Who doesn’t enjoy a heartfelt compliment?

I don’t know about you, but Greeks do enjoy compliments very much!

Giving and receiving compliments is what brings people closer.

Whether between friends, colleagues, or even lovers, complimenting is an integral part of everyday life.

In this article, we’ve gathered the best Greek compliments, along with what they mean and how to use them! By the time you finish reading, you’ll be able to share everything you’ve always wanted with the people you appreciate. We’ll explore how to compliment someone’s looks, work, and skills, with relevant examples.

So, are you ready to begin complimenting in Greek? Then continue reading.

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Greek Compliments
2. Complimenting Someone’s Look
3. Complimenting Someone’s Work
4. Complimenting Someone’s Skills
5. How to Make Your Compliments Sound More Sincere
6. What to Expect After Giving Compliments
7. Conclusion

1. An Introduction to Greek Compliments

First things first, let’s have a look at how to say the word “compliment” as a noun in Greek.

• Greek: (το) κομπλιμέντο
• Romanization: kompliméndo
• Translation: “compliment”

Did you notice anything interesting?

I’m sure you did:

The Greek word κομπλιμέντο (or κοπλιμέντο) is very similar to its English equivalent. The explanation is really simple: both words are borrowed from Italian. At this point, we should note that this term is widely used in everyday conversations.

However, there’s another Greek word for “compliment,” demonstrated below.

• Greek: (η) φιλοφρόνηση
• Romanization: filofrónisi
• Translation: “compliment”

This term is an original Greek compound word. More specifically, it consists of the words φίλος (fílos), meaning “friend” + φρονώ (fronó), meaning “to think” or “to consider.” It’s a very scholarly word, so it’s not widely used in everyday conversations; however, you might encounter it in Greek books and literature.

Now let’s take a look at how to say “giving a compliment” in Greek.

• Greek: Κάνω ένα κομπλιμέντο.
• Romanization: Káno éna kompliméndo.
• Literal Translation: “I do a compliment.”
• Meaning: “I give a compliment.” / “I compliment.”

Whereas in English, we can simply use “compliment” as a verb, there’s no equivalent verb in Greek. So the same meaning can be expressed by using the phrase κάνω ένα κομπλιμέντο (káno éna kompliméndo), which literally means “I do a compliment.” Please note the difference, since in English, the verb “to give” is used in this case (instead of “to do”), which might confuse novice Greek learners.

2. Complimenting Someone’s Look

Image Description:

Complimenting someone on their looks can really cheer them up!

In Greek, however, it’s more common to compliment someone’s look when flirting, rather than between friends. Nevertheless, this is definitely not a constraint, as many close friends also compliment each other.

You can find the most common Greek phrases for complimenting someone’s look below.

• Greek: Τα μαλλιά σου είναι πολύ ωραία σήμερα.
• Romanization: Ta maliá su íne polí oréa símera.
• Translation: “Your hair is very nice today.”
• Example Situation: When you want to compliment someone (male or female) on their hair.
• Greek: Μου αρέσει η μπλούζα σου.
• Romanization: Mu arési i blúza su.
• Translation: “I like your blouse/shirt.”
• Example Situation: When you want to compliment someone (male or female) on their blouse/shirt.
• Greek: Έχεις όμορφο χαμόγελο.
• Romanization: Éhis ómorfo hamóyelo.
• Translation: “You’ve got a pretty smile.”
• Example Situation: When you want to compliment someone (male or female) on their smile.
• Greek: Είσαι πολύ γλυκός!
• Romanization: Íse polí glikós.
• Translation: “You are very sweet!”
• Example Situation: When you want to compliment someone (male) on his personality.
• Greek: Είσαι η πιο όμορφη γυναίκα που έχω γνωρίσει.
• Romanization: Íse i pio ómorfi yinéka pu ého gnorísi.
• Translation: “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met.”
• Example Situation: When you want to compliment someone (female) on her beauty.

Please note that giving such personal compliments to someone of the opposite sex might be perceived as flirting, so use them wisely. Within the same context, Greek men tend to give many compliments…even to random women in the streets. There’s nothing to be afraid of, though. Just smile and say thank you.

If you want to learn more about Greek flirting, take a look at our list of the Top 15 Love Phrases.

3. Complimenting Someone’s Work

Another context where complimenting is really important is in our work environment. After all, we tend to spend a third of our life in our workspace. So, giving and receiving work-related compliments is crucial for bonding with colleagues, as well as for making progress.

Here are the most common Greek compliments that can be used in a work environment:

• Greek: Μπράβο!
• Romanization: Brávo!
• Translation: “Bravo!”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone.
• Greek: Συγχαρητήρια!
• Romanization: Siharitíria!
• Translation: “Congratulations!”
• Example Situation: When you want to congratulate someone.
• Greek: Έχεις κάνει πολύ καλή δουλειά.
• Romanization: Éhis káni polí kalí duliá.
• Translation: “You’ve done a very good job.”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone for their work.
• Greek: Είσαι πολύ εργατικός / εργατική!
• Romanization: Íse polí ergatikós / ergatikí!
• Translation: “You are very hardworking!”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone for their hard work.
• Greek: Η παρουσίασή σου ήταν πολύ καλή.
• Romanization: I parusíasi su ítan polí kalí.
• Translation: “Your presentation was very good.”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone who has just finished their presentation.
• Greek: Η ιδέα σου ήταν εξαιρετική.
• Romanization: Ι idéa su ítan exeretikí.
• Translation: “Your idea was excellent.”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone for their idea.

4. Complimenting Someone’s Skills

Excellent skills are hard to find. Therefore, we should recognize them and praise those who have them accordingly. This acknowledgement is what keeps people going and becoming better and better.

Below are some of the most common Greek compliments on someone’s skills.

• Greek: Έχεις πολύ ταλέντο!
• Romanization: Éhis polí talédo!
• Translation: “You are very talented!”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone (male or female) for their skills.
• Greek: Είσαι εξαιρετικός μάγειρας!
• Romanization: Íse exeretikós máyiras!
• Translation: “You are an exceptional cook!”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone (male) for his cooking skills.
• Greek: Είσαι εξαιρετική μαγείρισσα!
• Romanization: Íse exeretikí mayírisa!
• Translation: “You are an exceptional cook!”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone (female) for her cooking skills.
• Greek: Βγάζεις πολύ ωραίες φωτογραφίες!
• Romanization: Vgázis polí orées fotografíes!
• Translation: “You take very nice shots!”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone (male or female) for their photos.
• Note: In Greek, the expression is βγάζω φωτογραφία, which is literally translated as “take out photos.”
• Greek: Μιλάς πολύ καλά ελληνικά.
• Romanization: Milás polí kalá eliniká.
• Translation: “You speak very good Greek.”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone (male or female) for their language skills.
• Greek: Είσαι σίγουρος/-η ότι δεν είσαι επαγγελματίας;
• Romanization: Íse síguros/-i óti den íse epaggelmatías?
• Translation: “Are you sure you’re not a professional?”
• Example Situation: When you want to praise someone (male or female) for their skills in a specific sector.

5. How to Make Your Compliments Sound More Sincere

Although compliments should always be honest, there are a few things you can do to seem more sincere. In Greece, there isn’t anything specific you should do while giving compliments, but here are a few useful tips:

• A shining smile is always a good way to show that you really mean the compliment. Just wear your best smile and say something honest and nice.
• Looking the other party in the eye is another way to express your honesty. In Greece, it’s considered to be the best way to detect if someone is lying.
• Feel free to clap if you’re excited. While this isn’t appropriate for more personal comments, it’s perfectly fine when giving compliments about someone’s skills or work-related achievements.

6. What to Expect After Giving Compliments

When receiving a compliment, most people kindly smile and say thank you.

Here are some relevant phrases you can use when receiving compliments in Greek.

• Greek: Ευχαριστώ πολύ!
• Romanization: Efharistó polí!
• Translation: “Thank you very much!”
• Greek: Ευχαριστώ πολύ για το κομπλιμέντο!
• Romanization: Efharistó polí ya to kompliméndo!
• Translation: “Thank you very much for the compliment!”
• Greek: Υπερβάλλεις!
• Romanization: Ipervális!
• Translation: “You are exaggerating!”

7. Conclusion

Giving a compliment is always a nice gesture; it makes people happy and brightens their day. In Greek, there are no special phrases, and at this point we could say that complimenting in Greek is very similar to complimenting in English. Indeed, even in the context of gestures, no significant differences have been found.

Put on your best smile and make others happy!

Just a short note to self: Compliment others more—even in Greek!

Is there another compliment in Greek you want to learn? Let us know in the comments!

At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Articles, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, are waiting for you to discover them! And if you prefer a one-on-one learning experience, you can use our MyTeacher Messenger before heading over to our online community to discuss lessons with other students.

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In the Greek language, there are three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Each noun in Greek has a specific gender and—unlike in English—these genders don’t only apply exclusively to nouns referring to people, but also to nouns that refer to things or animals. Therefore, gender should be viewed as a grammatical attribute of a noun and not necessarily as the sex of a person, animal, or thing.

The gender roles in Greek society are deeply influenced by the patriarchal family model, although it has been modernized over the past few decades, attempting to ensure that women are equal to men. If you take a look at Greek mythology, the gods normally represent physical power, whereas goddesses represent wisdom, love, and organization. However, today’s Greek society is quite balanced when it comes to the differences between the two genders.

In this article, we’ve gathered all the tips and tricks to help you understand grammatical Greek genders.

Table of Contents

1. The Word “Gender” in Greek
2. Articles in Greek According to Their Gender
3. Guessing the Gender of a Word in Greek
4. Memorizing the Gender of a Noun in Greek
5. Gender Variations for Adjectives
6. Conclusion

1. The Word “Gender” in Greek

• Greek: γένος
• Romanization: yénos
• Translation: “gender”

The word above is utilized in grammar to express the gender of a noun or an adjective.

• Greek: φύλο
• Romanization: fílo
• Translation: “gender”

This one is utilized in everyday speech to express the gender/sex of a person.

In Greek grammar, we use the word γένος, therefore there are three genders, which are: αρσενικό (arsenikó) meaning “masculine,” θηλυκό (thilikó) meaning “feminine,” and ουδέτερο (udétero) meaning “neuter.” These genders characterize nouns, adjectives, articles, and some pronouns and participles.

2. Articles in Greek According to Their Gender

The definitive articles in Greek are: ο (masculine), η (feminine), and το (neuter). They change depending on the grammatical case, though they all translate to the English word “the.”

Masculine Definitive Article:
Nominative: ο
Genitive: του
Accusative: τον

Feminine Definitive Article:
Nominative: η
Genitive: της
Accusative: τη(ν)

Neuter Definitive Article:
Nominative: το
Genitive: του
Accusative: το

Here’s an example of how these definite articles can be used in everyday conversations.

• Greek: Στο εστιατόριο ο άντρας κοιτούσε τον κατάλογο, η γυναίκα κοιτούσε το κινητό και το παιδί έπαιζε με τα παιχνίδια του.
• Romanization: Sto estiatório o ándras kitúse ton katálogo, i yinéka kitúse to kinitó ke to pedí épeze me ta pehnídia tu.
• Translation: “In the restaurant, the man was looking at the menu, the woman was looking at the phone, and the child was playing with his toys.”

The indefinite articles in Greek are: ένας (masculine), μια/μία (feminine), and ένα (neuter). They also get inflected according to the case.

Masculine Indefinite Article:
Nominative: ένας
Genitive: ενός
Accusative: έναν

Feminine Indefinite Article:
Nominative: μια
Genitive: μιας
Accusative: μια

Neuter Indefinite Article:
Nominative: ένα
Genitive: ενός
Accusative: ένα

Here’s an example of how to use indefinite articles.

• Greek: Ένας άντρας, μια γυναίκα και ένα παιδί έκατσαν στο δίπλα τραπέζι.
• Romanization: Énas ándras, mia yinéka ke éna pedí ékatsan sto dípla trapézi.
• Translation: “A man, a woman, and a child sat on the nearby table.”

3. Guessing the Gender of a Word in Greek

Recognizing the gender of a noun in Greek can be tricky, since all of these get inflected, resulting in different endings depending on the case they’re used in. However, in this section, we’ll refer to the most popular masculine, feminine, and neuter noun endings in the nominative case (i.e. the dictionary form).

Masculine endings:

-ος      Examples: ο άνθρωπος (o ánthropos) meaning “the human”; ο καιρός (o kerós) meaning “the weather”; ο ήλιος (o ílios) meaning “the sun”; ο κόσμος (o kózmos) meaning “the world.”

-ας      Examples: ο μπαμπάς (o babás) meaning “the father”; ο άντρας (o ándras) meaning “the man”; ο κανόνας (o kanónas) meaning “the rule”; ο ελέφαντας (o eléfandas) meaning “the elephant.”

-ης      Examples: ο λογιστής (o loyistís) meaning “the accountant”; ο υπολογιστής (o ipoloyistís) meaning “the computer”; ο πελάτης (o pelátis) meaning “the customer”; ο μαθητής (o mathitís) meaning “the student.”

-ες      Examples: ο καφές (o kafés) meaning “the coffee”; ο λεκές (o lekés) meaning “the stain.”

-ούς      Examples: ο παππούς (o papús) meaning “the grandfather.”

-έας      Examples: ο γραμματέας (o gramatéas) meaning “the secretary.”

Feminine endings:

-ος      Examples: η μέθοδος (i méthodos) meaning “the method”; η άνοδος (i ánodos) meaning “the rise”; η κάθοδος (i káthodos) meaning “the descent”; η οδός (i odós) meaning “the street”; η λεωφόρος (i leofóros) meaning “the avenue.”

-α      Examples: η μητέρα (i mitéra) meaning “the mother”; η καρέκλα (i karékla) meaning “the chair”; η θάλασσα (i thálasa) meaning “the sea”; η ώρα (i óra) meaning “the hour”; η αγελάδα (i ageláda) meaning “the cow.”

