Guide

Everyday Greek phrases

38 phrases you'll actually use, with how to say them. Tap the speaker to hear each one. The spelling in English letters is only a guide: the stressed syllable has the accent mark.

Everyday basics

Greek	Meaning	Listen
Καλημέραkaliméra	Good morning
Καλησπέραkalispéra	Good evening
Καληνύχταkaliníkhta	Good night
Πώς σε λένε;pos se léne?	What is your name?Literally 'How do they call you?' Reply with Με λένε... (My name is...). This asks one person informally; the polite or plural form is Πώς σας λένε;
Χαίρω πολύkhéro polí	Nice to meet you
Ευχαριστώ πολύefkharistó polí	Thank you very much
Παρακαλώparakaló	Please / You're welcome
Συγγνώμηsignómi	Sorry / Excuse me
Δεν καταλαβαίνωdhen katalavéno	I don't understand
Μιλάτε αγγλικά;miláte angliká?	Do you speak English?Μιλάτε addresses one person politely or more than one person. Informal singular: Μιλάς αγγλικά;
Πόσο κάνει;póso káni?	How much does it cost?
Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;pou íne i toualéta?	Where is the bathroom?
Καλή όρεξηkalí óreksi	Bon appétit / Enjoy your meal
Στην υγειά μαςstin iyá mas	Cheers (to our health)
Τα λέμεta léme	See you later / Talk soon

Meeting People

Greek	Meaning	Listen
Από πού είσαι;apó pu íse?	Where are you from?Formal/plural: Από πού είστε;
Τι δουλειά κάνεις;ti dhuliá kánis?	What do you do for work?
Πόσο καιρό είσαι εδώ;póso keró íse edhó?	How long have you been here?For a situation continuing now, Greek uses the present: είσαι εδώ = you are here / you have been here. Πόσο καιρό asks how long.
Μαθαίνω ελληνικάmathéno eliniká	I'm learning GreekUse μαθαίνω for learning a language. Write the language name ελληνικά with a lowercase initial, unless it starts a sentence.
Πιο αργά, παρακαλώpio argá parakaló	More slowly, please
Πώς το λένε στα ελληνικά;pos to léne sta eliniká?	How do you say it in Greek?Use this to ask for the Greek word or expression for something. Πώς means how; λένε means they say or call.
Τι κάνεις; — Καλά, εσύ;ti kánis? — kalá, esí?	How are you?, Good, you?
Χάρηκα πολύkhárika polí	It was nice meeting youUsed when meeting someone or when saying goodbye after an introduction. Χαίρω πολύ is another greeting when first introduced.

At the Café

Greek	Meaning	Listen
Θα ήθελα...tha íthela	I would like...The polite way to order anything. More courteous than θέλω (I want).
Ένα φραπέ, παρακαλώéna frapé parakaló	One frappé, pleaseBoth ένα φραπέ (neuter) and έναν φραπέ (masculine, from ο φραπές) are used. Μέτριο describes medium sweetness, not cup size.
Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώton logariazmó parakaló	The bill, please
Τι θα πάρετε;ti tha párete?	What will you have?What the waiter will say to you. The plural/formal 'you', expect it from strangers.
Για μένα ένα...ya ména éna	For me, a...
Τίποτα άλλο;típota álo?	Anything else?Answer with 'Όχι, ευχαριστώ' or 'Ναι, και...'
Χωρίς ζάχαρηkhorís zákhari	Without sugarFor coffee: σκέτος = without sugar, μέτριος = medium-sweet, γλυκός = sweet. These forms agree with ο καφές; they describe sweetness, not cup size.

Getting Around

Greek	Meaning	Listen
Πού είναι...;pu íne	Where is...?
Πώς πάω στο...;pos páo sto	How do I get to...?
Είναι μακριά;íne makriá?	Is it far?Answer you might get: Όχι, είναι κοντά (No, it's near).
Ένα εισιτήριο για...éna isitírio ya	One ticket to...
Τι ώρα φεύγει;ti óra févyi?	What time does it leave?
Χάθηκαkháthika	I'm lost

Numbers, Time and Dates

Greek	Meaning	Listen
Τι ώρα είναι;ti óra íne?	What time is it?The answer uses the feminine numbers, because η ώρα is feminine: Είναι μία. Είναι τρεις. Είναι τέσσερις. Not ένα, τρία, τέσσερα.
Είναι τρεις και μισήíne tris ke misí	It's half past threeΚαι adds minutes past, παρά takes them away. Μισή is feminine, agreeing with η ώρα, so half past one is μία και μισή.

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Say them in a real conversation

ElliniCards teaches phrases like these in short units, then lets you use them in a practice conversation, like ordering at a café, with help when you get stuck. Free to start, no account needed.

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