Food and drink in Greek
174 words Greek words on the topic “food and drink”: καφές — coffee, τσάι — tea, νερό — water, ψωμί — bread. 174 words can be played from recordings.
174 words on the topic
- καφέςkaféscoffeemasculine: o kafés. Greek coffee is ordered by sweetness: skétos — plain, métrios — medium, glikós — sweet
- τσάιtsáiteathe ts is one sound, like the ts in cats. Neuter: to tsái. Mountain tea — tsái tu vunoú — is drunk in Greece even more than the regular kind
- νερόnerówaterneuter: to neró. The ancient hýdor survives only in prefixes like 'hydro-', and this word took over everyday speech
- ψωμίpsomíbreadthe letter ψ says ps in one stroke, as at the end of lips. Neuter: to psomí
- τυρίtirícheesethe υ here is the ee sound: tee-RÍ. Féta is not a variety but a protected name: only Greek cheese may be called that
- κρέαςkréasmeatneuter despite the -as ending: to kréas. There are few words like this, but they are all frequent
- ψάριpsárifishfrom the ancient ópson — 'what goes with bread': fish played that role so often it took over the word
- φρούταfrútafruitou gives oo. Neuter plural: éna frúto becomes frúta. The word is Italian; the native Greek rival is karpóí
- μήλοmíloapplethe η reads ee: MEE-lo. Don't confuse with miló — I speak — where the i carries the stress at the end
- ντομάταdomátatomatont at the start of a word is a plain d: do-MA-ta. It is written as two letters because Greek has no single letter for d
- σαλάταsalátasaladthe famous 'Greek salad' is called khoriatíki in Greece — village salad. The word 'Greek' in the name appears only abroad
- σούπαsúpasoupou gives the oo of soup — and the accent sits over the second letter of the pair: soú-pa
- αλάτιalátisaltone ancient root with Latin sal and English 'salt'. Neuter: to aláti
- γλυκόςglikóssweetthe υ is ee: ghlee-KÓS — the root of 'glucose'. The same word orders a sweet coffee: énan glikó
- νόστιμοςnóstimostastythe ending follows gender: nóstimos kafés, nóstimi soúpa, nóstimo psári. Very tasty is polí nóstimo
- ταβέρναtavérnatavernanot a restaurant but a simple family-run place with home cooking and wine from the barrel. The β reads v: ta-VER-na
- ελιέςeliésolivesone word for the tree and the fruit: i eliá is both an olive and the olive tree. The oil from them is ládi
- τρώωtróoeatthe two ω letters do not merge: tro-o. Don't confuse with 'there is' — that is ipárchei, a different verb
- πίνωpínodrinkone verb for water, coffee and wine alike
- το πρωινόto proinóbreakfastfrom proí, the morning. The same word as an adjective means 'morning'
- το μεσημεριανόto mesimerianólunchfrom mesiméri, noon. Greeks lunch late, around two or three
- το βραδινόto vradinódinnerfrom vrády, the evening. Dinner comes later still, around nine or ten
- μασάωmasáochewthe casual masáo and the bookish masó — one word in two spellings
- καταπίνωkatapínoswallowfrom katá, down, and píno, to drink: literally 'drink down'
- η όρεξηi óreksiappetitekalí órexi! — enjoy your meal — is said to everyone at the table before eating
- το κομμάτιto komátichunkfrom kóvo, to cut. A piece of pie, a part, a piece of music
- η μυρωδιάi mirodiásmellusually about the pleasant; for the foul there is vróma. Mirízo means both to smell and to sniff
- το λάδιto ládioilvegetable oil; butter is another word entirely, to vútiro
- η πατάταi patátapotatofried potatoes is patátes tiganités — that is how the menu says it
- το αλεύριto alévriflourfrom the ancient álevron. Don't mix it up with aláti, salt
- το μέλιto mélihoneyan ancient relative of English mead — the same root runs through melissa and the honey cookie melomakárono
