Shopping and money in Greek
99 words Greek words on the topic “shopping and money”: Πόσο κάνει; — how much is it?, ευρώ — euros, μαγαζί — shop, αγορά — market. 99 words can be played from recordings.
99 words on the topic
- Πόσο κάνει;póso káni?how much is it?literally 'how much does it make' — no verb 'to cost' needed. The question mark looks like a semicolon
- ευρώevróeurosev before the voiced r gives ev. The word never changes: dío evró, déka evró — no plural ending at all
- μαγαζίmagazíshopthe word travelled from Arabic through Italian; English 'magazine' started life the same way, as a storehouse. Neuter: to magazí
- αγοράagorámarketthe very agora — the gathering square of ancient Athens. Today it is also a purchase: káno agorés — I do the shopping
- ο πάγκοςo pángoscountergk reads as g: Greek has no letter of its own for that sound
- ο πωλητήςo politíssalespersonfrom pouláo, to sell. A saleswoman is i polítria
- ο αγοραστήςo agorastísbuyerfrom agorázo, to buy; agorá itself is both the market and the purchase
- η ζυγαριάi zigariáscalessingular in Greek, though the object has two pans. From zygízo, to weigh
- το κιλόto kilókiloat the market you ask directly: éna kiló domátes — a kilo of tomatoes, no preposition
- φρέσκοςfréskosfreshthe ending follows gender: fréskos, fréskia, frésko
- ώριμοςórimosripeabout fruit and about people alike: órimos ánthropos — a mature person
- η ταμπέλα τιμήςi tambéla timísprice tagtambéla is a label in general; timís is the genitive of timí, price
- Πόσο κάνει αυτό;póso káni aftó?how much do I owe?literally 'how much does it make'. About several things: póso kánun?
- Είναι ακριβόíne akrivóit's expensivethe neuter akrivó, because 'it' — aftó — is neuter
- Πιο φτηνά γίνεται;pio ftiná yínete?can it be cheaper?pio builds the comparison: pio ftiná — cheaper. Asked at the market, not in a shop
- Το παίρνωto pérnoI'll take itpérno is to take; the little to before the verb is 'it', and it stands in front
- Δεν το θέλωden to théloI don't need itthe negation den stands before the verb and before its pronoun
- το σούπερ μάρκετto súper márketsupermarketan English word in Greek letters. The small corner shop is to bakáliko
- το καλάθιto kaláthibasketthe wheeled cart is to karotsáki. The th is the th of 'think' — tongue between the teeth
- η ουράi uráqueuethe same word means a tail — an animal's and a queue's alike
- το ταμείοto tamíocheckoutthe cashier is o tamías. The same word means a fund, a treasury
- η σακούλαi sakúlaplastic bagsince 2018 the plastic bag costs money, and the checkout will ask about it
- ανοικτάaniktáopen (on a sign)the door says ANIKTA. The casual spelling is anichtá, with a chi
- κλειστάklistáclosedthe partner of aniktá. On Sundays most shops are klistá
- διαλέγωdialégochoosethe same root as 'dialogue': to choose is to take apart by picking
- το μέγεθοςto méyethossizefrom mégas, big — the root of 'mega-'
- η εγγύησηi engíisiwarrantyThe same word as a tenant's deposit: both are a pledge. Gamma-gamma reads 'ng'
- η επιστροφή προϊόντοςi epistrofí proióndosproduct returnThe two dots over the i split the 'ee': pro-ee-ON-dos
- η διαφήμισηi diafímisiadvertisingFrom fími, rumor: advertising as fame spread around
- το διαφημιστικό σποτto diafimistikó spotcommercialThe 'spot' is borrowed from English and stays undeclined
- η μάρκαi márkabrandDon't confuse with grammatósimo, the postage stamp: different words
- το λογότυποto logótipologoLógos plus týpos, 'a mark of the word': Greek roots through and through
- οι εκπτώσειςi ekptósissaleIn the plural it's the sale season; one ékptosi is simply a discount
- η συμφέρουσα προσφοράi simférusa prosforágood dealFrom simféri, it pays off: 'den me simféri' — it's not worth it to me
- συγκρίνω τιμέςsingríno timésto compare pricesFrom kríno, to judge: to compare is to judge together
- το πακέτοto pakétopacketA pack of cigarettes, a parcel and a tour package: one pakéto
- το ύφασμαto ífazmafabricFrom yféno, to weave — the same root as ýfos, style
- το δέρμαto dérmagenuine leatherThe same word as human skin: the material named after the body
- το μαλλίto malíwoolThe singular of maliá, hair: wool is literally the sheep's hair
- το μετάξιto metáksisilkItalian and Slavic names for silk both grew out of this Greek word
- το γυαλίto yalípane of glassIt gives yaliá, eyeglasses: literally 'glasses of glass'
- το μέταλλοto métaloa metalA Greek word: originally a mine, then what comes out of it
- το πλαστικόto plastikóplastic materialFrom plásso, to mold: whatever can be given a shape
