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Greek phrasebook Travel Guide

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Greek is one of the oldest attested Indo-European languages, known from 1400 BC in inscriptions in a syllabary of Minoan origin. The present alphabet was introduced by a Phoenician called Qadmu (Καδμος) about 800 BC, and has been in use, with a few letters added and removed, continuously since then. The 24-letter alphabet used in Classical Greek is the same one used today.

Many Greek words have been borrowed into other languages, so you will find a lot of these words familiar, such as τραυμα "injury" and γιατρος "doctor" (think of words in -iatry). Originally they were borrowed into Latin, which became French and other Romance languages. The changes Greek words underwent in Latin are different from those they underwent in Greek. For instance, in a rare case of someone actually returning a word he borrowed, κινημα (motion) was borrowed into Latin as cinema, which in French acquired the meaning "movie", and was returned to Greek as σινεμα.

Greek has changed less in the last two thousand years than English has in the last five hundred. It still has three genders, five cases, and movable ν. Although the dative dropped out of use in Greek before the dative merged with the accusative in English, one can still form the dative of μπαγλαμας (a stringed instrument smaller than the μπουζουκι), even though it belongs to a new declension. So if you know some Attic or Koine Greek and pronounce it as Modern Greek, though you will sound archaic, you will probably be understood.

Contents

Pronunciation Guide

Greek is fairly easy to pronounce; the only hard sounds are γ and χ, which you can pronounce as g or y and h and be understood, and θ and δ, which exist in English. There are some sandhi rules (e.g. τον πατερα "the father" is pronounced tom bah-TEH-rah, not ton pah-TEH-rah), but you don't have to learn them.

The word following the uppercase letter is the name of the letter, which begins with that letter, in lowercase. The letter ς is the form of σ used at the end of a word.

Vowels

The accent, if written, is placed on the single vowel or the second vowel of the diphthong. If the diaeresis (two dots on top ΪΫϊϋ) is placed on the second, or the accent is on the first, it is not a diphthong. For example, ρολοϊ (clock, from ωρολογιον, whence French horloge) is pronounced roh-LOH-ee.

Α αλφα 
as in father πατηρ
Ε εψιλον 
as in hecto- εκατον
Η ητα 
as in spleen σπλην
Ι ιωτα 
same as η, sometimes shorter
Ο ομικρον 
as in Portuguese dose δοσις
Υ υψιλον 
same as ι
Ω ωμεγα 
as in somatic σωματικος

Consonants

Β βητα 
as in very
Γ γαμμα 
voiced version of χ. Before ε or ι, as in yet. Before γ, κ, or χ, as in sink.
Δ δελτα 
as in those
Ζ ζητα 
as in zone ζωνη
Θ θητα 
as in thesis θεσις
Κ καππα 
as in kinetic κινητικος
Λ λαμβδα 
as in linen λινον
Μ μυ 
as in mixture μιγμα
Ν νυ 
as in new νεος
Ξ ξι 
as in ax αξινη
Π πι 
as in plasma πλασμα
Ρ ρω 
as in Spanish reloj ρολοϊ
Σ σιγμα ς 
as in sack σακκος
Τ ταυ 
as in type τυπος
Φ φι 
as in phone φωνη
Χ χι 
halfway between keel and heel
Ψ ψι 
as in sepsis σηψις


Common diphthongs

αι 
like ε, but longer
αυ 
ahv, as in sovereign, except before a voiceless consonant, in which case ahf
ει 
as in Keith, same as η
ευ 
as in several, left
οι 
same as η
ου 
as in food
υι 
same as η
γγ 
as in anger
γκ 
as in anger, sink, or go
γχ 
as in ankh
μπ 
as in bumble
ντ 
as in dander