- οι ξηροί καρποίi ksirí karpínutsliterally 'dry fruits': this is how the price tags lump all the nuts together
- το κρεμμύδιto kremídioniontwo μ are written and one is heard. Spring onion is frésko kremidáki
- το καρότοto karótocarrotneuter even in the singular: one carrot is éna karóto
- το πιπέριto pipéripepperground pepper. The vegetable is i piperiá, with a different ending
- τα φασόλιαta fasóliabeansplural in form. The national soup, fasoláda, is made of them too
- τα μπαχαρικάta bakharikáspicesfrom Turkish bahar. The same root runs through the shop word for groceries
- μαγειρεύωmayirévocookfrom máyiras, the cook. To prepare in the sense of getting ready is etimázo
- πλένωplénowashwashing dishes and washing clothes: pléno roúcha — I do the laundry
- το μαχαίριto makhériknifethe αι reads e: ma-KHE-ri. The same root as máchi, battle
- βράζωvrázoboilboth transitive and on its own: the water vrázi by itself, and we vrázume it
- τηγανίζωtiganízofryfrom tigáni, the frying pan: frying happens in it specifically
- ψήνωpsínobakeboth baking in the oven and grilling over coals: psitó covers both
- κόβωkóvocutit also means to drop a habit: ékope to tsigáro — he quit smoking
- η κατσαρόλαi katsarólapotfrom Italian casseruola. Stress on the second-to-last: ka-tsa-RO-la
- το τηγάνιto tigánifrying panthe verb tiganízo comes from it: the object first, then the action
- η κουζίναi kuzínastovethe same word as kitchen: the stove is named after the room. The burners are ta mátia — the eyes
- το πιάτοto piátoplatein a taverna the same word names the dish on the menu
- το φλιτζάνιto flidzánicupfrom Turkish fincan. A little coffee cup is flidzanáki
- το ποτήριto potíriglassfrom píno, to drink: the tumbler, the wine glass and the shot glass alike
- το κουτάλιto kutálispoona teaspoon is kutaláki, the diminutive
- το πιρούνιto pirúniforkfrom Latin furca through Venetian piron
- το μπουκάλιto bukálibottlethe mb at the start of the word is b: bu-KA-li
- η χαρτοπετσέταi khartopetsétapaper napkinliterally 'paper towel': the cloth one is simply petséta
- ο βραστήραςo vrastíraskettlethe electric kind. The teapot is i tsayéra, from tsái
- ο δίσκοςo dískostraya tray, a disc and a record: one word for everything round and flat
- ζεστόςzestóshotboth hot and warm: káni zésti — it is hot
- κρύοςkríoscold (adj)about a person it means cool, uninviting
- πεινασμένοςpinazménoshungryusually the verb is said instead: pináo — I am hungry
- η γεύσηi yéfsitastethe taste of food. Taste as a sense of style is to goústo
- αλμυρόςalmiróssaltyfrom álmi, brine; the same root in álas, salt
- ξινόςksinóssourfrom oxýs — sharp and sour; the same root in óxi, the acid of chemistry
- πικρόςpikrósbitterabout taste and about words: pikrí alíthia — a bitter truth
- καυτερόςkafteróshot (spicy)from kéo, I burn: the spicy in Greek burns rather than pricks
- χορτάτοςkhortátossatedfrom korténo, to fill up; the same root as khortá, greens
- δοκιμάζωdokimázotryabout food and about attempts in general. Trying on clothes is prováro
- ο κατάλογοςo katálogosmenuin a taverna you ask for ton katálogo; menú means the set lunch
- ο σερβιτόροςo servitóroswaiteryou don't call out the name — a hand or a parakaló does the job
- η παραγγελίαi parangelíaorderan order in a restaurant and an order for goods; the gg sounds ng
- παραγγέλνωparangélnoplace an orderthe bookish parangéllo with two lambdas lives in the paperwork
- το κυρίως πιάτοto kiríos piátomain courseliterally 'the chief plate': on the menu it separates the hot dish from the starters
- η μερίδαi merídaportionfrom méros, a part. Misí merída — half a portion
- τραπέζι για δύοtrapézi ya díotable for twono diminutive is said: the little table and the table are one trapézi
