Essential Greek Phrases for Travel (with Pronunciation)
Greece is a favourite summer destination — Athens, Santorini, Crete and hundreds of islands. Many Greeks in tourism speak English, but a few Greek words at the taverna or the ferry port are always welcome, and the Greek alphabet becomes less scary with a pronunciation guide.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Γεια σας | Yia sas |
| Goodbye | Αντίο | Adío |
| Please | Παρακαλώ | Parakaló |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | Efcharistó |
| Yes | Ναι | Ne |
| No | Όχι | Óchi |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Συγγνώμη | Signómi |
| I don't understand | Δεν καταλαβαίνω | Den katalavéno |
| Do you speak English? | Μιλάτε αγγλικά; | Miláte angliká? |
At the restaurant
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ | Éna trapézi ya dío, parakaló |
| The menu, please | Τον κατάλογο, παρακαλώ | Ton katálogo, parakaló |
| Water, please | Νερό, παρακαλώ | Neró, parakaló |
| The bill, please | Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ | Ton logariasmó, parakaló |
| It's delicious | Είναι πολύ νόστιμο | Íne polí nóstimo |
Getting around and shopping
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; | Pou íne i toualéta? |
| Where is the station? | Πού είναι ο σταθμός; | Pou íne o stathmós? |
| How much is it? | Πόσο κάνει; | Póso káni? |
| Can you write it down? | Μπορείτε να το γράψετε; | Boríte na to grápsete? |
Emergencies and health
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Βοήθεια! | Voíthia! |
| I need a doctor | Χρειάζομαι γιατρό | Chriázome yatró |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Πού είναι το φαρμακείο; | Pou íne to farmakío? |
| Call the police! | Καλέστε την αστυνομία! | Kaléste tin astinomía! |
| I'm lost | Χάθηκα | Cháthika |
Practical tips
- "Parakaló" means please, you're welcome, and "go ahead".
- Careful: "Ne" means YES in Greek, and "Óchi" means no.
- The Greek question mark looks like a semicolon (;).
- "Yia sas" is polite (or plural); with friends just say "Yia sou".
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and Greek, tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in Greek. When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to learn the Greek alphabet?
No, but many letters look familiar from math (π, Σ, Δ) and it helps to read signs. The pronunciation column lets you speak right away.
Can my phone speak Greek for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in Greek, then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.