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Popular Greek Words
Days of the Week in Greek
Months of the Year in Greek
Greek Numbers
Greek Travel Phrases
Welcome to learning Greece language!
Do you want to learn Greek language, where you will be able to speak the language when you visit, or do you just want to learn it? No problem either way!”
10 Facts about Greek Language
- Ancient Origins: Greek is one of the oldest recorded languages in the world, with a history spanning over 3,000 years.
- Alphabet: The Greek alphabet is the oldest alphabet to have letters representing both consonants and vowels. It has 24 letters.
- Greek Dialects: Modern Greek has several dialects, including the Attic dialect, which was spoken in ancient Athens, and the Pontic dialect, spoken in the Black Sea region.
- Greek Influence: Many words in English are derived from Greek, particularly in fields such as science, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine.
- Official Language: Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus. It is also one of the official languages of the European Union.
- Koine Greek: Koine Greek, also known as Common Greek, was the lingua franca of the eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
- Written Literature: Greek literature includes some of the oldest surviving works in the Western literary tradition, such as the epic poems of Homer and the philosophical writings of Plato and Aristotle.
- Orthography: Greek has a unique orthography with diacritical marks, including accents, breathings, and iota subscripts, that indicate pronunciation and stress.
- Verb Conjugation: Greek verbs conjugate according to tense, mood, voice, person, and number, resulting in a complex but expressive system.
- Language Revival: Despite historical shifts, Greek has maintained its identity and continues to be spoken by millions of people worldwide, with efforts to preserve and promote the language ongoing.
Greek Words
| Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Γειά σου (Ya sou) | Hello |
| Ευχαριστώ (Efharistó) | Thank you |
| Παρακαλώ (Parakaló) | Please / You're welcome |
| Συγγνώμη (Signómi) | Sorry / Excuse me |
| Ναι (Ne) | Yes |
| Όχι (Ohi) | No |
| Καλημέρα (Kaliméra) | Good morning |
| Καλησπέρα (Kalispéra) | Good evening |
| Καληνύχτα (Kaliníkhta) | Good night |
| Αντίο (Adío) | Goodbye |
Days of the Week
| Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Δευτέρα (Deftéra) | Monday |
| Τρίτη (Tríti) | Tuesday |
| Τετάρτη (Tetárti) | Wednesday |
| Πέμπτη (Pémpti) | Thursday |
| Παρασκευή (Paraskeví) | Friday |
| Σάββατο (Sávvato) | Saturday |
| Κυριακή (Kyriakí) | Sunday |
Months
| Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ιανουάριος (Ianouários) | January |
| Φεβρουάριος (Fevrouários) | February |
| Μάρτιος (Mártios) | March |
| Απρίλιος (Aprílios) | April |
| Μάιος (Máios) | May |
| Ιούνιος (Ioúnios) | June |
| Ιούλιος (Ioúlios) | July |
| Αύγουστος (Ávgoustos) | August |
| Σεπτέμβριος (Septémvrios) | September |
| Οκτώβριος (Októvrios) | October |
| Νοέμβριος (Noémvrios) | November |
| Δεκέμβριος (Dekémvrios) | December |
Numbers
| Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ένα (Éna) | One |
| Δύο (Dýo) | Two |
| Τρία (Tría) | Three |
| Τέσσερα (Téssera) | Four |
| Πέντε (Pénte) | Five |
| Έξι (Éxi) | Six |
| Επτά (Eptá) | Seven |
| Οκτώ (Októ) | Eight |
| Εννέα (Ennéa) | Nine |
| Δέκα (Déka) | Ten |
| Εκατό (Ekató) | One hundred |
| Χίλια (Chília) | One thousand |
| Ένα εκατομμύριο (Éna ekatomýrio) | One million |
Phrases
| Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Miláte angliká?) | Do you speak English? |
| Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Poú eínai i toualéta?) | Where is the bathroom? |
| Πόσο κοστίζει; (Póso kostízei?) | How much does it cost? |
| Θα ήθελα αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tha íthela aftó, parakaló.) | I would like this, please. |
| Συγγνώμη (Signómi) | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno) | I don't understand |
| Μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε; (Boríte na me voithísete?) | Can you help me? |
| Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ. (Éna trapézi gia dýo, parakaló.) | A table for two, please. |
| Πού είναι ο σταθμός; (Poú eínai o stathmós?) | Where is the station? |
| Χρειάζομαι γιατρό. (Chreiázomai giatró.) | I need a doctor. |
Grammar and Syntax
- Case System: Greek nouns and pronouns are inflected for case, including nominative, genitive, accusative, vocative, and sometimes dative and instrumental cases.
- Verb Conjugation: Greek verbs are conjugated according to person, number, tense, voice, mood, and aspect.
- Article Usage: Greek has definite and indefinite articles, which agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify.
- Word Order: Greek is a flexible language in terms of word order, but it generally follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern in declarative sentences.
- Noun Gender: Greek nouns are classified into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Gender often needs to be memorized as it does not always correspond to biological gender.
- Participles: Greek has present, past, and future participles, which can function as adjectives or adverbs.
- Subjunctive Mood: Greek uses the subjunctive mood to express hypothetical or uncertain actions, as well as wishes and commands.
- Conditional Sentences: Greek employs different conditional constructions to express possibilities, hypothetical situations, or future conditions.
- Relative Clauses: Greek uses relative pronouns to introduce relative clauses that provide additional information about a noun.
- Negation: Greek employs negative particles to negate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and clauses, and it has both preverbal and postverbal negation patterns.
Dialects
Greek has several dialects, including Demotic (modern spoken Greek), Katharevousa (a formal, archaic version), and regional dialects like Pontic, Tsakonian, and Cretan. Ancient Greek also had dialects such as Ionic, Doric, Aeolic, and Attic, influencing literature, philosophy, and modern Greek evolution.
Cyprus Greek vs Greek
The island of Cyprus also speaks the Greek language. Let’s learn the difference between Cypriot Greek and standard Greek
- Different Dialects
- Cypriot Greek is a distinct dialect with ancient and medieval roots.
- Standard Modern Greek is based on the dialect of Athens.
- Pronunciation
- Cypriot Greek has a stronger, more rhythmic pronunciation.
- Standard Greek has a smoother, flatter intonation.
- Vocabulary
- Cypriot Greek includes unique words and expressions, often not used in Greece.
- Standard Greek uses more uniform vocabulary across the country.
- Grammar Differences
- Cypriot Greek preserves some older grammatical forms, like different verb endings.
- Standard Greek uses simplified, modern grammar.
- Speed and Rhythm
- Cypriot Greek is often spoken faster, with a different rhythm.
- Standard Greek has a more consistent pace.
- Intelligibility
- Native Greek speakers can understand Cypriot Greek, but it may be challenging at first.
- Standard Greek is fully understood across all Greek regions.
- Formal vs Informal Use
- Cypriot Greek is mostly used in casual and daily speech in Cyprus.
- Standard Greek is used for education, media, and official purposes in both countries.
- Historical Influence
- Cypriot Greek was influenced by Byzantine Greek, Turkish, and English.
- Standard Greek was shaped by Ancient Greek and Katharevousa.
- Writing System
- Both use the Greek alphabet, but Cypriot Greek may use different spelling in informal writing.
- Standard Greek follows standardized orthography.
- Media and Education
- Standard Greek is taught and used in Cypriot schools, news, and official communication.
- Cypriot Greek is commonly used in everyday conversation, theater, and local music.
Are you ready to learn Greek?