- το γλυκόto glikódessertliterally 'the sweet thing'; the same word names fruit preserved in syrup
- χωρίς κρέαςkhorís kréaswithout meatduring a fast Greeks eat nistíssima — fasting food: that word will be understood best
- η τούρταi túrtacakeThe celebration cake. Pie in general is another creature: i pita
- τα ζυμαρικάta zimarikápastaFrom zými, dough: everything made of dough and dried
- το γιαούρτιto yaúrtiyogurtFrom Turkish yoğurt. The Greek thick kind is strangistó, 'strained'
- η κρέμα γάλακτοςi kréma gálaktoscreamLiterally 'milk cream': gála in the genitive gives gálaktos
- το παγωτόto pagotóice creamFrom págos, ice. 'Pagotó chonáki' is the cone kind
- η σοκολάταi sokolátachocolateThe same word serves hot chocolate, the drink
- τα μπισκόταta biskótacookiesFrom Italian biscotto, 'twice-baked'. Always plural in Greek
- το μοσχάριto moskháribeefThe same word as the calf: the meat named after the animal
- το αρνάκιto arnákilambA pet-name of arní, the lambkin: it's what gets roasted at Easter
- οι γαρίδεςi garídesshrimpsPlural only: a single shrimp doesn't come to the plate
- τα σταφύλιαta stafíliagrapesPlural in Greek. The raisin is i stafída
- το αγγούριto angúricucumberGamma-gamma reads 'ng'. The horiatiki salad requires it
- το λάχανοto lákhanocabbageThe same root as lachaniká, vegetables in general
- το σκόρδοto skórdogarlicThe skordaliá sauce is made of exactly this
- η κολοκύθαi kolokíthapumpkinThe zucchini is to kolokitháki — a pet-name of the very same pumpkin
- η μελιτζάναi melidzánaeggplantNo moussaka without it. The color melitzaní is eggplant-purple
- το λεμόνιto lemónilemonIn Greece it goes into almost everything: soup and meat alike
- το καρπούζιto karpúziwatermelonFrom Turkish karpuz. The default summer dessert
- οι φράουλεςi fráulesstrawberriesPlural, like the garídes next to it
- το αχλάδιto akhládipearDon't confuse with achladiá, the pear tree: the tree is feminine
- το ροδάκινοto rodákinopeachFrom ródo, the rose: the peach named after the flower's color
- η συνταγήi sindayírecipeThe same word as the doctor's prescription: both are 'writings-down'
- καθαρίζω τα λαχανικάkatharízo ta lakhanikáto peel the vegetablesThe same verb as tidying a room: Greek cleans everything the same way
- βράζω νερόvrázo neróto boilThe same verb as cooking: Greek doesn't split simmering from boiling
- ανακατεύωanakatévoto stirThe middle anakatévome means 'I feel sick' and 'I meddle where I shouldn't'
- αλατίζωalatízoto add saltFrom aláti, salt — an ancient root shared with álmi, the brine
- ζεσταίνω το φαγητόzesténo to fayitóto reheatFrom zestós, warm: the same verb warms you up too
- κρυώνω το φαγητόkrióno to fayitóto let coolThe same verb means to freeze: kryonó serves me and the food alike
- χτυπάω αυγάkhtipáo avgáto beat the eggsLiterally 'I hit the eggs': the same verb as knocking on a door
- προσθέτω νερόprosthéto neróto add waterIn speech people more often 'vázo ki álo neró' — put in more water
- ψήνω στη σχάραpsíno sti skhárato grillSchára is the grate. The same psíno does the oven baking
- η ημερομηνία λήξηςi imerominía líksisexpiration dateFrom lígo, to run out: the same word about a visa and a contract
- χάλασεkhálaseit went badThe same word about broken appliances and small change
- το βάζοto vázojarDon't confuse with the vázo, to put: same stress, different sense
- το πακέτοto pakétopacketA pack of cigarettes, a parcel and a tour package: one pakéto
- δεύτερη μερίδαdéfteri merídasecond helpingLiterally 'the second portion': Greek has no separate word for a refill