- το χαρτίto khartía sheet of paperIn the plural, ta chartiá means 'documents' — your papers
- ανθεκτικόςanthektikósdurableFrom antécho, to hold out: the durable is what endures
- καλής ποιότηταςkalís piótitashigh-qualityGenitive instead of an adjective: literally 'of good quality'
- το εμπορικό κέντροto emborikó kéndroshopping mallFrom embório, trade — the same root as émboros, the merchant
- η βιτρίναi vitrínashop windowFrom Latin vitrum, glass: it reached Greek by way of Italian
- ο ταμίαςo tamíascashierFrom tamío, the cash desk: the same word as a treasurer
- η αγοράi agorápurchaseThe same word as the market and the ancient town square
- η κάρτα επιβράβευσηςi kárta epivrávefsisloyalty cardFrom vravío, an award: the card that rewards you
- το χαρτί περιτυλίξηςto khartí peritilíksisgift wrappingFrom tilígo, to wrap, with 'peri-' around it
- το καρότσιto karótsishopping cartThe same word as the baby stroller and the wheelbarrow
- πιο ακριβάpio akrivámore expensive'Pio' plus the adverb is the everyday way to compare in living speech
- πιο φθηνάpio fthinácheaperThe pair to 'pio akrivá'. Also written ftiná through tau
- κοστίζωkostízoto costIn living speech people ask 'póso káni?' — literally 'how much does it make?'
- αλλάζω προϊόνalázo proiónto exchange an itemThe same allázo as changing the channel or swapping a part
- κάνω επιστροφήkáno epistrofíto return an itemThe same epitrofí as the return ticket: any kind of coming back
- ελαττωματικόelatomatikódefectiveFrom eláttema, a flaw: the same word about human weaknesses
- δεν μου κάνει το νούμεροden mu káni to númerothe size doesn't fitThe negated 'mu káni', it suits me: the size fails to suit
- κρατάω την απόδειξηkratáo tin apódiksito keep the receiptThe same kratáo as in krátisi, a booking: to hold on to it
- η αξίωσηi aksíosiclaimFrom axízo, to be worth: a demand made by right
- είναι απομίμησηíne apomímisiit's a fakeFrom mimúme, to imitate — the root of 'mime' and 'mimicry'
- υπάρχει σε απόθεμαipárkhi se apóthemain stockApóthema is a stock, from apothíki, the warehouse
- η επισκευή με εγγύησηi episkeví me engíisiwarranty repairThe same engýisi as the tenant's deposit: a pledge in both cases
- αλλάζω σε άλλο χρώμαalázo se álo khrómato change the colorThe preposition 'se' names what you're changing it into
- τα γυαλιά οράσεωςta yaliá oráseoseyeglassesAs against yaliá ilíou, sunglasses: the second word decides everything
- το ρολόι χειρόςto rolói khiróswristwatchCherós is the genitive of chér, the hand — the same hand as in luggage 'cheirapokeví'
- η χτέναi khténacombFrom chtenízo, to comb; the same word as the comb of a shell
- το ξυραφάκιto ksirafákirazorA pet-name of xyráfi: the disposable kind, not the fearsome straight razor
- το άρωμαto áromaperfumeA scent and a perfume: singular in Greek
- τα καλλυντικάta kalindikácosmeticsFrom kállos, beauty. Always plural
- το σαμπουάνto sambuánshampooFrom French, indeclinable: to sampoán, ta sampoán
- το ψαλίδιto psalídiscissorsSingular in Greek: one scissors, ta psalídia in the plural
- η βελόναi velónaneedleA sewing needle, a syringe needle and a knitting needle: one word
- η κλωστήi klostíthreadFrom klótho, to spin: the Fate Clotho, who spins the thread, shares the name
- χαρίζωkharízoto give as a giftFrom chári, grace and favor: it also gives the name Cháris
- μεταχειρισμένοςmetakhirizménossecondhandFrom chéri, the hand: literally 'passed through hands'
- πληρώνω παραπάνωpliróno parapánoto overpayParapáno means 'over and above': literally 'over-top'
- παζαρεύωpazarévoto haggleFrom pazári, the bazaar: shops don't haggle, markets sometimes do
- το βιβλιοπωλείοto vivliopolíobookstoreVivlío plus poló, 'selling books': the same root as the seller
- χονδρικώςkhondrikóswholesaleFrom chondrós, thick, coarse: by the coarse count. Retail is 'lianikí'
- ο χρόνος εγγύησηςo khrónos engíisiswarranty periodThe same engýisi as the pledge: a pledge in time
- κατά παραγγελίαkatá parangelíamade to orderThe same parangelía as the order in a restaurant
- παίρνωpérnotakethe same verb covers get and pick up: píra to grámma — I got the letter
- δίνωdínogivethe same root in dóro, a present, and dorean, for free
- αγοράζωagorázobuyfrom agorá — the marketplace and the gathering square of the ancient city. Agorastís is a buyer
- επιστρέφω κάτιepistréfo kátigive backthe same verb as coming back yourself; káti makes it about a thing
- τυλίγωtilígowrapthe root of peritíligma, a wrapper, and tilígo se pakéto — to wrap into a parcel
