This page assumes you can read Greek and you know the quality of Greek sounds.

If you dont you can always try the transliteration in the Latin script. The accent on
the Greek vowels indicates where the stress of that word should be.

Greetings

Kalimera
Good morning
Kalispera
Good evening
Kalinichta
Goodnight
/ Ya sou / sas
Hello or Goodbye (informal / formal)
() Adio (sas)
Goodbye (sas = formal)
Ta leme Ill
see ya (lit. Well talk)

Asking people how they are

/ ; Ti kanis / kanete?
How are you (informal / formal)
; Ti egine?
Whats happened? / happening?
; / ; / ; Pos pas / paei / pate?
Howre you / he, she, it / you (plural or formal) going?

Replying to the above.

() . . (Poly) kala. Efcharisto.

(Very) well. Thank you.
Mia hara.
Fine. Great.
. Doksa to theo.
Cant complain (lit. Thanks to God)
. As ta leme kala
O.K. (Lets say all right)
. Den echo parapono I
have no complaint.

Please, Thank you, Youre welcome, Excuse me & Im sorry.

. Parakalo
Please.
. Efcharisto
Thanks / Thank you (lit. I thank)
Ego efcharisto I
thank you!
 . Emis efcharistoume We
thank you!
. Parakalo
You are welcome.
( ) . (Den ine) tipota
Its nothing. It isnt anything (to speak of)
. Me synchorite
Excuse me.
. Sygnomi Im
sorry.

Ordering things at a caf

. Parakalo
Please! (to attract attention)
. Ena gafe parakalo.
A coffee please.
( / / ) me / choris gala/zachari
with/without milk / sugar
. Ena tsai, parakalo
A tea please.
. Ena nero parakalo
A (bottle of) water, please.
. Ena chimo parakalo
A juice please.
, . Ena fisiko chymo
A natural juice please.
. Ena karafaki ouzo parakalo
An ouzo please (usually a small 200 ml bottle)
( ) . Ena tost (zabon tiri)
A toasted (ham & cheese) sandwich
( / ) , , Ena potiri kokkino/aspro krasi
A glass of red/white wine
( / ) , . Ena boukali kokkino/aspro krasi
A bottle of red/white wine
. Mia bira parakalo
A beer please
. Mia lemonada parakalo
A lemonade please.
. Mia portokalada parakalo
An orange drink please.
- () . Mia koka-kola (daiet) parakalo
A (diet) coke please.
. Ena pagoto parakalo
An ice cream please.
(--) sokolata-vanilia-fraoula
(chocolate-vanilla-strawberry)
. To logariasmo parakalo
The bill please.
 Ordering fast food snacks

( ) . Ena souvlaki (me pitta) parakalo.

A souvlaki (wrapped in pitta bread), please.
( , , , ) me kotopoulo, hirino, bifteki,
gyro with chicken, pork, mince, gyros
( / : me/horis
with / without
, , , , ) kremidi, domata, dzadziki, alati,
piperi onion, tomato, garlic dip, salt, pepper.
( ) me ap ola
with everything / all inclusive
. Ena sandouits parakalo.
A sandwich please.
. Mia bagetta parakalo
A baguette please.
(--) . Ena tost (zabon-tiri-
domata) parakalo A (ham-cheese-tomato) toasted sandwich please.
. Mia tiropita parakalo
A cheese pie, please.
. Mia spanakopita parakalo.
A spinach pie please.
. Mia kreatopitta parakalo.
A (mince) meat pie, please.
. Ena hambourger, parakalo.
A hamburger, please
() . Mia (merida) patatatkia parakalao
Some (A portion of) fries please.
. Mia sokolata, parakalo.
A chocolate (bar).
. Efcharisto
Thanks / Thank you.
. Oriste.
Here you are.

Ordering traditional Greek meals at a restaurant or tavern

(NB The list below could not possibly be exhaustive. The good thing is tha, in most
eating places in Greece, menus are translated into English and other European
Languages, but translations have often been known to be literal, obfuscating and at
times misleading.)

n . Ena gatalogo parakalo.