-η      Examples: η λέξη (i léxi) meaning “the word”; η αγάπη (i agápi) meaning “the love”; η ψυχή (i psihí) meaning “the soul”; η ζάχαρη (i záhari) meaning “the sugar”; η οθόνη (i othóni) meaning “the monitor.”

-ού      Examples: η μαϊμού (i maimú) meaning “the monkey.”

-ώ      Examples: η ηχώ (i ihó) meaning “the echo.”

Neuter endings:

-ος      Examples: το λάθος (to láthos) meaning “the passion”; το γεγονός (to yegonós) meaning “the incident.”

-ο      Examples: το φυτό (to fitó) meaning “the plant”; το βιβλίο (to vivlío) meaning “the book”; το γραφείο (to grafío) meaning “the office”; το ξενοδοχείο (to xenodohío) meaning “the hotel”; το λεωφορείο (to leoforío) meaning “the bus.”

-ι      Examples: το σπίτι (to spíti) meaning “the house”; το κουτί (to kutí) meaning “the box”; το πουλί (to pulí) meaning “the bird.”

-α      Examples: το πρόβλημα (to próvlima) meaning “the problem”; το μάθημα (to máthima) meaning “the lesson”; το θέμα (to théma) meaning “the subject.”

-ιμο      Examples: το φταίξιμο (to ftéximo) meaning “the fault”; το πλύσιμο (to plísimo) meaning “the washing.”

Major Exception:
There are some neuter nouns ending in -υ, which are the following:

• βράδυ (vrádi) — “night”
• στάχυ (stáhi) — “ear; the plant”
• δόρυ (dóri) — “spear”
• οξύ (oxí) — “acid”
• δίχτυ (díhti) — “net”
• δάκρυ (dákri) — “tear”

For more information on how to tell the gender of a noun, check out this video lesson.

4. Memorizing the Gender of a Noun in Greek

As you might have noticed, the -ος (-os) ending is found in nouns of all three genders, so it’s difficult to guess the gender by the ending. In this case, you should try to find another nearby word, preferably an article, which indicates the gender of the noun.

But what if there’s no indication of the noun’s gender around? Then, you can check if the noun is stressed on its last syllable; if it is, you can at least be sure that it’s not a neutral noun.

Another tricky part of the Greek language gender rules which confuses a lot of learners is the fact that there are many nouns that end with -ος (-os), which can be either masculine or feminine. Those usually indicate a profession, such as ο/η γιατρός (o/i yatrós) meaning “doctor” or ο/η δικηγόρος (o/i dikigóros) meaning “lawyer.”

It’s easy to guess the gender of some Greek nouns that refer directly to a specific sex, like the words μητέρα or μπαμπάς, because they follow their sex. But that’s not always the case. For example, το αγόρι (to agóri) meaning “the boy” is not a masculine noun; it’s neuter!

The best thing you can do to memorize the gender of a noun in Greek is to learn the noun in its dictionary form together with its article. For example, the word γάλα (gála) meaning “milk” which ends in -α could give the impression that it’s feminine—but it’s neuter. So memorizing it as το γάλα (to gála) instead could help you avoid that confusion.

5. Gender Variations for Adjectives

Adjectives can vary depending on the gender of the noun they define. Each adjective changes its ending in a different manner.

Let’s have a look at some examples below.

Normally, when the male adjective ends in -ος, then the feminine ending will be -η and the neuter ending will be -ο.

– καλ-ός / καλ-ή / καλ-ό

• Greek: Αυτός o δάσκαλος είναι πολύ καλός.
• Romanization: Aftós o dáskalos íne polí kalós.
• Translation: “This (masculine) teacher is very good.”
• Greek: Αυτή ή δασκάλα είναι πολύ καλή.
• Romanization: Aftí i daskála íne polí kalí.
• Translation: “This (feminine) teacher is very good.”
• Greek: Αυτό το παιδί είναι πολύ καλό.
• Romanization: Aftó to pedí íne polí kaló.
• Translation: “This kid is very good.”

In the same manner, indicatively, the following adjectives change their ending when referring to masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns:

ελεύθερος (eléftheros) — “free”
άρρωστος (árrostos) — “sick”
όμορφος (ómorfos) — “good-looking”
άσχημος (áschimos) — “ugly”
έξυπνος (éxipnos) — “smart”

Another common category of adjectives includes masculine adjectives ending in -ος, changing the feminine to -α and the neuter to -ο.

– άδει-ος / άδει-α / άδει-ο

• Greek: Ο χώρος ήταν άδειος.
• Romanization: O hóros ítan ádios.
• Translation: “The space was empty.”
• Greek: Η αίθουσα ήταν άδεια.
• Romanization: I éthusa ítan ádia.
• Translation: “The classroom was empty.”
• Greek: Το κουτί ήταν άδειο.
• Romanization: To kutí ítan ádio.
• Translation: “The box was empty.”

In the same manner, indicatively, the following adjectives change their ending when referring to masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns:

ωραίος (oréos) — “nice”
άγριος (ágrios) — “wild”
γαλάζιος (galázios) — “light blue”
γελοίος (yelíos) — “ridiculous”
αιώνιος (eónios) — “eternal”

Another category of adjectives affected by the gender of the noun is as follows:

– βαθ-ύς / βαθ-ιά / βαθ-ύ

• Greek: Ο βαθύς ποταμός.
• Romanization: O vathís potamós.
• Translation: “The deep river”
• Greek: Η βαθιά λίμνη.
• Romanization: I vathiá límni.
• Translation: “The deep lake”
• Greek: Το βαθύ πηγάδι.
• Romanization: To vathí pigádi.
• Translation: “The deep water well”

In the same manner, the following adjectives change their endings when defining masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns:

ελαφρύς (elafrís) — “light”
βαρύς (varís) — “heavy”
μακρύς (makrís) — “long”
πλατύς (platís) — “wide”
παχύς (pahís) — “thick”

If you’re interested in learning more about Greek adjectives, you’re in luck!

Just take a look at our article on the Top 100 Greek Adjectives. And if you feel like digging deeper into Greek grammar, check out lessons 13-17 of our Intermediate series.

6. Conclusion

Recognizing the gender of each noun in Greek isn’t easy. We get it. However, if you follow the above tips and tricks, you’ll be able to guess the gender of a noun or an adjective accurately in most cases. With experience, practice, and study, we’re sure you’ll soon become a master of Greek noun gender.

At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, which are waiting for you to discover them!

You can also upgrade to Premium Plus and take advantage of our MyTeacher program to learn Greek with your own personal teacher, who will answer any questions you might have!

In the meantime, is there a noun or adjective that troubles you? Let us know in the comments.

People in Greece might be welcoming, generous, and hospitable. However, they can also be pretty tense. A walk around Athens can resolve all your doubts. You’ll definitely encounter some people shouting at each other while driving, or even groups of teenagers arguing about their favorite artist.

This is a characteristic of almost all cultures around the Mediterranean Sea. Greek culture closely resembles those of the Italian and the Spanish. However, this phenomenon normally can’t be characterized as anger; it’s really just vivid talking. In this article, we’ll be going over the Greek word for anger, as well as how to express negative emotions in Greek.

Anger is an emotion that Greeks have tried to understand and explain since ancient times. The concept of anger is prominent in ancient Greek mythology, as the 12 Gods of Olympus showcased the same behavioral traits as the mortals. Indeed, they could be jealous, intimidated, and even angered—and believe me, you don’t want to see an angry Greek god!

When a thunderstorm hit, Greeks perceived it as an expression of Zeus’s anger. Within the same context, a storm at sea was believed to be the release of tension of Poseidon, the God of the Seas. As for earthquakes, there was the angry God Enceladus, one of the Giants, who made the Earth shiver due to his bad temper.

In the Homeric epics Iliad and Odyssey, anger is the reason for war and many other bad things that happen to the heroes. Since antiquity, it was believed that anger could make a man “blind” in the sense that he would be unable to think and act straight, thus leading to poor decision-making. One of Aristotle’s most-known quotes is:

“Anybody can become angry—that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.”

From ancient Greece until today, anger is always present in our lives.

→ For information on how to put other feelings into Greek words, check out our useful lesson on GreekPod101.com.

So, how is anger in modern Greek culture? Well, here’s the word for “anger” in Greek:

Greek: (o) θυμός
Romanization: thimós
Translation: “anger” (masculine)

This is a masculine noun, but there’s also a feminine noun that you can use for more intense anger:

Greek: (η) οργή
Romanization: oryí
Translation: “rage” (feminine)

In this article, we’ll demonstrate some of the most common angry Greek phrases and expressions. Nevertheless, we don’t encourage you to use them frequently, because who wants to be angry, after all?

Table of Contents

1. Angry Imperatives
2. Angry Warnings
3. Angry Blames
4. Describing How You Feel
5. How to Calm Someone Down
6. Conclusion

1. Angry Imperatives

Imperatives can be rude. So, while we don’t advise the use of the following phrases, it’s always good to know a thing or two—just in case. As you might notice, the phrases used are pretty similar to the English ones, which makes them easier to remember.

• Greek: Σκάσε!
• Romanization: Skáse!
• Translation: “Shut up!”
• Example Situation: When someone is talking constantly and you can’t stand it anymore.
• Additional Notes: This is an imperative form of the verb σκάω (skáo). This phrase is considered particularly rude and you should avoid using it.
• Greek: Άντε / Άι χάσου!
• Romanization: Áde / Ái hásu!
• Translation: “Get lost!”
• Example Situation: When someone has angered you so much that you can’t stand seeing him/her.
• Additional Notes: This is an imperative form of the verb χάνομαι (hánome), meaning “to get lost.” The first word, άντε, which is often used as άι, is an interjection and acts as a prompt meaning “go ahead” or “go on.” This is another phrase that should be avoided, as it’s considered pretty rude.

You’re probably wondering “Avoid this…avoid that…which phrase can I actually use when I’m angry?” Here are some milder examples of ways to express that you’re angry in Greek:

• Greek: Σταμάτα!
• Romanization: Stamáta!
• Translation: “Stop (it)!”
• Example Situation: When someone does something annoying.
• Additional Notes: This is an imperative form of the verb σταματάω / σταματώ (stamatáo / stamató), meaning “to stop.”
• Greek: Κόφ’ το!
• Romanization: Kóf’ to!
• Translation: “Cut it out!”
• Example Situation: When someone does something annoying.
• Additional Notes: The first word comes from the verb κόβω (kóvo), meaning “to cut,” which has been contracted before the pronoun το (to). το (to) means “it” and serves as an object here, due to a phonological phenomenon called apocope. Keep in mind that this is a slang expression, so it’s more suitable in casual situations.
• Greek: Παράτα με!
• Romanization: Paráta me!
• Translation: “Leave me alone!”
• Example Situation: When someone keeps talking to you or keeps doing something annoying.
• Additional Notes: This is an imperative form of the verb παρατάω / παρατώ (paratáo / parató), which means “abandon” / “quit” / “leave.” The word με is the weak form of the personal pronoun εμένα (eména), meaning “me” in the accusative.

→ Check out our lesson on making negative Greek commands for additional information on this topic!

2. Angry Warnings

Warning someone can be a good tactic to avoid becoming angry in the first place. These are some phrases you can use to make your point as clear as the Greek blue sky.

• Greek: Μην ανακατεύεσαι!
• Romanization: Min anakatévese!
• Translation: “Stay out of it!”
• Example Situation: When someone gets in the way or intervenes on a matter that doesn’t concern them.
• Greek: Δεν θέλω να σε ξαναδώ.
• Romanization: Den thélo na se xanadó.
• Translation: “I don’t want to see you again.”
• Example Situation: When you break up with someone.
• Greek: Μη με κάνεις να το ξαναπώ.
• Romanization: Mi me kánis na to xanapó.
• Translation: “Don’t make me say it again.”
• Example Situation: When you’ve said something over and over again, but the other individual doesn’t go along with it.
• Greek: Δεν θα το ανεχτώ!
• Romanization: Den tha to anehtó!
• Translation: “I won’t tolerate that!”
• Example Situation: When something happens that goes well and beyond your limits.

3. Angry Blames

We couldn’t leave angry blames out of this list. This is simply because the phrases below can be used to set your limits, express your anger about a situation that’s beyond your control, or make a point clear.

• Greek: Μα καλά, τι σκεφτόσουν;
• Romanization: Ma kalá, ti skeftósun?
• Translation: “What were you thinking?”
• Example Situation: When someone does something so stupid that you can’t even understand what led to this.
• Additional Notes: The phrase μα καλά literally means “But well.” However, its meaning here is different. It’s used as an exclamatory phrase to express surprise over something unthinkable.
• Greek: Εσύ φταις!
• Romanization: Esí ftés!
• Translation: “It’s your fault!”
• Example Situation: When someone does something bad.
• Greek: Ποιος νομίζεις πώς είσαι;
• Romanization: Pios nomízis pos íse?
• Translation: “Who do you think you are?”
• Example Situation: When someone acts in such a way that it suggests they think too highly of themselves.
• Greek: Αυτό που έκανες ήταν απαράδεκτο!
• Romanization: Aftó pu ékanes ítan aparádekto!
• Translation: “What you did was unacceptable!”
• Example Situation: When someone does something inappropriate.
• Greek: Είσαι τρελός / τρελή;
• Romanization: Íse trelós / trelí?
• Translation: “Are you crazy?”
• Example Situation: When someone does something crazy.
• Greek: Πας καλά;
• Romanization: Pas kalá?
• Translation: “Are you in your right mind?”
• Example Situation: When someone does something crazy and you think something is wrong with them. This expression literally means “Are you going well?” in the sense of “Are you functioning well (mentally)?”

→ Need more words and phrases? Check out our lesson on how to have an argument in Greek!

