Modern Greek vocabulary: everyday words and short phrases

Question 1

Say “hello” to one friend in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

γεια σου — hello (informal, one person).

Γεια σου, Μαρία! — Hello, Maria!

Use γεια σας for a polite greeting or more than one person.

Question 2

Say “good morning” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

καλημέρα — good morning.

Καλημέρα! Τι κάνεις; — Good morning! How are you?

Question 3

Say “thank you” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

ευχαριστώ — thank you.

Ευχαριστώ για το νερό. — Thank you for the water.

Question 4

Say “excuse me” or “sorry” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

συγγνώμη — excuse me; sorry.

Συγγνώμη, πού είναι η στάση; — Excuse me, where is the bus stop?

Question 5

Modern Greek for “yes”?

Accepted Answer

ναι — yes.

Ναι, έχω εισιτήριο. — Yes, I have a ticket.

Ναι means yes; it is not the English word “no.”

Question 6

Greet an unfamiliar adult politely in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

γεια σας — hello (polite, or more than one person).

Γεια σας, κύριε Νίκο! — Hello, Mr Nikos!

Σας can address one person politely or several people.

Question 7

Modern Greek for “no”?

Accepted Answer

όχι — no.

Όχι, δεν θέλω καφέ. — No, I do not want coffee.

Question 8

Ask one person informally, “What is your name?” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

Πώς σε λένε; — What is your name? (informal singular).

Γεια σου! Πώς σε λένε; — Hello! What is your name?

The question word πώς carries an accent.

Question 9

Start “My name is …” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

Με λένε… — My name is…

Με λένε Άννα. — My name is Anna.

Put your name after the phrase.

Question 10

Say “I don't understand” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

Δεν καταλαβαίνω. — I do not understand.

Δεν καταλαβαίνω αυτή τη λέξη. — I do not understand this word.

Question 11

Greek singular noun + article: a male friend.

Accepted Answer

ο φίλος — male friend.

Ο φίλος μου μένει εδώ. — My friend lives here.

A female friend is η φίλη.

Question 12

Add “please” to a request in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

παρακαλώ — please.

Ένα νερό, παρακαλώ. — One water, please.

Παρακαλώ also commonly answers a thank-you: “You're welcome.”

Question 13

Modern Greek meaning: “Χαίρω πολύ.”

Accepted Answer

Nice to meet you.

Χαίρω πολύ, κύριε Νίκο. — Nice to meet you, Mr Nikos.

A conventional expression when meeting someone.

Question 14

In “Τα λέμε αύριο”, what does “τα λέμε” mean?

Accepted Answer

See you; we'll talk again.

Τα λέμε αύριο! — See you tomorrow!

A casual farewell; it is not a literal instruction to say objects.

Question 15

Modern Greek meaning: “Καληνύχτα!”

Accepted Answer

Good night!

Καληνύχτα! Πάω για ύπνο. — Good night! I am going to bed.

Used when parting at night or before sleep.

Question 16

Modern Greek plural + article: ο φίλος (male friend).

Accepted Answer

οι φίλοι — male friends; friends in a mixed group.

Οι φίλοι μου είναι εδώ. — My friends are here.

All-female friends: οι φίλες.

Question 17

Greek singular noun + article: house or home.

Accepted Answer

το σπίτι — house; home.

Το σπίτι είναι μικρό. — The house is small.

Question 18

Greek singular noun + article: room.

Accepted Answer

το δωμάτιο — room.

Το δωμάτιο έχει δύο παράθυρα. — The room has two windows.

Question 19

Greek singular noun + article: door.

Accepted Answer

η πόρτα — door.

Η πόρτα είναι ανοιχτή. — The door is open.

Question 20

Greek singular noun + article: key.

Accepted Answer

το κλειδί — key.

Το κλειδί είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι. — The key is on the table.

Question 21

Greek singular noun + article: table (furniture).

Accepted Answer

το τραπέζι — table.

Το τραπέζι είναι στην κουζίνα. — The table is in the kitchen.

Question 22

Greek singular noun + article: chair.

