useful greek phrases

Simply Crete Holidays

Quality Villas, Apartments, Traditional Cottages and Hotels in Crete

Original content © simply Crete Holidays ltd 2006

Some visitors to the island, and particularly those who have been here before, may know some Greek words and phrases but for the benefit of

those who need a little help we would like to give you a few tips.

Although English is widely spoken in the main resorts and areas containing accommodation, you may find that it is not standard, sometimes as

little as one kilometre, outside the main towns.

Even for those of you who have a little Greek, the local dialect may seem strange. The European Union have recently acknowledged that Greek

developed from “Etocretan”, backing claims from the Cretans that they do not speak in dialect. It is the Greeks who do!

The most significant difference in the Cretan dialect is the softening of the letter “K” to a sound similar to “SH”. Aυτοκινιτο (pron. Afto-keenee-to

in Greek), being pronounced Afto-sheenee-to in Cretan dialect.

In the mountain areas you may also notice the use of the the sound GW rather than just a G. Gwala = milk rather than Ga-la in Greek.

“Ya-sou” is an informal phrase for people who know each other well. When meeting someone for the first time you should say “Ya-sas”,

particularly if the person is older than you or a priest.

The little coffee shops in the villages may appear to look unwelcoming but are generally friendly once any natural suspicion of an outsider has been

overcome. Call up a couple of (good word this!) KARAFASHEEA for the old boys and you’ll be laughing.

We hope that you will find the following phrases useful. Please do try to communicate in Greek, particularly in the more remote areas or with

older people. It is a lot of fun and will almost guarantee you a shot of raki – just for trying.

Introduce yourself in Greek and people will warm to you at once. A few common Greek phrases are all it will take to get by and be able to make

that initial contact.

Hello, goodbye (informal) – Yia sou

Good morning – Kalimera

Good evening – Kalispera

Goodbye – adio

How are you? – Ti kanis?

I’m fine – Kala ime

My name is – Me lene

What’s your name? – Pos se lene?

Food and drink is a big part of Cretan life and will undoubtedly play a major role in your holiday there. Fresh cheeses and bread, locally grown fruit

and local wine are all big parts of Greek life – not to mention the speciality tipples of Retsina, Metaxa and raki

The bill please - To logariasmo Parakalo

Do you have? - ehete

Bread - psomi

Beer - byra

Cheese - tyri

Chicken - kotopoulo

Milk - ghala

Water - nero

What do you suggest? - Tee mu pro teenetay

Cheers – yamas

I would like - Tha Ee-thela

Two beers - Thee-oh Beer-ez

A glass - Ena Pot-eeree

A bottle - Ena boo-karlee

White Wine - Asproh Crass-ee

Red Wine - Kosheen-oh Crass-ee

Butter - Voo-teer-oh

Oil - Lard-ee

May I pay? - Na pleer-osoh?

Most people will want to indulge in a little shopping during their holiday. If you are travelling and staying in self-catering accommodation, this will

be more important than ever.

You will need to know a few common Greek phrases to enable you to go to the shops and buy ingredients for a meal.

How much does it cost? - poso kani?

I would like to buy - Tha Ithela na agoraso

Do you accept credit cards - Pernete pistotikes kartes

One kilo, two kilos - enna keelo, dheeo keela

That’s all – Afta

Numbers

ena = one

thio = two

tria = three

tessera = four