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The Greek Language
The Greek language is probably the oldest in Europe, with a four thousand year oral tradition and a three thousand year written tradition. Today, Greek constitutes a large part of the vocabulary of any Indo-European language, and much of the lexicon of any scientific repertoire.
It's surprising how a little Greek will enhance your stay here. Greek people are very proud of their language, but they also realise that it is very difficult for non-Greeks to get to grips with. So, if you can offer a few words, even the most simple greetings, you will receive in return an even more enthusiastic welcome. Below is the Greek alphabet and a few words and phrases that you might find useful. Don't be bashful, just have a go.
| Α |
α |
alfa |
like a in carpet |
| Β |
β |
vita |
like v in video |
| Γ |
γ |
gamma |
like y in yard |
| Δ |
δ |
delta |
like th in therefore |
| Ε |
ε |
epsilon |
like e in envelope |
| Ζ |
ζ |
zita |
like z in zebra |
| Η |
η |
ita |
like i in ignore |
| Θ |
θ |
theta |
like th in theatre |
| Ι |
ι |
yiota |
like i in ignore |
| Κ |
κ |
kappa |
like k in kiss |
| Λ |
λ |
lamda |
like l in lab |
| Μ |
μ |
mi |
like m in mother |
| Ν |
ν |
ni |
like n in net |
| Ξ |
ξ |
ksi |
like x in six |
| Ο |
ο |
omicron |
like o in ordinary |
| Π |
π |
pi |
like p in poster |
| Ρ |
ρ |
ro |
like r in rabbit |
| Σ |
σ |
sigma |
like s in sigma |
| Τ |
τ |
taf |
like t in tie |
| Υ |
υ |
ipsilon |
like i in ignore |
| Φ |
φ |
fi |
like f in fire |
| Χ |
χ |
hi |
like h in hotel |
| Ψ |
ψ |
psi |
like ps in lapse |
| Ω |
ω |
omega |
like o in ordinary |
| ΝΑΙ |
Neh |
Yes |
| ΟΧΙ |
O-hee |
No |
| KAΛHMEΡA |
Kal-ee-meh-ra |
Good
morning |
| KAΛHΣΠEΡA |
Kal-ee-speh-ra |
Good
evening |
| KAΛHNΥΧTA |
Kal-ee-nee-ta |
Good
night |
| ΠAΡAKAΛΩ |
Par-a-ka-lo |
Please |
| EΥΧAΡIΣTΩ |
Ef-har-is-to |
Thank
you |
| ΚΑΛΑ |
Ka-la |
Good |
| ΣΥΓΝΩΜΗ |
Sig-no-mi |
Excuse
me |
| ΕΝΤΑΞΕΙ |
En-daxi |
OK |
| ΔΕΝ
ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΑΙΝΩ |
Then ka-ta-la-veh-no |
I do
not understand |
| ΜΙΛΑΤΕ
ΑΓΓΛΙΚΑ |
Mi-lah-teh an-glee-ka? |
Do
you speak English? |
| ΘΕΛΩ
ΝΑ ΠΑΩ |
Thel-o na pao... |
I
want to go... |
| ΠΟΣΟ
ΚΑΝΕΙ |
Po-so ka-nee? |
How
much does it cost? |
| ΤΟ
ΛΟΓΟΡΙΑΣΜΟ |
To lo-gar-e-as-mo |
The
bill |
| ΠΟΣΟ
ΜΑΚΡΙΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ |
Po-so mahk-rea een-eh... |
How
far is... |
| ΠΟΥ
ΕΙΝΑΙ |
Poo een-eh...? |
Where
is...? |
| ΓΕΙΑ
ΣΑΣ |
Ye-a-sas |
Hello
and Goodbye |
| ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΕΣ |
Plee-ro-for-ee-es |
Information |
| ΜΑΖΙ |
Ma-zee |
With |
| ΠΟΥ |
Poo? |
Where? |
| ΠΟΣ |
Pos? |
How? |
| ΓΙΑΤΙ |
Yeah-ti |
Why? |
| ΚΑΛΟ |
Ka-lo |
Good |
| ΚΑΚΟ |
Ka-ko |
Bad |
| ΑΝΟΙΚΤΟ |
An-ik-to |
Open |
| ΚΛΕΙΣΤΟ |
Klee-sto |
Closed |
| ΤΩΡΑ |
To-ra |
Now |
| ΦΤΗΝΟ |
Ftee-no |
Cheap |
| ΑΚΡΙΒΟ |
Ak-ree-vo |
Expensive |
| ΣΗΜΕΡΑ |
See-mer-ah |
Today |
| ΑΥΡΙΟ |
Av-ree-o |
Tomorrow |
| 0 |
μιδεν |
mith-en |
| 1 |
ενα |
e-na |
| 2 |
δυο |
dee-o |
| 3 |
τρια |
tree-a |
| 4 |
τεσσερα |
tess-era |
| 5 |
πεντε |
pen-te |
| 6 |
εξι |
ex-ee |
| 7 |
επτα |
ep-ta |
| 8 |
οχτω |
och-to |
| 9 |
εννια |
en-ia |
| 10 |
δεκα |
de-ka |
| 20 |
εικοσι |
ee-kosee |
| 30 |
τριαντα |
tree-an-da |
| 40 |
σαραντα |
sa-ran-da |
| 50 |
πενηντα |
pen-in-da |
| 60 |
εξηντα |
ex-in-da |
| 70 |
εβδομηντα |
evtho-min-da |
| 80 |
ογδοντα |
ogth-on-da |
| 90 |
εννενηντα |
enen-in-da |
| 100 |
εκατο |
eka-to |
| MONDAY |
δευτερα |
deft-e-ra |
| TUESDAY |
τριτη |
tree-tee |
| WEDNESDAY |
τεταρτη |
tet-ar-tee |
| THURSDAY |
πεμπτη |
pem-tee |
| FRIDAY |
παρασκευη |
para-skev-ee |
| SATURDAY |
σαββατο |
sav-ato |
| SUNDAY |
κυριακη |
kee-ri-a-kee |
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