Greek Phrases: Most Common Everyday Expressions with Pronunciation Guide

If you’re heading to Greece or Cyprus, or simply starting to learn Greek, getting a feel for real everyday phrases is the fastest way to break the ice. Greek speakers genuinely appreciate the effort – even a basic Καλημέρα (good morning) with correct pronunciation gets a warm reaction.

This guide covers the phrases you’ll actually use: greetings, introductions, apologies, numbers, colours, days and months – each with the Greek script, an English translation, and IPA phonetic transcription so you can get the sounds right from the start.

One thing I’ve found learning Scandinavian languages and now Spanish: the first phrases you learn stick the longest. So it’s worth learning them correctly from day one, not just approximately.

Greek Phrases You Should Know

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Greet Someone in Greek

Greek has both formal and informal greetings – the distinction matters more than in English. Γεια σου is informal (one person you know), Γεια σας is formal or plural. Using the wrong one rarely causes offence, but getting it right is noticed.

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 how the person you are talking to is doing. Here’s how:

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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More information about the Greek Language Course.

How to Say Goodbye in Greek

Saying goodbye in Greek is straightforward. Γεια σου works both as hello and goodbye in informal settings – which surprises a lot of learners at first.

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 to Introduce Yourself in Greek

When travelling in Greece, sooner or later you will want to introduce yourself and find out who you’re talking to. These phrases cover the basics:

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]

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 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…’ in Greek

The following phrases will help you express your situation, needs or feelings in everyday Greek conversations:

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 surprised in Greek	Είμαι έκπληκτος	[ˈime ˈekplik̚tos]
I am angry in Greek	Είμαι θυμωμένος	[ˈime θimoˈmenos]

Apologising in Greek

Knowing how to apologise properly in Greek matters more than you might expect. Συγγνώμη (sorry/excuse me) is one of the most versatile words you’ll use – both for apologies and for getting someone’s attention politely.

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

These are the signs and notices you’ll actually encounter in Greece – at airports, museums, on the street. Worth knowing before you arrive.

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 1 to 25 in Greek

Knowing your numbers in Greek is more practical than it sounds – prices, addresses, floor numbers, ages. Greek numbers are phonetically consistent once you know the base words, so learning 1–10 covers most of the rest.

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]

Colours in Greek

Colours come up constantly in practical situations – describing objects, shopping, giving directions. The most common colours in Greek with IPA 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

You’ll need these for making plans, booking appointments and understanding dates. Greek months are close to their Latin equivalents, which makes them easier than you’d expect.

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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A Note on Greek Pronunciation

Greek is phonetically consistent – once you know the alphabet and the sound rules, you can read and pronounce any word correctly. That is a genuine advantage over languages like English or French, where spelling and pronunciation regularly diverge.

A few things worth knowing from the start:

The letter combination γι sounds like the English “y” in “yes”. The letter δ sounds like the “th” in “the”, not like “d”. Double consonants like λλ or νν are pronounced as single sounds. Word stress in Greek is always marked with an accent (´) in written form – follow it, and your pronunciation will be understood.

Learning the Greek alphabet first – before trying to memorise phrases – will make everything that follows significantly faster. The IPA transcriptions in the tables above are a useful bridge, but the alphabet is the real foundation. For a structured approach to both the alphabet and core vocabulary, the full Greek learning guide covers this step by step.

For a deeper reference on Greek phonetics, the Cambridge English Language Teaching resource library covers phonetic transcription principles that apply directly to Greek IPA reading.

Frequently Asked Questions: Greek Phrases

What are the most important Greek phrases for beginners?

The most useful phrases to learn first are basic greetings (Καλημέρα, Γεια σου), polite essentials (Ευχαριστώ – thank you, Παρακαλώ – please/you’re welcome, Συγγνώμη – sorry/excuse me), and a few practical phrases like Πού είναι…; (Where is…?) and Δεν καταλαβαίνω (I don’t understand). These cover the majority of first real-world interactions.

Is Greek pronunciation difficult for English speakers?

Less difficult than most people expect. Greek has a consistent spelling-to-sound system, so once you know the rules you can pronounce any word correctly. The main challenges are a few sounds that don’t exist in English – particularly the Greek γ (a soft “gh” sound) and δ (like “th” in “the”). Regular listening practice with native audio resolves both quickly.

What does Γεια σου (Yia sou) mean exactly?

Γεια σου literally means “health to you” and functions as both hello and goodbye in informal Greek – similar to the Italian “Ciao”. The formal/plural version is Γεια σας. It is one of the most versatile and frequently used phrases in spoken Greek.

How do you say sorry in Greek?

The most common word is Συγγνώμη [siɣˈnomi], which covers both “sorry” and “excuse me”. For a more formal apology you can say Ζητώ συγγνώμη (I apologise). Συγγνώμη is also the standard way to politely get someone’s attention in Greek.

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

Strictly speaking, no – the IPA phonetic transcriptions in this guide let you approximate pronunciation without reading Greek script. In practice, however, learning the 24-letter Greek alphabet takes 1–2 weeks and makes everything significantly easier: reading signs, menus, maps, and any learning material becomes accessible. It is the single most effective investment at the start of Greek learning.

Where to Go From Here

These phrases are a practical starting point. If you want to move beyond isolated phrases and build the ability to hold real conversations in Greek, the next step is a structured course that covers vocabulary systematically and introduces grammar in context.

• Learn Greek: full guide to courses, methods and learning plan
• Learn Greek with Mondly – review and honest assessment
• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• Training your listening comprehension at the same time
• Learning languages quickly – is it possible?
• The different types of learners in language learning

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