- για το σπίτιya to spítito take awayLiterally 'for home'. People also say 'se pakéto' — as a package
- χωρίς ζάχαρηkhorís zákharino sugarIn the café they'll ask 'skéto?' — which means exactly 'plain, no sugar'
- είμαι χορτοφάγοςíme khortofágosI'm a vegetarianChórta plus tróo: a grass-eater. During the fast Greeks eat nistíshima
- έχω αλλεργία στους ξηρούς καρπούςékho aleryía stus ksirús karpúsI'm allergic to nutsA phrase worth mastering before the food arrives, not after
- καλή όρεξηkalí óreksienjoy your mealLiterally 'good appetite'. The answer is 'epísis' — same to you
- το λιπαρό φαγητόto liparó fayitófatty foodFrom lípos, fat: the same root as lípasma, the fertilizer
- η καραμέλαi karamélacandyA hard candy and any sweet: the chocolate kind is sokolatáki
- το παραδοσιακό φαγητόto paradosiakó fayitótraditional dishLiterally 'traditional food': from parádosi, tradition
- το φαγητό του δρόμουto fayitó tu drómustreet foodGyros and souvlaki are Greece's most ordinary street food
- φρέσκος από τον φούρνοfréskos apó ton fúrnofresh from the oventhe same fréskos as fresh fish; apó ton fúrno is about baked goods
- μπαγιάτικοςbayátikosstalefrom Turkish bayat. About news it means stale, yesterday's
- το χοιρινόto khirinóporkneuter: an adjective of chirós, pig, turned noun. The oi reads ee: khi-ri-NO
- το κοτόπουλοto kotópulochicken (meat)literally 'chicken chick': kóta is the bird in the yard, kotópulo the meat on the plate. ou gives a plain oo
- το κρέας της πάπιαςto kréas tis pápiasduck (meat)the bird itself the course knows as i pápia; on a menu it goes through kréas, otherwise a live duck would land on the plate
- ο κιμάςo kimásground meatmasculine, stress at the end. Borrowed from Turkish kıyma — the same kitchen gave English köfte and kebab
- το ζαμπόνto zambónhamfrom French jambon, neuter and unchanged. Inner mb sounds as m-b
- το λουκάνικοto lukánikosausagefrom Latin lucanica, the sausage of Lucania. The same word covers the grill sausage and the packed kind
- ο τόνοςo tónostunathe same form means 'stress' and 'ton' — three senses on one word. Cans read tónos se neró — tuna in water
- ο σολομόςo solomóssalmonmasculine, stress on the last syllable. Smoked is kapnistós solomós — exactly how it is labelled in the chiller
- η γαρίδαi garídashrimpthe course meets the same lemma in the plural — i garídes, as they are served. One on the counter or in a recipe is garída
- τα θαλασσινάta thalasináseafoodfrom thálassa, the sea: literally sea things. Plural only, and the double sigma sounds as one s
- το δαμάσκηνοto damáskinoplumliterally 'of Damascus': the plum reached Europe through Damascus — the same city that gave English 'damask'
- το βατόμουροto vatómuroraspberryvátos, the blackberry bush, plus moúro, berry. Greeks use one word for raspberry and blackberry and tell them apart by color at the stall
- το πεπόνιto pepónimelonneuter. From pépon, ripe — through Latin the same root gave English 'pumpkin'
- το ρόδιto ródipomegranatea short neuter word, stress on the first syllable. For the gemstone and for the grenade Greeks say something else
- ο ανανάςo ananáspineapplemasculine even with the -as ending; plural ananádes. Stress at the end
- το μανταρίνιto mandarínimandarinneuter. The inner nt sounds nd, so it comes out manda-REE-nee, not man-ta-REE-nee
- το ακτινίδιοto aktinídiokiwifrom aktína, a ray: the sliced fruit looks like a sun with rays. The bird is also kiwi, with its article: to kívi
- το αβοκάντοto avokádoavocadounchanged and neuter. The nt reads d, so the word comes out exactly as in English: avokádo
- η σταφίδαi stafídaraisinfeminine, from stafýli, the grape the course knows. English 'currant' — one kind of raisin — preserves the city Corinth in its name