(May I have) A menu please.
. Ena dzadziki.
A yogurt and garlic dip.
. Mia taramosalata.
A fish roe dip (pink in colour)
. Mia melidzanosalata.
An eggplant (aubergine) dip.
 , . Ena mousaka, parakalo.
A piece of moussaka, please.
, . Ena pastitsio parakalo
A piece of meat and macaroni pie.
, . Ena batsa parakalo
A bowl of tripe soup, please.
, . Mia fasolada, parakalo.
A bowl of bean soup please.
. Mia horiatiki parakalo
A village salad, please (includes feta cheese)
. Mia pandzaria.
A portion of beetroot salad.
. Mia horta.
A portion of boiled greens.
vrasta. Mia kolokithakia vrasta.
A portion of boiled zucchini.
() , . Mia kalamarakia.
A portion of kalamari (fried)
() , . Mia briam
A portion of oven baked veg mix (potato/zucchini)
() . Mia melidzanes fournou.
A portion of oven baked eggplants.
() . Mia arnaki me patates
A portion of lamb and potatoes.
/ . Mia brizola hirini / moscharisia
A pork / beef steak.
. Mia paidakia
A portion of lamb cutlets (grilled)
/ / / . Mia
gavro/marida/atherina/barbounia A portion of fried anchovy/white bait/red mullet.
(or ) , . Ena bakaliaro
A portion of fried cod.
. Mia skordalia.
A plate of garlic dip (usually with the fried cod)
() . Mia patates tiganites
A portion of fried potatoes (chips or French fries).

Asking about things you want to buy

; Ti n afto?
What is this?
; Ti n afta?
What are these?
; Poso kani?
How much is it?
; Poso kanoun?
How much are they?
()... / ... / ..., . Doste mou enan/mia/ena,
parakalo. Give me one/a (masc. fem. neut.), please.
 Asking for & understanding directions

. ... / ... / ... Me syngchorite. Pou ine

o/i/to Excuse me. Where is the (masc. fem. neut.),
/ / / ... . Sto proto/deftero/trito/ tetarto
steno At the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th street
/ / ... . Sta prota/deftera/trita fanaria
At the 1st, 2nd, 3rd set of traffic lights
: / / . Tha pate efthia/deksia/aristera.
Youll go straight / right / left.
... / ... . That to / ti dite.
You ll see it (neut. / fem.)
. Eki akrivos ine.
Its right there.
. Sti gonia.
At the corner.
... / ... Dipla sto / sti
Next to the
... / ... Konda sto / sti
Near the
... / ... Apenandi apo to / ti.
Across from the

At the petrol station

, . Gemiste to parakalo. Fill it up

. Amolivdi parakalo Unleade
, . Mou kitate ta lastiha parakalo Can you
, . Mou vazete ligo aera sta lastiha
parakalo Would you put some air in my
tyres please.
, . Mou vazete aera sti rezerva
parakalo Would you put some air in my
spare tyre, pl.
, . Mou kanete ligo ta tzamia
parakalo Would you clean my windows a
bit please.
. Tha ithela l;igo nero sto
reservouar I would like some water in the
tank
. Tha ithela ladi gia ta frena
parakalo. I would like some break fluid.
. Tha ithela ladi gia ti michani. I would
; Iparchei voulkanizater edo
konda? Is there a tyre-repair place near
here?

Numbers

0 miden
1 (, ) enas (mia, ena)
2 dio 20
ikosi 200 diakosia
3 () tria (tris) 30
trianda 300 triakosia
4 () tessera (tesseris) 40
saranda 400 tetrakosia
5 pende 50
peninda 500 pendakosia
6 eksi 60
eksinda 600 eksakosia
7 (also ) efta 70
evdominda 700 eftakosia
8 (also ) ochto 80
ogdonda 800 oktakosia
9 (also ) enia 90
eneninda 900 eniakosia
10 deka 100
ekato 1000 xilia

In the lists that follow the Greek word in the left column is followed by an
approximate transliteration in Latin script. The third column lists an explanation.

Buying Cheese at the supermarket

Quantities should be followed by the type of cheese you wish to purchase (no need
for of).
Ena kilo
One / A kilo
Miso kilo
Half a kilo
Ena tetarto
One / A quarter (of a kg)
200 () Diakosia gramaria
200gr
350 ( ) Triakosia peninda gramaria
350gr
10, 15, 20 Deka, dekapende, eikosi fetes
10, 15, 20 slices.

Common Greek Cheeses

Cheese types are usually followed by the name of the place or area where they are
produced.

