Greek Phrases for Beginners: Everyday Expressions, Typical Sayings and Pronunciation

Heading to Greece or Cyprus, or just starting with Greek? These are the phrases you will really use in the first days, plus the typical expressions every Greek says without thinking.

Greek speakers react warmly to even a few words in their language. A simple Καλημέρα with the right stress often gets you a smile, sometimes a free dessert. This guide covers the phrases you will actually need: greetings, introductions, polite essentials, shopping and directions, typical Greek expressions, signs, numbers, colours and dates. Every phrase comes with Greek script, English meaning and IPA pronunciation.

I have published four books on language learning, and one thing I noticed learning Norwegian, the Scandinavian languages and later Spanish: the first phrases you learn stick the longest. So it pays to learn them correctly from day one, not just approximately.

Greek Greetings: The Essentials

Greek separates informal and formal greetings more clearly than English. Γεια σου is for one person you know, Γεια σας is formal or for several people. With strangers, shop staff and older people, Γεια σας is always the safe choice.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
Hello (informal)	Γεια σου	[ʝa su]
Hello (formal or plural)	Γεια σας	[ʝa sas]
Good morning	Καλημέρα	[kaliˈmera]
Good evening	Καλησπέρα	[kalisˈpera]
Good night	Καληνύχτα	[kaliˈnixta]
Welcome!	Καλώς ήρθατε!	[kaˈlos ˈirθate]
Nice to see you.	Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω.	[ˈçerome pu se ˈvlepo]

When exactly Καλημέρα turns into Καλησπέρα, how to answer each greeting and what to say at Easter or on a name day is a topic of its own. You will find all of it in my guide to Greek greetings.

How Are You in Greek?

After the greeting, Greeks almost always ask how you are. The question is meant seriously, so a short answer and a question back is polite.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
How are you? (informal)	Τι κάνεις;	[ti ˈkanis]
How are you? (formal)	Τι κάνετε;	[ti ˈkanete]
Are you well?	Είσαι καλά;	[ˈise kaˈla]
Thank you, I am fine.	Ευχαριστώ, είμαι καλά.	[efxaɾiˈsto ˈime kaˈla]
Fine, and you?	Καλά, εσύ;	[kaˈla eˈsi]
Not so well.	Όχι και τόσο καλά.	[ˈoçi ce ˈtoso kaˈla]

How to Say Goodbye in Greek

Γεια σου and Γεια σας work for hello and goodbye, which surprises many learners at first. Αντίο sounds more final and is used less in daily life than English speakers expect.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
Bye (informal)	Γεια σου	[ʝa su]
Bye (formal or plural)	Γεια σας	[ʝa sas]
Goodbye	Αντίο	[anˈdio]
See you!	Τα λέμε!	[ta ˈleme]
See you tomorrow	Τα λέμε αύριο	[ta ˈleme ˈavɾio]
See you later	Τα λέμε αργότερα	[ta ˈleme aɾˈɣoteɾa]
Take care!	Να προσέχεις!	[na proˈseçis]
Nice to have met you!	Χάρηκα που σε γνώρισα!	[ˈxaɾika pu se ˈɣnoɾisa]
Sleep well	Καλό ύπνο	[kaˈlo ˈipno]

How to Introduce Yourself in Greek

Sooner or later someone will ask where you are from. These phrases cover names, origin and the question every traveller needs at some point: do you speak English?

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
My name is Jonas.	Με λένε Γιόνας.	[me ˈlene ˈʝonas]
What is your name?	Πώς σε λένε;	[pos se ˈlene]
Where are you from?	Από πού είσαι;	[aˈpo pu ˈise]
I am from London.	Είμαι από το Λονδίνο.	[ˈime aˈpo to lonˈðino]
I live in Berlin.	Μένω στο Βερολίνο.	[ˈmeno sto veɾoˈlino]
I am English.	Είμαι Άγγλος / Αγγλίδα.	[ˈime ˈaŋɡlos] / [ˈime aŋˈɡliða]
Do you speak English?	Μιλάτε αγγλικά;	[miˈlate aŋɡliˈka]
I speak a little Greek.	Μιλάω λίγα ελληνικά.	[miˈlao ˈliɣa eliniˈka]
I understand some Greek.	Καταλαβαίνω λίγα ελληνικά.	[katalaˈveno ˈliɣa eliniˈka]

