήσει και
να διαπραγματευτεί
τη
σύμβαση παραχώρησης πριν από την επίσημη υπογραφή και
την
αποτελεσματικότητα
της
σύμβασης.
Penalty-free cancelations are
only available for extenuating circumstances that occur before the official check-in date for your reservation.
ακυρώσεις χωρίς ποινή είναι
διαθέσιμες μόνο για ειδικές περιστάσεις που συμβαίνουν πριν από την επίσημη ημερομηνία άφιξης για
την
κράτησή σας.
Θα διεξαχθούν
το
Σάββατο 30 Σεπτεμβρίου, μία ημέρα πριν τα επίσημα και κύρια αγωνίσματα.
Most of
the
research, some of it conducted even before the official founding of
the
Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities,
was in connection with regions where important naval battles had taken place.
περισσότερες έρευνες που έχουν γίνει, ορισμένες και πριν από την επίσημη ίδρυση
της
Εφορείας Εναλίων Αρχαιοτήτων(ΕΕΑ),
αφορούσαν σε περιοχές, όπου διεξήχθησαν σημαντικές ναυμαχίες.
press conferences were presented by Jovan Radomir and Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, who also provided commentary from
the
red
carpet event in front of
the
Stockholm Palace, before the official welcome party at Stockholm City Hall
on 8 May 2016.
συνεντεύξεις Τύπου παρουσιάστηκαν
από τους
Γιόβαν Ραντομίρ και Καταρίνα Ρόλφσντοτερ-Γιάνσον,
οι
οποίοι επίσης έδωσαν σχόλια
από την
Εκδήλωση
του
Κόκκινου Χαλιού
μπροστά
από το
Παλάτι
της
Στοκχόλμης, πριν από την επίσημη δεξίωση στο Δημαρχείο
της
Στοκχόλμης στις 8 Μαΐου 2016.
and Austrian fighters went online, Abu Ahmad supplied us with a picture of
the
execution.
Εβδομάδες πριν από το επίσημο βίντεο
του
Ισλαμικού Κράτους με
τις
φρικιαστικές εκτελέσεις
από τους
γερμανούς και αυστριακούς μαχητές βγει στο διαδίκτυο,
ο
Abu Ahmad μας έδωσε μια εικόνα
της
εκτέλεσης.
constitutes
the
period of processing and preparation on all levels in order to ensure
the
success of
the
project.
χρονιά
του
2016 πριν την επίσημη ανάληψη
του
τίτλου
της
Πολιτιστικής Πρωτεύουσας
αποτελεί
την
περίοδο διεργασιών και προετοιμασιών σε όλα
τα
επίπεδα για
την
εξασφάλιση
της
επιτυχίας
του.
καλλιτέχνες συχνά επιβεβαιώνουν ότι θα συμμετάσχουν πριν την επίσημη ανακοίνωση.
Για εμάς αυτό είναι το τελευταίο δυνατό φιλικό πριν ξεκινήσουμε τους επίσημους αγώνες.
Διέρρευσε το Motorola Moto X4, λίγο πριν γίνει επίσημο!
Results: 3265,
Time: 0.0242
English
—
Greek
Greek
—
English
If you’ve been following us, it’s for sure that you’ve learned a bunch of Greek words and phrases.
Well done!
However, random words and phrases can’t mean anything unless they’re placed in the correct order. This is why we’ve created a dedicated blog post showcasing the correct Greek word order.
While ancient Greek word order was a bit more complicated, things in modern Greek are much simpler.
After reading this article, you’ll be able to construct full sentences in Greek like a native speaker.
Now, let’s have a look at some basic rules and comprehensive examples.
Table of Contents
- Overview of Word Order in Greek
- Basic Word Order with Subject, Verb, and Object (or Predicate)
- Word Order with Adverbial Phrases
- Word Order with Modifiers
- How to Change a Sentence into a Yes-or-No Question
- How to Form Long Sentences Step-by-Step
- Conclusion
1. Overview of Word Order in Greek
The basic word order in Greek sentences follows the SVO pattern. However, the sentence structure is flexible, and many other variations exist.