(, , .) Feta (from Parnassus, Lesbos,

etc.) Feta cheese
(, .) Anthotiro
Fresh white cheese
 (, .) Kefalotiri
(the basis of fried Saganaki cheese)
(, .) Kefalograviera
-
(, , .) Graviera
Gruyere
Mizithra
-
Kaseri
-
() (me) hamila Lipara
(with) Low fat content

Non-Greek cheeses (These are more or less self-explanatory)

Motsarela
Parmezana
Rokfor
Edam
Gouda

Buying preserved meats at the supermarket

(See quantities in the cheese-section above)

Zambon bouti vrasto
Leg of ham (boiled)
Zambon bouti kapnisto
Leg of ham (smoked)
Salami Oungarias
Hungarian salami
Salami aeros
Salami (air-dried)
Pariza
Parise
Prosouto
Prossiuto
Mortadela
Mortadella
Galopoula
Turkey
() (me) hamila Lipara
(with) Low fat content

Buying meat at the butchers

Quantities (see above) - - , ...

Types of meats and animal parts (plurals are indicated in the brackets)
arni lamb
moschari veal
vodino beef
 hirino pork
() kotopoulo chicken
() galopoula turkey
() bouti leg/thigh
() brizola steak
() pa-idakia ribs/cutl
psaronefri tender lo
() fileto filet (als
lemos neck
plati back
spala shoulde
kiloto upper re
noua noix (ne
() glossa tongue
() mialo brain
(-) sikoti liver
() nefro kidney
() pnevmoni lung
() andero intestine

Buying Basic Fish

When buying fish it is important to distinguish between farmed fish ()

and open sea fish ().
Quantities (see above) , ( /)... or - -
, ... + the fish you need (in the Accusative Case).

/ gavros anchovy
marida
atherina white ba
/ sardela sardine
barbouni red mul
lithrini
tsipoura bream
/ rofos snapper
/ bakaliaros cod
/ solomos salmon
/ tonos tuna
/ kolios mackere
kalamari calamar
/ soupia cuttle fi
/ garides prawns
chtapodi octopus
midia mussels

Buying fruit & vegetables at the Street Market ()

Basic structure
... ... , .
 ... ... , .

Quantities
, etc for large fruit. , ... + fruit or
vegetable in the plural (in the Accusative case)

Fruit (in the plural)

mila apples
portokalia oranges
fraoules strawber
kerasia cherries
bananas bananas
rodakina white fl
germades yellow f
verikoka apricots
stafilia grapes
achladia pears
domates tomatoe
() ananas pineapp
karpouzi waterme
() peponi honey m
aktinidia kiwi fru
lemonia lemons
avokado avocado

Vegetables (mostly in the plural)

patates potatos
kremidia onions
agouria cucumb
karota carrots
kounoupidi cauliflow
lachano cabbage
maroulia green sa
seskoula silverbe
kolokithia courgett
melidzanes aubergin
piperies capsicum
skorda garlic
prasa leeks
selino celery
spanaki spinach
freska kremidia spring o
padzaria beetroot
() horta radikia raddichi
() horta vlita indigeno
(also ) kalabokia / arapositia corn / m
arakas peas
glykopatata sweet po
salates lettuce
tsouknida nettle
Some fresh Herbs usually purchased in a bunch = (matsaki).
ma-idanos parsley
anithos dill
marathos fennel
diozmos mint
vasilikos basil
dendrolivano rosemar
madzourana marjoram
thymari thyme

Buying Bread at the Bakery

Quantities
( ) fradzola
elongated loaf
( ) bageta
baguette
( ) karveli
round loaf
( ) kouloura
ring-shaped loaf
pleksouda
plait-shaped loaf
( ) psomi
bread

One of the above is approximately 500gr so you may also ask for or

Types of bread
aspro white
mavro brown (
horiatiko village s
polyteleias Luxury
polysporo multi-gr
sikalis rye
stafidopsomo raisin br
gianiotiko Ioannina
eliopsomo olive br
tiropsomo cheese b

Plus loads of other varieties you are likely to come across (drop us a pixilated
electronic line with your favourite bread type)

Mild but not uncommon terms of abuse (we do not recommend that you
use them)
M / malaka (m.) / malakismeni (f.) wanker,
/ ilithie (m) / ilithia (f.) stupid, f
/ vlamene (m.) / vlameni (f.) harmed,
() (A-i) Sto diaolo (go) to h
paliopedo naughty
kolopedo arse / as
/ . aliti (m.) / alitissa (f.) street th

And many, many more which are much, much worse.

2003 Copyright Babel Language Centre