4. Describing How You Feel

Many people find it difficult to express their feelings. What you should keep in mind is that without expressing ourselves, others might misinterpret our actions or feelings. In many cases, being straightforward is a good move for avoiding anger. Here are some to-the-point phrases you can use to say “I am angry” in Greek, or to express other negative emotions:

• Greek: Είμαι πολύ θυμωμένος / θυμωμένη!
• Romanization: Íme polí thimoménos / thimoméni!
• Translation: “I am very angry!”
• Example Situation: When you’re very angry.
• Additional Notes: θυμωμένος is masculine and θυμωμένη is feminine.
• Greek: Έχω μπουχτίσει!
• Romanization: Ého buhtísi!
• Translation: “I am fed up!”
• Example Situation: When you feel like you can’t take it anymore.
• Additional Notes: The verb μπουχτίζω corresponds to the phrasal verb “feed up.”
• Greek: Ποτέ δεν έχω υπάρξει τόσο απογοητευμένος / απογοητευμένη.
• Romanization: Poté den ého ipárxi tóso apogoitevménos / apogoitevméni.
• Translation: “I’ve never been so disappointed.”
• Example Situation: When you feel deeply disappointed.
• Greek: Δεν μπορώ άλλο.
• Romanization: Den boró állo.
• Translation: “I can’t take it anymore.”
• Example Situation: When you feel you can’t take it anymore.

→ Learn the top 21 words for negative emotions with GreekPod101.com to better explain yourself.

5. How to Calm Someone Down

Calming someone down is not about charisma. It’s knowing what to say and when to say it. Here are some relevant examples of Greek phrases and expressions, which can be used for this purpose:

• Greek: Πάρε μια βαθιά ανάσα.
• Romanization: Páre mia vathiá anása.
• Translation: “Take a deep breath.”
• Example Situation: Trying to calm someone down who is very upset or in shock.
• Greek: Έλα, ηρέμησε.
• Romanization: Éla, irémise.
• Translation: “Come on, calm down.”
• Example Situation: Trying to calm someone down who is very upset.
• Greek: Πρέπει να προσπαθήσεις να ηρεμήσεις.
• Romanization: Prépi na prospathísis na iremísis.
• Translation: “You should try to calm down.”
• Example Situation: Suggesting to someone that being angry won’t do any good.

6. Conclusion

As the Greek historian Plutarch pointed out: “The characteristic of a wise man is the ability to avoid every conflict and anger.” This is indeed a wise move, although we understand that it can be difficult to stay calm in some situations.

That’s why we’ve outlined some of the most common Greek phrases and expressions related to anger—that feeling which can make you behave without thinking through all aspects of a situation.

In the end, our suggestion is the following: Every time you feel anger, just take a step back and breathe. Give it a second thought. Then, and only then, you can reach true wisdom.

However, if you feel the urge to speak, we’ve got you covered! At GreekPod101.com, we focus on practical learning, providing you with useful sentences, expressions, and word lists!

What do you do to calm down when angry?

Let us know in the comments!

Ever wondered how to say Happy Birthday in Greek?

Well, now you can easily learn all the useful Greek phrases about various life events, brought to you in this article by GreekPod101.com.

Learning—and using—the most popular Greek life event messages, such as Merry Christmas in Greek and Happy New Year in Greek, can be a nice surprise for your Greek friends.

Let’s have a look at the most appropriate ready-to-use Greek congratulations phrases you can use for each of the following occasions.

Table of Contents

1. Birthday
2. Pregnancy and Birth
3. Graduation
4. New Job or Promotion
5. Retirement
6. Wedding
7. Death or Funeral
8. Bad News
9. Illness or Injury
10. Holidays
11. New Beginnings within the Year
12. Acquiring Something New
13. Meals
14. Conclusion

1. Birthday

Greeks love birthdays and name-days. They often organize small feasts, during which all of their friends are gathered to celebrate. If you have a Greek friend, feel free to wish them a happy birthday in Greek by choosing one of the following Greek congratulations phrases.

Greek: Χρόνια πολλά!
Romanization: Hrónia polá!
Meaning: “Happy birthday!” / “Happy Name Day!” (Literally: [I wish you] many years [to live]!)

Greek: Και στα εκατό!
Romanization: Ke sta ekató!
Meaning: “(May you live) up to 100 years old!”

Greek: Να χαίρεσαι το όνομά σου!
Romanization: Na hérese to ónomá su!
Meaning: “Be happy for your name!”

Greek: Χρόνια πολλά, έστω και καθυστερημένα!
Romanization: Hrónia polá, ésto ke kathisteriména!
Meaning: “Happy belated birthday!” (Literally: Happy birthday, although belated!)

Greek: Να τα εκατοστήσεις!
Romanization: Na ta ekatostísis!
Meaning: “May you reach 100 years old!”

Greek: Να τα χιλιάσεις!
Romanization: Na ta hiliásis!
Meaning: “May you reach 1000 years old!”

Greek: Πολύχρονος (masculine) / Πολύχρονη (feminine)!
Romanization: Políhronos / Políhroni!
Meaning: “(May you be) long-lived!”

Greek: Ό,τι επιθυμείς!
Romanization: Ó,ti epithimís!
Meaning: “(May you get) everything you desire!”

2. Pregnancy and Birth

Bringing a new human to life has always been a major event in Greece. Friends and family are really happy and tend to send gifts to the happy couple. However, unlike in other countries, Greeks do not organize baby showers.

Greek: Να σας ζήσει!
Romanization: Na sas zísi!
Meaning: “(May your baby) live long!”

Greek: Γερό και καλότυχο να είναι!
Romanization: Yeró ke kalótiho na íne!
Meaning: “(May the baby) be healthy and fortunate!”

Οther popular wishes usually said to pregnant women are shown below.

Greek: Με έναν πόνο!
Romanization: Me énan póno!
Meaning: “(May the baby come out) with one pain!”

Greek: Με το καλό!
Romanization: Me to kaló!
Meaning: “(God willing) everything will be fine!”
Additional Note: This can be used in many social situations since it’s a very generic way to wish for a positive outcome.

Greek: Καλή λευτεριά!
Romanization: Kalí lefteriá!
Meaning: “(I wish you) good freedom!”
Additional Note: This is a way of wishing a woman relief after her pregnancy.

3. Graduation

Greece has one of the highest percentages of university graduates in Europe. Therefore, it’s common to celebrate one’s graduation from a university, usually with a big dinner with friends and family.

If you happen to have a friend who’s graduating, feel free to pick and use one of the following congratulations in Greek.

Greek: Συγχαρητήρια!
Romanization: Sinharitíria!
Meaning: “Congratulations!”

Greek: Και εις ανώτερα!
Romanization: Ke is anótera!
Meaning: “May you achieve greater things!”

Greek: Καλή πρόοδο!
Romanization: Kalí próodo!
Meaning: “(I wish you) good progress!”

All of the above phrases can be either formal or informal, and can be said or written in a card. In Greece, when a friend or a family member is graduating, it’s common to offer a present. It would be a nice surprise for your Greek friend to find some Greek wishes in the accompanying card!

4. New Job or Promotion

Getting a promotion is something that many people pursue, usually for many years. They deserve a happy wish, don’t they? You can choose and use one of the following.

Greek: Συγχαρητήρια για την προαγωγή σου!
Romanization: Sinharitíria ya tin proagoyí su!
Meaning: “Congratulations on your promotion!”

Greek: Σου εύχομαι καλή επιτυχία στη νέα σου θέση!
Romanization: Su éfhome kalí epitihía sti néa su thési!
Meaning: “I wish you good luck (lit. great success) on your new position!”

5. Retirement

Retirement for some is the ultimate dream. Getting old isn’t pleasant. You get tired easier, and after so many years of work, retirement seems awesome.

Here’s an appropriate wish you can use when someone you know is retiring.

Greek: Τις καλύτερες ευχές μου για το νέο κεφάλαιο της ζωής σου!
Romanization: Tis kalíteres efhés mu ya to néo kefáleo tis zoís su!
Meaning: “Best wishes on your new chapter in life!”

6. Wedding

Well, marriage is a big party, isn’t it? This is exactly what happens in Greece. The newlyweds normally organize a big feast after their marriage to celebrate their happiness with friends and family.

But what do you say at a Greek wedding? Below, you can find a wide variety of Greek wedding congratulations you can say to the happy couple!

Greek: Να ζήσετε!
Romanization: Na zísete!
Meaning: “(May you) live long!”

Greek: Βίον ανθόσπαρτον!
Romanization: Víon anthósparton!
Meaning: “(May your) life be full of flowers!”

Greek: Καλούς απογόνους!
Romanization: Kalús apogónus!
Meaning: “(May you have) good offspring!”

Greek: Η ώρα η καλή!
Romanization: I óra i kalí!
Meaning: “May the time of your marriage be good!”
Additional Note: This is said to the couple before getting married.

Greek: Και στα δικά σου!
Romanization: Ke sta diká su!
Meaning: “May you get married as well!”
Additional Note: This is said to the single people attending a wedding.

When the wedding party is over (or any other social gathering, really), the following expression is a very common thing for a host to say to his guests when they’re leaving:

Greek: Να πας (informal) / πάτε (formal, plural) στο καλό!
Romanization: Na pas / páte sto kaló!
Meaning: “Farewell!”
Additional Note: This is said to wish someone well when parting.

7. Death or Funeral

A funeral in Greece comes with great grievance and it’s considered to be a major social event. Normally, funerals are organized in churches, since most Greeks are Orthodox Christians. If you need to express your condolences, you can select one of the following Greek funeral condolences.

Greek: Θεός ‘σχωρέστον! (masculine) / Θεός ‘σχωρέστην! (feminine)
Romanization: Theós ‘schoréston! / Theós ‘schoréstin!
Meaning: “May God forgive him / her!”

Greek: Ζωή σε εσάς! / Ζωή σε λόγου σας!
Romanization: Zoí se esás! / Zoí se lógu sas!
Meaning: “(May you) live long!”
Additional Note: This refers to the family of the deceased.

Greek: Να ζήσετε να τον / τη θυμάστε!
Romanization: Na zísete na ton / ti thimáste!
Meaning: “(May you) live long in order to remember him / her!”
Additional Note: This also refers to the family of the deceased.

Greek: (Τα) συλλυπητήριά (μου)!
Romanization: (Ta) silipitíriá (mu)!
Meaning: “(My) condolences!”

8. Bad News

Show your Greek friends that you care by using the following ready-to-use Greek condolences messages.

Greek: Λυπάμαι πολύ!
Romanization: Lipáme polí!
Meaning: “I am deeply sorry!”

Greek: Λυπάμαι πολύ για αυτό που συνέβη!
Romanization: Lipáme polí ya aftó pu sinévi!
Meaning: “I am deeply sorry for what happened!”

9. Illness or Injury

In the unfortunate event of an injury or an illness, it’s considered kind to express your sympathy. You can easily do so with the following Greek phrases.

Greek: Περαστικά!
Romanization: Perastiká!
Meaning: “Get well soon!”

Greek: Καλή ανάρρωση!
Romanization: Kalí anárosi!
Meaning: “Have a good recovery!”

Greek: Σιδερένιος! (masculine) / Σιδερένια! (feminine)
Romanization: Siderénios! / Siderénia!
Meaning: “(Be) tough as iron (from now on)!”
Additional Note: This is usually said after a surgery or serious injury.

Greek: Να προσέχεις!
Romanization: Na proséhis!
Meaning: “Take care!”

10. Holidays

Holidays are all about kindness and gratitude. What do you write in a Greek Christmas card? How do you express good wishes for the holidays?

Here you can find the most popular holiday wishes, such as Merry Christmas in Greek or Happy New Year in Greek.

Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
Romanization: Kalá Hristúyena!
Meaning: “Merry Christmas!”

Greek: Καλή χρονιά!
Romanization: Kalí hroniá!
Meaning: “Happy New Year!”

Greek: Ευτυχισμένο το 2020!
Romanization: Eftihizméno to dío hiliádes íkosi!
Meaning: “Happy 2020!”

Greek: Καλή Πρωταπριλιά!
Romanization: Kalí Protapriliá!
Meaning: “Happy April Fool’s Day!”

Greek: Καλό Πάσχα!
Romanization: Kaló Páscha!
Meaning: “Happy Easter!”

11. New Beginnings within the Year

Interestingly, Greeks tend to exchange wishes, even for minor events, like the beginning of a new month, or even the beginning of a new week. Have a look at the relevant phrases below.

Greek: Καλό μήνα!
Romanization: Kaló mína!
Meaning: “Have a good month!”

Greek: Καλή εβδομάδα!
Romanization: Kalí evdomáda!
Meaning: “Have a good week!”

Greek: Καλό Σαββατοκύριακο!
Romanization: Kaló Savatokíriako!
Meaning: “Have a good weekend!”

12. Acquiring Something New

When a friend opens a new shop, or when they acquire something new, such as clothes, shoes, or even when they get a haircut, you might want to wish them the best. Here are some useful phrases for these situations.

Greek: Καλές δουλειές!
Romanization: Kalés duliés!
Meaning: “(May you have) good business!”
Additional Note: This can be said when attending the opening of a shop.

Greek: Με γεια!
Romanization: Me ya!
Meaning: “With health!”
Additional Note: This refers to a new acquisition, and is a wish for it to last. It’s a common expression for a new haircut or object.

Greek: Καλορίζικο!
Romanization: Kaloríziko!
Meaning: “I wish you to enjoy your new acquisition with good luck!”
Additional Note: This is often said when buying a house or opening up a store.

Greek: Καλοτάξιδο!
Romanization: Kalotáxido!
Meaning: “May it travel well!”
Additional Note: This is often said when getting a new car, boat, motorcycle, etc.).

13. Meals

One of the most common occasions is having dinner with some friends. Ever wondered how to say “cheers” in Greek? Read below to find out.