Overall, the sentence structure is the same as that in the English language. A major difference is that the subject can sometimes be omitted in Greek, as the form of the verb itself indicates the first, second, or third person so that the subject is often understood from the context. This is due to the conjugation of Greek verbs, according to which, the suffix of the verb changes based upon the person and the number of the subject.
2. Basic Word Order with Subject, Verb, and Object (or Predicate)
In this section, we’ll focus on the basic word order in modern Greek and its variations.
2.1 The Basic Word Order
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká.
Translation: “I study Greek.”
Subject: Εγώ (Egó) | Verb: μελετώ (meletó) | Object: ελληνικά (eliniká)
Greek: Η Μαρία οδηγεί ένα αυτοκίνητο.
Romanization: I María odiyí éna aftokínito.
Translation: “Maria drives a car.”
Subject: Η Μαρία (I María) | Verb: οδηγεί (odiyí) | Object: ένα αυτοκίνητο (éna aftokínito)
Greek: Ο πατέρας μου είναι δάσκαλος.
Romanization: O patéras mu íne dáskalos.
Translation: “My father is a teacher.”
Subject: Ο πατέρας μου (O patéras mu) | Verb: είναι (íne) | Predicate: δάσκαλος (dáskalos)
Greek: Το ξενοδοχείο είναι μεγάλο.
Romanization: To xenodohío íne megálo.
Translation: “The hotel is big.”
Subject: Το ξενοδοχείο (To xenodohío) | Verb: είναι (íne) | Predicate: μεγάλο (megálo)
2.2 Word Order with Emphasis on the Object
Now, let’s take a look at what happens when we need to emphasize the object.
When we want to emphasize the object, we place the object at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb and the subject. This can also be perceived as a reversal of the basic sentence components, which in this case follow the OVS pattern, as shown in the examples below.
Greek: Ελληνικά μελετώ εγώ.
Romanization: Eliniká meletó egó.
Translation: “Greek (is what) I study.”
Subject: εγώ (egó) | Verb: μελετώ (meletó) | Object: Ελληνικά (Eliniká)
Greek: Ένα αυτοκίνητο οδηγεί η Μαρία.
Romanization: Éna aftokínito odiyí i María.
Translation: “(It is) a car (that) Maria drives.”*
Subject: η Μαρία (i María) | Verb: οδηγεί (odiyí) | Object: Ένα αυτοκίνητο (Éna aftokínito)
* This would be the answer to the question: Τι οδηγεί η Μαρία; (Ti odiyí i María?), or “What is Maria driving?” It indicates that she’s driving a car as opposed to a bus, for example.
Greek: Δάσκαλος είναι ο πατέρας μου.
Romanization: Dáskalos íne o patéras mu.
Translation: “(A) teacher is (what) my father (is).”
Subject: ο πατέρας μου (o patéras mu) | Verb: είναι (íne) | Predicate: Δάσκαλος (Dáskalos)
Greek: Μεγάλο είναι το ξενοδοχείο.
Romanization: Megálo íne to xenodohío.
Translation: “Big is (what) the hotel (is).”
Subject: το ξενοδοχείο (to xenodohío) | Verb: είναι (íne) | Predicate: Μεγάλο (Megálo)
3. Word Order with Adverbial Phrases
When it comes to adverbial phrases, Greek word order is almost identical to English. Adverbial phrases indicate information about the verb, such as “when,” “where,” or “how” something happened. These are normally placed at the end of the sentence. They can be single words (e.g. an adverb) or whole phrases (e.g. a prepositional phrase). If you want to learn more about Greek adverbs, visit our Top 100 Greek Adverbs article.
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά κάθε μέρα.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká káthe méra.
Translation: “I study Greek everyday.”
Subject: Εγώ (Egó) | Verb: μελετώ (meletó) | Object: ελληνικά (eliniká) | Adverbial phrase answering “When?”: κάθε μέρα (káthe méra)
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά στο σπίτι.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká sto spíti.
