The Around the World phrasebook
Let's learn traveller's Greek
Not the school kind — the airport, taxi and dinner-table kind. Every phrase with a say-it-out-loud pronunciation.
Nobody expects you to speak fluent Greek. But ten words in the right places — and the market seller smiles, the driver drops the price, the waiter brings the good stuff. We've gathered 65 phrases that actually work, sorted by the moment you'll need them: the landing, the taxi, check-in, the table. Each with a pronunciation you can read aloud without cringing.
Phrasebook · 1/8
First words
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (formal) | Γειά σας | YA-sas |
| Hello (informal) | Γειά σου | YA-su |
| Goodbye | Αντίο | an-DI-o |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | ef-cha-ri-STO |
| Please/You're welcome | Παρακαλώ | pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Yes | Ναι | NE |
| No | Όχι | O-chi |
| Sorry | Συγγνώμη | sin-GNO-mi |
| I don't understand | Δεν καταλαβαίνω | den ka-ta-la-VEN-do |
| Do you speak English? | Μιλάτε αγγλικά; | mi-LA-te an-gli-KA? |
Phrasebook · 2/8
Courtesy & introductions
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Καλημέρα | ka-li-ME-ra |
| Good evening | Καλησπέρα | ka-lis-PE-ra |
| How are you? | Πώς είσαι; | pos EE-seh? |
| My name is… | Το όνομά μου είναι… | to O-no-ma mu EE-ne… |
| Nice to meet you | Χαίρω πολύ | HE-ro po-LEE |
| I am from Israel | Είμαι από το Ισραήλ | EE-me a-PO to is-ra-EEL |
| See you | Τα λέμε | ta LE-me |
Phrasebook · 3/8
At the airport & on the flight
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the gate? | Πού είναι η πύλη; | POO EE-neh ee PEE-lee? |
| Is the flight delayed? | Η πτήση έχει καθυστέρηση; | EE PTEE-see E-hee ka-thee-STE-ree-see? |
| Boarding pass | Κάρτα επιβίβασης | KAR-ta e-pee-VEE-va-sees |
| My suitcase didn't arrive | Η βαλίτσα μου δεν έφτασε | EE va-LEE-tsa moo THEN EF-ta-seh |
| I have a connecting flight | Έχω πτήση ανταπόκρισης | E-ho PTEE-see an-da-PO-kree-sees |
| Window/aisle seat | Θέση στο παράθυρο/διάδρομο | THE-see sto pa-RA-thee-ro/DHEE-a-dro-mo |
| Where is passport control? | Πού είναι ο έλεγχος διαβατηρίων; | POO EE-neh o E-len-ghos dhee-a-va-TEE-ree-on? |
Phrasebook · 4/8
Transport & directions
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| To this address, please | Σε αυτή τη διεύθυνση, παρακαλώ | se AF-ti ti di-EF-thin-si, pa-ra-ka-LO |
| How much to the center? | Πόσο κοστίζει για το κέντρο; | PO-so kos-TI-zi ya to KEN-tro? |
| One ticket to... | Ένα εισιτήριο για... | E-na i-si-TI-ri-o ya... |
| Which platform? | Ποια πλατφόρμα; | PI-a plat-FOR-ma? |
| Where is the bus station? | Πού είναι ο σταθμός λεωφορείων; | PU I-ne o stath-MOS le-o-fo-RI-on? |
| Stop here, please | Σταματήστε εδώ, παρακαλώ | sta-ma-TIS-te e-DO, pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Is it far? | Είναι μακριά; | I-ne ma-kri-A? |
| Turn left/right | Στρίψτε αριστερά/δεξιά | STRIP-ste a-ri-ste-RA/de-xi-A |
| Straight | Ευθεία | ef-THI-a |
Phrasebook · 5/8
Hotel & stay
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| I have a reservation | Έχω κράτηση | E-kho KRA-ti-si |
| Check-in | Άφιξη | A-fi-k-si |
| Check-out | Αναχώρηση | A-na-KHO-ri-si |
| Is breakfast included? | Περιλαμβάνεται πρωινό; | Pe-ri-lam-BA-ne-ta pro-i-NO? |
| Room key | Κλειδί δωματίου | Kli-DHI do-ma-TI-ou |
| Wi-Fi password | Κωδικός Wi-Fi | Ko-di-KOS WA-i-fai |
| Can I leave my luggage? | Μπορώ να αφήσω τις αποσκευές μου; | Bo-RO na a-FI-so tis a-po-ske-VES mu? |
| The air conditioner doesn't work | Το κλιματιστικό δεν λειτουργεί | To kli-ma-tis-TI-ko den li-tour-GHI |
