Welcome to Greece in Greek: Essential Phrases & Travel Tips
Greece is a country of stunning landscapes, ancient history, and warm hospitality. Whether youโre visiting Athens, Santorini, or Crete, knowing a few Greek phrases can make your trip more enjoyable and help you connect with the locals.
Official Language of Greece
The official language of Greece is Greek (ฮฮปฮปฮทฮฝฮนฮบฮฌ – Ellinikรก). It is one of the worldโs oldest continuously spoken languages, dating back over 3,000 years. While many Greeks, especially in tourist areas, speak English, they always appreciate visitors who make an effort to speak their language.
Most Useful Greek Words and Phrases for Tourists
Basic Greetings and Politeness
| English | Greek (Phonetic Pronunciation) | Greek (Greek Alphabet) |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Yia sou (informal) / Yia sas (formal) | ฮฮตฮนฮฑ ฯฮฟฯ / ฮฮตฮนฮฑ ฯฮฑฯ |
| Good morning | Kalimรฉra | ฮฮฑฮปฮทฮผฮญฯฮฑ |
| Good afternoon/evening | Kalispรฉra | ฮฮฑฮปฮทฯฯฮญฯฮฑ |
| Good night | Kalinรญhta | ฮฮฑฮปฮทฮฝฯฯฯฮฑ |
| Goodbye | Adรญo | ฮฮฝฯฮฏฮฟ |
| Thank you | Efharistรณ | ฮฯ ฯฮฑฯฮนฯฯฯ |
| You’re welcome / Please | Parakalรณ | ฮ ฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ |
| Yes | Nรฉ | ฮฮฑฮน |
| No | รhi | ฮฯฮน |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Signรณmi | ฮฃฯ ฮณฮณฮฝฯฮผฮท |
Useful Travel Phrases
| English | Greek (Phonetic Pronunciation) | Greek (Greek Alphabet) |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Milรกte Anglikรก? | ฮฮนฮปฮฌฯฮต ฮฮณฮณฮปฮนฮบฮฌ; |
| I donโt understand | Den katalavรฉno | ฮฮตฮฝ ฮบฮฑฯฮฑฮปฮฑฮฒฮฑฮฏฮฝฯ |
| How much does this cost? | Pรณso kostรญzi? | ฮ ฯฯฮฟ ฮบฮฟฯฯฮฏฮถฮตฮน; |
| Where is the bathroom? | Poo รญne i toualรฉta? | ฮ ฮฟฯ ฮตฮฏฮฝฮฑฮน ฮท ฯฮฟฯ ฮฑฮปฮญฯฮฑ; |
| I need help | Hriรกzome voรญthia | ฮงฯฮตฮนฮฌฮถฮฟฮผฮฑฮน ฮฒฮฟฮฎฮธฮตฮนฮฑ |
| I am lost | รho hathรญ | ฮฯฯ ฯฮฑฮธฮตฮฏ |
| Can you help me? | Borรญte na me voรญthisete? | ฮฯฮฟฯฮตฮฏฯฮต ฮฝฮฑ ฮผฮต ฮฒฮฟฮทฮธฮฎฯฮตฯฮต; |
| I would likeโฆ | Tha รญthelaโฆ | ฮฮฑ ฮฎฮธฮตฮปฮฑโฆ |
Common Greek Phrases for Dining & Socializing
| English | Greek (Phonetic Pronunciation) | Greek (Greek Alphabet) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheers! | Stin iyรก mas! | ฮฃฯฮทฮฝ ฯ ฮณฮตฮนฮฌ ฮผฮฑฯ! |
| Enjoy your meal! | Kalรญ รณrexi! | ฮฮฑฮปฮฎ ฯฯฮตฮพฮท! |
| The bill, please | Ton logariasmรณ, parakalรณ | ฮคฮฟฮฝ ฮปฮฟฮณฮฑฯฮนฮฑฯฮผฯ, ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ |
| A coffee, please | รnan kafรฉ, parakalรณ | ฮฮฝฮฑฮฝ ฮบฮฑฯฮญ, ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ |
| A beer, please | Mรญa bรญra, parakalรณ | ฮฮฏฮฑ ฮผฯฯฯฮฑ, ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ |
Frequently Asked Questions about Greek Greetings & Phrases
1. What is “parakalรณ” in Greek?
“ฮ ฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ” (Parakalรณ) means both “please” and “you’re welcome” in Greek, depending on the context.
2. How do you say “greetings from Greece” in Greek?
You can say “ฮงฮฑฮนฯฮตฯฮนฯฮผฮฟฯฯ ฮฑฯฯ ฯฮทฮฝ ฮฮปฮปฮฌฮดฮฑ” (Cheretismoรบs apรณ tin Ellรกda), which means “Greetings from Greece.”
3. What is a typical Greek greeting?
A common Greek greeting is “ฮฮตฮนฮฑ ฯฮฟฯ ” (Yia sou) for one person and “ฮฮตฮนฮฑ ฯฮฑฯ” (Yia sas) for multiple people or formal situations.
4. What is the best Greek greeting?
The best general greeting in Greek is “ฮฮฑฮปฮทฮผฮญฯฮฑ” (Kalimรฉra) for “Good morning” or “ฮฮตฮนฮฑ ฯฮฑฯ” (Yia sas) for “Hello” in formal settings.
5. How do you welcome someone in Greek?
You can say “ฮฮฑฮปฯฯ ฮฎฯฮธฮตฯ” (Kalรณs รญrthes) for one person and “ฮฮฑฮปฯฯ ฮฎฯฮธฮฑฯฮต” (Kalรณs รญrthate) for multiple people or formally, which means “Welcome!”
6. What does “ฮฃฮต ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ” mean?
“ฮฃฮต ฯฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ” (Se parakalรณ) means “please” when addressing one person. It is the informal version of “ฮ ฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ” (Parakalรณ).
7. What is “Yamas” in Greek?
“ฮฮตฮนฮฌ ฮผฮฑฯ!” (Yamรกs) is a popular Greek phrase meaning “Cheers!” It is used when making a toast and literally means “To our health!”
Final Thoughts
Greece is famous for its hospitality, and knowing a few Greek words will make your trip more enjoyable. Whether you’re exploring ancient ruins, relaxing on the islands, or enjoying delicious Greek food, speaking a little Greek will help you connect with the locals.