Translation: “I study Greek at home.”
Subject: Εγώ (Egó) | Verb: μελετώ (meletó) | Object: ελληνικά (eliniká) | Adverbial phrase answering “Where?”: στο σπίτι (sto spíti)
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά με το GreekPod101.com.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká me to GreekPod101.com.
Translation: “I study Greek with GreekPod101.com.”
Subject: Εγώ (Egó) | Verb: μελετώ (meletó) | Object: ελληνικά (eliniká) | Adverbial phrase answering “How?”: με το GreekPod101.com (to GreekPod101.com)
When more than one adverbial phrase needs to be included, their order is flexible. Let’s have a
look at some examples below:
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά κάθε μέρα στο σπίτι με το GreekPod101.com.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká káthe méra sto spíti me to GreekPod101.com.
Translation: “I study Greek everyday at home with GreekPod101.com.”
Subject: Εγώ (Egó) | Verb: μελετώ (meletó) | Object: ελληνικά (eliniká) | Adverbial Phrase 1: κάθε μέρα (káthe méra) [indicating time] | Adverbial Phrase 2: στο σπίτι (sto spíti me) [indicating place] | Adverbial Phrase 3: με το GreekPod101.com (to GreekPod101.com) [indicating manner]
However, it would be equally correct to use any of the following variations, with no change in the
meaning or usage.
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά στο σπίτι κάθε μέρα με το GreekPod101.com.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká sto spíti káthe méra me to GreekPod101.com.
Translation: “I study Greek at home everyday with GreekPod101.com.”
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά στο σπίτι με το GreekPod101.com κάθε μέρα.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká sto spíti me to GreekPod101.com káthe méra.
Translation: “I study Greek at home with GreekPod101.com everyday.”
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά με το GreekPod101.com στο σπίτι κάθε μέρα .
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká me to GreekPod101.com sto spíti káthe méra.
Translation: “I study Greek with GreekPod101.com at home everyday.”
4. Word Order with Modifiers
4.1 Word Order with Adjectives
In Greek language word order, adjectives are usually placed before the noun they modify. In addition, they must follow the gender, case, and the number of the noun. The same rule applies to numerals.
Greek: Εγώ γράφω με μπλε στιλό.
Romanization: Egó gráfo me ble stiló.
Translation: “I write with a blue pen.”
Learn the Top 100 Most Common Greek Adjectives in our relevant article!
4.2 Word Order with Adverbs
Adverbs are generally placed after the verb they modify, or at the end of the sentence.
Greek: Εγώ γράφω πιο καθαρά με μπλε στιλό.
Romanization: Egó gráfo pio kathará me ble stiló.
Translation: “I write more clearly with a blue pen.”
Greek: Εγώ γράφω με μπλε στιλό πιο καθαρά.
Romanization: Egó gráfo me ble stiló pio kathará.
Translation: “I write with a blue pen more clearly.”
Do you want to learn the most common Greek adverbs? Check out our Top 100 Greek Adverbs article!
4.3 Word Order with Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are placed within a sentence, after the word they refer to, like in English.
Greek: Ο καφές που παρήγγειλα ήταν κρύος.
Romanization: O kafés pu paríngila ítan kríos.
Translation: “The coffee that I ordered was cold.”
4.4 Word Order with Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are placed after the noun they refer to, as opposed to in English where they’re placed before the noun.
Greek: Ο καφές μου ήταν κρύος.
Romanization: O kafés mu ítan kríos.
Translation: “My coffee was cold.”
Practice makes perfect! Study the Top 100 Greek Pronouns in our article!
5. How to Change a Sentence into a Yes-or-No Question
Changing a sentence into a yes-or-no question is really easy in Greek. Usually, just adding a
question mark at the end will do the job, as demonstrated in the examples below:
Original Affirmative Sentence
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά κάθε μέρα.
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká káthe méra.
Translation: “I study Greek everyday.”
