Kalimera or Kalispèra? Knowing a few words of Greek will certainly bring you some advantages during your holiday. The aim of this article is not to make you bilingual, but to suggest a few expressions to help you get in touch with the Greeks and win the sympathy of this warm and welcoming people!
Useful phrases on holiday
You will certainly hear or read phrases or words in Greek: we have selected the most common ones that may save you at the restaurant or when visiting more remote locations!
Please note: the phrases we propose are transcribed from the Greek alphabet into the Latin alphabet.
With these simple colloquial expressions you will get in touch with the locals: Greeks like to export a bit of their language, you will certainly make a good impression!
Greek
English
Ya! Ti kanis?
Hello, how are you?
Kala, yes?
Fine, and you?
Sir
Sorry
Efharisto
Thanks
Parakalo
Please / You’re welcome
Kali orexi!
Enjoy your meal!
Kalimera
Good morning
Kalispèra
Good evening
Kalinìkta
Good night
Adìo
Goodbye / See you soon
Although you will almost always find at least the menu in English, here is a list of words that will come in handy at the table.
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
eíkosi, triánta, pení̱nta, exí̱nta, sent
twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred
English
Greek
Bath
Bànio
Key
Klìdi
Kitchen
Kuzhìna
Shower
Dùs
Garden
Kìpo
Bed
Krevàti
Floor
O`rofos
Booking
Kràtisi
Room
Dhomàtio
Greek alphabet
In the table below you will find the Greek letters and their traditional transcription.
Upper Case
Lowercase
Transcription
A
α
alpha
B
β
beta
Γ
γ
gamma
Δ
δ
delta
E
ε
epsilon
Z
ζ
zeta
H
η
eta
Θ
θ
theta
I
ιι
iota
K
κ
kappa
Λ
λ
lambda
M
μ
mu (mi)
N
ν
nu (ni)
Ξ
ξ
xi
O
o
omicron
Π
π
pi
P
ρ
rho
Σ
σ
sigma
T
τ
tau
Y
υ
upsilon
Φ
φ
phi
X
χ
chi
Ψ
ψ
psi
Ω
ω
omega
Online Greek-English translator
Several free translators from Greek to English and vice versa are available online: in addition to the website, both have a dedicated app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet, useful once you are on holiday in Greece.
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