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 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. 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 | Eh-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 | μηδεν | 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 |
For a comprehensive list of sites and software for learning Greek click here.
|