Conversion into a Yes-or-No Question:
Greek: Εγώ μελετώ ελληνικά κάθε μέρα;
Romanization: Egó meletó eliniká káthe méra?
Translation: “Do I study Greek everyday?”
As you can see, there’s no change in the sentence structure other than the addition of a question mark
at the end, which in Greek looks like an English semicolon.
6. How to Form Long Sentences Step-by-Step
The key to constructing longer and more complex sentences in Greek is to take into account everything we’ve covered so far. Here’s an example of how to construct a longer sentence in Greek, step-by-step:
Step 1: Just choose a simple SVO sentence first.
Greek: Εσύ ήπιες νερό.
Romanization: Esí ípies neró.
Translation: “You drank water.”
Note: The verb should comply with the person and number of the subject and be formed in the correct tense and mood, since Greek verbs conjugate.
Step 2: Add an adverbial phrase.
Greek: Εσύ ήπιες νερό πριν από δέκα λεπτά.
Romanization: Esí ípies neró prin apó déka leptá.
Translation: “You drank water ten minutes ago.”
Note: The adverbial phrase is placed at the end of the sentence.
Step 3: Add modifiers in the sentence.
Greek: Εσύ ήπιες δύο μικρά μπουκάλια νερό πριν από δέκα λεπτά.
Romanization: Esí ípies dío mikrá bukália neró prin apó déka leptá.
Translation: “You drank two small bottles of water ten minutes ago.”
Note: Take into account that the numeral is placed before the noun and before the adjective (if the noun has one), just like in English.
Step 4: Conversion to a Question
Greek: Εσύ ήπιες δύο μικρά μπουκάλια νερό πριν από δέκα λεπτά;
Romanization: Esí ípies dío mikrá bukália neró prin apó déka leptá?
Translation: “Did you drink two small bottles of water ten minutes ago?”
7. Conclusion
Unlike the vast Greek grammar, which consists of many rules and exceptions, Greek syntax is way easier to learn.
As you might have noticed, there are only a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to modern Greek word order.
Start learning Greek today in a consistent and organized manner by creating a free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com. Tons of free vocabulary lists, YouTube videos, and grammar tips are waiting for you to discover.
In the meantime, is there a sentence structure that troubles you? Check out our Must-Know Greek Sentence Structures series. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments and we’d be happy to help!
If you’re trying to learn Greek Prepositions you will find some useful resources including a course about time and place prepositions and and demonstrative pronouns… to help you with your Greek grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and notice the pattern that occurs each time the word changes its place. Also don’t forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Greek. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!
Greek Prepositions
Learning the Greek Prepositions displayed below is vital to the language. Greek prepositions link nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition. Here are some examples:
English Prepositions | Greek Prepositions |
---|---|
Prepositions | Prothesewn — Προθέσεων |
inside the house | mesa sto spiti — μέσα στο σπίτι |
outside the car | eksw apo to aftokinhto — έξω από το αυτοκίνητο |
with me | mazi mou — μαζί μου |
without him | xwris afton — χωρίς αυτον |
under the table | katw apo to trapezi — κάτω από το τραπέζι |
after tomorrow | methayrio — μεθαύριο |
before sunset | prin to hliovasilema — πριν το ηλιοβασίλεμα |
but I’m busy | alla eimai apasxolhmenos — αλλά είμαι απασχολημένος |
Notice the structure of the Prepositions in Greek.
List of Prepositions in Greek
Below is a list of the Time place and demonstrative pronouns in Greek placed in a table. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Greek vocabulary.