Accepted Answer

η καρέκλα — chair.

Η καρέκλα είναι δίπλα στην πόρτα. — The chair is next to the door.

Question 23

Greek singular noun + article: mother.

Accepted Answer

η μητέρα — mother.

Η μητέρα μου δουλεύει σήμερα. — My mother works today.

Μαμά is the everyday familiar word “mum/mom.”

Question 24

Greek singular noun + article: father.

Accepted Answer

ο πατέρας — father.

Ο πατέρας μου πίνει καφέ. — My father is drinking coffee.

Μπαμπάς is the familiar word “dad.”

Question 25

Greek singular noun + article: child.

Accepted Answer

το παιδί — child.

Το παιδί διαβάζει ένα βιβλίο. — The child is reading a book.

Question 26

Greek singular noun + article: family.

Accepted Answer

η οικογένεια — family.

Η οικογένειά μου μένει στην Αθήνα. — My family lives in Athens.

The extra accent in οικογένειά μου belongs to the written phrase with μου.

Question 27

Greek singular noun + article: window.

Accepted Answer

το παράθυρο — window.

Το παράθυρο είναι κλειστό. — The window is closed.

Question 28

Greek singular noun + article: bed.

Accepted Answer

το κρεβάτι — bed.

Το βιβλίο είναι πάνω στο κρεβάτι. — The book is on the bed.

Question 29

In “Μένω στο κέντρο”, what does “μένω” mean?

Accepted Answer

I live; I reside.

Μένω στο κέντρο. — I live in the centre.

Here μένω describes where someone lives; in other contexts it can mean stay/remain.

Question 30

In “Η κουζίνα είναι δίπλα στο σαλόνι”, what is “η κουζίνα”?

Accepted Answer

The kitchen.

Η κουζίνα είναι δίπλα στο σαλόνι. — The kitchen is next to the living room.

Κουζίνα can also mean a cooker or cuisine in other contexts.

Question 31

In “Το μπάνιο είναι καθαρό”, what is “το μπάνιο”?

Accepted Answer

The bathroom.

Το μπάνιο είναι καθαρό. — The bathroom is clean.

Μπάνιο can also refer to bathing, depending on context.

Question 32

Modern Greek plural + article: το παιδί (child).

Accepted Answer

τα παιδιά — children.

Τα παιδιά παίζουν στο σπίτι. — The children are playing at home.

Question 33

Greek noun + article: water.

Accepted Answer

το νερό — water.

Το νερό είναι κρύο. — The water is cold.

Question 34

Greek noun + article: bread.

Accepted Answer

το ψωμί — bread.

Το ψωμί είναι φρέσκο. — The bread is fresh.

Question 35

Greek singular noun + article: coffee.

Accepted Answer

ο καφές — coffee.

Ο καφές είναι ζεστός. — The coffee is hot.

Question 36

Greek noun + article: milk.

Accepted Answer

το γάλα — milk.

Το γάλα είναι στο ψυγείο. — The milk is in the fridge.

Question 37

Greek singular noun + article: apple.

Accepted Answer

το μήλο — apple.

Το μήλο είναι κόκκινο. — The apple is red.

Question 38

Greek singular noun + article: orange (the fruit).

Accepted Answer

το πορτοκάλι — orange (fruit).

Το πορτοκάλι είναι γλυκό. — The orange is sweet.

Question 39

Greek noun + article: cheese.

Accepted Answer

το τυρί — cheese.

Το τυρί είναι στο πιάτο. — The cheese is on the plate.

Question 40

Greek noun + article: rice.

Accepted Answer

το ρύζι — rice.

Το ρύζι είναι έτοιμο. — The rice is ready.

Question 41

Ask the price of one item: “How much is it?” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

Πόσο κάνει; — How much is it?

Αυτό το μήλο, πόσο κάνει; — How much is this apple?

For several items, πόσο κάνουν; is a common plural form.

Question 42

Begin a polite request: “I would like …” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

Θα ήθελα… — I would like…

Θα ήθελα έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. — I would like a coffee, please.