- το σύκοto síkofigthe υ reads ee: SEE-ko. 'Sycophant' began as a fig informer — and the word made it into English
- η πιπεριάi piperiábell pepperfeminine: the vegetable on the bed. Ground pepper in the mill is a different neuter word, to pipéri
- το κολοκυθάκιto kolokithákizucchinia diminutive of kolokýtha, the pumpkin the course knows. The th is the th of 'think'
- το παντζάριto pandzáribeetrootneuter. nt gives nd and tz in the middle gives dz: pan-DZA-ri. Served boiled, with garlic and vinegar
- το ραπανάκιto rapanákiradisha diminutive of repáni, the big radish. At the market it comes almost always in the plural: rapanákia
- τα μυρωδικάta mirodikáherbsfrom mirodiá, a scent the course knows: the herbs are named for what they smell like. Plural only
- ο άνηθοςo ánithosdillmasculine, stress on the first syllable. The word is ancient: the same ánithon stands in the Gospel among the garden herbs
- ο μαϊντανόςo maindanósparsleytwo dots over the ι force the ai to be read apart: ma-i, not me. The nt sounds nd, stress at the end: mai-nda-NOS
- το τζίντζερto dzíndzergingera borrowed neuter word, unchanged. There is a native name too — piperórisa, 'pepper root' — but the shops stock the borrowed one
- το καλαμπόκιto kalambókicornfrom kálamos, a reed: the stalk is reed-like. The inner mb sounds m-b: ka-lam-BO-ki
- το σπανάκιto spanákispinachneuter. From it spanakópita — spinach pie — the most frequent word on a Greek bakery board
- το ψωμάκιto psomákibread rolla diminutive of psomí, the bread the course knows. The ψ letter says ps in one go
- η πίταi pítapiefeminine. The word is wider than the English pie: the flat bread under a yiros and a filled spanakópita are all píta
- η πάσταi pástapastrya false friend: in a sweet shop it is a cake, not pasta. The noodles themselves are makarónia
- ο λουκουμάςo lukumásdonutmasculine, stress at the end. The Greek donut is fried in oil and drenched in honey, and usually served by the portion
- τα αρτοσκευάσματαta artoskevázmatabaked goodsártos, bread, plus skévasma, a made thing: the umbrella name for everything out of the oven. A sign word, not a conversational one
- η μαρμελάδαi marmeládajamfeminine. A false friend: it is jam in a jar, not the gummy candy — that one is zeledákia
- το σιρόπιto sirópisyrupneuter. The syrup in a dessert and the cough mixture share the name: sirópi ya ton víkha
- το ποπκόρνto popkórnpopcornunchanged, neuter. There is a spaced spelling too — pop korn — but at the cinema the sign uses one word
- τα πατατάκιαta patatákiapotato chipsliterally 'little potatoes', a diminutive of patáta, which the course knows. Plural only
- η τσίχλαi tsíkhlachewing gumfeminine. The same word names a thrush: the bird eats mistletoe berries, from which the first chewing gum was pulled
- η λεμονάδαi lemonádalemonadefeminine, from lemóni, which the course knows. The same pattern gives portokaláda — the orange one
- το μεταλλικό νερόto metalikó nerómineral waterliterally 'metal water': Greeks derive 'mineral' from métallo. The double lambda sounds as one l
- το ανθρακούχο νερόto anthrakúkho nerósparkling waterliterally 'carbon-bearing': ánthrakas is coal — the same root as 'anthracite'. In a café ask the short way: me anthrakikó
- το κοκτέιλto koktéilcocktailunchanged, neuter. The stress sits on the E, and the ι after it reads separately: kok-TE-il
- το κακάοto kakáococoaunchanged, neuter, stress on the second syllable. Both the powder in the pack and the hot drink in the cup
- ο στιγμιαίος καφέςo stigmiéos kafésinstant coffeeliterally 'instant', from stigmí, a moment. In speech it is more often called by the brand: neskafe