English Prepositions | Greek Prepositions |
---|---|
about | peripou — περίπου |
above | anw — άνω |
across | apenanti — απέναντι |
after | meta — μετά |
against | kata — κατά |
among | metaksy twn — μεταξύ των |
around | gyrw — γύρω |
as | ws — ως |
at | sto — στο |
before | protoy — προτού |
behind | pisw — πίσω |
below | parakatw — παρακάτω |
beneath | katw apo — κάτω από |
beside | dipla — δίπλα |
between | metaksy — μεταξύ |
beyond | pera — πέρα |
but | alla — αλλά |
by | me — με |
despite | para — παρά |
down | katw — κάτω |
during | kata th diarkeia ths — κατά τη διάρκεια της |
except | ektos — εκτός |
for | gia — για |
from | apo — από |
in | se — σε |
inside | entos — εντός |
into | se — σε |
near | konta — κοντά |
next | epomenh — επόμενη |
of | tou — του |
on | epi — επί |
opposite | apenanti — απέναντι |
out | eksw — έξω |
outside | ektos — εκτός |
over | epi — επί |
per | ana — ανά |
plus | syn — συν |
round | gyros — γύρος |
since | apo — από |
than | apo — από |
through | esw — έσω |
till | ews — έως |
to | na — να |
toward | pros — προς |
under | ypo — υπό |
unlike | se antithesh me — σε αντίθεση με |
until | mexri — μέχρι |
up | epanw — επάνω |
via | mesw — μέσω |
with | me — με |
within | entos — εντός |
without | xwris — χωρίς |
two words | dyo lekseis — δύο λέξεις |
according to | symfwna me — σύμφωνα με |
because of | eksaitias — εξαιτίας |
close to | konta sto — κοντά στο |
due to | logw — λόγω |
except for | ektos apo ta — εκτός από τα |
far from | makria apo — μακριά από |
inside of | mesa sto — μεσα στο |
instead of | anti tou — αντί του |
near to | konta sto — κοντά στο |
next to | dipla se — δίπλα σε |
outside of | ektos tou — εκτός του |
prior to | prin apo — πριν από |
three words | treis lekseis — τρεις λέξεις |
as far as | sto metro tou — στο μέτρο του |
as well as | kathws kai — καθώς και |
in addition to | epipleon — επιπλέον |
in front of | brosta apo — μπροστά από |
in spite of | para — παρά |
on behalf of | eks onomatos ths — εξ ονόματος της |
on top of | epiprosthetws — επιπροσθέτως |
demonstrative pronouns | deiktikh prothesewn — δεικτική προθέσεων |
this | afto — αυτό |
that | oti — ότι |
these | aftes — αυτές |
those | ekeines — εκείνες |
Time place and demonstrative pronouns have a very important role in Greek. Once you’re done with Greek Prepositions, you might want to check the rest of our Greek lessons here: Learn Greek. Don’t forget to bookmark this page.
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Phrases |
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Greek Homepage |
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The links above are only a small sample of our lessons, please open the left side menu to see all links.
Many people who visit Greece want to learn some basic Greek phrases and words before their vacation. This article includes some useful Greek words, and a few common phrases that Greeks use on a daily basis. Ιncludes a couple of popular rude words, just for fun!
Introduction to the Greek language
The Greek language is quite unique. Our alphabet is thousands of years old, and many of the words we use today were also used during the times of Ancient Greece.
Most visitors find the Greek alphabet hard to learn. However, once you’ve managed to memorize the Greek letters, you should be able to read basic Greek words and phrases.
This will be useful when travelling around Greece and the Greek islands, as you will be able to read any road signs that are only in Greek.
At the same time, if all you want to do is to learn a few words and useful Greek phrases, you don’t necessarily need to learn how to read the alphabet. You can be a “good tourist” just by memorizing the sound of a few key phrases!
This guide will introduce you to a few words that you will want to use, and also some phrases that you will probably hear while in Greece. Whether you will want to repeat some of these words, is up to you!
Useful Greek words and their pronunciation – Basic Greek for tourists
According to the prominent Greek linguist Georgios Babiniotis, the Greek language has over 100,000 words.
As you can imagine, very few of those words are used on a daily basis. Here are some of them.
Note: I have used special symbols, so that you can see which syllable you will need to stress. As an example, the word ka-li-mé-ra is stressed on the third syllable: meh.
1. Yes – Neh – Ναι
The Greek word for ‘Yes’ is ‘Neh’. We also use Neh when we answer the phone – though there are many other ways to respond to a phone call.
Note: It is rather confusing that this exact word means ‘No’ in many other languages!
