Greek phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Greek phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Greek with translation. | Free & useful

Greek phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Greek culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Greek phrases you should know

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Greet someone in Greek

If you want to greet someone in Greek, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Welcome! in Greek	Καλώς ήρθατε!	[kaˈlos ˈirθate]
Good day to you! in Greek	Καλή σας μέρα!	[kaˈli sas ˈmera]
Good morning to you! in Greek	Καλημέρα σας!	[kaliˈmera sas]
Good evening! in Greek	Καλησπέρα!	[kalisˈpera]
Good to see you. in Greek	Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω.	[ˈçerome pu se ˈvlepo]
I’m glad to see you. in Greek	Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω.	[ˈçerome pu se ˈvlepo]

If you are greeted in Greek, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Have a nice day too! in Greek	Να έχετε κι εσείς μια όμορφη μέρα!	[na ˈexete ci eˈsis ˈmia ˈomorfi ˈmera]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Greek	Ευχαριστώ, χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω κι εγώ.	[efxaɾiˈsto ˈçerome pu se ˈvlepo ci eˈɣo]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
How are you doing? in Greek	Πώς είσαι;	[pos ˈise]
Are you doing well? in Greek	Είσαι καλά;	[ˈise kaˈla]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	Ευχαριστώ που ρώτησες, είμαι καλά.	[efxaɾiˈsto pu ˈɾotises ˈime kaˈla]
Thank you, I am fine.	Ευχαριστώ, είμαι καλά.	[efxaɾiˈsto ˈime kaˈla]
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	Ευχαριστώ, δεν είμαι τόσο καλά.	[efxaɾiˈsto ðen ˈime ˈtoso kaˈla]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	Ευχαριστώ, είμαι καλά. Εσύ;	[efxaɾiˈsto ˈime kaˈla eˈsi]

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Greek?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Greek is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Goodbye! in Greek	Αντίο!	[aˈðio]
Take care of yourself! in Greek	Να προσέχεις τον εαυτό σου!	[na proˈseçis ton eaˈfto su]
Goodbye in Greek	Γεια σου / Γεια σας	[ʝa su] / [ʝa sas]
See you tomorrow in Greek	Τα λέμε αύριο	[ta ˈleme ˈavɾio]
See you soon in Greek	Τα λέμε σύντομα	[ta ˈleme ˈsindoma]
See you later in Greek	Τα λέμε αργότερα	[ta ˈleme aɾˈɣoteɾa]
Good night in Greek	Καληνύχτα	[kaliˈnixta]
Sleep well in Greek	Κοιμήσου καλά	[ciˈmisu kaˈla]
Talk to you later. in Greek	Τα λέμε αργότερα	[ta ˈleme aɾˈɣoteɾa]
Nice to have met you! in Greek	Χάρηκα που σε γνώρισα!	[ˈxaɾika pu se ˈɣnoɾisa]

How do I introduce myself in Greek?

When travelling in Greece, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Greek and know who you’re talking to.

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
My name is Jonas.	Με λένε Γιόνας.	[me ˈlene ˈʝonas]
What is your name?	Πώς σε λένε;	[pos se ˈlene]
What is your surname?	Ποιο είναι το επώνυμό σου;	[ˈpço ˈine to eˈponimo su]
What is your first name?	Ποιο είναι το μικρό σου όνομα;	[ˈpço ˈine to miˈkɾo su ˈonoma]
What is your surname?	Ποιο είναι το επώνυμό σου;	[ˈpço ˈine to eˈponimo su]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Where do you come from?	Από πού είσαι;	[aˈpo pu ˈise]
I am from London.	Είμαι από το Λονδίνο.	[ˈime aˈpo to lonˈðino]
Are you from Birmingham?	Είσαι από το Μπέρμιγχαμ;	[ˈise aˈpo to ˈbermiɣam]
No, I’m from Madrid.	Όχι, είμαι από τη Μαδρίτη.	[ˈoçi ˈime aˈpo ti maˈðɾiti]
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	Τέλεια, είμαι κι εγώ από τη Μαδρίτη.	[ˈtelia ˈime ci eˈɣo aˈpo ti maˈðɾiti]
Where do you live?	Πού μένεις;	[pu ˈmenis]
I live in Berlin.	Μένω στο Βερολίνο.	[ˈmeno sto veɾoˈlino]