Please, Thank You and Sorry: The Polite Essentials

If you only learn one section of this page, make it this one. Παρακαλώ is the Swiss army knife of Greek: it means please, you are welcome and, on the phone, hello. Συγγνώμη covers both sorry and excuse me, so it is also the polite way to get a waiter’s attention.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
Yes	Ναι	[ne]
No	Όχι	[ˈoçi]
Please / You are welcome	Παρακαλώ	[paɾakaˈlo]
Thank you	Ευχαριστώ	[efxaɾiˈsto]
Thank you very much	Ευχαριστώ πολύ	[efxaɾiˈsto poˈli]
Sorry / Excuse me	Συγγνώμη	[siɣˈnomi]
I apologise.	Ζητώ συγγνώμη.	[ziˈto siɣˈnomi]
I don’t understand.	Δεν καταλαβαίνω.	[ðen katalaˈveno]
Could you speak more slowly?	Μπορείτε να μιλάτε πιο αργά;	[boˈɾite na miˈlate pço aɾˈɣa]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	Συγγνώμη, δεν το έκανα επίτηδες.	[siɣˈnomi ðen to ˈekana eˈpitiðes]

One classic trap: Ναι means yes, even though it sounds like “nay”. And the Greek no often comes with a small upward tilt of the head and raised eyebrows, sometimes without any word at all.

Shopping, Eating Out and Finding Your Way

These are the phrases I would put on the first page of any travel notebook. They get you through a taverna, a kiosk and a search for the bus stop.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
How much is it?	Πόσο κάνει;	[ˈposo ˈkani]
Where is …?	Πού είναι …;	[pu ˈine]
Where is the toilet?	Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;	[pu ˈine i tuaˈleta]
I would like …	Θα ήθελα …	[θa ˈiθela]
A coffee, please.	Έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ.	[ˈenan kaˈfe paɾakaˈlo]
Water	Νερό	[neˈɾo]
The bill, please.	Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.	[ton loɣaɾʝaˈzmo paɾakaˈlo]
Can I pay by card?	Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;	[boˈɾo na pliˈɾoso me ˈkaɾta]
I need help!	Χρειάζομαι βοήθεια!	[xɾiˈazome voˈiθia]

Useful Sentences with “I Am …” in Greek

The following phrases help you describe how you feel or what you need. Greek adjectives change their ending for women: κουρασμένος becomes κουρασμένη, for example.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
I am hungry	Πεινάω	[piˈnao]
I am thirsty	Διψάω	[ðiˈpsao]
I am tired	Είμαι κουρασμένος / κουρασμένη	[ˈime kuɾaˈzmenos] / [kuɾaˈzmeni]
I am ill	Είμαι άρρωστος / άρρωστη	[ˈime ˈaɾostos] / [ˈaɾosti]
I am injured	Είμαι τραυματισμένος	[ˈime travmatiˈzmenos]
I am lost	Έχω χαθεί	[ˈexo xaˈθi]
I am a tourist	Είμαι τουρίστας	[ˈime tuˈɾistas]
I am new here	Είμαι καινούργιος εδώ	[ˈime ceˈnuɾʝos eˈðo]
I am alone	Είμαι μόνος / μόνη	[ˈime ˈmonos] / [ˈmoni]
I am in a hurry	Βιάζομαι	[ˈvʝazome]
I am late	Άργησα	[ˈaɾʝisa]
I am busy	Είμαι απασχολημένος	[ˈime apasxoliˈmenos]
I am happy	Είμαι χαρούμενος	[ˈime xaˈɾumenos]
I am sad	Είμαι λυπημένος	[ˈime lipiˈmenos]
I am surprised	Είμαι έκπληκτος	[ˈime ˈekpliktos]
I am in love	Είμαι ερωτευμένος	[ˈime eɾotevˈmenos]
I am 30 years old	Είμαι τριάντα χρονών	[ˈime tɾiˈanda xɾoˈnon]