2. No – Óchi – Όχι
‘Óchi’ or ‘Óhi’, the Greek word for ‘No’, is a short word which, nevertheless, many English speakers find difficult to pronounce. You can read it out as ‘oh-hee’, introducing a harsh ‘h’ sound.
And if the word sounds somehow familiar, you are right. Here is my article about the Ochi day, written ‘OXI’ in capital letters.
Note: When they are among friends, Greek people tend to make a ‘tsk’ sound instead of using ‘ohi’. While it’s not exactly polite, it’s a useful thing to know.
3. Good morning – Kaliméra – Καλημέρα
‘Kalimera’ is one of the most popular words in Greece. It is a composite word, where ‘kali’ means ‘good’, and ‘imera’ means ‘day.
Literally translating to ‘good day’, ‘kaliméra’ is generally used when you see someone for the first time in the day, or until some time in the afternoon. Using it until 1-2 pm is absolutely fine.
4. Good evening – Kalispéra – Καλησπέρα
‘Kalispéra’ translates to ‘good evening’ in Greek. You can use it when you think that it’s too late for ‘kaliméra’, perhaps after 4-5 pm.
Some people will switch to ‘kalispera’ just after midday, which might sound a bit extreme, given that it’s not the evening yet.
5. Good night – Kaliníhta – Καληνύχτα
‘Kaliníchta’ is used when you are wishing someone a good night, i.e. when you won’t see them again on that evening.
It’s useful if you are leaving a taverna where you had an evening meal. If you are staying at a hotel with a receptionist, you can say ‘kaliníhta’ on your way back to your room.
6. Hello / Goodbye – Yiá, yiássou, yiássas – Γεια, γεια σου, γεια σας
If kaliméra, kalispéra and kaliníhta are too confusing, there’s another standard greeting you can use: yiássou, or yiássas. This literally means ‘to your health’, and can be used both as ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’.
‘Yiássou’, pronounced ‘yah soo’, is used when you are talking to one person. ‘Yiássas’, often written as ‘geia sas’, is appropriate if you are talking to two or more people, but also if you are talking to an older person and want to show some good manners.
Do you want something even easier? You can always just use the short, informal ‘yiá’! This is the easiest of all the Greece greetings.
7. Thank you – Efharistó – Ευχαριστώ
‘Efharistó’ is the first word any polite tourist will want to learn, and it will bring a smile to people’s faces. In fact, I’d say that Greeks don’t use ‘thank you’ as often as other people!
Now, of all the basic Greek words, this is probably the hardest one to pronounce. So, don’t get discouraged if a Greek person tries to correct your pronunciation – they are only trying to help.
Once you feel confident with ‘efharistó’, you can proceed to ‘efharistó polí’ – thank you very much.
8. Please / You are welcome – Parakaló – Παρακαλώ
Unlike ‘efharistó’, the Greek word for ‘you are welcome’ is relatively easy to pronounce: ‘pa-ra-ka-lo’.
We use the exact same word to say ‘please’ – not that you will hear this word all too often here!
9. I am sorry / Excuse me – Siggnómi – Συγγνώμη
The Greek word for ‘I am sorry’ and ‘Excuse me’ is another difficult one to pronounce. It is best described as ‘see-ghno-mee’, with a soft ‘g’ sound.
But don’t worry – it’s very common for Greeks to use the English word ‘sorry’ instead.
10. Cheers – Yiá mas – Γεια μας
Let’s say you have ordered some food and drinks at a Greek taverna, and it’s now time to raise your glasses and say ‘cheers’. The word for that is ‘yiámas’, or ‘yiá mas’, which means ‘to our health’.
‘Yia’ is the same word we use in ‘yiá ssou’ or ‘yiá ssas’. Incidentally, it is a shortened form of the word ‘hygeia’, which is related to hygiene, hygienic, and a handful of other words used in English.
11. Water – Neró – Νερό
Given that Greece is a warm country, at least in summer, ‘water’ might be the most useful Greek word you will learn.