If you have problems with your Greek, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Do you speak English?	Μιλάς αγγλικά;	[miˈlas aɣliˈka]
Yes, I speak English.	Ναι, μιλάω αγγλικά.	[ne miˈlao aɣliˈka]
Yes, I speak some English.	Ναι, μιλάω λίγα αγγλικά.	[ne miˈlao ˈliɣa aɣliˈka]
No, I do not speak any English.	Όχι, δεν μιλάω καθόλου αγγλικά.	[ˈoçi ðen miˈlao kaˈθolu aɣliˈka]
I only speak English.	Μιλάω μόνο αγγλικά.	[miˈlao ˈmono aɣliˈka]
I understand some Greek.	Καταλαβαίνω λίγα ελληνικά.	[kataˈlave̞no ˈliɣa eliniˈka]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Greek and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
I am English in Greek	Είμαι Άγγλος / Αγγλίδα	[ˈime ˈaŋɡlos] / [ˈime aŋˈɡliða]
I am injured in Greek	Είμαι τραυματισμένος	[ˈime travmatiˈzmenos]
I am here in Greek	Είμαι εδώ	[ˈime eˈðo]
I am hungry in Greek	Πεινάω	[piˈnao]
I am thirsty in Greek	Διψάω	[ðiˈpsao]
I am a single person in Greek	Είμαι μόνος / μόνη	[ˈime ˈmonos] / [ˈime ˈmoni]
I need help! in Greek	Χρειάζομαι βοήθεια!	[xriˈazome voˈiθia]
I am tired in Greek	Είμαι κουρασμένος	[ˈime kuraˈzmenos]
I am happy in Greek	Είμαι χαρούμενος	[ˈime xaˈrumenos]
I am sad in Greek	Είμαι λυπημένος	[ˈime lipiˈmenos]
I am in love in Greek	Είμαι ερωτευμένος	[ˈime erotevˈmenos]
I am ill in Greek	Είμαι άρρωστος	[ˈime ˈarostos]
I am ready in Greek	Είμαι έτοιμος	[ˈime ˈetimos]
I am busy in Greek	Είμαι απασχολημένος	[ˈime apasxoˈlimenos]
I am lost in Greek	Έχω χαθεί	[ˈexo xaˈθi]
I am a tourist in Greek	Είμαι τουρίστας	[ˈime tuˈristas]
I am new here in Greek	Είμαι καινούριος εδώ	[ˈime ceˈnurʝos eˈðo]
I am confident in Greek	Έχω αυτοπεποίθηση	[ˈexo aftopeˈpiθisi]
I am proud in Greek	Είμαι περήφανος	[ˈime peˈrifanos]
I am a teacher in Greek	Είμαι δάσκαλος	[ˈime ˈðaskalos]
I am late in Greek	Άργησα	[ˈarʝisa]
I am 30 years old in Greek	Είμαι τριάντα χρονών	[ˈime triˈanda xroˈnon]
I am in a hurry in Greek	Βιάζομαι	[ˈvjazome]
I am happy in Greek	Είμαι χαρούμενος	[ˈime xaˈrumenos]
I am surprised in Greek	Είμαι έκπληκτος	[ˈime ˈekplik̚tos]
I am angry in Greek	Είμαι θυμωμένος	[ˈime θimoˈmenos]

Apologising in Greek

Here’s how to apologise to a Greek speaker:

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
I apologise.	Ζητώ συγγνώμη	[ziˈto siɣˈnomi]
Sorry, that was not the intention.	Συγγνώμη, δεν ήταν αυτή η πρόθεση.	[siɣˈnomi ðen ˈitan afˈti i ˈproθesi]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	Συγγνώμη, δεν το έκανα επίτηδες.	[siɣˈnomi ðen to ˈekana eˈpitides]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me.	Συγγνώμη, αυτό ήταν πολύ αδέξιο εκ μέρους μου.	[siɣˈnomi afˈto ˈitan poˈli aˈðeksio ek ˈmerus mu]

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Useful signs and notices in Greek

Useful signs and messages in Greek that you will often see.

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Entrance in Greek	Είσοδος	[ˈisosðos]
Toilet in Greek	Τουαλέτα	[tuaˈleta]
Exit in Greek	Έξοδος	[ˈeksɔðɔs]
Attention! in Greek	Προσοχή!	[prosoˈçi]
Police in Greek	Αστυνομία	[astinoˈmia]
Emergency services in Greek	Υπηρεσίες έκτακτης ανάγκης	[ipiɾeˈsies ˈektaktis aˈnaɲis]
Fire brigade in Greek	Πυροσβεστική	[piɾozvesˈtiˈki]
Passage forbidden. in Greek	Απαγορεύεται η διέλευση.	[apaɣoˈɾevete i ˈðielefsi]
Caution! in Greek	Προσοχή!	[prosoˈçi]
This building is under video surveillance. in Greek	Αυτό το κτίριο παρακολουθείται με κάμερα.	[afˈto to ˈktiɾio paɾakoluˈθite me ˈkamera]

Numbers to 25 in Greek

Counting in Greek is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Greek from 1 to 25.