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. 
Γεια σας. (YAH sahss) (means literally "your health")
Hello. (informal) 
Γεια σου. (YAH soo)
How are you? 
Τι κανετε; (tee KAH-neh-teh?)
Fine, thank you. (And you?) 
Καλά, ευχαριστώ. (Και εσείς;) (kah-LAH ef-khah-rees-TOH (keh eh-SEES?))
What is your name? 
Πως σε λενε; (pohs seh LEH-neh?)
My name is ______ . 
Με λενε ______ . (Με LE-neh _____ .)
Nice to meet you. 
Χαρηκα. (HA-ree-ka)
Please. 
Παρακαλω. (pah-rah-kah-LOH)
Thank you. 
Ευχαριστω. (ef-khah-rees-TOH)
You're welcome. 
Παρακαλω. (Pah-rah-kah-LOH)
Yes. 
Ναι. (neh)
No. 
Οχι. (OH-khee)
Excuse me. (getting attention) 
Συγνωμη. (See-GHNO-mee)
Excuse me. (begging pardon) 
Συγνωμη. (See-GHNO-mee)
I'm sorry. 
Λυπαμαι. (lee-PAH-meh)
See you later. 
Τα Λεμε. (Ta LE-me)
Goodbye. 
Αντιο. (AHN-dee-oh)
I can't speak Greek [well]. 
Δεν μιλω καλα ελληνικα. (dhen mee-LOH KAH-lah eh-lee-nee-KAH)
Do you speak English? 
Μιλατε αγγλικα; (mee-LAH-teh ang-glee-KAH?)
Is there someone here who speaks English? 
Μιλαει κανεις εδω αγγλικα; (Mee-LAH-ee ka-NEES e-DHO ang-glee-KAH?)
Help! 
Βοήθεια! (Voh-EE-thee-yah!)
Good day. 
Καλημέρα. (kah-lee-MEH-rah)
Good evening. 
Καλησπέρα. (kah-lee-SPEH-rah)
Good night. 
Καληνύχτα. (kah-lee-NEEKΗ-tah)
I don't understand. 
Δεν καταλαβαινω. (dhen kah-tah-lah-VEH-no)
Where is the toilet? 
Που ειναι η τουαλετα? (poo ΕΕ-ne ee too-ah-LEH-tah?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 
Αφήστε με ήσυχο (male)/ ήσυχη (female). (a-FIS-te me EE-si-kho / EE-si-khee)
Don't touch me! 
Μην με αγγιζεις! (meen meh ang-GEEH-zees)
I'll call the police. 
Θα καλεσω την αστυνομια. (Tha kah-LEH-soh teen ah-stih-noh-MIH-ah)
Police! 
Αστυνομια! (ah-stih-noh-MIH-ah)
Stop! Thief! 
Σταματηστε τον κλεφτη! (Stah-mah-TIH-steh ton KLEH-ftee!)
I need your help. 
Χρειαζωμαι την βοηθεια σας. (hreeh-AH-zoh-meh teen voh-EEH-thih-ah sas)
It's an emergency. 
Ειναι επειγον. (EEH-neh eh-PEEH-ghon)
I'm lost. 
Εχω χαθει. (EH-hoh hah-THEEH)
I lost my bag. 
Εχασα την τσαντα μου. (EH-hah-sah teen TSAHN-dah mooh)
I lost my wallet. 
Εχασα το πορτοφολι μου. (EH-hah-sah toh por-toh-FOH-leeh mooh)
I'm sick. 
Ειμαι αρρωστος/τη . (EE-me hah-ROHS-tos/tee )
I've been injured. 
Ειμαι τραυματισμενος/νη. (EEH-meh trav-mah-tees-MEH-nos/nee)
I need a doctor. 
Χρειαζομαι γιατρο. (hree-AH-zoh-meh yiah-TROH)
Can I use your phone? 
Μπορω να χρησιμοποιησω το τηλεφωνο σας; (mboh-ROH nah khree-see-moh-pee-EEH-soh toh tee-LEH-foh-NOH sahs?)

Numbers

The different forms of 1-4 are used with nouns of different genders.