- πόσο κάνει το κιλό;póso káni to kilóhow much per kilo?káno here means 'costs', not 'makes'. The article is obligatory: not 'one kilo' but 'the kilo in general'
- έχει έκπτωση;ékhi ékptosiis there a discount?the impersonal échei — there is. Ékptosi the course knows as a discount; in the question it goes without an article
- έχετε...;ékhetedo you have...?one word instead of a whole phrase: 'you have'. What follows is the goods without an article, and the question mark in Greek is a semicolon
- θα πάρω αυτόtha páro aftóI'll take thistha plus a form of pérno builds the future. Aftó is neuter: you point at the goods without naming them
- θέλω μια σακούλαthélo mia sakúlaI need a bagliterally 'I want a bag': Greek gets by with thélo where English builds 'I need'. Bags have cost money since 2018
- πού είναι το ταμείο;pu íne to tamíowhere is the checkout?poú with the accent asks where; unstressed pou means 'which'. Tamío the course knows as the checkout
- αυτά είναι όλαaftá íne ólathat's allliterally 'these are all', in the plural: there are several purchases. Av before a vowel reads af
- μετρητά ή κάρτα;metritá i kártacash or card?so the cashier asks. Í with the accent is or; the unstressed η is the article — they sound alike
- κρατήστε τα ρέσταkratíste ta réstakeep the changeliterally 'keep the change': Greek states it positively where English refuses. Résta the course knows
- η λίστα με τα ψώνιαi lísta me ta psóniashopping listpsónia — the shopping — gives this unit its name. Literally 'list with the shopping', through me, not the genitive
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.
- Πόσο κάνει το εισιτήριο;póso káni to isitírio?How much is the ticket?
- Ο καφές κάνει τρία ευρώo kafés káni tría evróThe coffee costs three euros
- Το μαγαζί είναι κλειστόto magazí íne klistóThe shop is closed
- Η αγορά είναι ανοιχτή το πρωίi agorá íne anikhtí to proíThe market is open in the morning
- Ο πάγκος με τα φρούτα είναι εκείo pángos me ta frúta íne ekíThe fruit counter is over there
- Ο πωλητής ζυγίζει τα μήλαo politís ziyízi ta mílaThe salesperson weighs the apples
What is worth knowing about these words
Πόσο κάνει; (póso káni?) — how much is it?. literally 'how much does it make' — no verb 'to cost' needed. The question mark looks like a semicolon
ευρώ (evró) — euros. ev before the voiced r gives ev. The word never changes: dío evró, déka evró — no plural ending at all
μαγαζί (magazí) — shop. the word travelled from Arabic through Italian; English 'magazine' started life the same way, as a storehouse. Neuter: to magazí
αγορά (agorá) — market. the very agora — the gathering square of ancient Athens. Today it is also a purchase: káno agorés — I do the shopping
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 Πόσο κάνει; (póso káni?) — how much is it?.
- What is this word?
It is η ζυγαριά (i zigariá) — scales.
- What is this word?
It is Πιο φτηνά γίνεται; (pio ftiná yínete?) — can it be cheaper?.
- What is this word?
It is η σακούλα (i sakúla) — plastic bag.
- What is this word?
It is η διαφήμιση (i diafímisi) — advertising.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “how much is it?” in Greek?
literally 'how much does it make' — no verb 'to cost' needed. The question mark looks like a semicolon
- How do you say “scales” in Greek?
singular in Greek, though the object has two pans. From zygízo, to weigh
- How do you say “can it be cheaper?” in Greek?
pio builds the comparison: pio ftiná — cheaper. Asked at the market, not in a shop
- How do you say “plastic bag” in Greek?
since 2018 the plastic bag costs money, and the checkout will ask about it
- How do you say “advertising” in Greek?
From fími, rumor: advertising as fame spread around
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
How much it costs, whether there is a smaller one, whether cards are accepted. A shop forgives mistakes: miss a word and they will show you the thing with their hands anyway.
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 “how much is it?” in Greek?
«Πόσο κάνει;», read “póso káni?”. literally 'how much does it make' — no verb 'to cost' needed. The question mark looks like a semicolon. It is one of 99 words in the set “shopping and money” — the rest are in the table above.
How many shopping words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 99 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, 99 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.