Typical Greek Expressions You Will Hear Everywhere

Textbooks teach you Ευχαριστώ and Καλημέρα. What they rarely teach are the little words that fill every Greek conversation, in the kafeneio, at the kiosk or at a family dinner. Learn a few of these and you will understand far more of what is going on around you, and you will sound a lot less like a phrasebook.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)	When you hear it
Cheers! (our health)	Γεια μας!	[ʝa mas]	Raising glasses, often written yamas
Wow! / Oops!	Όπα!	[ˈopa]	Dancing, celebrating, or when something falls
Slowly, take it easy	Σιγά σιγά	[siˈɣa siˈɣa]	The unofficial motto of Greek daily life
Come on! / Come here	Έλα!	[ˈela]	Also how friends answer the phone
Come on, hurry up	Άντε!	[ˈande]	Mild impatience, or “let’s go then”
Let’s go!	Πάμε!	[ˈpame]	Leaving, starting, agreeing to a plan
OK	Εντάξει	[enˈdaksi]	Agreement, used constantly
Never mind / No problem	Δεν πειράζει	[ðem biˈɾazi]	When someone apologises
What can we do?	Τι να κάνουμε;	[ti na ˈkanume]	A shrug in words, accepting things as they are
Pardon? / Here you are	Ορίστε;	[oˈɾiste]	Asking someone to repeat, or handing something over
Be well (thanks!)	Να ‘σαι καλά	[ˈna se kaˈla]	A warm reply to thanks or a favour
Enjoy your meal	Καλή όρεξη	[kaˈli ˈoɾeksi]	Before eating, from waiters too
Have a good trip	Καλό ταξίδι	[kaˈlo taˈksiði]	Before any journey, even a short one
Happy new month	Καλό μήνα	[kaˈlo ˈmina]	Said on the first day of every month
Many happy returns	Χρόνια πολλά	[ˈxɾoɲa poˈla]	Birthdays, name days and holidays
Bless you!	Γείτσες!	[ˈʝitses]	After someone sneezes

My favourite of the list is Καλό μήνα. Greeks wish each other a good month on the first of every month, in shops, by message and on the radio. Say it to your hotel receptionist on the 1st and watch the reaction. Σιγά σιγά is a close second: it tells you a lot about the rhythm of life in Greece, and it is good advice for learning the language, too.

Useful Signs and Notices in Greek

These are the signs you will actually see in Greece, at airports, museums and on the street. On signs, words are often written in capitals and without accents.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
Entrance	Είσοδος	[ˈisoðos]
Exit	Έξοδος	[ˈeksoðos]
Toilet	Τουαλέτα	[tuaˈleta]
Open	Ανοιχτό	[aniˈxto]
Closed	Κλειστό	[kliˈsto]
Attention! / Caution!	Προσοχή!	[prosoˈçi]
Police	Αστυνομία	[astinoˈmia]
Pharmacy	Φαρμακείο	[faɾmaˈcio]
Fire brigade	Πυροσβεστική	[piɾozvestiˈci]
No entry	Απαγορεύεται η είσοδος	[apaɣoˈɾevete i ˈisoðos]

Reading signs is much easier once you know the letters. If Greek script still looks like a wall of symbols, start with my guide to the Greek alphabet: most learners recognise all 24 letters within a week.

Numbers 1 to 10 in Greek

Prices, room numbers, bus lines: these ten numbers come up every day. The rest of the Greek number system builds on them.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
One	Ένα	[ˈena]
Two	Δύο	[ˈðio]
Three	Τρία	[ˈtɾia]
Four	Τέσσερα	[ˈteseɾa]
Five	Πέντε	[ˈpende]
Six	Έξι	[ˈeksi]
Seven	Επτά	[epˈta]
Eight	Οκτώ	[okˈto]
Nine	Εννέα	[eˈnea]
Ten	Δέκα	[ˈðeka]

For everything beyond ten, including 1 to 100, how to read prices and the ancient Greek numerals, see the complete guide to Greek numbers.