1 
ενας/μια/ενα (EH-nahs / MEE-ah / EH-nah)
2 
δυο (DHEE-oh)
3 
τρεις/τρια (trees / TREE-ah)
4 
τεσσαρες/τεσσαρα (TESS-a-ress / TESS-a-rah)
5 
πεντε (PEN-deh)
6 
εξ (ex)
7 
εφτα (ef-TAH)
8 
οχτω (okh-TOH)
9 
εννεα (en-eh-AH)
10 
δεκα (DHEH-kah)
11 
ενδεκα (EN-dheh-kah)
12 
δωδεκα (DHOH-dheh-kah)
13 
δεκατρεις (dheh-kah-TREES)
14 
δεκατεσσαρες (dheh-kah-TESS-ah-ress)
15 
δεκαπεντε (dheh-kah-PEN-deh)
16 
δεκαεξ (dheh-kah-EX)
17 
δεκαεφτα (dheh-kah-ef-TAH)
18 
δεκαοχτω (dheh-kah-okh-TOH)
19 
δεκαεννεα (dheh-kah-en-eh-AH)
20 
εικοσι (ee-KOSS-ee)
21 
εικοσι ενας (ee-KOSS-ee EN-ahs)
22 
εικοσι δυο (ee-KOSS-ee DHEE-oh)
23 
εικοσι τρεις (ee-KOSS-ee TREES)
30 
τριαντα (tree-AHN-dah)
40 
σαραντα (sah-RAHN-dah)
50 
πενηντα (peh-NEEN-dah)
60 
εξηντα (ex-EEN-dah)
70 
εβδομηντα (ev-dhoh-MEEN-dah)
80 
ογδοντα (ogh-DHON-dah)
90 
ενενηντα (en-en-EEN-dah)
100 
εκατον (EH-kah-ton)
200 
δικοσια (dhee-KOH-see-ah)
300 
τρικοσια (tree-KOH-see-ah)
1000 
χιλιος (KHEE-lee-ohs)
2000 
δισχιλιοι (dhees-KHEE-lee-ee)
10,000 
μυριος (MEE-ree-ohs)
1,000,000 
εκατομμυριος (eh-kah-tom-MEE-ree-ohs)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 
number _____ (...)
half 
ημισυ (ee-MEES-ee)
less 
ελασσον (EH-lahss-on)
more 
πλειον (PLEE-on)

Time

now 
τώρα (TOH-rah)
later 
αργότερα (ar-GHOH-teh-rah)
before 
πριν (preen)
morning 
πρωί (proh-EE)
afternoon 
απόγευμα (a-POH-ghev-ma)
evening 
βράδυ (VRAH-thee)
night 
νύχτα (NEE-htah)

Clock time

one o'clock AM 
one o'clock AM (...)
two o'clock AM 
two o'clock AM (...)
noon 
το μεσημέρι (toh mess-ee-MEHR-ee)
one o'clock PM 
one o'clock PM (...)
two o'clock PM 
two o'clock PM (...)
midnight 
τα μεσάνυχτα (tah meh-SAH-neekh-tah)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 
_____ λεπτο/λεπτα (LEP-toh/tah)
_____ hour(s) 
_____ ωρα/ωρες (OH-rah/res)
_____ day(s) 
_____ μερα/μερες (MEH-rah/res)
_____ week(s) 
_____ εβδομαδα/δες (ev-dhoh-MAH-dhah/dhes)
_____ month(s) 
_____ μην/μηνες (MEEN / MEE-nes)
_____ year(s) 
_____ ετος/ετη (EH-tohs/tee)

Days

today 
σημερο (SEE-meh-roh)
yesterday 
χτες (khtes)
tomorrow 
αυριο (AHV-ree-oh)
this week 
this week (...)
last week 
last week (...)
next week 
next week (...)
Sunday 
Κυριακη (kee-ree-AH-kee)
Monday 
Δευτερα (DHEF-teh-rah)
Tuesday 
Τριτη (TREE-tee)
Wednesday 
Τεταρτη (teh-TAR-tee)
Thursday 
Πεμπτη (PEMP-tee)
Friday 
Παρασκευη (pah-rah-skeh-VEE)
Saturday 
Σαββατο (SAH-vah-toh)