If you are want to buy a bottle of water, try to remember the words ‘mikró’ (small), and ‘megálo’ (big).
Apart from drinking lots of water, here are some more tips to help you stay cool if you are visiting Greece in summer. And remember, watermelon (karpoúzi) is your best friend!
12. Souvlaki – Σουβλάκι
No list of essential Greek words would be complete without at least one iconic Greek dish. Souvlaki is a popular street food option, a quick, inexpensive and filling meal.
Now, there are literally hundreds of Greek dishes, and it will take you several weeks to discover all of them. Here is a guide to 50 popular Greek dishes that you can find in most Greek tavernas.
Note: Depending on where you live in the world, you might find a version of those dishes at a restaurant near you. Quite often, this version might be very different to the actual Greek dish!
13. OK – Endáxi – Εντάξει
If you spend a few days in Greece, you may think that everyone is always looking for a taxi. In reality, the word that everyone uses is ‘endáxi’, which is often cut down to ‘daxi’.
And what is the ‘daxi’ Greek meaning I hear you ask? Well, it’s Greek for ‘OK’!
While we also use ‘OK’ a lot, especially in everyday situations, you are bound to hear this word dozens of times during your Greek vacation. As it’s easy to pronounce, you can try to use it instead of ‘OK’ and impress the Greek people you meet.
14. Come – Éla – Έλα
This is another word you are likely to hear often, especially when someone picks up their phone.
The word ‘éla’ literally means ‘come’, but we also use it as ‘come on’ or even an expression of being surprised. It is often followed by ‘tóra’, which means ‘now’, as an indication of being annoyed.
On other occasions, people follow it with a short word, ‘reh’, just for added emphasis. This word doesn’t really translate to anything in English, but it’s not very polite, so it’s best to avoid it.
15. Gamóto – Γαμώτο
And now for another common word! ‘Gamóto’, pronounced with a soft ‘g’, is not exactly the word you’d want to say to your grandma, as it’s a popular swear word.
Literally translating to the F-word in English, it is used as an indication of being annoyed, disappointed or just plain angry. It’s probably best to avoid using it yourself, but at least now you know what this Japanese-sounding word means.
16. Maláka(s) – Μαλάκα(ς)
Possibly the most famous rude word in Greek, ‘maláka’ can have several meanings, depending on who you are talking to, your tone of voice, and any gestures that go along.
As an example, if you are driving and someone cuts you off, the word ‘maláka’ is rude, similar to a-hole. However, you might also call your friend ‘maláka’, in a tender sort of way, like ‘bro’, ‘dude’ or ‘man’.
Now I’ll just point out that the little stress on this word is very important.
So, while the word ‘maláka’ has the stress on the second syllable, the word ‘malaká’, stressed on the last syllable, means soft / softly. If you are planning to use it, make sure you stress the correct syllable 🙂
Curious for more rude words, slang words and Greek cursewords? Here you go: Greek swear words. This fun article includes Greek swear words, pronunciation, the exact translation in English, and a few synonyms. I wouldn’t suggest reading it at the office!
A few phrases in Greek – Greek phrases for tourists
And now that you have mastered some of our most popular words, let’s check a few key phrases in Greek.
1. What is your name – Pos se leh-neh
The phrase ‘what’s your name’ is a universal ice-breaker. In Greek, you can choose between two forms of the phrase.
You can use ‘Pos se lé-ne’ when talking to a young person, while ‘Pos sas le-ne’ is more appropriate if you want to be polite, or if you are addressing a senior.
2. How are you – Ti kánis, ti kánete
This popular phrase, that you will hear very often in Greece, also has two forms.
If you are talking to a young person, you will need to use ‘ti kanis’ / ‘ti ka nees’. However, if you are addressing a senior, or more than one people, the correct form is ‘ti kanete’.
The standard answer to this question is ‘kalá’, the Greek word for ‘good’, or ‘ola kalá’, best translated as ‘all well’.
