Table of Contents
Greek is not an easy language to learn, and nobody expects tourists to speak it. Almost all Greeks working in tourism, restaurants, and hotels speak at least functional English. The practical need for Greek phrases is low.
The cultural value is a different calculation. Greeks are one of the most hospitable peoples in Europe — filoxenia (love of strangers) is a genuine cultural value, not a tourism talking point. When a visitor makes the effort to use even a few words of Greek, that hospitality multiplies. The smile that follows a correctly pronounced efharisto is not performed; it is genuine.
This guide covers 50+ common Greek phrases with pronunciation, organised by situation so you can find what you need at the relevant moment.
For dedicated guides to specific phrases: how to say hello in Greek, thank you in Greek, and cheers in Greek each cover their topic in full with cultural context.
The Three Words to Learn First
Before the full list: if you only have five minutes, learn these three.
English | Greek | Pronunciation
Hello / Goodbye (formal) | Γεια σας | YA-sas
Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | ef-ha-ri-STO
Please / You're welcome | Παρακαλώ | pa-ra-ka-LO
These three cover more ground than any other combination. Ya sas greets everyone from shop owners to hotel staff to older strangers. Efharisto closes every interaction warmly. Parakaló both makes requests polite and responds when someone thanks you.
Greek Greetings
The greetings in Greek worth knowing cover time of day, formality level, and both arrival and departure.
English | Greek | Pronunciation | When to use
Hello (formal / any group) | Γεια σας | YA-sas | Strangers, staff, elders, groups
Hello (informal) | Γεια σου | YA-su | Friends, peers, people your age
Good morning | Καλημέρα | ka-lee-ME-ra | Until ~noon
Good afternoon/evening | Καλησπέρα | ka-lee-SPE-ra | After noon until late
Good night (farewell) | Καληνύχτα | ka-lee-NEEKH-ta | End of evening
Goodbye | Αντίο | AN-dee-o | Formal farewell
Bye (casual) | Γεια σου | YA-su | Same word as hello
How are you? | Τι κάνεις; | ti KA-nis | Informal, to one person
Fine, thank you | Καλά, ευχαριστώ | ka-LA ef-ha-ri-STO | Standard response
Nice to meet you | Χαίρω πολύ | HE-ro po-LI | First meeting, slightly formal
Welcome | Καλώς ήρθες | KA-los EER-thes | To one person
The essential greek greeting rule: When in doubt, use ya sas (formal) rather than ya su (informal). It is always appropriate. A greek greeting at the correct register costs nothing and signals cultural awareness.
Kalimera vs kalispera: These are perhaps the most-heard greetings in greek among visitors. Kalimera until around noon; kalispera from noon until the end of the evening. Using kalimera at 9pm will get a polite smile from a waiter you have just wished good morning at dinner.
Essentials: Please, Thank You, Yes and No
English | Greek | Pronunciation
Please | Παρακαλώ | pa-ra-ka-LO
Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | ef-ha-ri-STO
Thank you very much | Ευχαριστώ πολύ | ef-ha-ri-STO po-LI
You're welcome | Παρακαλώ | pa-ra-ka-LO
Sorry / Excuse me | Συγγνώμη | seeg-NO-mee
No problem | Δεν πειράζει | then pee-RA-zee
Yes | Ναι | NE
No | Όχι | O-hee
The ne / ochi problem: Ne (ναι) = yes. Ochi (όχι) = no. Every visitor hears "ne" and interprets it as "no." This causes genuine confusion in shops, restaurants, and conversations. Commit these two words to memory before arriving. The full explanation of why ne sounds like no — and the head gesture that accompanies both — is in the yes and no in Greek guide.
Parakaló double duty: The same word means please and you're welcome — exactly like German bitte or Italian prego. When you say efharisto and a Greek responds parakaló, they are saying "you're welcome," not making a request.
At a Restaurant or Taverna
These are the greek phrases that get used most — the ones that make ordering at a Greek taverna easier and more enjoyable.
English | Greek | Pronunciation
A table for two, please | Ένα τραπέζι για δύο | E-na tra-PE-zee ya THI-o
The menu, please | Τον κατάλογο | ton ka-TA-lo-go
What do you recommend? | Τι προτείνετε; | ti pro-TEE-ne-te
What is this? | Τι είναι αυτό; | ti EE-ne af-TO
I would like... | Θα ήθελα... | tha EE-the-la
What do you have today? | Τι έχετε σήμερα; | ti E-he-te SEE-me-ra
Without meat | Χωρίς κρέας | ho-REES KRE-as
I am vegetarian | Είμαι χορτοφάγος | EE-me hor-to-FA-gos
Is it fresh? | Είναι φρέσκο; | EE-ne FRES-ko
Delicious! | Νόστιμο! | NOS-tee-mo
More bread, please | Άλλο ψωμί | A-lo pso-MI
The bill, please | Τον λογαριασμό | ton lo-ga-ria-SMO
Cheers! | Γεια μας! | YA-mas
Bon appétit | Καλή όρεξη | ka-LI O-rek-see
Ti echete simera? — "What do you have today?" — is the single most useful restaurant phrase in Greece. At traditional tavernas without a fixed menu, this is the correct opening question. The waiter will tell you what was cooked that day, which is invariably the best choice.
The full guide to taverna culture, etiquette, and ordering is at how to eat at a Greek taverna.