Months

January 
Ιανουάριος (ia-noo-AH-ri-aws)
February 
Φεβρουάριος (fe-vroo-AH-reos)
March 
Μάρτιος (MAHR-tee-os)
April 
Απρίλιος (ah-PREE-lee-aws)
May 
Μάϊος (MAH-ee-os)
June 
Ιούνιος (ee-OOH-nee-os)
July 
Ιούλιος (ee-OOH-lee-os)
August 
Αύγουστος (AHV-ghoo-stos)
September 
Σεπτέμβριος (sep-TEHM-vree-os)
October 
Οκτώβριος (ok-TAU-vree-os)
November 
Νοέμβριος (naw-EM-vree-os)
December 
Δεκέμβριος (the-KHEM-vree-os)

Writing Time and Date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from Enlish.

Measurement

Greeks prefer all-Greek words to mixed Greek-and-Latin words. "Meter", "liter", and "gram" being Greek, they don't use Latin prefixes like "milli" with them. Instead they use the following:

deci 
δεκαστο
centi 
εκατοστο
milli 
χιλιαστο

The word λεπτο means both a euro cent and a minute of time. A second is δευτερολεπτο, δευτερο meaning second (the ordinal).

Colors

black 
μάυρος/α/ο (MAHV-ros/rah/roh)
white 
άσπρος (AHS-prohs)
gray 
gray (...)
red (blood) 
έρυθρος (EH-ree-throhs)
red (fire) 
πυρρός (peer-ROHS)
red 
κοκκινο ("KOH-kih-noh")
blue 
μπλε (bleh)
yellow 
κιτρινο(KIT-ree-noh)
green 
(...)
orange 
πορτοκαλη(POR-toh-kah-lee)
purple 
(...)
brown 
(...)

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to _____? 
Πόσο κάνει ένα εισιτήριο για _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please. 
Ένα εισιτήριο για _____, παρακαλώ. (...)
Where does this train/bus go? 
Που πάει αυτό το τραίνο/λεωφορείο? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____? 
Που είναι το τραίνο/λεωφορείο _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____? 
Σταματάει το τραίνο στο _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 
Πότε φεύγει το τραίνο/λεωφορείο για _____? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 
Πότε θα φτάσει το τραίνο/λεωφορείο στο _____? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 
How do I get to _____ ? (...)
...the train station? 
...the train station? (...)
...the bus station? 
...the bus station? (...)
...the airport? 
...the airport? (...)
...downtown? 
...downtown? (...)
...the youth hostel? 
...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel? 
...the _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
Where are there a lot of... 
Where are there a lot of... (...)
...hotels? 
...hotels? (...)
...restaurants? 
...restaurants? (...)
...bars? 
...bars? (...)
...sites to see? 
...sites to see? (...)
Can you show me on the map? 
Can you show me on the map? (...)
street 
street (...)
Turn left. 
Στρεψατε στην αριστερα. (STREP-sah-teh steen ah-riss-teh-RAH)
Turn right. 
Στρεψατε στη δεξια. (STREP-sah-teh stee dheh-xee-AH)
left 
αριστερα (ah-riss-teh-RAH)
right 
δεξια (dheh-xee-AH)
straight ahead 
straight ahead (...)
towards the _____ 
towards the _____ (...)
past the _____ 
past the _____ (...)
before the _____ 
before the _____ (...)
Watch for the _____. 
Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection 
intersection (...)
north 
βορρας (vor-RAHS)
south 
νοτος (NOH-toss)
east 
ανατολη (ah-nah-TOH-lee)
west 
δυση (DHEE-see)
uphill 
uphill (...)
downhill 
downhill (...)

Taxi

Taxi! 
Taxi! (...)
Take me to _____, please. 
Take me to _____, please. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____? 
How much does it cost to

get to _____? (...)