Greek: Γεια μας!
Romanization: Ya mas!
Meaning: “Cheers!”

Greek: Άσπρο πάτο!
Romanization: Áspro páto!
Meaning: “Bottoms up!”

Greek: Γούρι!
Romanization: Gúri!
Meaning: “(That’s) good luck!”
Additional Note: This is usually said when someone spills some of their drink.

Greek: Θα καλοπαντρευτείς!
Romanization: Tha kalopandreftís!
Meaning: “You will have a fortunate marriage!”
Additional Note: This is usually said to someone when pouring the last drops of wine from a bottle or carafe into his or her glass.

Greek: Καλή όρεξη!
Romanization: Kalí óreksi!
Meaning: “Enjoy your meal!” (Literally: Bon appétit!)

14. Conclusion

Interested in getting to know more useful Greek phrases? Join us at GreekPod101.com!

It’s important to know most wishes in Greek language learning, as they’re an integral part of the Greek language. Many people use them when both speaking and writing.

As demonstrated in this article, most of these phrases are closely related to various historical or cultural aspects of the Greek lifestyle. By learning them, you’re more likely to avoid any potential misunderstandings, and you’ll sound like a native Greek speaker.

At GreekPod101.com, we can help you learn the Greek language beyond the basics in an interesting, motivating, and fun way. Articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, are waiting for you to discover them!

It’s easy, too! Start your free lifetime account today.

In the meantime, reader, let us know which of these life event messages you plan on trying out first! Good wishes for a relative’s wedding? Telling your Greek friend happy birthday in Greek? Let us know in the comments!

Adjectives are essential to every Greek learner, since they can describe the features and attributes of everything around us. In this blog post, GreekPod101.com aims to present you with a full list of all the basic adjectives you can use, in order to accurately describe all the objects or people that surround you.

When it comes to adjectives in Greek grammar, there are many suffixes that Greek adjectives may have depending on the gender of the noun they define. Usually, the Greek adjectives’ endings are:

• -ς or -ων if they are masculine
• -η / -α / -ού if they are feminine
• -ο / -ί / -ύ / -ες / -ον if they are neuter

This is a generic rule for how to conjugate Greek adjectives, although there can be some exceptions. For example, adjectives that are common for the masculine and feminine gender, such as the ones ending in -ης or -ων.

From a syntax perspective (Greek adjective placement), adjectives in Greek are usually placed before the noun they describe, like in English. They can also follow the noun in some cases. However, that’s less common, and they need to be preceded by the definite article in such cases.

Now that we have the basics out of the way, we can start to learn Greek adjectives and move on to our modern Greek adjectives list!

Table of Contents

1. Describing Dimensions, Sizes, Weight & Distance
2. Describing Value
3. Describing Feeling & Sense
4. Describing Personality Traits & Human Behavior
5. Describing Speed, Difficulty & Importance
6. Describing Colors
7. Describing Shapes & Textures
8. Describing the Weather
9. Describing Taste
10. Describing a Situation
11. Describing a Physical Trait or a Physical Condition
12. Describing Appearance or Condition
13. Conclusion

1. Describing Dimensions, Sizes, Weight & Distance

Let’s start with the most common Greek adjectives: those that describe things like dimensions and distance!

• μεγάλος (megálos) – “big”
• μικρός (mikrós) – “small”

Example:
Greek: Αυτό είναι ένα μεγάλο / μικρό κουτί.
Romanization: Aftó íne éna megálo / mikró kutí.
Meaning: “This is a big / small box.”

• φαρδύς (fardís) – “wide”
• στενός (stenós) – “narrow”

Example:
Greek: Ο δρόμος είναι φαρδύς / στενός.
Romanization: O drómos íne fardís / stenós.
Meaning: “The road is wide / narrow.”

• ψηλός (psilós) – “tall”
• κοντός (kondós) – “short”

Example:
Greek: Αυτό είναι ένα ψηλό / κοντό δέντρο.
Romanization: Aftó íne éna psiló / kondó dédro.
Meaning: “This is a tall / short tree.”

• βαρύς (varís) – “heavy”
• ελαφρύς (elafrís) – “light”

Example:
Greek: Η καρέκλα είναι βαριά / ελαφριά.
Romanization: I karékla íne variá / elafriá.
Meaning: “The chair is heavy / light.”

• κοντινός (kondinós) – “close”
• μακρινός (makrinós) – “far”

Example:
Greek: Η Ελλάδα είναι ένας κοντινός / μακρινός προορισμός.
Romanization: I Eláda íne énas kondinós / makrinós proorizmós.
Meaning: “Greece is a close / far away destination.”

2. Describing Value

• καλός (kalós) – “good”
• κακός (kakós) – “bad”
• εξαιρετικός (exeretikós) – “exceptional”
• απαίσιος (apésios) – “awful”
• μέτριος (métrios) – “mediocre”

Example:
Greek: Αυτό το εστιατόριο είναι καλό / κακό / εξαιρετικό / απαίσιο / μέτριο.
Romanization: Aftó to estiatório íne kaló / kakó / ekseretikó / apésio / métrio.
Meaning: “This restaurant is good / bad / exceptional / awful / mediocre.”

3. Describing Feeling & Sense

• κρύος (kríos) – “cold”
• ζεστός (zestós) – “warm”
• καυτός (kaftós) – “hot”
• παγωμένος (pagoménos) – “frozen”

Example:
Greek: Ο καφές μου είναι κρύος / ζεστός / καυτός / παγωμένος.
Romanization: O kafés mu íne kríos / zestós / kaftós / pagoménos.
Meaning: “My coffee is cold / warm / hot / frozen.”

• μαλακός (malakós) – “soft”
• σκληρός (sklirós) – “hard”

Example:
Greek: Το ψωμί είναι μαλακό / σκληρό.
Romanization: To psomí íne malakó / skliró.
Meaning: “The bread is soft / hard.”

• ανώδυνος (anódinos) – “painless”
• επώδυνος (epódinos) – “painful”

Example:
Greek: Αυτή η επέμβαση είναι ανώδυνη / επώδυνη.
Romanization: Aftí i epémvasi íne anódini / epódini.
Meaning: “This procedure is painful / painless.”

4. Describing Personality Traits & Human Behavior

Positive Traits

• καλός (kalós) – “good”
• ευγενικός (evyenikós) – “kind”
• φιλικός (filikós) – “friendly”
• χαρούμενος (harúmenos) – “happy”
• αστείος (astíos) – “funny”

Example:
Greek: Η γυναίκα του είναι καλή / ευγενική / φιλική / χαρούμενη / αστεία.
Romanization: Ι ginéka tu íne kalí / evyenikí / filikí / harúmeni / astía.
Meaning: “His wife is good / kind / friendly / happy / funny.”

Negative Traits

• κακός (kakós) – “bad”
• θυμωμένος (thimoménos) – “angry”
• αγενής (ayenís) – “rude”
• μοναχικός (monahikós) – “lonely”
• οξύθυμος (oxíthimos) – “irritable”

Example:
Greek: Ο αδερφός της είναι κακός / θυμωμένος / αγενής / μοναχικός / οξύθυμος.
Romanization: O aderfós tis íne kakós / thimoménos / ayenís / monahikós / oxíthimos.
Meaning: “Her brother is bad / angry / rude / lonely / irritable.”

5. Describing Speed, Difficulty & Importance

• γρήγορος (grígoros) – “fast”
• αργός (argós) – “slow”

Example:
Greek: Το καινούριο του αυτοκίνητο είναι γρήγορο / αργό.
Romanization: To kenúrio tu aftokínito íne grígoro / argó.
Meaning: “His new car is fast / slow.”

• εύκολος (éfkolos) – “easy”
• δύσκολος (dískolos) – “difficult”
• σημαντικός (simandikós) – “important”
• ασήμαντος (asímandos) – “unimportant”
• ακατόρθωτος (akatórthotos) – “impossible”

Example:
Greek: Η εργασία ήταν εύκολη / δύσκολη / σημαντική / ασήμαντη / ακατόρθωτη.
Romanization: I ergasía ítan éfkoli / dískoli / simandikí / asímandi / akatórthoti.
Meaning: “The assignment was easy / difficult / important / unimportant / impossible.”

6. Describing Colors

• κόκκινο (kókino) – “red”
• μπλε (ble) – “blue”
• πράσινο (prásino) – “green”
• κίτρινο (kítrino) – “yellow”
• καφέ (kafé) – “brown”
• μαύρο (mávro) – “black”
• άσπρο (áspro) – “white”
• πορτοκαλί (portokalí) – “orange”
• ροζ (roz) – “pink”
• γκρι (gri) – “gray”
• μωβ (mov) – “purple”
• ασημί (asimí) – “silver”
• χρυσό (hrisó) – “golden”

The adjectives below are either used independently or in combination with one of the colors above.

• σκούρο (skúro) – “dark”
• ανοιχτό (anihtó) – “light”
• έντονο (éndono) – “vivid”

Example:
Greek: Το τριαντάφυλλο είναι σκούρο κόκκινο και τα φύλλα του είναι έντονο πράσινο.
Romanization: To triandáfilo íne skúro kókino ke ta fíla tu íne éndono prásino.
Meaning: “The rose is dark red and its leaves are vivid green.”

7. Describing Shapes & Textures

• κυκλικό (kiklikó) – “round”
• κυλινδρικό (kilindrikó) – “cylindrical”
• τετραγωνισμένο (tetragonizméno) – “square”
• κοφτερό (kofteró) – “edgy” / “sharp”
• τραχύς (trahís) – “rough”

Example:
Greek: Το τραπέζι στην αυλή είναι κυκλικό / κυλινδρικό / τετραγωνισμένο / κοφτερό / τραχύ.
Romanization: To trapézi stin avlí íne kiklikó / kilindrikó / tetragonizméno / kofteró / trahí.
Meaning: “The table in the yard is round / cylindrical / square / edgy / rough.”

8. Describing the Weather

• ηλιόλουστος (iliólustos) – “sunny”
• βροχερός (vroherós) – “rainy”
• συννεφιασμένος (sinefiazménos) – “cloudy”
• ζεστός (zestós) – “warm”
• κρύος (kríos) – “cold”
• άστατος (ástatos) – “fickle”
• ήπιος (ípios) – “mild”

Example:
Greek: Ο καιρός σήμερα είναι ηλιόλουστος / βροχερός / συννεφιασμένος / ζεστός / κρύος / άστατος / ήπιος.
Romanization: O kerós símera íne iliólustos / vroherós / sinefiazménos / zestós / kríos / ástatos / ípios.
Meaning: “The weather today is sunny / rainy / cloudy / warm / cold / fickle / mild.”

The weather in Greece is typically temperate, with warm to hot summers and mild winters. Talking about the weather is a great conversation starter. You can learn every little detail about describing the weather in Greek in our relevant blog post.

9. Describing Taste

• γλυκό (glikó) – “sweet”
• αλμυρό (almiró) – “salty”
• ξινό (xinó) – “sour”
• πικρό (pikró) – “bitter”
• καυτερό (kafteró) – “spicy”
• νόστιμο (nóstimo) – “tasty”
• τραγανό (traganó) – “crispy”
• ανάλατο (análato) – “unsalted”

Example:
Greek: Το φαγητό είναι γλυκό / αλμυρό / ξινό / πικρό / καυτερό / νόστιμο / τραγανό / ανάλατο.
Romanization: To fayitó íne glikó / almiró / ksinó / pikró / kafteró / nóstimo / traganó / análato.
Meaning: “The food is sweet / salty / sour / bitter / spicy / tasty / crispy / unsalted.”

10. Describing a Situation

• επικίνδυνο (epikíndino) – “dangerous”
• ακίνδυνο (akíndino) – “safe” / “harmless”
• βαρετό (varetó) – “boring”
• διασκεδαστικό (diaskedastikó) – “fun” / “entertaining”
• ασφαλές (asfalés) – “safe”

Example:
Greek: Αυτό το ταξίδι είναι επικίνδυνο / ακίνδυνο / βαρετό / διασκεδαστικό / ασφαλές.
Romanization: Aftó to taxídi íne epikíndino / akíndino / varetó / diaskedastikó / asfalés.
Meaning: “This trip is dangerous / safe / boring / fun / safe.”

11. Describing a Physical Trait or a Physical Condition

• νέος (néos) – “new” / “young” for people
• ηλικιωμένος (ilikioménos) – “old” for people

Example:
Greek: Ο εγγονός είναι νέος, ενώ ο παππούς είναι ηλικιωμένος.
Romanization: O engonós íne néos, enó o papús íne ilikioménos.
Meaning: “The grandchild is young, while the grandfather is old.”

• καινούργιος (kenúrios) – “new” for objects
• παλιός (paliós) – “old” for objects

Example:
Greek: Αυτό το βιβλίο είναι καινούργιο / παλιό.
Romanization: Aftó to vivlío íne kenúrio / palió.
Meaning: “This book is new / old.”

• γέρικος (gérikos) – “old” for animals

Example:
Greek: Το άλογο ήταν γέρικο και περπατούσε με δυσκολία.
Romanization: To álogo ítan yériko ke perpatúse me diskolía.
Meaning: “The horse was old and could barely walk.”

• δυνατός (dinatós) – “strong”
• αδύναμος (adínamos) – “weak”

Example:
Greek: Ο φίλος μου είναι πολύ δυνατός / αδύναμος.
Romanization: O fílos mu íne polí dinatós / adínamos.
Meaning: “My friend is very strong / weak.”

• υγιής (iyiís) – “healthy”
• άρρωστος (árostos) – “sick”

Example:
Greek: Ο σκύλος μου είναι υγιής / άρρωστος.
Romanization: O skílos mu íne iyiís / árrostos.
Meaning: “My dog is healthy / sick.”

