Greek for travel

Γεια σου! (Gia su)

„Γεια σου“ (gia su) is the casual „hi“ to one person; to several or politely one says „γεια σας“ (gia sas).

💡 Did you know? „Γεια“ comes from „υγεία“ (health): so in greeting one wishes health.

Καλημέρα. (Kaliméra)

„Καλημέρα“ (kaliméra) literally means „good day“ and greets in the morning.

💡 Did you know? The word combines „kalí“ (good) and „iméra“ (day): clearly audible in the sound.

Καλησπέρα. / Καληνύχτα. (Kalispéra / Kaliníchta)

„Καλησπέρα“ (kalispéra) greets in the evening, „καληνύχτα“ (kaliníchta) is said before bed.

💡 Did you know? „Kali-“ (good) appears in almost all Greek greetings: a handy mnemonic.

Αντίο! (Andío)

„Αντίο“ (andío) is the farewell; more casually one just says „γεια σου“ again.

💡 Did you know? „Αντίο“ is related to the Italian „addio“ and Spanish „adiós“: all contain „God“.

Τα λέμε αργότερα. (Ta léme argótera)

„Τα λέμε αργότερα“ (ta léme argótera) means „see you later“: literally „we'll talk later“.

💡 Did you know? Shortly one also just says „τα λέμε“ (ta léme): „see you around“.

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló)

„Παρακαλώ“ (parakaló) is the polite „please“.

💡 Did you know? The same word also serves as „you're welcome“ and „here you go“: a true all-purpose word.

Ευχαριστώ. (Efcharistó)

„Ευχαριστώ“ (efcharistó) is the Greek „thank you“.

💡 Did you know? The word contains „cháris“ (grace, thanks): the same root as in „Eucharist“, the „thanksgiving“ in Christianity.

Ευχαριστώ πολύ. (Efcharistó polí)

„Ευχαριστώ πολύ“ (efcharistó polí) strengthens the thanks to „thank you very much“.

💡 Did you know? „Polí“ means „much“: the same root as „poly-“ in words like „polygon“.

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló)

To „ευχαριστώ“ one replies „παρακαλώ“ (parakaló): the same word as for „please“.

💡 Did you know? This dual use of „parakaló“ makes it one of the most useful Greek words.

Ναι / Όχι. (Ne / Óchi)

Careful, easy to confuse: „Ναι“ (ne) means YES, „Όχι“ (óchi) means NO.

💡 Did you know? Tricky for German or English ears: the Greek „ne“ sounds like „no“ but means „yes“.

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi)

„Συγγνώμη“ (signómi) is the apology: also when squeezing past.

💡 Did you know? The word contains „gnómi“ (opinion, understanding): one is asking, in a sense, for forbearance.

Πόσο κάνει; (Póso káni?)

„Πόσο κάνει;“ (póso káni?) asks the price; the Greek question mark looks like a semicolon (;).

💡 Did you know? Greek really does use a semicolon-shaped mark as a question mark: a genuine reading trap.

Με κάρτα, παρακαλώ. (Me kárta, parakaló)

„Με κάρτα, παρακαλώ“ (me kárta, parakaló) indicates you want to pay by card.

💡 Did you know? In Greece cash is still preferred on many islands and in small tavernas.

Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Ton logariasmó, parakaló)

„Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ“ (ton logariasmó, parakaló) asks for the bill.

💡 Did you know? In Greek tavernas a small dessert or shot is often served on the house at the end.

Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Pu íne i tualéta?)

„Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;“ (pu íne i tualéta?) asks for the toilet.

💡 Did you know? „Τουαλέτα“ is a loanword from the French „toilette“.

Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (Den katalavéno)

„Δεν καταλαβαίνω“ (den katalavéno) means „I don't understand“.

💡 Did you know? The negation „δεν“ (den) comes directly before the verb in Greek.

Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Miláte angliká?)

„Μιλάτε αγγλικά;“ (miláte angliká?) politely asks whether someone speaks English.

💡 Did you know? In Greece's tourist areas a great deal of English is spoken.

Μία μπίρα, παρακαλώ. (Mía bíra, parakaló)

„Μία μπίρα, παρακαλώ“ (mía bíra, parakaló) orders a beer: „μπ“ is pronounced like „b“.

💡 Did you know? Greek has no single letter for „b“: the sound is written with „μπ“.

Γεια μας! (Gia mas!)

„Γεια μας!“ (gia mas!) literally means „to our health“ and is the toast.

💡 Did you know? One also hears the spirited „στην υγειά μας“ (stin igiá mas): „to our well-being“.

Βοήθεια! (Voíthia!)

„Βοήθεια!“ (voíthia!) is the cry for help in an emergency.

💡 Did you know? The Europe-wide emergency number 112 applies in Greece too.