A useful request chunk; this deck does not teach the full conditional system.

Question 43

Greek singular noun + article: bill (at a café or restaurant).

Accepted Answer

ο λογαριασμός — bill; account.

Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. — The bill, please.

The request uses the accusative τον λογαριασμό.

Question 44

Say “I pay by card” in Modern Greek.

Accepted Answer

Πληρώνω με κάρτα. — I pay by card.

Πληρώνω με κάρτα, όχι με μετρητά. — I pay by card, not with cash.

Question 45

In “Θέλω ένα νερό”, what does “θέλω” mean?

Accepted Answer

I want.

Θέλω ένα νερό. — I want a water.

Ένα νερό can mean one serving/bottle of water in an ordering context.

Question 46

In “Λίγο γάλα, παρακαλώ”, what does “λίγο” mean?

Accepted Answer

A little; a small amount of.

Λίγο γάλα, παρακαλώ. — A little milk, please.

Question 47

In “καφές χωρίς ζάχαρη”, what does “χωρίς” mean?

Accepted Answer

Without.

Ο καφές είναι χωρίς ζάχαρη. — The coffee is without sugar.

Question 48

Modern Greek plural + article: το μήλο (apple).

Accepted Answer

τα μήλα — apples.

Τα μήλα είναι στο τραπέζι. — The apples are on the table.

Question 49

Modern Greek verb: “I eat” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

τρώω — I eat; I am eating.

Τρώω ένα μήλο. — I am eating an apple.

Question 50

Modern Greek verb: “I drink” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

πίνω — I drink; I am drinking.

Πίνω νερό. — I am drinking water.

Question 51

Modern Greek verb: “I work” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

δουλεύω — I work; I am working.

Δουλεύω στο κέντρο. — I work in the centre.

Question 52

Modern Greek verb for “I study/read for class” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

διαβάζω — I study; I read.

Διαβάζω το μάθημα. — I am studying the lesson.

Διαβάζω also means read. The context specifies studying.

Question 53

Modern Greek verb: “I go” (present, first person; use the longer common form).

Accepted Answer

πηγαίνω — I go; I am going.

Πηγαίνω στο σπίτι. — I am going home.

Πάω is also a common everyday form.

Question 54

Modern Greek verb: “I come” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

έρχομαι — I come; I am coming.

Έρχομαι αύριο. — I am coming tomorrow.

Question 55

Modern Greek verb: “I see” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

βλέπω — I see; I am seeing.

Βλέπω το λεωφορείο. — I see the bus.

Question 56

Modern Greek verb: “I hear/listen” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

ακούω — I hear; I listen.

Ακούω μουσική. — I am listening to music.

Question 57

Modern Greek verb: “I buy” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

αγοράζω — I buy; I am buying.

Αγοράζω ψωμί. — I am buying bread.

Question 58

Modern Greek verb: “I need” (present, first person).

Accepted Answer

χρειάζομαι — I need.

Χρειάζομαι ένα εισιτήριο. — I need a ticket.

Question 59

Greek singular noun + article: telephone.

Accepted Answer

το τηλέφωνο — telephone; phone.

Το τηλέφωνο είναι εδώ. — The phone is here.

Question 60

Greek singular noun + article: book.

Accepted Answer

το βιβλίο — book.

Το βιβλίο είναι καινούριο. — The book is new.

Question 61

In “Ανοίγω την πόρτα”, what does “ανοίγω” mean?

Accepted Answer

I open; I am opening.

Ανοίγω την πόρτα. — I am opening the door.

Question 62

In “Κλείνω το παράθυρο”, what does “κλείνω” mean?

Accepted Answer

I close; I am closing.

Κλείνω το παράθυρο. — I am closing the window.

Question 63

In “Περιμένω εδώ”, what does “περιμένω” mean?

Accepted Answer

I wait; I am waiting.

Περιμένω εδώ. — I am waiting here.

Question 64

Modern Greek plural + article: το βιβλίο (book).

Accepted Answer

τα βιβλία — books.

Τα βιβλία είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι. — The books are on the table.

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