12. Describing Appearance or Condition

• όμορφος (ómorfos) – “handsome”
• γοητευτικός (goiteftikós) – “charming”
• χαριτωμένος (haritoménos) – “pretty” / “cute”
• χοντρός (hondrós) – “fat”
• αδύνατος (adínatos) – “slim” / “thin”
• φτωχός (ftohós) – “poor”
• πλούσιος (plúsios) – “rich”
• γυμνασμένος (gimnazménos) – “trained”
• αγύμναστος (ayímnastos) – “untrained”
• μυώδης (miódis) – “muscular”

Example:
Greek: Ο σύντροφός της είναι όμορφος / γοητευτικός / χαριτωμένος / χοντρός / αδύνατος / φτωχός / πλούσιος / γυμνασμένος / αγύμναστος / μυώδης.
Romanization: O síntrofos tis íne ómorfos goiteftikós / haritoménos / hondrós / adínatos / ftohós / plúsios / gimnazménos / agímnastos / miódis.
Meaning: “Her boyfriend is handsome / charming / cute / fat / thin / poor / rich / trained / untrained / muscular.”

13. Conclusion

Learning how to describe features, attributes, and personality traits is essential when learning a new language. Definitely, Greek grammar complicates things, since adjectives are adjusted according to the gender, number, and case of the noun they refer to. However, the general rule demonstrated at the beginning of this article will help you tell the gender of an adjective most of the time.

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In the meantime, can you think of another adjective not included in this list? Let us know in the comments and we’ll surely inform you about its Greek equivalent!

Netflix has been a huge hit over the past few years, offering a wide range of movies and TV shows. In this blog post, we’ll present you with some Greek mythology and Greek culture-related movies and TV series, which you can watch on Netflix.

Watching Greek-related movies and TV series can enhance your knowledge of Greek culture, which is really important when seeking to master the language. Getting in touch with the ancient Greek religion and the modern culture will definitely help you digest the Greek language more easily.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many of them available on Netflix, but with its rapid expansion, new content is added all the time.

So, let’s have a look at the Greek-related movies and TV series that are available on Netflix! Consider this our Greek Netflix guide!

Table of Contents

1. Troy (2004)
2. Troy: Fall of a City ( TV series 2018 )
3. Clash of the Titans (2010)
4. Spartacus (2010-2013)
5. Hercules (1997)
6. Πρόμαχος (Prómahos) (2014)
7. Greek Mythology Facts
8. Conclusion

1. Troy (2004)

Troy is a famous 2004 movie, which can also be found on Netflix under its Greek name Τροία (Tría).

This is an epic period film based on Homer’s masterpiece, Iliad, and is one of the most popular Greek Netflix movies. Its cast is superb, with Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom starring in this adventure.

The film focuses on the invasion of the Greek United Forces in the city of Troy, due to the taking of Helen, who was the wife of Menelaos—the king of Mycenaean Sparta.

One of the characteristic quotes from this movie is presented below.

Hector: “All my life I’ve lived by a code and the code is simple: honor the gods, love your woman, and defend your country. Troy is mother to us all. Fight for her!”

2. Troy: Fall of a City ( TV series, 2018 )

If you feel like digging into the story of the mythical Trojan War a little bit more, this series might be exactly what you’re looking for.

You can also find it under its Greek name: Τροία: Η πτώση μιας πόλης (Tría: I ptósi mias pólis).

This TV series is based on the same story as the movie Troy (2004), but is far more detailed. When it comes to Greek history, Netflix shows like this one are great material.

3. Clash of the Titans (2010)

Want to learn about Greek mythology on Netflix? This movie is all about Greek mythology, as Titans were worshipped as part of the ancient Greek religion.

The plot wraps around Perseus, a demigod who is a son of Zeus, and his battle against the minions of the underworld. He aims to stop them from conquering the Heaven and Earth.

The casting of this Greek mythology Netflix film is highly respectable as it consists of Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes.

One of the most iconic quotes of this movie is the moment when Zeus screams: “Release the Kraken!”

4. Spartacus (2010-2013)

Spartacus, or Σπάρτακος (Spártakos) in Greek, is one of the most popular TV series of its genre. However, it’s not genuinely Greek, as it takes place in the ancient Roman Empire.

You’re probably wondering what its connection is with Greek culture. First and foremost, Greece at some point became part of the Roman Empire and the Romans left a significant impact on ancient Greek culture. Secondly, this is the story of a Greek gladiator from the Thrace region, who lead a rebellion against the Romans.

One of the most characteristic dialogue lines of the series is presented below:

Spartacus: “Is this my destiny? Blood and death?”
Sura: “You have always been destined for unfortunate things.”

5. Hercules (1997)

Who hasn’t watched the all-time classic Hercules?

This is one of the most popular Disney animation movies of the 90s, and it focuses on the ancient Greek myth of Hercules.

According to the myth, Hercules was a demigod, a son of Zeus. This joyful animated movie wraps around Hercules’ adventures and his constant battle against Hades, who wants to destroy Hercules and all the Olympian Gods.

The main story of this movie is represented by this quote:

Zeus: “For a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.”

6. Πρόμαχος (Prómahos) (2014)

This Greek drama Netflix movie focuses on the struggle of two Greek attorneys, who pursue the return of the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from England.

Interestingly, the name of the movie Πρόμαχος (Prómahos), refers to a bronze statue of Athena Promachos, which used to guard the entrance of Parthenon. This is presented as an allegory for the persistence of the two attorneys, who try to guard the Greek culture by returning the Marbles to their home.

7. Greek Mythology Facts

Most of the Netflix Greek mythology movies include the main Greek mythological characters, widely known as the Twelve Olympian Gods. In order to understand these movies even better, let’s take a look at a short presentation of each Greek mythology god, below.

• Δίας (Días) — Zeus
  Zeus is the king of the gods, husband and brother to Hera, and famous for his love affairs. He’s the child of the titans Cronus and Rhea. His symbol is the thunderbolt, and he’s considered to be the most powerful god amongst the Olympians.
• Ήρα (Íra) — Hera
  Hera is the wife of Zeus and therefore the queen of the Olympian Gods. She’s the goddess of marriage and protector of the family. As mentioned above, she is not only the wife of Zeus, but also his sister. Due to the erratic love life of Zeus, Hera is often presented as jealous and vengeful.
• Ποσειδώνας (Posidónas) — Poseidon
  Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and Hera and protector of the seas. His symbol is often the trident, whereas he is often also considered responsible for any natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.
• Δήμητρα (Dímitra) — Demeter
  Demeter is the goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility. She is a sister and a lover of Zeus and Poseidon. Her symbol is often the poppy or the wheat.
• Αθηνά (Athiná) — Athena
  Athena is a daughter of Zeus, and as the myth describes, she emerged from her father’s head. She is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, and is always wearing full battle armor.
• Απόλλωνας (Apólonas) — Apollo
  Apollo is a son of Zeus and the twin brother of Artemis. He is the god of light, inspiration, and the arts. His symbol is the sun.
• Άρτεμις (Ártemis) — Artemis
  Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the hunt. Her symbol is often a deer or an arch.
• Άρης (Áris) — Ares
  Ares is a legitimate child of Zeus and Hera. He is the god of war and violence. His symbol is often a boar or a spear.
• Αφροδίτη (Aphrodíti) — Aphrodite
  Aphrodite is also a child of Zeus and is a famous goddess of love and beauty. She is married to Hephaestus, though she also had numerous love affairs. In addition, her presence is strong among Roman gods, as she is referred to as Venus.
• Ήφαιστος (Ífestos) — Hephaestus
  Hephaestus is the favorite son of Hera and is widely known as the god of craftsmanship. He is the master blacksmith of the gods, after all.
• Ερμής (Ermís) — Hermes
  Hermes is another son of Zeus, with the nymph Maia. He is the messenger of the gods and is always wearing his winged sandals, which allow him to fly. He is the god of travel, commerce, and communications.
• Διόνυσος (Diónisos) — Dionysus
  Dionysus is a son of Zeus with Semele. He is the god of wine, festivity, and theatre. In ancient Greece, many festivals were organized in his name.

8. Conclusion

They say that you can’t completely understand a language until you get to learn about the culture behind it. By watching movies related to Greek mythology and history, you can achieve exactly that!

Movies allow you to see how people live in Greece now, as well as in the past. Indeed, this might be the most magical part of learning—understanding a new way of life, including customs and cultural characteristics. When it comes to many aspects of Greek life, Netflix movies like the ones above can be a useful learning tool!

Take a step closer to your language-learning goals today.

GreekPod101.com is here to help!

Take a look at our Greek Movies blog post, as well as our Greek TV Shows article, and take a step further toward mastering Greek in a fun and entertaining way.

At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, which are waiting for you to discover them!

Are you a fan of Greek mythology Netflix movies? If you’ve watched any of the aforementioned movies, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. 😉

Linking words are the salt and pepper of every language. Especially in Greek, conjunctions and linking words can be found in almost every sentence.

However, what exactly is a conjunction?

Conjunctions are simply perceived as linking words that aim to connect phrases, actions, or even whole secondary sentences. Each conjunction, however, gives a different meaning to the whole sentence. So, there are different conjunctions to express cause, the time sequence of actions, or even certain conditions.

Good news! This is a pretty easy chapter of the Greek language. So, by studying some examples, you’ll be able to master modern Greek conjunctions.

In this article, we’ll present you with the most popular conjunctions in Greek. This is basically the ultimate guide for learning Greek linking words, enhanced with useful everyday sentences and phrases for context.

Table of Contents

1. Greek Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts
2. Greek Conjunctions to Express Condition
3. Greek Conjunctions to Express Cause
4. Greek Conjunctions to Express Opposition
5. Greek Conjunctions to Express Purpose
6. Greek Conjunctions to Express the Time Sequence of Actions
7. Greek Conjunctions to Demonstrate Alternatives
8. How GreekPod101 Can Help You Master Greek Grammar

1. Greek Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts

1- και (ke) – “and”

Maybe the most popular, useful, and easy Greek conjunction is και (ke), meaning “and.” Its use is exactly the same as that of the English word “and.” So, let’s have a look at the example below.

• Greek: Θα ήθελα μία σαλάτα, μία μερίδα τζατζίκι και μία μπριζόλα.
• Romanization: Tha íthela mía saláta, mía merída jajíki ke mia brizóla.
• Translation: “I would like a salad, a serving of tzatziki, and a steak.”

Greek tzatziki is a popular sauce made of strained Greek yogurt, chopped garlic, and cucumber. It can be found in every Greek restaurant or taverna.

2. Greek Conjunctions to Express Condition

1- αν / εάν (an / eán) – “if”

• Greek: Αν / Εάν πάρετε το λεωφορείο, θα είστε εκεί σε 20 λεπτά.
• Romanization: An / Eán párete to leoforío, tha íste ekí se íkosi leptá.
• Translation: “If you take the bus, you will be there in 20 minutes.”

2- άμα (áma) – “if”

• Greek: Άμα πάρετε το μετρό, θα είστε εκεί σε 10 λεπτά.
• Romanization: Áma párete to metró, tha íste ekí se déka leptá.
• Translation: “If you take the metro, you will be there in 10 minutes.”

Both αν / εάν (An / Eán) and άμα (Áma) can have the same meaning and usage. However, it should be noted that άμα is a bit more informal than the other two.

3. Greek Conjunctions to Express Cause

1- γιατί (yatí) – “because”

• Greek: Θα αργήσει, γιατί το αεροπλάνο έχει καθυστέρηση.
• Romanization: Tha aryísi, yatí to aeropláno éhi kathistérisi.
• Translation: “She will be late, because the aeroplane has been delayed.”

2- επειδή (epidí) – “because”

• Greek: Θέλω να μάθω ελληνικούς χορούς, επειδή μου αρέσει να χορεύω.
• Romanization: Thélo na mátho elinikùs horùs, epidí mu arési na horévo.
• Translation: “I want to learn Greek dances, because I like to dance.”

Again, in this case, both γιατί (yatí) and επειδή (epidí) can be used interchangeably, with exactly the same meaning.

4. Greek Conjunctions to Express Opposition

Expressing opposition is usually achieved through two sentences, a main sentence and a secondary sentence. These two sentences are normally linked with the use of Greek conjunctions. Here are the most-used conjunctions in Greek for doing so.

1- αλλά (allá) – “but”

• Greek: Θα έρθω, αλλά θα αργήσω.
• Romanization: Tha értho, alá tha aryíso.
• Translation: “I will come, but I will be late.”

2- όμως (ómos) – “but” / “however”

• Greek: Έφερα καλοκαιρινά ρούχα, όμως κάνει κρύο.
• Romanization: Éfera kalokeriná rúha, ómos káni krío.
• Translation: “I brought summer clothes; however, it’s cold.”

3- ωστόσο (ostóso) – “but” / “nevertheless”

• Greek: Ο καιρός είναι καλός, ωστόσο κάνει λίγο κρύο.
• Romanization: O kerós íne kalós, ostóso káni lígo krío.
• Translation: “The weather is fine, but it’s a bit cold.”

All of the above conjunctions have the exact same meaning and usage. So, they can be used interchangeably in any of the demonstrated examples.

4- αν και (an ke) – “although”

• Greek: Σε ευχαριστώ για το δώρο, αν και δεν έπρεπε.
• Romanization: Se efharistó ya to dóro, an ke den éprepe.
• Translation: “Thank you for the present, although you didn’t have to (bring any).”

This is a common phrase, used in situations where people bring gifts. For example, it’s common for the host to say this when someone gives him a present for his birthday. Mainly, it’s considered polite to mention that bringing a gift is not mandatory.

5. Greek Conjunctions to Express Purpose

1- ώστε (óste) – “(so) that”

• Greek: Βάλε τις μπίρες στο ψυγείο, ώστε να παγώσουν.
• Romanization: Vále tis bíres sto psiyío, óste na pagósun.
• Translation: “Put the beers in the fridge, so that they can get chilly.”

