FOREIGNDLY · FOREIGNDLY ·
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How to install a native Greek voice
iPhone (iOS 17–26)
  1. Settings → Accessibility
  2. Tap Read & Speak (older iOS: Spoken Content)
  3. Tap VoicesGreek
  4. Pick the Greek voice; if Enhanced/Premium is offered, choose it and let it download
  5. Come back here → re-check
Android (wording varies by phone)
  1. Settings → AccessibilityText-to-speech output
  2. Use Speech Services by Google → gear → Install voice data
  3. Choose Greek (Ελληνικά) → download
  4. Come back here → re-check

The five Greek phrases that do 80% of the work

Γεια σας
YAH sahss
Hello / good day. Your all-purpose greeting for anyone, any shop, any time.
Ευχαριστώ
ef-khah-ree-STOH
Thank you. Lean on the last syllable.
Παρακαλώ
pah-rah-kah-LOH
Please / you're welcome / pardon? Covers you everywhere.
Συγγνώμη
see-GHNOH-mee
Excuse me / sorry. To get past someone or get attention, politely.
Μιλάτε αγγλικά;
mee-LAH-teh ang-glee-KAH
Do you speak English? Ask this after a Greek greeting, not instead of one.

First time? Do this

  • Audio is built in. Tap any phrase to hear it in a native voice — pre-recorded and cached, so it just works offline, no setup. (The voice bar can still pick a phone voice as a backup.)
  • Phrases — drilled by situation: the taverna, bars, directions, the boat. Hit play, then say it back out loud.
  • Sounds — the whole alphabet, tap to hear every letter. Ten minutes here pays off the most.
  • Customs — the unspoken rules. This is where tourists actually give themselves away.
  • Practice — hear / read / recall / speak. Use it on the plane.
Situational Greek

Right thing, right moment.

Tap a chip to jump to a scene — or just search. Common holds the go-anywhere basics (hello, thanks, where's the toilet); a few phrases like drinks live under more than one scene.

Common — useful everywhere · greetings · basics · the toilet

Γεια σας
YAH sahss
Hello / good day. Your all-purpose greeting for anyone, any shop, any time.
Ευχαριστώ
ef-khah-ree-STOH
Thank you. Lean on the last syllable.
Παρακαλώ
pah-rah-kah-LOH
Please / you're welcome / pardon? Covers you everywhere.
Συγγνώμη
see-GHNOH-mee
Excuse me / sorry. To get past someone or get attention, politely.
Μιλάτε αγγλικά;
mee-LAH-teh ang-glee-KAH
Do you speak English? Ask this after a Greek greeting, not instead of one.
Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;
poo EE-neh ee too-ah-LEH-tah
Where's the toilet / bathroom / restroom? Signs read WC or τουαλέτα.
Πού είναι...;
poo EE-neh
Where is...? Drop in any place — Πού είναι το φαρμακείο; (pharmacy), Πού είναι το ΑΤΜ; (ATM).
Μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε;
boh-REE-teh nah meh voh-ee-THEE-seh-teh
Can you help me?
Πόσο κάνει;
POH-soh KAH-nee
How much is it?
Δεν καταλαβαίνω
dhen kah-tah-lah-VEH-noh
I don't understand.
Πιο σιγά, παρακαλώ
pyoh see-GHAH, pah-rah-kah-LOH
Slower, please. Your secret weapon when they reply fast.
Εντάξει
en-DAH-ksee
Okay / alright.

Greetings & manners · the social handshake

Γεια σου
YAH soo
Hi / bye — casual, to one person you're friendly with.
Καλημέρα
kah-lee-MEH-rah
Good morning (until ~noon).
Καλησπέρα
kah-lee-SPEH-rah
Good evening.
Καληνύχτα
kah-lee-NEEKH-tah
Good night.
Τι κάνετε;
tee KAH-neh-teh
How are you? (polite).
Καλά, ευχαριστώ
kah-LAH, ef-khah-ree-STOH
Good, thanks — the standard reply.
Με λένε...
meh LEH-neh
My name is...
Χάρηκα
KHAH-ree-kah
Nice to meet you.
Αντίο
ah-DEE-oh
Goodbye.