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
One in Greek	Ένα	[ˈena]
Two in Greek	Δύο	[ˈði.o]
Three in Greek	Τρία	[ˈtri.a]
Four in Greek	Τέσσερα	[ˈteseɾa]
Five in Greek	Πέντε	[ˈpende]
Six in Greek	Έξι	[ˈeksi]
Seven in Greek	Επτά	[epˈta]
Eight in Greek	Οκτώ	[okˈto]
Nine in Greek	Εννέα	[eˈne.a]
Ten in Greek	Δέκα	[ˈðeka]
Eleven in Greek	Έντεκα	[ˈendeka]
Twelve in Greek	Δώδεκα	[ˈðoðeka]
Thirteen in Greek	Δεκατρία	[ðekaˈtri.a]
Fourteen in Greek	Δεκατέσσερα	[ðekaˈteseɾa]
Fifteen in Greek	Δεκαπέντε	[ðekaˈpende]
Sixteen in Greek	Δεκαέξι	[ðekaˈeksi]
Seventeen in Greek	Δεκαεπτά	[ðekaepˈta]
Eighteen in Greek	Δεκαοκτώ	[ðekaoˈkto]
Nineteen in Greek	Δεκαεννέα	[ðekaenˈne.a]
Twenty in Greek	Είκοσι	[ˈikosi]
Twenty-one in Greek	Είκοσι ένα	[ˈikosi ˈena]
Twenty-two in Greek	Είκοσι δύο	[ˈikosi ˈði.o]
Twenty-three in Greek	Είκοσι τρία	[ˈikosi ˈtri.a]
Twenty-four in Greek	Είκοσι τέσσερα	[ˈikosi ˈteseɾa]
Twenty-five in Greek	Είκοσι πέντε	[ˈikosi ˈpende]

The colours in Greek

The most common colours in Greek with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Red in Greek	Κόκκινο	[ˈko.ci.no]
Blue in Greek	Μπλε	[ble]
Green in Greek	Πράσινο	[ˈpra.si.no]
Yellow in Greek	Κίτρινο	[ˈki.tɾi.no]
Black in Greek	Μαύρο	[ˈma.vɾo]
White in Greek	Άσπρο	[ˈa.spɾo]
Orange in Greek	Πορτοκαλί	[poɾ.to.kaˈli]
Purple in Greek	Μωβ	[mov]
Pink in Greek	Ροζ	[ɾoz]
Brown in Greek	Καφέ	[kaˈfe]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Greek

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Greek and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Greek.

English	Greek	Phonetic (IPA)
Monday in Greek	Δευτέρα	[ðefˈteɾa]
Tuesday in Greek	Τρίτη	[ˈtɾiti]
Wednesday in Greek	Τετάρτη	[teˈtaɾti]
Thursday in Greek	Πέμπτη	[ˈpemti]
Friday in Greek	Παρασκευή	[paɾasceˈvi]
Saturday in Greek	Σάββατο	[ˈsa.vato]
Sunday in Greek	Κυριακή	[ci.ɾʝaˈci]
January in Greek	Ιανουάριος	[ianuˈaɾios]
February in Greek	Φεβρουάριος	[fevɾuˈaɾios]
March in Greek	Μάρτιος	[ˈmaɾtios]
April in Greek	Απρίλιος	[aˈpɾilios]
May in Greek	Μάιος	[ˈma.ios]
June in Greek	Ιούνιος	[iˈu.nios]
July in Greek	Ιούλιος	[iˈu.lios]
August in Greek	Αύγουστος	[ˈav.ɣus.tos]
September in Greek	Σεπτέμβριος	[sepˈtevɾios]
October in Greek	Οκτώβριος	[okˈto.vɾios]
November in Greek	Νοέμβριος	[noˈev.ɾios]
December in Greek	Δεκέμβριος	[ðeˈcev.ɾios]
Spring in Greek	Άνοιξη	[ˈa.ni.ksi]
Summer in Greek	Καλοκαίρι	[kaloˈceɾi]
Autumn in Greek	Φθινόπωρο	[fθiˈno.po.ɾo]
Winter in Greek	Χειμώνας	[çiˈmo.nas]

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Additional links

• Learn Greek with Mondly
• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Greek Course for Children.