2- έτσι ώστε (étsi óste) – “so that”

• Greek: Κλείσε τα αεροπορικά σου εισιτήρια νωρίς, έτσι ώστε να είναι πιο φθηνά.
• Romanization: Klíse ta aeroporiká su isitíria norís, étsi óste na íne pio fthiná.
• Translation: “Book your plane tickets early, so that they’ll be cheaper.”

Both ώστε (óste) and έτσι ώστε (étsi óste) have the same meaning and either one can be used to express purpose, as shown in the examples above.

3- για να (ya na) – “so as to”

• Greek: Έφυγε νωρίς από τη δουλειά, για να προλάβει το τελευταίο λεωφορείο.
• Romanization: Éfiye norís apó ti duliá, ya na prolávi to teleftéo leoforío.
• Translation: “She left work early, so as to catch the last bus.”

6. Greek Conjunctions to Express the Time Sequence of Actions

Expressing the sequence of actions is usually achieved through linking two sentences. The glue between these two sentences is, of course, conjunctions. In the following examples, you can learn how to lay out the sequence of various actions, through the use of linking words and phrases.

1- όταν (ótan) – “when”

• Greek: Πάρε με τηλέφωνο, όταν φτάσεις σπίτι.
• Romanization: Páre me tiléfono, ótan ftásis spíti.
• Translation: “Call me when you get home.”

2- ενώ (enó) – “while”

• Greek: Χτύπησε το τηλέφωνο, ενώ έκανε μπάνιο.
• Romanization: Htípise to tiléfono, enó ékane bánio.
• Translation: “The phone rang while she was taking a bath.”

3- καθώς (kathós) – “while”

• Greek: Καθώς περπατούσα, βρήκα ένα σκυλάκι.
• Romanization: Κathós perpatúsa, vríka éna skiláki.
• Translation: “While I was walking, I found a little doggy.”

At this point, we should note that both ενώ and καθώς have the exact same meaning and can be used in the same way in sentences.

4- αφού (afù) – “after”

• Greek: Το θυμήθηκα, αφού είχες φύγει.
• Romanization: To thimíthika, afú íhes fíyi.
• Translation: “I remembered it after you had left.”

5- πριν (prin) – “before”

• Greek: Πριν φύγω από την Ελλάδα, θα ήθελα να επισκεφτώ την Ακρόπολη.
• Romanization: Prin fígo apó tin Eláda, tha íthela na episkeftó tin Akrópoli.
• Translation: “Before I leave Greece, I would like to visit the Acropolis.”

6- μόλις (mólis) – “just (when)” / “as soon as”

• Greek: Μόλις έφτασα στο ξενοδοχείο, έκανα ένα μπάνιο.
• Romanization: Mólis éftasa sto xenodohío, ékana éna bánio.
• Translation: “As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I took a bath.”

7- ώσπου (óspu) – “until (when)” / “by the time”

• Greek: Ώσπου να έρθεις, θα έχω μαγειρέψει.
• Romanization: Óspu na érthis, tha ého mayirépsi.
• Translation: “By the time you come, I will have cooked.”

7. Greek Conjunctions to Demonstrate Alternatives

1- ή (i) – “or”

• Greek: Μπορείτε να διαλέξετε να φάτε μακαρόνια, σαλάτα ή μπριζόλα.
• Romanization: Boríte na dialéxete na fáte makarónia, saláta í brizóla.
• Translation: “You can choose to eat pasta, salad, or steak.”

2- είτε (íte) – “either”

• Greek: Αυτή η μπλούζα είναι διαθέσιμη είτε σε μαύρο είτε σε άσπρο.
• Romanization: Aftí i blúza íne diathésimi íte se mávro íte se áspro.
• Translation: “This T-shirt is available in either black or white.”

Please note that whereas in English we use the phrase as “either….or,” in Greek, it’s common to use είτε….είτε, or είτε….ή, which has exactly the same meaning.

8. How GreekPod101 Can Help You Master Greek Grammar

Which conjunctions do you think you know well now? Which ones will still take a while for you to master? Let us know!

As you should have noticed by now, modern Greek conjunctions and linking words are pretty easy to learn and use. In other languages, there are many different conjunctions used in different situations. But it’s safe to say that in Greek, if the meaning of the phrase seems to be appropriate, then the use of the specific linking word is grammatically correct.

This is definitely a core chapter in learning Greek, as conjunctions can be found in almost every sentence. With enough studying and practice, you’ll be on your way to mastering Greek conjunctions in no time, and we’ll be here for you every step of the way.

At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, are waiting for you to discover them! And if you prefer a one-on-one learning experience, you can use our MyTeacher Messenger before heading over to our online community to discuss lessons with other students.

It’s easy, too! Start your free, lifetime account today.

How do you say dates in Greek? And how to write dates in Greek numerals?

Being able to understand, read, and write dates in Greek can be quite tricky. Even things as simple as purchasing a ticket or setting an appointment may confuse novice Greek learners if they’re not familiar with Greek dates.

But don’t worry! We’ve got your back!

By the time you finish this guide, you’ll be able to learn how to read and write the dates, the months, the years, and the days of the week in Greek. You’ll also have a much clearer idea of how dates in modern Greek work.

This is an essential chapter in language learning, as it will be useful whether you’re visiting Greece for vacation or for business.

Ready?

Let’s begin!

Table of Contents

1. How Dates are Usually Written and Read in Greek
2. Reading and Writing Years in Greek
3. Reading and Writing Months in Greek
4. Reading and Writing Days in Greek
5. Reading and Writing Dates in Greek
6. Arranging a Date or an Appointment in Greek
7. Must-Know Phrases about Dates in Greek
8. Conclusion: How GreekPod101 Can Help You Master Greek

1. How Dates are Usually Written and Read in Greek

We’ll start with how to write dates in Greek, and how to read them.

Dates written in Greek typically follow this format: [day] [month] [year].

For the fields [day] and [year], cardinal numbers can be used. However, when it’s the first day of the month, for the field [day], we use the ordinal number.

The field [month] can either include the name of the month in the genitive case, or the corresponding number of the month as an ordinal number and in the genitive case.

Here’s a useful vocabulary compilation, including all the basic words for describing dates:

• ημέρα (iméra) — “day”
• μήνας (mínas) — “month”
• έτος (étos) — “year” [formally]
• χρονιά (hroniá) — “year” [informally]
• ημερομηνία (imerominía) — “date”
• ημερομηνία γέννησης (imerominía yénisis) — “birth date”
• εβδομάδα (evdomáda) — “week”
• σήμερα (símera) — “today”
• αύριο (ávrio) — “tomorrow”
• μεθαύριο (methávrio) — “the day after tomorrow”
• χθες (hthes) — “yesterday”
• προχθές (prohthés) — “the day before yesterday”

2. Reading and Writing Years in Greek

Saying the years in Greek can be tricky. In fact, the learner should have studied numbers in Greek in depth before trying to pronounce the years in Greek correctly.

In need of a quick reminder?

Check out our explanatory videos on Greek Numbers 1-10 and on Greek Numbers 11-100.

Here’s a hint: To say the years in Greek correctly, break down the year to its components, as shown in
the examples below:

• Year: 1990
• Greek: χίλια (1000) + εννιακόσια (900) + ενενήντα (90)
• Romanization: hília + eniakósia + enenínda
• Year: 2008
• Greek: δύο χιλιάδες (2000) + οκτώ ( 8 )
• Romanization: dío hiliádes + októ
• Year: 2019
• Greek: δύο χιλιάδες (2000) + δεκαεννιά (19)
• Romanization: dío hiliádes + dekaeniá

3. Reading and Writing Months in Greek

Months in Greek are easy to learn, since they’re quite similar to their English names.

Here, you can find the names of all months in Greek:

• Ιανουάριος (Ianuários) — “January”
• Φεβρουάριος (Fevruários) — “February”
• Μάρτιος (Mártios) — “March”
• Απρίλιος (Aprílios) — “April”
• Μάιος (Máios) — “May”
• Ιούνιος (Iúnios) — “June”
• Ιούλιος (Iúlios) — “July”
• Αύγουστος (Ávgustos) — “August”
• Σεπτέμβριος (Septémvrios) — “September”
• Οκτώβριος (Októvrios) — “October”
• Νοέμβριος (Noémvrios) — “November”
• Δεκέμβριος (Dekémvrios) — “December”

However, most commonly, months will be in the genitive case due to Greek syntax. Therefore, below you can find all the months in genitive case, as well.

• Ιανουαρίου (Ianuaríu) — “January’s”
• Φεβρουαρίου (Fevruaríu) — “February’s”
• Μαρτίου (Martíu) — “March’s”
• Απριλίου (Aprilíu) — “April’s”
• Μαΐου (Maíu) — “May’s”
• Ιουνίου (Iuníu) — “June’s”
• Ιουλίου (Iulíu) — “July’s”
• Αυγούστου (Avgústu) — “August’s”
• Σεπτεμβρίου (Septemvríu) — “September’s”
• Οκτωβρίου (Oktovríu) — “October’s”
• Νοεμβρίου (Noemvríu) — “November’s”
• Δεκεμβρίου (Dekemvíu) — “December’s”

4. Reading and Writing Days in Greek

Days in Greek follow a numerical pattern. Κυριακή (Sunday) is linguistically perceived as the first day of the week. It emerges from the adjective κυριακός (kiriakós) meaning “of or related to the Lord (Κύριος, Kírios),” setting Κυριακή as the first and most important day of the week.

Then comes Δευτέρα, which derives from δεύτερη ημέρα (défteri iméra) meaning “second day.” Similarly, Τρίτη is the third day of the week, from τρίτη ημέρα (tríti iméra) meaning “third day.” Τετάρτη is the fourth day of the week, from τέταρτη ημέρα (tétarti iméra) meaning “fourth day.” And finally, Πέμπτη is the fifth day of the week, from πέμπτη ημέρα (pémti iméra).

However, the next two days, Παρασκευή and Σάββατο, don’t follow this rule, so you’ll have to remember them.

Here you can find all the days of the week in Greek:

• Κυριακή (Kiriakí) — “Sunday”
• Δευτέρα (Deftéra) — “Monday”
• Τρίτη (Tríti) — “Tuesday”
• Τετάρτη (Tetárti) — “Wednesday”
• Πέμπτη (Pémpti) — “Thursday”
• Παρασκευή (Paraskeví) — “Friday”
• Σάββατο (Sávato) — “Saturday”

Another useful word is “weekend,” which includes Σάββατο and Κυριακή.

• Greek: Σαββατοκύριακο
• Romanization: Savatokíriako
• Translation: “Weekend”

See what Greeks did there? They simply combined these two days into one word.

All the other days are characterized as καθημερινή (kathimeriní) meaning “weekday,” which is also a combination of the words κάθε (káthe) meaning “each” + ημέρα (iméra) meaning “day.”

• Greek: καθημερινή
• Romanization: kathimeriní
• Translation: “weekday”

5. Reading and Writing Dates in Greek

All dates can be read just like their corresponding cardinal number, except for the first day of the month which is read like the corresponding ordinal number. In this section, you can find some examples of full dates.

• English: January 24, 1999
• Greek: 24 Ιανουαρίου 1999 (written speech)
            είκοσι τέσσερις Ιανουαρίου χίλια εννιακόσια ενενήντα εννιά (oral speech)
• Romanization: íkosi téseris Ianuaríu hília eniakósia enenínda eniá
• English: May 1, 2001
• Greek: 1 Μαΐου 2001 (written speech)
            πρώτη Μαΐου του δύο χιλιάδες ένα (oral speech)
• Romanization: próti Maíu tu dío hiliádes éna

The first day of the month is an important exception to the general rule. In Greek, when referring to it, we say πρώτη (próti) meaning “first” in the feminine gender. Cardinal and ordinal numbers act like adjectives and change according to the noun they refer to. In this case, the numbers of the dates of the month refer to the feminine noun ημέρα (iméra) meaning “day,” which is always omitted.

Months, when included in full dates, are in the genitive case. So, in the example presented above, Ιανουάριος (Ianuários) becomes (του) Ιανουαρίου (Ianuaríu) meaning “January’s.” In other words, we could say that in Greek, the actual meaning is “January’s 24th day.”

Now, let’s have a look at another example:

• English: June 2, 1965
• Greek: 2 Ιουνίου 1965 (written speech)
              δύο Ιουνίου του χίλια εννιακόσια εξήντα πέντε (oral speech)
• Romanization: dío Iuníu tu hília eniakósia exínda pénde

Similarly, the month Ιούνιος (Iúnios) becomes Ιουνίου (Iuníu), in the genitive case.

As you might have noticed, the most common written form of dates is quite easy to comprehend, since it’s similar to English.

6. Arranging a Date or an Appointment in Greek

Now that you have a good idea of dates in Greek numerals and writing dates in Greek, let’s learn how to say dates in Greek. Saying dates in Greek can be a little difficult at first, but hopefully seeing them in context will help you see how it works.

Feel like having a date on Valentine’s Day? Here’s the ideal phrase for you.

• Greek: Έχεις κανονίσει τίποτα για τις 14 Φεβρουαρίου;
• Romanization: Éhis kanonísi típota ya tis dekatéseris Fevruaríu?
• Translation: (Literally) “Have you arranged anything for the 14th of February?”
                       (Meaning) “Do you have any plans for February 14th?”

When arranging an informal appointment or a date, you can use the phrases presented below.

• Greek: Θέλεις να βρεθούμε αύριο ή μεθαύριο;
• Romanization: Thélis na vrethúme ávrio i methávrio?
• Translation: “Do you want to get together tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?”
• Greek: Θέλεις να βγούμε για μπίρες το Σάββατο;
• Romanization: Thélis na vgúme ya bíres to Sávato?
• Translation: “Do you want to go for a beer (Literally: beers) on Saturday?”
• Greek: Θέλεις να πάμε για έναν καφέ το Σαββατοκύριακο;
• Romanization: Thélis na páme ya énan kafé to Savatokíriako?
• Translation: “Do you want to grab a cup of coffee on the weekend?”