Take me there, please. 
Take me there, please. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 
Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people? 
How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with... 
Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets? 
...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom? 
...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone? 
...a telephone? (...)
...a TV? 
...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first? 
May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter? 
Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger? 
...bigger? (...)
...cleaner? 
...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper? 
...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it. 
OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s). 
I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel? 
Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe? 
Do you have a safe? (...)
...lockers? 
...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included? 
Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper? 
What time is breakfast/supper? (...)
Please clean my room. 
Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out. 
I want to check out. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds? 
Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept credit cards? 
Do you accept credit cards? (...)
Can you change money for me? 
Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed? 
Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me? 
Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate? 
What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 
A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please? 
Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen? 
Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty? 
Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty? 
Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian. 
I'm a vegetarian. (...)
I don't eat pork. 
I don't eat pork. (...)
I only eat kosher food. 
I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 
Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal 
fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte 
à la carte (...)
breakfast 
breakfast (...)
lunch 
lunch (...)
tea (meal) 
tea (...)
supper 
supper (...)
I want _____. 
I want _____. (...)
I want a dish containing _____. 
I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken 
chicken (...)
beef 
beef (...)
fish 
fish (...)
ham 
ham (...)
sausage 
sausage (...)
cheese 
τυρι (TEE-ree)
eggs 
αυγα (ahv-GHAH)
salad 
σαλατα (SAH-lah-tah)
(fresh) vegetables 
(fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit 
(fresh) fruit (...)
bread 
αρτος (AHR-toss), ψωμι (psoh-MEE)
toast 
toast (...)
noodles 
noodles (...)
rice 
ορυζα (oh-REE-zah)
beans 
φασολοι (fah-SOH-lee)
May I have a glass of _____? 
May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____? 
May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____? 
May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee 
coffee (...)
tea (drink) 
tea (...)
juice 
juice (...)
(bubbly) water 
water (...)
water 
νερο (neh-ROH)
beer 
beer (...)
red/white wine 
red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____? 
May I have some _____? (...)
salt 
salt (...)
black pepper 
black pepper (...)
butter 
βουτυρο (VOO-tee-roh)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server) 
Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished. 
I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious. 
It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates. 
Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please. 
The check, please. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 
Do you serve alcohol? (...)
Is there table service? 
Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please. 
A beer/two beers, please. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please. 
A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please. 
A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please. 
A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 
_____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey 
whiskey (...)
vodka 
vodka (...)
rum 
rum (...)
water 
water (...)
club soda 
club soda (...)
tonic water 
tonic water (...)
orange juice 
orange juice (...)
Coke (soda) 
Coke (...)
Do you have any bar snacks? 
Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
One more, please. 
One more, please. (...)
Another round, please. 
Another round, please. (...)
When is closing time? 
When is closing time? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 
Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this? 
How much is this? (...)
That's too expensive. 
That's too expensive. (...)
Would you take _____? 
Would you take _____? (...)
expensive 
expensive (...)
cheap 
cheap (...)
I can't afford it. 
I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it. 
I don't want it. (...)
You're cheating me. 
You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested. 
I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it. 
OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag? 
Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)? 
Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need... 
I need... (...)
...toothpaste. 
...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush. 
...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons. 
...tampons. (...)
...soap. 
...soap. (...)
...shampoo. 
...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 
...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine. 
...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine. 
...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor. 
...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella. 
...an umbrella. (...)
...sunblock lotion. 
...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard. 
...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps. 
...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries. 
...batteries. (...)
...writing paper. 
...writing paper. (...)
...a pen. 
...a pen. (...)
...English-language books. 
...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines. 
...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper. 
...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-Greek dictionary. 
...ελληνικο-αγγλικο λεξικο. (eh-lee-nee-KOH ang-glee-KOH LEX-ee-koh)

Driving

I want to rent a car. 
I want to rent a car. (...)
Can I get insurance? 
Can I get insurance? (...)
stop (on a street sign) 
stop (...)
one way 
one way (...)
yield 
yield (...)
no parking 
no parking (...)
speed limit 
speed limit (...)
gas (petrol) station 
gas station (...)
petrol 
petrol (...)
diesel 
diesel (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 
I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding. 
It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me? 
Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest? 
Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 
I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer. 
I want to talk to a lawyer. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now? 
Can I just pay a fine now? (...)

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