Greek travel phrases

Essentials

• Yes

  Ναι

  Nai

  NEH

  Pronounced "neh". Don't confuse it with English "no".

• No

  Όχι

  Óchi

  OH-hee

  A slight upward nod of the head, often with raised eyebrows, also means no.

• Please

  Παρακαλώ

  Parakaló

  pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Also means "you're welcome", and staff use it to mean "can I help you".

• Thank you

  Ευχαριστώ

  Efcharistó

  ef-khah-ree-STOH

  The usual reply is "Παρακαλώ" (Parakaló).

• Do you speak English?

  Μιλάτε αγγλικά;

  Miláte angliká?

  mee-LAH-teh ahn-glee-KAH

  Formal

• I don't understand

  Δεν καταλαβαίνω

  Den katalavaíno

  dhen kah-tah-lah-VEH-noh

• Please speak slowly

  Μπορείτε να μιλάτε πιο αργά, παρακαλώ;

  Boreíte na miláte pio argá, parakaló?

  boh-REE-teh nah mee-LAH-teh pyoh ahr-GHAH, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Formal

• How much does it cost?

  Πόσο κάνει;

  Póso kánei?

  POH-soh KAH-nee

• Where is the bathroom?

  Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;

  Poú eínai i toualéta?

  poo EE-neh ee too-ah-LEH-tah

Greetings

• Hello

  Γεια σας

  Geia sas

  YAH sahs

  Formal

  The polite hello for strangers and staff, and also a goodbye. Until early afternoon, "Καλημέρα" (Kaliméra) is just as common.

• Good morning

  Καλημέρα

  Kaliméra

  kah-lee-MEH-rah

  Also works as a general hello until early afternoon.

• Goodbye

  Γεια σας

  Geia sas

  YAH sahs

  Formal

  The same words as hello. "Αντίο" (Antío) also means goodbye but sounds more final.

• How are you?

  Τι κάνετε;

  Ti kánete?

  tee KAH-neh-teh

  Formal

  A common reply is "Καλά, ευχαριστώ" (Kalá, efcharistó).

• Nice to meet you

  Χαίρω πολύ

  Chaíro polý

  HEH-roh poh-LEE

  "Χάρηκα" (Chárika) is also very common, especially when saying goodbye.

  Literally: “I'm very glad”

Courtesy

• Excuse me

  Συγγνώμη

  Syngnómi

  seegh-NOH-mee

  Also means sorry. A more formal option is "Με συγχωρείτε" (Me synchoreíte).

• I'm sorry

  Συγγνώμη

  Syngnómi

  seegh-NOH-mee

  The same word as "excuse me". For regret or sympathy, Greeks say "Λυπάμαι" (Lypámai).

• You're welcome.

  Παρακαλώ.

  Parakaló.

  pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Also heard, more casually: "Τίποτα" (Típota).

• Cheers!

  Γεια μας!

  Geia mas!

  YAH mahs

  Literally: “To our health”

Restaurants

• A table for two, please.

  Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ.

  Éna trapézi gia dýo, parakaló.

  EH-nah trah-PEH-zee yah DHEE-oh, pah-rah-kah-LOH

• Do you have a menu in English?

  Έχετε μενού στα αγγλικά;

  Échete menoú sta angliká?

  EH-heh-teh meh-NOO stah ahn-glee-KAH

  Formal

  Waiters may also call the menu "κατάλογος" (katálogos).

• I'll have this, please.

  Θα πάρω αυτό, παρακαλώ.

  Tha páro aftó, parakaló.

  thah PAH-roh ahf-TOH, pah-rah-kah-LOH

• Water, please

  Νερό, παρακαλώ

  Neró, parakaló

  neh-ROH, pah-rah-kah-LOH

• The check, please

  Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ

  Ton logariasmó, parakaló

  tohn loh-ghah-ryahz-MOH, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Waiters usually wait for you to ask for the bill.

• Can I pay by card?

  Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;

  Boró na pliróso me kárta?

  boh-ROH nah plee-ROH-soh meh KAHR-tah

Directions

• How do I get to the station?

  Πώς μπορώ να πάω στον σταθμό;

  Pós boró na páo ston stathmó?

  pohs boh-ROH nah PAH-oh stohn stahth-MOH

• Is it far from here?

  Είναι μακριά από εδώ;

  Eínai makriá apó edó?

  EE-neh mah-kree-AH ah-POH eh-DHOH

• Can I walk there?

  Μπορώ να πάω με τα πόδια;

  Boró na páo me ta pódia?

  boh-ROH nah PAH-oh meh tah POH-dhyah

  Literally: “Can I go on foot?”

Getting Understood

• I only speak a little.

  Μιλάω μόνο λίγα ελληνικά.

  Miláo móno líga elliniká.

  mee-LAH-oh MOH-noh LEE-ghah eh-lee-nee-KAH

  Literally: “I only speak a little Greek.”

• Could you say that again, please?

  Μπορείτε να το ξαναπείτε, παρακαλώ;

  Boreíte na to xanapeíte, parakaló?

  boh-REE-teh nah toh ksah-nah-PEE-teh, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Formal

• Could you write it down, please?