In case of an informal or formal appointment, you can use the following phrase:

• Greek: Πότε θα ήθελες να κλείσουμε ένα ραντεβού; (Informal)
              Πότε θα θέλατε να κλείσουμε ένα ραντεβού; (Formal)
• Romanization: Póte tha ítheles na klísume éna randevú?
                           Póte tha thélate na klísume éna randevú?
• Translation: “When would you like to book an appointment?”

7. Must-Know Phrases about Dates in Greek

a) What day is it?

• Greek: — Τι μέρα είναι σήμερα;
              — Σήμερα είναι Δευτέρα.
• Romanization: — Ti méra íne símera?
                            — Símera íne Deftéra.
• Translation: — “What day is it (today)?”
                        — “Today is Monday.”

b) Which date is it today?

• Greek: — Τι ημερομηνία έχουμε σήμερα;
               — Σήμερα είναι 25 Φεβρουαρίου του 2019. (είκοσι πέντε Φεβρουαρίου του δύο χιλιάδες δεκαεννιά).
• Romanization: — Ti imerominía éhume símera?
                           — Símera íne i íkosi pénde Fevruaríu tu dío hiliádes dekaeniá.
• Translation: — “What date is it today? “(Literally: What date do we have today?)
                        — “Today is the 25th of February 2019.”

c) When is your birthday?

• Greek: — Πότε έχεις γενέθλια;
              — Στις οκτώ Ιουνίου.
• Romanization: — Póte éhis yenéthlia?
                            — Stis októ Iuníu.
• Translation: — “When is your birthday?” (Literally: When do you have your birthday?)
                       — “On the 8th of June.”

d) When did the Greek Revolution take place? (For advanced learners and lovers of history)

• Greek: — Πότε ξεκίνησε η ελληνική επανάσταση;
               — Στις 25 (είκοσι πέντε) Μαρτίου του 1821 (χίλια οκτακόσια είκοσι ένα).
• Romanization: — Póte xekínise i elinikí epanástasi?
                            — Stis íkosi pénde Martíu tu hília oktakósia íkosi éna.
• Translation: — “When did the Greek Revolution take place?”
                       — “On the 25th of March 1821.”

8. Conclusion: How GreekPod101 Can Help You Master Greek

Feeling overwhelmed? We know, all of these pieces of information might seem a bit too much.

Understanding, reading, and writing dates in Greek might seem hard for a novice learner. However, if you break it down to the basics, you can really master this chapter.

All you need is a little bit of help from a Greek teacher. What if you could have access to educational material from real teachers?

GreekPod101.com offers you high-quality, practical knowledge about the Greek language. At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, which are waiting for you to discover them!

Our family has always been the core of our lives, and family in Greek culture means a lot. In addition, this is a pretty popular topic of discussion when meeting new people. Family bonds in Greece are very important, as most people are close to their family members, and families in Greek life play a huge part in society in general. So, how do you say “family” in Greek, or other essential words?

So, before we begin, are you interested in a quick warm-up? Check out our Family Members Word List, where you can find the most important words and get ready for the in-depth approach that follows.

Table of Contents

1. Core Family Members in Greek
2. Other Relatives in Greek
3. Family Members as a Married Person in Greek
4. Unique Family Greek Names for Relationships
5. Endearment Family Terms in Greek
6. Proverbs and Quotes about Family in Greek
7. How GreekPod101 Can Help You Master Greek

1. Core Family Members in Greek

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Here’s how to say “family” in Greek:

• Greek: η οικογένεια
• Romanization: i ikoyénia
• Meaning: “family”

The term οικογένεια is a compound feminine noun that comes from the word οικογενής, which consists of the ancient Greek words [οίκος (íkos) meaning “home”] + [γίγνομαι (yígnome) meaning “to be born”]. So οικογένεια is used to describe the people who have been born and raised in the same home. See how much sense it makes?

Other ways to refer to the Greek family are the colloquial σόι (sói) and φαμίλια (família), which mean exactly the same thing. However, the term οικογένεια remains the most popular in everyday dialogue.

Here’s an example of how to introduce your family as a whole:

• Greek: Αυτή είναι η οικογένεια μου.
• Romanization: Aftí íne i ikoyénia mu.
• Meaning: “This is my family.”

Another important part of the Greek family is, of course, the parents and grandparents.

• Greek: οι γονείς
• Romanization: i gonís
• Meaning: “parents”
• Greek: οι παππούδες
• Romanization: i papúdes
• Meaning: “grandparents”
• Greek: οι προπαππούδες
• Romanization: i propapúdes
• Meaning: “great-grandparents”

At this point, it should be noted that the words παππούδες (papúdes) meaning “grandparents,” and προπαππούδες (propapúdes) meaning “great-grandparents,” literally mean “grandfathers” and “great grandfathers,” respectively. However, these terms are used to indicate both the grandfather and the grandmother, as well as both the great-grandfather and great-grandmother, as a couple. This is residual of the former Greek patriarchal family model, where the male members of the family served as the family head, in comparison to female family members.

So, when introducing your parents or grandparents, you could say:

• Greek: Αυτοί είναι οι γονείς / παππούδες / προπαππούδες μου.
• Romanization: Aftí íne i gonís / papúdes / propapúdes mu.
• Meaning: “These are my parents / grandparents / great-grandparents.”

Now, let’s have a look at the core family members.

• Greek: η μητέρα, μάνα / μαμά
• Romanization: i mitéra, mána / mamá
• Meaning: “mother” / “mom”
• Greek: ο πατέρας / μπαμπάς
• Romanization: o patéras / babás
• Meaning: “father” / “dad”
• Greek: η αδερφή / αδελφή
• Romanization: i aderfí / adelfí
• Meaning: “sister”
• Greek: ο αδερφός / αδελφός
• Romanization: o aderfós / adelfós
• Meaning: “brother”
• Greek: η γιαγιά
• Romanization: i yayá
• Meaning: “grandmother”
• Greek: ο παππούς
• Romanization: o papús
• Meaning: “grandfather”
• Greek: η προγιαγιά
• Romanization: i proyayá
• Meaning: “great-grandmother”
• Greek: ο προπάππους / προπαππούς
• Romanization: o propápus / propapús
• Meaning: “great-grandfather”

Generally, when you need to introduce a male family member, you say:

• Greek: Αυτός είναι ο …………… μου.
• Romanization: Aftós íne o …………….. mu.
• Meaning: “This is my ………………….. .”

On the other hand, when you need to introduce a female family member, you say:

• Greek: Αυτή είναι η …………… μου.
• Romanization: Aftí íne i …………….. mu.
• Meaning: “This is my ………………….. .”

2. Other Relatives in Greek

Generally, a relative can be expressed as follows:

• Greek: ο συγγενής (singular) / οι συγγενείς (plural)
• Romanization: o singenís / i singenís
• Meaning: “relative(s)”

Let’s have a look at an example dialogue.

• Greek: — Από που γνωρίζεστε;
  — Είμαστε συγγενείς.
• Romanization: — Apó pu gnorízeste?
  — Ímaste singenís.
• Meaning: — “How do you know each other?”
  — “We are relatives.”

In Greek, θείος could be the brother or the cousin of one of your parents, or the brother of one of your grandparents.

• Greek: ο θείος
• Romanization: o thíos
• Meaning: “uncle”

Similarly, θεία could be the sister or the cousin of one of your parents, or the sister of one of your grandparents.

• Greek: η θεία
• Romanization: i thía
• Meaning: “aunt”

The nephew and niece concept is similar to the rules mentioned above.

• Greek: ο ανιψιός
• Romanization: o anipsiós
• Meaning: “nephew”
• Greek: η ανιψιά
• Romanization: i anipsiá
• Meaning: “niece”

The concept of cousins is pretty much the same as in English.

• Greek: τα ξαδέρφια / ξαδέλφια
• Romanization: ta xadérfia / xadélfia
• Meaning: “cousins”
• Greek: ο ξάδερφος / ξάδελφος
• Romanization: o xáderfos / xádelfos
• Meaning: “cousin” (male)
• Greek: η ξαδέρφη / ξαδέλφη
• Romanization: i xadérfi / xadélfi
• Meaning: “cousin” (female)

3. Family Members as a Married Person in Greek

Are you married? Then, congratulations! There’s a whole new chapter of relatives in Greek to discover!

So, when it comes to your other half, either male or female, you could generally refer to him/her as:

• Greek: ο σύζυγος / η σύζυγος
• Romanization: o sízigos / i sízigos
• Meaning: “husband” / “wife”

This reference is for formal encounters. In everyday life, you can refer to your wife or your husband as demonstrated below:

• Greek: η γυναίκα μου
• Romanization: i yinéka mu
• Meaning: “my wife” (literally: my woman)
• Greek: ο άνδρας μου / ο άντρας μου
• Romanization: o ándras mu
• Meaning: “my husband” (literally: my man)

Formally, the descendants of the couple, regardless of their gender, are called απόγονοι. However, this word is rarely used.

• Greek: οι απόγονοι
• Romanization: i apógoni
• Meaning: “descendants”

In this context, a common Greek wish for a newly married couple is:

• Greek: Καλούς απογόνους!
• Romanization: Kalús apogónus!
• Meaning: “(May you have) Good descendants!”

However, when it comes to informal situations, as in English, the terms παιδί / παιδιά are preferred.

• Greek: το παιδί / τα παιδιά
• Romanization: to pedí / ta pediá
• Meaning: “child” / “children”

Or, when you need to be gender-specific, you can use the following:

• Greek: η κόρη
• Romanization: i kóri
• Meaning: “daughter”
• Greek: ο γιος
• Romanization: o yos
• Meaning: “son”
• Greek: ο εγγονός
• Romanization: o engonós
• Meaning: “grandson” (male)
• Greek: η εγγονή
• Romanization: i engoní
• Meaning: “granddaughter” (female)
• Greek: το εγγόνι
• Romanization: to engóni
• Meaning: “grandchild”

In Greece, your wife’s or husband’s family is also considered your family. Therefore, most married couples tend to call their “mother-in-law” μαμά (mamá) and their “father-in-law” μπαμπά (babá). Nevertheless, below you can find the original names for your new family in Greek culture:

• Greek: τα πεθερικά
• Romanization: ta petheriká
• Meaning: “parents-in-law”
• Greek: η πεθερά
• Romanization: i petherá
• Meaning: “mother-in-law”
• Greek: ο πεθερός
• Romanization: o petherós
• Meaning: “father-in-law”
• Greek: ο γαμπρός
• Romanization: o gambrós
• Meaning: “son-in-law” (literally: groom)
• Greek: η νύφη
• Romanization: i nífi
• Meaning: “daughter-in-law” (literally: bride)
• Greek: ο κουνιάδος
• Romanization: o kuniádos
• Meaning: “brother-in-law”
• Greek: η κουνιάδα
• Romanization: i kuniáda
• Meaning: “sister-in-law”

4. Unique Family Greek Names for Relationships

For the more experienced Greek learners, we’ve gathered some terms about relatives which seem to be unique in Greece, and therefore more tricky to understand. So, don’t get disappointed! You can always reach out to us for a one-on-one interaction with one of our Greek teachers through MyTeacher, and we’re happy to answer any questions.

• Greek: οι συμπέθεροι / τα συμπεθέρια
• Romanization: i simbétheri / ta simbethéria
• Meaning: the relationship between the parents of the groom and the parents of the bride
• Greek: ο μπατζανάκης / ο σύγαμπρος
• Romanization: o bajanákis / o sígambros
• Meaning: the relationship between the husbands of two sisters
• Greek: η συνυφάδα
• Romanization: i sinifáda
• Meaning: the relationship between the wives of two brothers

5. Endearment Family Terms in Greek

Do you feel the urge to show your love to your family? Try these Greek endearment terms for guaranteed results!

• Greek: η μανούλα
• Romanization: i manúla
• Meaning: “mommy”
• Greek: ο μπαμπάκας
• Romanization: o babákas
• Meaning: “daddy”
• Greek: η γιαγιάκα
• Romanization: i yayáka
• Meaning: “grandmommy”
• Greek: ο παππούλης
• Romanization: o papúlis
• Meaning: “granddaddy”

Bonus tip: Add a μου (mu) meaning “my” after each of the phrases above. For example, it’s best to say: γιαγιάκα μου (yayáka mu) which means “my grandmommy.”

6. Proverbs and Quotes about Family in Greek

Family is the core of Greek culture. It’s the glue that keeps us together. So, it’s not surprising that there are many family Greek quotes and proverbs. Below, you can find some of the most popular ones, along with their meanings.

• Greek: Το μήλο κάτω από τη μηλιά θα πέσει.
• Romanization: To mílo káto apó ti miliá tha pési.
• Literal Translation: “The apple will fall right below the apple tree.”
• Meaning: This expression is used to highlight the resemblance of behavior or actions between a
  child (apple) and his or her parents (apple tree). It often has a negative connotation.
• Greek: Έλα παππού να σου δείξω τα αμπελοχώραφά σου.
• Romanization: Éla papú na su díxo ta ambelohórafá su.
• Literal Translation: “Come on grandpa, let me show you your wineyard fields.”
• Meaning: This proverb is used as an irony. It aims to highlight the expertise of the person saying
  this in a specific sector. It’s like wanting to show your grandpa where his own fields are.
• Greek: Μάνα είναι μόνο μία.
• Romanization: Mána íne móno mía.
• Literal Translation: “There is only one mother.”
• Meaning: This expression is used to highlight the unconditional love and importance of a mother.
• Greek: Να τρώει η μάνα και του παιδιού να μη δίνει.
• Romanization: Na trói i mána ke tu pediú na mi díni.
• Literal Translation: “(This is so delicious that… ) the mother eats and doesn’t give (anything) to her child.”
• Meaning: This expression is used to highlight that something is so delicious, that even a mother, who traditionally shares everything with her child out of love, doesn’t want to share it.