At the taverna (restaurant) · ordering & dining

taverna tah-VEHR-nah — a family-run restaurant, simple plates and long lunches

Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ
EH-nah trah-PEH-zee yah DHEE-oh, pah-rah-kah-LOH
A table for two, please.
Τον κατάλογο, παρακαλώ
ton kah-TAH-loh-ghoh, pah-rah-kah-LOH
The menu, please.
Τι προτείνετε;
tee proh-TEE-neh-teh
What do you recommend? The question that gets you the real food.
Ποια είναι η αγαπημένη σας ταβέρνα;
pya EE-neh ee ah-gah-pee-MEH-nee sahs tah-VEHR-nah
What's your favourite taverna? Greeks argue about this happily — you'll get a name, an opinion and directions.
Έχετε κάτι ντόπιο;
EH-kheh-teh KAH-tee DOH-pyoh
Do you have something local? Magic words in a taverna.
Καλή όρεξη
kah-LEE OH-reh-ksee
Enjoy your meal (bon appétit). Say it before eating.
Ήταν υπέροχα
EE-tahn ee-PEH-roh-khah
That was excellent. Gold with anyone who cooked for you.
Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ
ton loh-ghah-ryahz-MOH, pah-rah-kah-LOH
The bill, please. You usually have to ask.
Ένα νερό, παρακαλώ
EH-nah neh-ROH, pah-rah-kah-LOH
A water, please.
Έχετε ελεύθερο τραπέζι;
EH-kheh-teh eh-LEF-theh-roh trah-PEH-zee
Do you have a free table?
Μπορούμε να καθίσουμε έξω;
boh-ROO-meh nah kah-THEE-soo-meh EH-ksoh
Can we sit outside?
Θα πάρω αυτό
thah PAH-roh af-TOH
I'll have this. Point at the menu and smile.
Είμαι χορτοφάγος
EE-meh khor-toh-FAH-ghos
I'm vegetarian.
Χωρίς κρέας, παρακαλώ
khoh-REES KREH-ahs, pah-rah-kah-LOH
Without meat, please.
Έχω αλλεργία στους ξηρούς καρπούς
EH-khoh ah-lehr-YEE-ah stoos ksee-ROOS kar-POOS
I'm allergic to nuts.
Νερό της βρύσης, παρακαλώ
neh-ROH tees VREE-sees, pah-rah-kah-LOH
Tap water, please.
Μπορούμε να πληρώσουμε χωριστά;
boh-ROO-meh nah plee-ROH-soo-meh khoh-ree-STAH
Can we pay separately?
Ένα ποτήρι κόκκινο κρασί
EH-nah poh-TEE-ree KOH-kee-noh krah-SEE
A glass of red wine.
Μια καράφα λευκό κρασί
myah kah-RAH-fah lef-KOH krah-SEE
A carafe of white wine.
Γεια μας!
YAH mahss
Cheers! ("to us") — the everyday toast you'll hear most.
Στην υγειά μας!
steen ee-YAH mahss
To our health! The warmer, fuller toast — for the table, not just the glass.
Κόκκινο ή λευκό;
KOH-kee-noh ee lef-KOH
Red or white?
Ντόπιο κρασί, παρακαλώ
DOH-pyoh krah-SEE, pah-rah-kah-LOH
The local wine, please.
Πού είναι μια καλή ταβέρνα;
poo EE-neh mya kah-LEE tah-VEHR-nah
Where's a good taverna? Ask the person pouring your coffee, not the hotel desk — the answer never has a photo menu.