Phrasebook · 6/8
Restaurant & food
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please. | Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ. | E-na tra-PE-zi ya DHI-o, pa-ra-ka-LO. |
| The menu, please. | Το μενού, παρακαλώ. | To me-NU, pa-ra-ka-LO. |
| What do you recommend? | Τι προτείνετε; | Ti pro-TI-ne-te? |
| The bill, please. | Ο λογαριασμός, παρακαλώ. | O lo-gha-ri-a-SMOS, pa-ra-ka-LO. |
| Tap water, please. | Νερό βρύσης, παρακαλώ. | Ne-RO VRI-sis, pa-ra-ka-LO. |
| I have a nut allergy. | Έχω αλλεργία στους ξηρούς καρπούς. | E-kho a-ler-GHI-a stus ksee-ROOS kar-POOS. |
| No meat, please. | Χωρίς κρέας, παρακαλώ. | Kho-RIS KRE-as, pa-ra-ka-LO. |
| It was excellent. | Ήταν εξαιρετικό. | EE-tan ek-se-re-ti-KO. |
| Can I pay by card? | Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα; | Bo-RO na pli-RO-so me KAR-ta? |
Phrasebook · 7/8
Shopping & money
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | Πόσο κοστίζει; | PO-so kos-TI-zeh? |
| It's too expensive | Είναι πολύ ακριβό | EE-neh po-LEE a-kri-VO |
| Do you accept credit cards? | Δέχεστε πιστωτικές κάρτες; | DE-chest-eh pis-to-ti-KES KAR-tes? |
| I'm just looking | Απλώς κοιτάζω | a-PLOS ki-TA-zo |
| Can I have a receipt? | Μπορώ να έχω απόδειξη; | bo-RO na E-cho a-PO-dik-si? |
| Where is an ATM? | Πού είναι το ΑΤΜ; | POO EE-neh to EY-tee-EM? |
| A smaller size | Μικρότερο μέγεθος | mi-KRO-te-ro ME-ye-thos |
Phrasebook · 8/8
Emergencies & health
| What you want to say | Greek | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Βοήθεια! | vo-EE-thee-ah |
| Call a doctor. | Καλέστε έναν γιατρό. | ka-LES-teh e-nan ya-TRO |
| Call the police. | Καλέστε την αστυνομία. | ka-LES-teh teen as-tee-no-MEE-ah |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Πού είναι το φαρμακείο; | poo EE-neh to far-ma-KEE-o |
| I don't feel well. | Δεν αισθάνομαι καλά. | den es-THA-no-meh ka-LA |
| I'm lost. | Έχω χαθεί. | E-kho kha-THEE |
| I need a hospital. | Χρειάζομαι νοσοκομείο. | khree-A-zo-meh no-so-ko-MEE-o |
| It hurts here. | Πονάει εδώ. | po-NA-ee e-THO |
Q&A
Answers to your questions
How do you say "thank you" in Greek?
"Ευχαριστώ" (ef-cha-ri-STO). It's one of the five words worth knowing by heart before you land.
How much Greek do I need for a trip?
Not much. Five or six courtesy words (hello, thank you, please, sorry, yes/no) open doors, and another ten to fifteen phrases for fixed situations — a taxi, check-in, the restaurant bill — cover almost any trip. The rest: a camera-translation app.
Can you get by in English where Greek is spoken?
In city centres, hotels and tourist sites — usually yes, especially with younger people. Outside them — markets, transport, small towns — a few words of the local language make a real difference and are warmly received.
Which countries have Greek as an official language?
Greek is a main language in 2 countries: Cyprus, Greece.
What's the difference between the formal and casual greeting?
Most languages have a formal "hello" for strangers, service staff and elders, and an everyday version for friends and peers. As a traveller it's always safer to open with the formal one — nobody is offended by too much politeness.
How do you politely ask someone to speak English?
"Μιλάτε αγγλικά;" (mi-LA-te an-gli-KA?) — "do you speak English?". Lead with "excuse me" in the local language and it comes across as respectful.
About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.
Sources: Phrasebook: the Around the World team · Language-to-country: Around the World data