7. How GreekPod101 Can Help You Master Greek

Greek family relationships may be a lot to take in. However, once you learn them, they’re easy to remember. By the end of this article, you should be able to introduce your family in Greek, and we’re just as excited as you are!

If you ever find yourself in need of a quick revision, we’ve got your back! Just take a look at our Family & Relatives Conversation Cheat Sheet—or better yet, you can even print it out, in order to be ready at all times for unexpected Greek chit-chatting.

GreekPod101.com offers you high-quality, practical knowledge about the Greek language and culture. We aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, which are waiting for you to discover them!

Greece is a popular destination for summer vacations. People from all over the world come to Greece to experience the history, the culture, the sun, and the scenic islands. Therefore, Greece has a long tradition in the tourism industry; if you ever decide to visit, it won’t be difficult to communicate, since most people here speak English fluently. However, a trip to Greece could be an exceptional opportunity to practice your Greek and feel a little bit closer to the locals.

In this article, GreekPod101.com has gathered the most common phrases you might need while visiting Greece. Regardless of your Greek knowledge level, this blog post will provide you with a wide variety of ready-to-use and useful Greek phrases for travel.

So let’s get on with it and learn Greek phrases for travel!

Table of Contents

1. Basic Greek Travel Phrases
2. Transportation
3. Shopping
4. Restaurants
5. Directions
6. Emergencies
7. Flattery Phrases
8. Language Problems
9. Conclusion

1. Basic Greek Travel Phrases

Let’s begin with some basic Greek phrases for travel you might need. The usage of the following phrases is exactly the same as their translation in English. Generally, Greeks are fascinated when someone tries to communicate in their language, and usually chat along with a big smile. So, don’t hesitate; go on and use some of the basic expressions listed below.

1- Ευχαριστώ. / Παρακαλώ.

• Greek: Ευχαριστώ. / Παρακαλώ.
• Romanization: Efharistó. / Parakaló.
• Meaning: “Thank you.” / “You’re welcome.”

Example

• Greek:
  — Ορίστε, τα ρέστα σας.
  — Ευχαριστώ!
  — Παρακαλώ!
• Romanization:
  — Oríste, ta résta sas.
  — Efharistó!
  — Parakaló!
• Meaning:
  — “Here is your change.”
  — “Thank you!”
  — “You’re welcome!”

2- Συγγνώμη.

• Greek: Συγγνώμη.
  Romanization: Signómi.
  Meaning: “I’m sorry.”

Example

• Greek:
  — Συγγνώμη που άργησα.
  — Όλα καλά. Δεν πειράζει.
• Romanization:
  — Signómi pu áryisa.
  — Óla kalá. Den pirázi.
• Meaning:
  — “I’m sorry for being late.”
  — “Everything’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

3- Ναι. / Όχι.

• Greek: Ναι. / Όχι.
• Romanization: Ne. / Óhi.
• Meaning: “Yes.” / “No.”

Example

• Greek:
  — Θα θέλατε επιδόρπιο;
  — Ναι / Όχι. Ευχαριστώ.
• Romanization:
  — Tha thélate epidórpio?
  — Ne / Óhi. Efharistó.
• Meaning:
  — “Would you like some dessert?”
  — “Yes.” / “No. Thank you.”

4- Δεν μιλώ ελληνικά.

• Greek: Δεν μιλώ ελληνικά.
• Romanization: De miló elliniká.
• Meaning: “I don’t speak Greek.”

5- Μου αρέσει. / Δεν μου αρέσει.

• Greek: Μου αρέσει. / Δεν μου αρέσει.
• Romanization: Mu arési. / De mu arési.
• Meaning: “I like it.” / “I don’t like it.”

Do you want to learn some more basic Greek phrases for tourists? Check out our blog post on How to Say Hello in Greek and master your knowledge.

2. Transportation

If you’re visiting Athens, you can use a wide variety of public transportation, ranging from the metro, trains, trolleys, buses, and trams. However, for other parts of the country, buses and taxis might be your only options. Generally, getting around Greece is quite easy in terms of communication, mainly because information is almost always available in English as well.

However, knowing a few of these useful Greek phrases for travel definitely won’t hurt!

1- [Διεύθυνση] παρακαλώ.

• Greek: [Διεύθυνση] παρακαλώ.
• Romanization: [Diéfthinsi] parakaló.
• Meaning: “To [Address] please.”

2- Σε ποια στάση πρέπει να κατέβω;

• Greek: Σε ποια στάση πρέπει να κατέβω;
• Romanization: Se pia stási prépi na katévo?
• Meaning: “In which station should I get off?”

3- Πώς μπορώ να πάω στον/στην/στο….[τοποθεσία];

• Greek: Πώς μπορώ να πάω στον/στην/στο [τοποθεσία];
• Romanization: Pós boró na páo sto/stin/sto [topothesía]?
• Meaning: “How can I get to [location]?”

4- Πού μπορώ να αγοράσω εισιτήριο;

• Greek: Που μπορώ να αγοράσω εισιτήριο;
• Romanization: Pu boró na agoráso isitírio?
• Meaning: “Where can I buy a ticket?”

3. Shopping

While shopping in Greece, you probably won’t face any problems, as most employees speak English. Nevertheless, this is another opportunity to freshen up your Greek, and no list of Greek words for travelling would be complete without shopping phrases.

Also keep in mind that Greece, as a member of the European Union, uses Euro (€) as currency. Take this opportunity and practice some Greek language travel phrases by using the following:

1- Πόσο κάνει; / Πόσο κοστίζει;

• Greek: Πόσο κάνει; / Πόσο κοστίζει;
• Romanization: Póso káni? / Póso kostízi?
• Meaning: “How much does it cost?”

2- Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;

• Greek: Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;
• Romanization: Boró na pliróso me kárta?
• Meaning: “Can I pay by card (Debit; Credit)?”

3- Παρακαλώ, μου δίνετε αυτό;

• Greek: Παρακαλώ, μου δίνετε αυτό;
• Romanization: Parakaló, mu dínete aftó?
• Meaning: “Could you give me that, please?”

4- Τι είναι πιο δημοφιλές;

• Greek: Τι είναι πιο δημοφιλές;
• Romanization: Ti íne pio dimofilés?
• Meaning: “What is popular?”

5- Τι μου προτείνετε;

• Greek: Τι μου προτείνετε;
• Romanization: Ti mu protínete?
• Meaning: “What do you recommend?”

Do you want to expand your knowledge? Check out our article on Greek Numbers, which can be quite handy for shopping, when referring to prices.

4. Restaurants

Planning on visiting Greece? Great! It’s time to leave behind your ordinary dieting schedule, because in Greece you will eat—a lot! Greek cuisine is part of the Mediterranean cuisine, including lots of vegetables and pure olive oil.

Looking for travel tips in Greece? Greece has a long tradition in food and you should definitely try the specialties of a local taverna.

Ordering in Greek can be a piece of cake by using the following expressions:

1- Μπορώ να δω το μενού, παρακαλώ;

2- Αυτό, παρακαλώ.

• Greek: Αυτό, παρακαλώ. / Ένα νερό, παρακαλώ. / Μία μπίρα, παρακαλώ.
• Romanization: Aftó, parakaló. / Éna neró, parakaló. / Mía bíra, parakaló.
• Meaning: “( I would like… ) This, please. / A (bottle of) water, please/ A (can of) beer, please.”

3- Μπορώ να έχω τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ;

• Greek: Μπορώ να έχω τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ;
• Romanization: Boró na ého ton logariazmó, parakaló?
• Meaning: “Could I have the check, please?”

4- Αυτό είναι πολύ νόστιμο.

• Greek: Αυτό είναι πολύ νόστιμο.
• Romanization: Aftó íne polí nóstimo.
• Meaning: “This is very tasty.” / “This is delicious.”

5- Είμαι χορτοφάγος.

• Greek: Είμαι χορτοφάγος.
• Romanization: Íme hortofágos.
• Meaning: “I am a vegetarian.”

5. Directions

Wandering around Greece can become tricky, especially when looking for specific attractions. Greeks are always eager to help you with some directions, so don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need. The essential Greek travel phrases listed below can be used in a wide variety of situations for asking or giving directions.

1- Πού είναι ο/η/το…;

• Greek: Πού είναι ο/η/το …..;
• Romanization: Pu íne o/i/to ….?
• Meaning: “Where is ….?”

2- Στρίψτε δεξιά / αριστερά.

• Greek: Στρίψτε δεξιά / αριστερά.
• Romanization: Strípste dexiá / aristerá.
• Meaning: “Turn right / left.”

3- Πηγαίνετε ευθεία.

• Greek: Πηγαίνετε ευθεία.
• Romanization: Piyénete efthía.
• Meaning: “Go straight ahead.”

4- Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου / ο σταθμός του τρένου;

• Greek: Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου / ο σταθμός του τρένου;
• Romanization: Pu íne i stási tu leoforíu / o stathmós tu trénu?
• Meaning: “Where is the bus station / the train station?”

5- Πού είναι η τουαλέτα, παρακαλώ;

• Greek: Πού είναι η τουαλέτα, παρακαλώ;
• Romanization: Pu íne i toualéta, parakaló?
• Meaning: “Where is the toilet, please?”

6. Emergencies

You never know when an emergency might take place, so here are some of the most important and relevant Greek expressions you can use in these situations.

1- Βοήθεια!

• Greek: Βοήθεια!
• Romanization: Voíthia!
• Meaning: “Help!”

2- Καλέστε ένα ασθενοφόρο!

• Greek: Καλέστε ένα ασθενοφόρο!
• Romanization: Kaléste éna asthenofóro!
• Meaning: “Call an ambulance!”

3- Υπάρχει κάποιος γιατρός;

• Greek: Υπάρχει κάποιος γιατρός;
• Romanization: Ipárhi kápios yatrós?
• Meaning: “Is there a doctor?”

4- Καλέστε την αστυνομία!

• Greek: Καλέστε την αστυνομία!
• Romanization: Kaléste tin astinomía!
• Meaning: “Call the police!”

5- Έχασα το διαβατήριό μου / την ταυτότητά μου.

• Greek: Έχασα το διαβατήριό μου / την ταυτότητά μου.
• Romanization: Éhasa to diavatírió mu / tin taftótitá mu.
• Meaning: “I’ve lost my passport / my ID.”

7. Flattery Phrases

Eager to make some new Greek friends? Try some of the flattery phrases below and it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll be able to get to know new people. Of all the travel phrases in Greek, these are the most likely to bring a smile to someone’s face!

1- Μου αρέσει το ελληνικό φαγητό / η ελληνική κουζίνα.

• Greek: Μου αρέσει το ελληνικό φαγητό / η ελληνική κουζίνα.
• Romanization: Mu arési to elinikó fayitó / i elinikí kuzína.
• Meaning: “I like Greek food / Greek cuisine.”

2- Αγαπώ την Ελλάδα.

• Greek: Αγαπώ την Ελλάδα.
• Romanization: Agapó tin Elláda.
• Meaning: “I love Greece.”

3- Είσαι πολύ ευγενικός / ευγενική.

• Greek: Είσαι πολύ ευγενικός/ ευγενική.
• Romanization: Íse polí evyenikós [male] / evyenikí [female].
• Meaning: “You are very kind.”

4- Θέλεις να πάμε για έναν καφέ;

• Greek: Θέλεις να πάμε για έναν καφέ;
• Romanization: Thélis na páme ya énan kafé?
• Meaning: “Do you want to go out for a coffee?”

5- Έχεις Facebook / Instagram;

• Greek: Έχεις Facebook / Instagram;
• Romanization: Éhis Facebook / Instagram?
• Meaning: “Do you use Facebook / Instagram?” [Literal translation: “Do you have Facebook / Instagram?”]

8. Language Problems

Trying to communicate in a foreign country is always a challenge you need to overcome. For this reason, it’s good that you’re practicing travel phrases to learn the Greek language. As mentioned before, most Greek people speak English fluently; however, in some isolated villages, where the true beauty of Greece hides, people might not be able to understand. For instances like this, the following phrases can be a life saver.

1- Μιλάτε ελληνικά; / Μιλάτε αγγλικά;

• Greek: Μιλάτε ελληνικά; / Μιλάτε αγγλικά;
• Romanization: Miláte eliniká? / Miláte angliká?
• Meaning: “Do you speak Greek?” / “Do you speak English?”

2- Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό;

• Greek: Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό;
• Romanization: Boríte na to epanalávete aftó?
• Meaning: “Could you repeat that?”

3- Παρακαλώ μιλήστε αργά. Δεν καταλαβαίνω ελληνικά.

• Greek: Παρακαλώ μιλήστε αργά. Δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά ελληνικά.
• Romanization: Parakaló milíste argá. Den katanavéno kalá eliniká.
• Meaning: “Please speak slowly. I don’t understand Greek well.”

4- Πώς λέγεται αυτό στα ελληνικά;

• Greek: Πώς λέγεται αυτό στα ελληνικά;
• Romanization: Pos léyete aftó sta eliniká?
• Meaning: “How do you say this in Greek?”

5- Μπορείτε να το γράψετε;

• Greek: Μπορείτε να το γράψετε;
• Romanization: Boríte na to grápsete?
• Meaning: “Could you write this down?”

9. Conclusion

We hope we’ve shown you the importance of travel phrases in Greek language learning, and that you’ve had fun learning these. Communicating in Greek is highly appreciated in Greece and can bring you a step closer to the local community and culture.

Planning on visiting Greece? Want to learn more about the Greek language?

GreekPod101.com offers you high-quality, practical knowledge about the Greek language. At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos are waiting for you to discover them! You can even delve into a one-on-one learning experience with your own personal Greek teacher upon subscription to Premium Plus!