60 Greek phrases for travel, with pronunciation you can read
Updated 24 October 2026 · 8 min read
You don't need to learn Greek to have a better trip to Greece — you need about sixty phrases, said with a smile and roughly the right sounds. Greeks are generous to anyone who tries, and καλημέρα at the bakery changes how the whole morning goes.
Below: the phrases you'll actually use, in Greek letters, with a pronunciation you can read, grouped by situation. The stressed syllable is in CAPITALS — stress is the one thing that makes Greek understandable, so hit it.
Greetings and politeness
| Greek | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Γεια σου / Γεια σας | YA su / YA sas | Hi / Hello (informal / polite or plural) |
| Καλημέρα | ka-li-ME-ra | Good morning (until early afternoon) |
| Καλησπέρα | ka-li-SPE-ra | Good evening |
| Καληνύχτα | ka-li-NIH-ta | Good night |
| Ευχαριστώ (πολύ) | ef-ha-ri-STO (po-LI) | Thank you (very much) |
| Παρακαλώ | pa-ra-ka-LO | Please / you're welcome |
| Ναι / Όχι | ne / O-hi | Yes / No — careful: 'ne' means yes |
| Συγγνώμη | sig-NO-mi | Sorry / excuse me |
| Τι κάνεις; | ti KA-nis | How are you? |
| Καλά, εσύ; | ka-LA, e-SI | Fine, and you? |
| Αντίο / Γεια | a-DI-o / YA | Goodbye / bye |
| Μιλάτε αγγλικά; | mi-LA-te ang-li-KA | Do you speak English? |
| Δεν καταλαβαίνω | then ka-ta-la-VE-no | I don't understand |
| Μιλάω λίγο ελληνικά | mi-LA-o LI-go e-li-ni-KA | I speak a little Greek |
At the café and the taverna
| Greek | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ | E-nan ka-FE pa-ra-ka-LO | A coffee, please |
| Ένα φραπέ / έναν φρέντο εσπρέσο | E-na fra-PE / E-nan FRE-do es-PRE-so | A frappé / an iced espresso |
| Ένα νερό | E-na ne-RO | A water |
| Τον κατάλογο, παρακαλώ | ton ka-TA-lo-go pa-ra-ka-LO | The menu, please |
| Τι προτείνετε; | ti pro-TI-ne-te | What do you recommend? |
| Θα ήθελα… | tha I-the-la | I would like… |
| Μια χωριάτικη | mia ho-ri-A-ti-ki | A Greek salad |
| Χωρίς κρέας | ho-RIS KRE-as | Without meat |
| Είμαι χορτοφάγος | I-me hor-to-FA-gos | I'm vegetarian |
| Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ | ton lo-ga-riaz-MO pa-ra-ka-LO | The bill, please |
| Ήταν πολύ νόστιμο | I-tan po-LI NO-sti-mo | It was delicious |
| Στην υγειά μας! | stin i-YA mas | Cheers! (to our health) |
| Καλή όρεξη | ka-LI O-rek-si | Enjoy your meal |
Getting around
| Greek | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Πού είναι…; | pu I-ne | Where is…? |
| …η παραλία / το λιμάνι / η στάση | i pa-ra-LI-a / to li-MA-ni / i STA-si | …the beach / the port / the bus stop |
| Αριστερά / δεξιά / ευθεία | a-ri-ste-RA / dek-si-A / ef-THI-a | Left / right / straight on |
| Είναι μακριά; | I-ne ma-kri-A | Is it far? |
| Ένα εισιτήριο για… | E-na i-si-TI-ri-o ya | One ticket to… |
| Τι ώρα φεύγει; | ti O-ra FEV-yi | What time does it leave? |
| Στο αεροδρόμιο, παρακαλώ | sto a-e-ro-DRO-mi-o pa-ra-ka-LO | To the airport, please (taxi) |
| Εδώ, ευχαριστώ | e-DO ef-ha-ri-STO | Here, thanks (to stop a taxi) |
Shopping and money
| Greek | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Πόσο κάνει; | PO-so KA-ni | How much is it? |
| Πόσο κάνουν; | PO-so KA-nun | How much are they? |
| Πολύ ακριβό | po-LI a-kri-VO | Very expensive |
| Έχετε…; | E-he-te | Do you have…? |
| Αυτό, παρακαλώ | af-TO pa-ra-ka-LO | This one, please |
| Με κάρτα / με μετρητά | me KAR-ta / me me-tri-TA | By card / in cash |
| Την απόδειξη, παρακαλώ | tin a-PO-thik-si pa-ra-ka-LO | The receipt, please |
Numbers, time, trouble
| Greek | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ένα, δύο, τρία, τέσσερα, πέντε | E-na, THI-o, TRI-a, TE-se-ra, PE-de | One to five |
| Έξι, επτά, οκτώ, εννέα, δέκα | EK-si, ep-TA, ok-TO, e-NE-a, THE-ka | Six to ten |
| Σήμερα / αύριο / χθες | SI-me-ra / AV-ri-o / hthes | Today / tomorrow / yesterday |
| Τι ώρα είναι; | ti O-ra I-ne | What time is it? |
| Βοήθεια! | vo-I-thi-a | Help! |
| Χρειάζομαι γιατρό | hri-A-zo-me ya-TRO | I need a doctor |
| Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; | pu I-ne i tu-a-LE-ta | Where is the toilet? |
| Έχω χαθεί | E-ho ha-THI | I'm lost |
Four things that make you sound right
- Hit the stress. Ka-li-ME-ra, not KA-li-me-ra. Greeks understand a wrong vowel; they struggle with wrong stress.
- The 'd' and 'th' are soft. δ is the th of 'this'; θ is the th of 'thin'. Δύο is 'THI-o', not 'DI-o'.
- Roll the r a little, and say every vowel — Greek has no silent letters.
- 'Ne' is yes. It will feel wrong for a week. Nod while you say it.
Rehearse them before you go
Reading phrases is not the same as saying them to a person. Spend a few ten-minute sessions ordering a coffee, asking the way and paying at a shop with Katerina — she answers in Greek the way the waiter will, and you'll land in Athens having already done it. For more words by situation, our Greek vocabulary by topic has 200 of them with pronunciation.
Questions people ask
- What are the most important Greek phrases for tourists?
- Καλημέρα (good morning), ευχαριστώ (thank you), παρακαλώ (please), πόσο κάνει; (how much?), τον λογαριασμό παρακαλώ (the bill please), πού είναι…; (where is…?), and ναι/όχι (yes/no — 'ne' means yes). With those, a smile and the right stress, Greece opens up.
- Do I need to learn Greek to visit Greece?
- No — English is spoken everywhere tourists go. But a few phrases said properly change how you're treated, from tourist to guest. Sixty phrases and one week of saying them out loud is plenty.
- How do you say hello in Greek?
- Γεια σου (YA su) to one person informally, γεια σας (YA sas) to several people or politely. Καλημέρα (ka-li-ME-ra) is good morning and works until early afternoon.
- How do you say thank you in Greek?
- Ευχαριστώ (ef-ha-ri-STO). 'Ευχαριστώ πολύ' is thank you very much. The reply is παρακαλώ (pa-ra-ka-LO), which also means please.
- Does 'ne' really mean yes in Greek?
- Yes. Ναι (ne) is yes and όχι (O-hi) is no. Every visitor trips on it for a few days; nodding while you say it helps.
Practise them out loud before the trip
Order a coffee from Katerina in Greek, tonight. Free account, no credit card.
Rehearse with Katerina