Colours in Greek

Colours come up when you shop, describe something or look for the blue door of your holiday flat.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
Red	Κόκκινο	[ˈkocino]
Blue	Μπλε	[ble]
Green	Πράσινο	[ˈpɾasino]
Yellow	Κίτρινο	[ˈcitɾino]
Black	Μαύρο	[ˈmavɾo]
White	Άσπρο	[ˈaspɾo]
Orange	Πορτοκαλί	[poɾtokaˈli]
Purple	Μωβ	[mov]
Pink	Ροζ	[ɾoz]
Brown	Καφέ	[kaˈfe]

Days of the Week, Months and Seasons in Greek

Useful for bookings, opening hours and making plans. The weekdays are easy to remember once you know the trick: Δευτέρα, Τρίτη, Τετάρτη and Πέμπτη simply mean second, third, fourth and fifth day, counted from Sunday.

English	Greek	Pronunciation (IPA)
Monday	Δευτέρα	[ðefˈteɾa]
Tuesday	Τρίτη	[ˈtɾiti]
Wednesday	Τετάρτη	[teˈtaɾti]
Thursday	Πέμπτη	[ˈpemti]
Friday	Παρασκευή	[paɾasceˈvi]
Saturday	Σάββατο	[ˈsavato]
Sunday	Κυριακή	[ciɾʝaˈci]
January	Ιανουάριος	[ianuˈaɾios]
February	Φεβρουάριος	[fevɾuˈaɾios]
March	Μάρτιος	[ˈmaɾtios]
April	Απρίλιος	[aˈpɾilios]
May	Μάιος	[ˈmaios]
June	Ιούνιος	[iˈunios]
July	Ιούλιος	[iˈulios]
August	Αύγουστος	[ˈavɣustos]
September	Σεπτέμβριος	[sepˈtemvɾios]
October	Οκτώβριος	[okˈtovɾios]
November	Νοέμβριος	[noˈemvɾios]
December	Δεκέμβριος	[ðeˈcemvɾios]
Spring	Άνοιξη	[ˈaniksi]
Summer	Καλοκαίρι	[kaloˈceɾi]
Autumn	Φθινόπωρο	[fθiˈnopoɾo]
Winter	Χειμώνας	[çiˈmonas]

A Note on Greek Pronunciation

Greek spelling is very regular. Once you know the letters and a handful of sound rules, you can pronounce almost any word correctly, which is a real advantage over English or French.

Three things help from the start. First, follow the accent mark: every word with more than one syllable shows its stressed vowel (´), and the stress can change the meaning. Second, δ sounds like the “th” in “this”, never like “d”. Third, the letter pairs μπ and ντ at the start of a word sound like b and d, which is why Μπλε is simply “ble”.

The IPA in the tables above is a useful bridge, but reading Greek script is the real foundation. My Greek alphabet guide takes you through all 24 letters and the key letter pairs in seven days. If you want to check a word or its pronunciation, the Portal for the Greek Language of the Centre for the Greek Language offers free dictionaries and reference tools.

Frequently Asked Questions: Greek Phrases

What are the most important Greek phrases for beginners?

Start with Γεια σας (hello), Καλημέρα (good morning), Ευχαριστώ (thank you), Παρακαλώ (please and you are welcome), Συγγνώμη (sorry, excuse me), Ναι and Όχι (yes and no), Δεν καταλαβαίνω (I don’t understand) and Πόσο κάνει; (how much is it?). These cover most first real conversations.

Is Greek pronunciation difficult for English speakers?

Less than most people expect. Greek spelling follows clear rules, so once you know them you can pronounce almost any word. The main challenges are a few sounds English does not have, especially γ (a soft, breathy g) and the tapped r.

What does Γεια σου (yia sou) mean?

Γεια σου literally means “health to you” and is used for both hello and goodbye, a bit like the Italian ciao. The formal or plural form is Γεια σας.

How do you say cheers in Greek?

Γεια μας [ʝa mas], often written yamas, which means “our health”. Among friends you also hear Στην υγειά μας [stin iˈʝa mas], “to our health”.

Do I need to learn the Greek alphabet to use these phrases?

Not strictly, because the IPA lets you pronounce every phrase. In practice the alphabet takes about a week to learn and makes signs, menus and every learning resource accessible, so it is the best first investment. See my Greek alphabet guide for a 7-day plan.

Related links

• Greek greetings: kalimera, yia sou and how to answer
• Learn the Greek alphabet in 7 days
• Greek numbers with pronunciation
• Learn Greek: the complete guide to courses and methods
• Learn Greek with Mondly: an honest review
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Train your listening comprehension
• Learning languages quickly, is it possible?

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