- το φακελάκι τσαγιούto fakeláki tsayútea bagliterally 'little envelope of tea': fákelos is an envelope, and its diminutive serves for post and for tea alike
- το καυτό νερόto kaftó neróboiling waterliterally 'burning water': there is no separate word for boiled water. Av before the k reads af
- το αλκοόλto alkoólalcoholunchanged, neuter. The two omicrons read apart, stress on the second: al-ko-OL
- το ποτόto potóbeveragefrom píno, to drink, which the course knows. The word leans alcoholic: the soft stuff is specified as anapsiktikó
- ο χυμόςo khimósjuicemasculine, stress at the end; the υ reads ee and the chi is a throaty kh. Fresh-squeezed is fisikós khimós — natural
- το εστιατόριοto estiatóriorestaurantthe course knows kafenío, the old coffeehouse with backgammon boards, and kafetéria, the modern cafe. The estiatório stands one step above both: a tablecloth, table service, a bill
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- Έναν καφέ, παρακαλώénan kafé, parakalóOne coffee, please
- Θέλω ένα τσάι με λεμόνιthélo éna tsái me lemóniI want tea with lemon
- Ένα νερό, παρακαλώéna neró, parakalóWater, please
- Το ψωμί είναι φρέσκοto psomí íne fréskoThe bread is fresh
- Ψωμί με τυρί, παρακαλώpsomí me tirí, parakalóBread with cheese, please
- Δεν τρώω κρέαςden tróo kréasI do not eat meat
What is worth knowing about these words
καφές (kafés) — coffee. masculine: o kafés. Greek coffee is ordered by sweetness: skétos — plain, métrios — medium, glikós — sweet
τσάι (tsái) — tea. the ts is one sound, like the ts in cats. Neuter: to tsái. Mountain tea — tsái tu vunoú — is drunk in Greece even more than the regular kind
νερό (neró) — water. neuter: to neró. The ancient hýdor survives only in prefixes like 'hydro-', and this word took over everyday speech
ψωμί (psomí) — bread. the letter ψ says ps in one stroke, as at the end of lips. Neuter: to psomí
Test yourself
First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.
- What is this word?
It is καφές (kafés) — coffee.
- What is this word?
It is φρούτα (frúta) — fruit.
- What is this word?
It is νόστιμος (nóstimos) — tasty.
- What is this word?
It is το βραδινό (to vradinó) — dinner.
- What is this word?
It is η πατάτα (i patáta) — potato.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “coffee” in Greek?
masculine: o kafés. Greek coffee is ordered by sweetness: skétos — plain, métrios — medium, glikós — sweet
- How do you say “fruit” in Greek?
ou gives oo. Neuter plural: éna frúto becomes frúta. The word is Italian; the native Greek rival is karpóí
- How do you say “tasty” in Greek?
the ending follows gender: nóstimos kafés, nóstimi soúpa, nóstimo psári. Very tasty is polí nóstimo
- How do you say “dinner” in Greek?
from vrády, the evening. Dinner comes later still, around nine or ten
- How do you say “potato” in Greek?
fried potatoes is patátes tiganités — that is how the menu says it
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
A menu, a market, a shop sign, the question “what is this?”. Food is the most frequent subject of the first weeks and the safest excuse to start talking.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “coffee” in Greek?
«καφές», read “kafés”. masculine: o kafés. Greek coffee is ordered by sweetness: skétos — plain, métrios — medium, glikós — sweet. It is one of 174 words in the set “food and drink” — the rest are in the table above.
How many food words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 174 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.
Is there audio?
Yes, 174 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.