Greek phrasebook
A Greek phrasebook arranged by situation, not alphabetically: introductions, cafés, directions. Each has both sides' lines, so you understand not only what to say but what you will be told back.
Conversations by situation
- 💬Getting acquaintedA first meeting on the street
- 💬At the coffeehouseOrdering at an Athens coffeehouse
- 💬How to get thereAsking the way to the metro
- 💬At the street marketBuying at the open-air market
- 💬Calling a technicianA house call: no hot water in the apartment
- 💬At the pharmacyA pharmacy, medicine without a prescription
- 💬What's the weather like?The weather and weekend plans
- 💬What work do you do?A talk about work
- 💬At the airportCheck-in, baggage and a flight delay
- 💬A boat tripArranging a boat ride at the port
- 💬In the fitting roomTrying things on at a clothes shop
- 💬What's up?A talk about feelings
- 💬At the restaurantOrdering dinner for two
- 💬No signalWi-Fi at a coffeehouse and a dead phone
- 💬Where is the town hall?The way to the town hall and sending a parcel
- 💬Fancy a workout?Talking a friend into a morning run
- 💬The wedding invitationDiscussing the wedding and a gift for the couple
- 💬How old is he?Meeting the neighbors' children in the yard
- 💬At the faculty officeA student at the registrar before a retake
- 💬At the bankA talk about a loan and installments
- 💬At the hospitalAn appointment with a physician, referral in hand
- 💬The interviewA job interview
- 💬Moving dayA contract with the movers about the move
- 💬Renting a carCar rental at the airport
- 💬Did you see it in the news?A talk about a news story and what to believe
- 💬At the consulateFiling papers to extend a visa
- 💬I don't agreeAn argument about a decision and the search for a compromise
- 💬First and thenGoing over the order of things before a trip
- 💬Who is he?Describing a person the other one can't place
- 💬A misunderstandingMaking peace after a quarrel
- 💬Grandma's recipeCooking over the phone, following a recipe
- 💬I want to return itReturning goods at a shopping center
- 💬At the repair shopDropping a phone off for repair
- 💬A storm is comingA talk about the weather before a thunderstorm
- 💬Which bus?Asking the way at the bus stop
- 💬Signing up for a courseEnrolling in a language course
- 💬Where did you grow up?A talk about childhood and native places
- 💬I didn't hear wellAsking again and clarifying over the phone
- 💬My sister is a lawyerA talk about professions in the family
- 💬Before I sign the contractGoing over the terms before signing
- 💬Raising money for the schoolVolunteers discuss a fundraiser
- 💬Shall we go to the premiere?Arranging to go to a premiere
- 💬The first workoutA first session with a trainer at the gym
- 💬How much does it weigh?Sending a parcel: weight and size
- 💬The diagnosisA talk with the doctor about tests and medicine
- 💬We're coming in the eveningAgreeing on what to bring when visiting
- 💬Your argumentAn argument about a decision, kept impersonal
- 💬How likely is it?Weighing the odds and agreeing on a fallback plan
- 💬It arrived crackedComplaining about damaged goods
- 💬I'm coming or I'm going?Agreeing on who goes to whom
- 💬How much should we get?Estimating amounts before a big shop
- 💬How is the work going?Reporting on progress and on the obstacle
- 💬What's your evidence?Examining an argument and checking the data
- 💬How long have you been here?A talk about the years spent in the country
- 💬The river changed colorA talk about the pollution of a river
- 💬The order didn't arriveSorting out a delivery at the warehouse
- 💬Here is what happenedRetelling an incident
- 💬He didn't do it out of spiteA talk about the act of a mutual acquaintance
Phrases that always rescue you
These are learned first not for politeness. They bring back a conversation that has already gone wrong — which makes them more useful than any list of nouns.
- Γεια σαςya sashello
- Ευχαριστώefkharistóthank you
- Παρακαλώparakalóplease
- Συγγνώμηsignómiexcuse me
- Τι κάνετε;ti kánete?how are you (formal)?
- εσείςesísyou (plural)
- Δεν καταλαβαίνωden katalavénoI don't understand
- Επαναλάβετε, παρακαλώepanalávete, parakalóplease repeat
- αργάargáslowly
- Βοήθεια!voíthiahelp!
- ΧάθηκαkháthikaI'm lost
- Περιμένετε λίγοperiménete lígowait a minute
Frequently asked
Which Greek phrases to learn first?
“Hello”, “thank you”, “sorry”, “I don't understand”, “repeat, please”. The first three open a conversation; the last two save it.
Is a phrasebook enough without grammar?
For a short trip — yes. For living in the country — no: memorized phrases do not assemble into new ones, and the other person does not follow your script.