Basic Greek Words and Phrases for Tourists (With Pronunciation)

The basic Greek words a tourist needs first are γεια σας (YAH sahs, hello), ευχαριστώ (ef-khah-ree-STOH, thank you), παρακαλώ (pah-rah-kah-LOH, please), ναι (neh, yes) and όχι (OH-hee, no). Watch the trap: ναι sounds like "nay" but means yes. In every respelling below, capital letters mark the stressed syllable.

How to read the respellings (and why stress matters)

Modern Greek marks the stressed syllable of almost every word with one accent mark, the tonos (ά, έ, ή, ί, ό, ύ, ώ). Greek stress is not predictable from the spelling rules, but it always falls on one of the last three syllables, and the tonos tells you which. Get it wrong and you can say a different word: πότε (POH-teh) means "when?", while ποτέ (poh-TEH) means "never" or "ever". On one-syllable words the tonos marks the question word: πού (where?) versus που (that, which).

In the respellings, "dh" is the th in "this", "th" is the th in "think", "kh" is the throaty ch in Scottish "loch", and "gh" is a soft, throaty g with no full stop of air.

Greek letters that fool English readers

Several Greek letters look like English ones and sound different. These are the ones that trip people up on signs and menus.

Three look-alikes cause most misreadings: Η is an "ee" sound, not h; Ρ is r, not p; and lowercase ν is n, not v. Sigma has a special form at the end of a word (ς), so σ and ς are the same letter.

One more: the Greek question mark looks like an English semicolon. Μιλάτε αγγλικά; is a question: "Do you speak English?"

Hello, goodbye and γεια σου vs γεια σας

Γεια literally means "health", and the ending picks who you are talking to. Σου is the singular, familiar "your", used with friends, family and children. Σας is the plural, which doubles as the polite form for strangers. With a waiter, a hotel receptionist or an older person, say γεια σας; it is also what you say to a table of friends. The same split shows up in Τι κάνεις; and Τι κάνετε;. For more set greetings with audio, see the Greek greetings phrases.

Please, thank you and the many jobs of παρακαλώ

You will hear παρακαλώ all day. Added to a request, it is "please". Said after someone thanks you, it is "you're welcome". Asked with a rising tone by a shop assistant, it means "Can I help you?", and when someone picks up the phone or misses what you said, it works like "Hello?" or "Sorry?". When you hand over money or a waiter sets down your plate, the word is a different one: ορίστε, "here you are".

Yes, no and the head tilt

This is the classic beginner trap. Ναι (neh) is yes, even though it sounds like "nay", and όχι is no. Body language adds a second layer: in Greece, a single upward nod of the head, usually with raised eyebrows and sometimes a small click of the tongue, means no. A yes is a single downward nod, often with the eyes briefly closing. So a quick upward tilt from a shopkeeper is not a yes.

Restaurant and café essentials

Two notes. Ordering "a water" (ένα νερό) is normal Greek for a glass or bottle of water. And λογαριασμός changes its ending to λογαριασμό after "can I have", which is why both forms appear above; the short version is all you need. There are more in the Greek restaurant phrases, with audio.

Taxis and getting around

Notice how many "ee" sounds hide in εισιτήριο: ει, ι and ή are all "ee". For more, see the Greek travel phrases.

Numbers 1 to 10

Seven, eight and nine each have two accepted spellings, and you will see both on signs. Zero is μηδέν (mee-DHEN). The forms above are the ones you count with. A few numbers change with the noun: "one beer" is μία μπύρα, and three and four become τρεις and τέσσερις before masculine and feminine nouns.

Mistakes English speakers make

• Hearing ναι as no. Ναι is yes. Όχι is no.
• Ignoring the tonos. Πότε (POH-teh) asks "when?"; ποτέ (poh-TEH) means "never". Put the stress where the accent sits.
• Reading β as b and δ as d. Βοήθεια starts with v, and δέκα starts with the th in "this".
• Saying γεια σου to everyone. To a stranger or a group, it is γεια σας.
• Reading ; as a semicolon. In Greek it ends a question.
• Freezing after a thank you. When someone says ευχαριστώ to you, the reply is παρακαλώ.

When the phrases feel comfortable, the guide to learning Greek effectively covers what to do next, and short Greek stories, sorted by level, let you hear these words in context. Saying the phrases out loud is what makes the stress stick, and you can practice them with Polly, the PollyStop tutor.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most basic Greek words for tourists?

Start with γεια σας (YAH sahs, hello), ευχαριστώ (ef-khah-ree-STOH, thank you), παρακαλώ (pah-rah-kah-LOH, please and you're welcome), ναι (neh, yes), όχι (OH-hee, no), Πόσο κάνει; (How much is it?) and Ο λογαριασμός, παρακαλώ (The check, please).

Does ναι mean yes or no in Greek?

Ναι means yes, even though it sounds like the English word nay. The Greek word for no is όχι (OH-hee). A single upward nod with raised eyebrows also means no in Greece.

What is the difference between γεια σου and γεια σας?

Both mean hello or goodbye. Γεια σου is for one person you know well, such as a friend or a child. Γεια σας is for a group, or for one person you want to be polite to, such as a waiter or a stranger.

How do you say thank you and you're welcome in Greek?

Thank you is ευχαριστώ (ef-khah-ree-STOH), and thank you very much is ευχαριστώ πολύ. The usual reply, you're welcome, is παρακαλώ (pah-rah-kah-LOH), the same word that means please.

Why does Greek use a semicolon as a question mark?

The Greek question mark has the same shape as the English semicolon, so Μιλάτε αγγλικά; reads as "Do you speak English?"