3. I do not understand – Den katalavéno
Even if you have mastered a few phrases in Greek, people may give you an answer you don’t understand. In this case, the best thing to say is ‘Den katalavéno’, I don’t understand.
4. I would like the bill please – To logariasmó parakaló
Whether you sit at a taverna table for a long meal, or are just ordering two beers, at some point you will need to get the bill.
As you already know the word parakaló, you only need to learn the word for ‘bill’, which is ‘to logariasmó’, with a soft g.
Plot twist: if you want to say the phrase 100% correctly, you would in fact need to say ‘Tha íthela to logariasmó parakaló’, where ‘tha íthela’ means ‘I would like’.
Yet, the last two words are more than enough – even if you only say ‘parakalo’ or ‘logariasmó’, you will definitely get the message across. Please avoid the dated practice of clicking your fingers, which is considered rude.
Once you get the bill, consider leaving a tip, unless you were really unhappy with the food or the service. Here’s my guide on tipping in Greece.
Incidentally, it’s super easy to say ‘beer’ in Greek pronunciation: beerah!
5. Where is the toilet please – Pou ine i tualéta parakaló
Given the absence of public toilets in most tourist destinations in Greece, it’s always useful to know how to ask for a toilet.
The word ‘tualéta’ indicates a bathroom, washroom, restroom, or however else you may call it in your local language.
The Greek phrase ‘pou einai’, meaning ‘where is?’, can be used for anything you are looking for – the beach, the taxi stand, the best taverna on the island, the Acropolis in Athens.
Tip: Do carry your own toilet paper in case there is none, and DO NOT flush it in the tualéta. Here’s why you shouldn’t flush toilet paper in Greece.
6. How much is this – Póso káni
If you want to buy any products or Greek souvenirs, you can try asking for the price in Greek.
While the actual question is easy to pronounce, you might get stuck if the sales assistant answers back in Greek 🙂
Tip: Be careful not to confuse this phrase with ‘Ti kánis’, which means ‘How are you’!
7. See you / Talk to you later – Ta léme – Τα λέμε
A popular greeting when saying goodbye is the short phrase ‘ta léme’. Literally translating to ‘we say them’ (??), it is the equivalent of ‘see you later’ or ‘talk to you later’. It’s often accompanied by a bye-bye gesture.
FAQs about useful Greek words
Here are some commonly asked questions:
What are some cool Greek words?
There are dozens of cool Greek words. A cool phrase that Greeks use when drinking is ‘yia mas’. It literally means ‘to our health’, and is the equivalent of ‘cheers’.
What are some basic Greek words?
Some basic Greek words include neh / yes, ochi / no, efcharisto / thank you, and parakalo / you are welcome.
What is the most popular Greek word?
Words that you will hear very often in Greece include yiassou, the Greek word for hello, endaxi / OK, and ela / come.
What are some rude Greek words?
Two of the most common rude words in Greek are ‘malakas’ and ‘gamoto’.
Is Greek a useful language?
Greek is the official language in Greece (and Cyprus, along with Turkish). If you are planning to live in either of those countries, it is useful to learn Greek. If you are only visiting Greece for a vacation, you won’t need to learn any Greek, as most people speak English. Still, if you want to experience Greece as fully as possible, it’s always helpful to learn a few basic words.
More travel tips about Athens and Greece
I hope you have enjoyed this article, and that it will be useful for your next trip to Greece. If you are interested in any other articles, for example one on Greek sayings or proverbs, leave a comment down below!
I’m also planning to work on an article on the 500 most common Greek words… but don’t hold your breath 🙂
Here are a few more travel guides and tips about Greece and Athens:
- How to order Greek food in Greece (includes what to say if you have any dietary allergies)
- Coffee and coffee culture in Greece
- What to pack for Greece for all four seasons
- 30 best things to do in Athens
- How many days do you need in Santorini
- Driving in Greece – Tips and advice by a local
- Quotes about Greece
- The history of the Greek flag
Hi! I am Vanessa from Athens. I love helping people discover more about my native language, which Google Translate isn’t always helpful with. Follow my FB page and FB group for more Greece-related info!