  Μπορείτε να μου το γράψετε, παρακαλώ;

  Boreíte na mou to grápsete, parakaló?

  boh-REE-teh nah moo toh GHRAHP-seh-teh, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Formal

Time & Opening Hours

• What time do you open?

  Τι ώρα ανοίγετε;

  Ti óra anoígete?

  tee OH-rah ah-NEE-yeh-teh

  Formal

• What time do you close?

  Τι ώρα κλείνετε;

  Ti óra kleínete?

  tee OH-rah KLEE-neh-teh

  Formal

Transport & Tickets

• One ticket, please.

  Ένα εισιτήριο, παρακαλώ.

  Éna eisitírio, parakaló.

  EH-nah ee-see-TEE-ree-oh, pah-rah-kah-LOH

• Which platform?

  Από ποια αποβάθρα;

  Apó poia apováthra?

  ah-POH pyah ah-poh-VAH-thrah

• Does this go to the airport?

  Αυτό πάει στο αεροδρόμιο;

  Aftó páei sto aerodrómio?

  ahf-TOH PAH-ee stoh ah-eh-roh-DHROH-mee-oh

• Stop here, please.

  Σταματήστε εδώ, παρακαλώ.

  Stamatíste edó, parakaló.

  stah-mah-TEE-steh eh-DHOH, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Formal

Hotels & Lodging

• I have a reservation.

  Έχω κάνει κράτηση.

  Écho kánei krátisi.

  EH-khoh KAH-nee KRAH-tee-see

  To give the name, add "στο όνομα…" (sto ónoma…).

• What time is check-out?

  Τι ώρα είναι το check-out;

  Ti óra eínai to check-out?

  tee OH-rah EE-neh toh chek-OWT

• Could I leave my bags here?

  Μπορώ να αφήσω τις βαλίτσες μου εδώ;

  Boró na afíso tis valítses mou edó?

  boh-ROH nah ah-FEE-soh tees vah-LEE-tsehs moo eh-DHOH

Airport & Border

• I'm here on holiday.

  Είμαι εδώ για διακοπές.

  Eímai edó gia diakopés.

  EE-meh eh-DHOH yah dhyah-koh-PEHS

• Where is baggage claim?

  Πού είναι η παραλαβή αποσκευών;

  Poú eínai i paralaví aposkevón?

  poo EE-neh ee pah-rah-lah-VEE ah-poh-skeh-VOHN

Shopping & Money

• I'm just looking, thank you.

  Απλώς κοιτάζω, ευχαριστώ.

  Aplós koitázo, efcharistó.

  ah-PLOHS kee-TAH-zoh, ef-khah-ree-STOH

• That's too expensive.

  Είναι πολύ ακριβό.

  Eínai polý akrivó.

  EE-neh poh-LEE ah-kree-VOH

• Could I have a receipt, please?

  Μου δίνετε μια απόδειξη, παρακαλώ;

  Mou dínete mia apódeixi, parakaló?

  moo DHEE-neh-teh myah ah-POH-dhee-ksee, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Formal

Wi-Fi & Phone

• Is there Wi-Fi here?

  Υπάρχει Wi-Fi εδώ;

  Ypárchei Wi-Fi edó?

  ee-PAHR-hee WAI-fai eh-DHOH

• I'd like a SIM card with data.

  Θα ήθελα μια κάρτα SIM με ίντερνετ.

  Tha íthela mia kárta SIM me ínternet.

  thah EE-theh-lah myah KAHR-tah seem meh EEN-dehr-net

  A prepaid SIM is often called a "καρτοκινητό" (kartokinitó).

Meeting People

• My name is…

  Με λένε…

  Me léne…

  meh LEH-neh…

  Literally: “They call me…”

• Where are you from?

  Από πού είστε;

  Apó poú eíste?

  ah-POH poo EE-steh

  Formal

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

• Passport, please.

  Το διαβατήριό σας, παρακαλώ.

  To diavatírió sas, parakaló.

  toh dhyah-vah-TEE-ree-OH sahs, pah-rah-kah-LOH

  Formal

• How long will you be staying?

  Πόσο καιρό θα μείνετε;

  Póso kairó tha meínete?

  POH-soh keh-ROH thah MEE-neh-teh

  Formal

• For how many people?

  Για πόσα άτομα;

  Gia pósa átoma?

  yah POH-sah AH-toh-mah

• Are you ready to order?

  Θέλετε να παραγγείλετε;

  Thélete na parangeílete?

  THEH-leh-teh nah pah-rahn-GHEE-leh-teh

  Formal

  Waiters also often ask "Τι θα πάρετε;" (Ti tha párete?), "What will you have?".

• Cash or card?

  Μετρητά ή κάρτα;

  Metritá í kárta?

  meh-tree-TAH ee KAHR-tah

• Go straight ahead.

  Πηγαίνετε ευθεία.

  Pigaínete eftheía.

  pee-YEH-neh-teh ef-THEE-ah

  Formal

  You may also hear "ίσια" (ísia), "straight on".

• Turn left.

  Στρίψτε αριστερά.

  Strípste aristerá.

  STREEP-steh ah-ree-steh-RAH

  Formal

• Turn right.

  Στρίψτε δεξιά.

  Strípste dexiá.

  STREEP-steh dhek-see-AH

  Formal