Directions and Getting Around
English | Greek | Pronunciation
Where is...? | Πού είναι...; | pu EE-ne
Left | Αριστερά | a-ris-te-RA
Right | Δεξιά | thek-see-A
Straight ahead | Ευθεία | ef-THEE-a
Near / far | Κοντά / μακριά | kon-DA / mak-ree-A
How far is it? | Πόσο μακριά είναι; | PO-so mak-ree-A EE-ne
Bus stop | Στάση λεωφορείου | STA-see le-o-fo-REE-u
Port / harbour | Λιμάνι | lee-MA-nee
Airport | Αεροδρόμιο | a-e-ro-THRO-mee-o
Taxi | Ταξί | tak-SEE
Can you show me on the map? | Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε στον χάρτη; | bo-REE-te na mu THEEK-se-te ston HAR-tee
Greeks often give directions by landmark and walking time rather than street name. If directions become too complex, "Can you show me on the map?" resolves almost everything.
Shopping
English | Greek | Pronunciation
How much does it cost? | Πόσο κάνει; | PO-so KA-nee
Expensive / cheap | Ακριβό / φτηνό | ak-ree-VO / ftee-NO
Do you have...? | Έχετε...; | E-he-te
I'll take it | Θα το πάρω | tha to PA-ro
Open / closed | Ανοιχτό / κλειστό | a-neekh-TO / klees-TO
Numbers 1–20
Number | Greek | Pronunciation
1 | Ένα | E-na
2 | Δύο | THI-o
3 | Τρία | TREE-a
4 | Τέσσερα | TES-se-ra
5 | Πέντε | PEN-de
6 | Έξι | EK-see
7 | Εφτά | ef-TA
8 | Οκτώ | ok-TO
9 | Εννιά | en-YA
10 | Δέκα | THE-ka
11 | Έντεκα | EN-de-ka
12 | Δώδεκα | THO-the-ka
20 | Είκοσι | EE-ko-see
Numbers are among the most useful common greek phrases in practice — for ordering quantities at a bakery, for prices at a market, for ferry times, for table numbers.
Emergencies
English | Greek | Pronunciation
Help! | Βοήθεια! | vo-EE-thee-a
Call the police | Φωνάξτε την αστυνομία | fo-NAKS-te tin as-tee-no-MEE-a
Call an ambulance | Φωνάξτε ασθενοφόρο | fo-NAKS-te as-the-no-FO-ro
I need a doctor | Χρειάζομαι γιατρό | hree-A-zo-me ya-TRO
I am ill | Είμαι άρρωστος/η | EE-me A-ros-tos
I'm lost | Έχω χαθεί | E-ho ha-THEE
The single most important emergency resource: 112 is the European emergency number and works everywhere in Greece for all emergencies — police, ambulance, fire.
Everyday Useful Phrases
English | Greek | Pronunciation
I don't understand | Δεν καταλαβαίνω | then ka-ta-la-VE-no
I don't speak Greek | Δεν μιλώ ελληνικά | then mee-LO el-ee-nee-KA
Do you speak English? | Μιλάτε αγγλικά; | mee-LA-te ag-lee-KA
More slowly, please | Πιο αργά, παρακαλώ | pyo ar-GA pa-ra-ka-LO
What time is it? | Τι ώρα είναι; | ti O-ra EE-ne
Today / tomorrow | Σήμερα / αύριο | SEE-me-ra / AV-ree-o
Where is the toilet? | Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; | pu EE-ne ee tu-a-LE-ta
Water, please | Νερό, παρακαλώ | ne-RO pa-ra-ka-LO
FAQs
What are the most useful basic Greek phrases?
The three most useful basic Greek phrases are: ya sas (formal hello/goodbye), efharisto (thank you), and parakalo (please/you're welcome). Adding kalimera (good morning) and kalispera (good afternoon/evening) covers the majority of everyday interactions in Greece.
What are common Greek phrases for greetings?
The most common Greek greetings are ya su (informal hello/goodbye to one person), ya sas (formal or plural), kalimera (good morning, until noon), and kalispera (good afternoon/evening, after noon). These four greetings cover every standard arrival and departure situation.
What does ne mean in Greek?
Ne (ναι) means yes in Greek — pronounced exactly like the English "no." The word for no is ochi (όχι, pronounced OH-hee). This reversal is the single most confusing aspect of Greek for English speakers and is worth committing to memory before arriving.
How do you say please and thank you in Greek?
Thank you is efharisto (ef-ha-ri-STO). Please is parakalo (pa-ra-ka-LO). The same word parakalo also means "you're welcome" — when you say efharisto and a Greek responds parakalo, they are saying "you're welcome."
What Greek phrases for tourists are most important?
The most practically useful Greek phrases for tourists: ya sas (hello), kalimera (good morning), kalispera (good afternoon/evening), efharisto (thank you), parakalo (please / you're welcome), ton logariasmo parakalo (the bill please), yamas (cheers), ne (yes), ochi (no), and voitheia (help). These ten phrases cover the vast majority of tourist interactions in Greece.
Plan Your Greece Trip
- Hello in Greek — full guide to Greek greetings with cultural context
- Thank You in Greek — efharisto, pronunciation and all variations
- Cheers in Greek — yamas meaning and the full toasting ritual
- Yes and No in Greek — why ne means yes and the head wobble explained
- How to Eat at a Greek Taverna — where these phrases get used most
- Athens Travel Guide — the city where you will use them first
- How to Plan a Trip to Greece — the full planning framework
🇬🇷 Planning a trip to Greece? Use our AI Trip Planner to build your itinerary — or take our quiz to find the right Greek destination. Καλή επιτυχία!