LingoflyFood and drink in Greek
174 words in Greek on the topic “food and drink”: καφές (kafés) — coffee, τσάι (tsái) — tea, νερό (neró) — water, ψωμί (psomí) — 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 "of what" form 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 is 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 same word in the plural — i garídes — is how 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. 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 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 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 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, the potato. 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, the lemon. 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. 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 estiatóriorestaurantkafenío is the old coffeehouse with backgammon boards, kafetéria the modern cafe. The estiatório stands one step above both: a tablecloth, table service, a bill
Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet
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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.
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.
- Study spread over days wins 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» (kafés), 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?
The whole set on this page is 174 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.
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.