Greek Skills

Lets talk greek with APHRODITE !

The Greek language is considered as one of the most difficult languages to learn. This page is not going to teach you how to speak Greek but you can learn some basic Greek words and phrases in order to impress your friends in Cyprus. As it happens in every country, people in Cyprus will be glad to hear you trying to speak their language. Even if all you can say is "kalimera" or "Yassou", people will smile and open up.

Learn Greetings in Greek :

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

kalimera = good morning. Used both when coming to and going away from a place.

kalispera = good afternoon. Used only when coming to a place or meeting someone in the evening or at night.

kalinihta = good night. Used only as a goodbye greeting in the evening or at night.

herete (e as in egg) = hello, used between 10:00 and 14:00

yassou = hello or goodbye (greeting to one person or a friend)

yassas = hello or goodbye (greeting to more persons or a more formal and polite way to greet an unknown person)

adio = goodbye

Yassou file mou Niko = Hello my friend Niko, an easy way to please a Greek friend of yours. 

Learn the names of important stuff in Cyprus

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg", "a" like "apple" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

• Halloumi = Cypriot cheese
• Periptero = Kiosk
• Kyprea = Cypriot (woman)
• Kypreos = Cypriot (man)
• Kypros = Cyprus
• Leoforio = Bus
• Stasi = Bus stop
• Lefkosia= Nicosia
• Yiati Ohi = Why not

Learn the Greek Numbers:

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

• ena = one
• thio = two
• tria = three
• tessera = four
• pente = five
• eksi = six
• epta or efta = seven
• okto = eight
• ennia = nine
• theka = ten
• entheka = eleven
• thotheka = twelve
• theka-tria = thirteen
• theka-tessera = 14
• theka-pente = 15
• theka-eksi = 16
• theka-epta = 17
• theka-okto = 18
• theka-ennia = 19
• eikossi = 20
• eikossi-ena = 21

• trianta = 30
• ssaranta = 40
• peninta = 50
• eksinta = 60
• evthominta = 70
• ogthonta = 80
• eneninta = 90
• ekato = 100
• ekaton theka pente = 115
• ekaton peninta tria = 153
• thiakossia = 200
• triakossia = 300
• tetrakossia = 400
• pentakossia = 500
• eksakossia = 600
• eptakossia = 700
• oktakossia = 800
• eniakossia = 900
• hilia = 1000
• ena ekatomirio = one million
• ena thisekatomirio = one billion

Learn the colours in Greek

Greek Colours

• aspro, lefko = white
• mavro = black
• kokkino = red
• mple = blue
• kitrino = yellow
• prassino = green
• kafe = brown
• mov = purple
• galazio = light blue

Countries

• Alvania = Albania
• Ameriki = USA
• Anglia = England
• Finlanthia = Finland
• Gallia = France
• Iaponia = Japan
• Ispania = Spain
• Italia = Italy
• Kanathas = Canada
• Kina = China
• Norviyia = Norway
• Ollanthia = Holland
• Polonia = Polland
• Rossia = Russia
• Souithia = Sweden
• Thania = Denmark
• Tourkia = Turkey
• Velyio = Belgium
• Voulgaria = Bulgaria
• Yermania = Germany

 More and More Greek :)

Learn Common Greek Phrases

In all the following, "e" is read as in "egg" and "th" is read as in "this". The emphasis in pronunciation falls on the syllable which is in underlined script

• Efharisto = Thank you
• Parakalo = Your Welcome
• Milate Anglika? = Do you speak English?
• Milate Yermanika? = Do you speak German?
• Then katalaveno = I don't understand
• Pos se lene? = What is your name?
• Me lene ... = My name is ...
• Apo pou eisai? = Where are you from?
• Eimai apo Anglia = I am from England
• Thelo ena kafe = I want a coffee
• Thelo ena tsai = I want a tea
• Thelo mia mpira = I want a beer
• Thelo ena poto = I want a drink
• Thelo ena thomatio = I want a room
• Ehete thomatio? = Do you have a room?
• ya mia mera = for one day
• ya thio meres = for two days
• ya mia vthomatha = for one week
• ya thio vthomathes = for two weeks
• Poso kanei? = How much is it?
• Poso hrostao = How much do I owe?
• Logariasmo parakalo = The bill, please.
• Mporo na bgalo mia fotografia? = May I take a photo?
• Ela = Come
• Fiye = Go away! (fi as in fish, ye as in yellow)
• Ise omorfi = you are beautiful
• M' areseis = I like you
• S' agapo = I love you
• M' agapas? = Do you love me?
• Agapi mou = My love, Darling
• Filise me = kiss me
• Fili = kiss
• Filos / F ili = friend (male) / (female). Pay attention to the small difference from "kiss".
• Eho filo = I have a boyfriend
• Eimai pantremeni = I am married (female)

The Greek Alphabet and the sounds of the Greek letters

 Combinations of letters (Greek diphthongs) :

GOOD LUCK :)

Based on ESN Sections' 'Greek Skills' from Greece