Bars & nights out · your scene

Μια μπύρα ακόμα, παρακαλώ
myah BEE-rah ah-KOH-mah, pah-rah-kah-LOH
Another beer, please.
Άλλον έναν γύρο
AH-lon EH-nahn YEE-roh
Another round.
Ένα ούζο
EH-nah OO-zoh
An ouzo. Add water and it turns cloudy — that's right.
Ένα ρακόμελο
EH-nah rah-KOH-meh-loh
A rakomelo — raki with honey. A Cretan classic.
Κερνάω εγώ
kehr-NAH-oh eh-GHOH
This round's on me. A fast way to make friends.
Είναι ελεύθερο εδώ;
EE-neh eh-LEF-theh-roh eh-DHOH
Is this seat free?
Μέχρι τι ώρα είστε ανοιχτά;
MEH-khree tee OH-rah EE-steh ah-neekh-TAH
How late are you open?

At the winery · tasting & buying

Μπορούμε να κάνουμε γευσιγνωσία;
boh-ROO-meh nah KAH-noo-meh yef-see-ghnoh-SEE-ah
Can we do a wine tasting?
Τι κρασί προτείνετε;
tee krah-SEE proh-TEE-neh-teh
Which wine do you recommend?
Ποιο είναι το καλύτερό σας;
pyoh EE-neh toh kah-LEE-teh-ROH sahss
Which is your best one?
Είναι ξηρό ή γλυκό;
EE-neh ksee-ROH ee ghlee-KOH
Is it dry or sweet?
Έχετε αφρώδες;
EH-kheh-teh ah-FROH-dhes
Do you have anything sparkling?
Μπορούμε να αγοράσουμε ένα μπουκάλι;
boh-ROO-meh nah ah-ghoh-RAH-soo-meh EH-nah boo-KAH-lee
Can we buy a bottle?
Θα πάρω δύο μπουκάλια
thah PAH-roh DHEE-oh boo-KAH-lyah
I'll take two bottles.
Μπορούμε να δούμε τον αμπελώνα;
boh-ROO-meh nah DHOO-meh ton ah-beh-LOH-nah
Can we see the vineyard?
Εξαιρετικό κρασί!
eh-kseh-reh-tee-KOH krah-SEE
Excellent wine!

Finding your way · asking directions

Πώς πάω στο...;
pohs PAH-oh stoh
How do I get to...?
Είναι μακριά;
EE-neh mah-kree-AH
Is it far?
Είναι κοντά;
EE-neh kon-DAH
Is it close?
Αριστερά
ah-ree-steh-RAH
Left.
Δεξιά
dheh-ksee-AH
Right.
Ευθεία
ef-THEE-ah
Straight ahead.
Πού είναι το λιμάνι;
poo EE-neh toh lee-MAH-nee
Where's the harbour?
Πού είναι το πλοίο;
poo EE-neh toh PLEE-oh
Where's the ferry / boat?
Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε στον χάρτη;
boh-REE-teh nah moo DHEEK-seh-teh ston KHAR-tee
Can you show me on the map?
Χάθηκα
KHAH-thee-kah
I'm lost.

Taxis & getting around · rides & fares

Χρειάζομαι ταξί
khree-AH-zoh-meh tah-KSEE
I need a taxi.
Μπορείτε να καλέσετε ταξί;
boh-REE-teh nah kah-LEH-seh-teh tah-KSEE
Can you call a taxi? Ask at your hotel or taverna.
Στο αεροδρόμιο, παρακαλώ
stoh ah-eh-roh-DHROH-mee-oh, pah-rah-kah-LOH
To the airport, please.
Στο λιμάνι, παρακαλώ
stoh lee-MAH-nee, pah-rah-kah-LOH
To the port, please. For the ferry or cruise dock.
Σε αυτή τη διεύθυνση
seh af-TEE tee dhee-EF-theen-see
To this address. Show them your phone.
Πόσο κάνει μέχρι...;
POH-soh KAH-nee MEH-khree
How much is it to...? Agree the fare before you set off.
Βάλτε το ταξίμετρο, παρακαλώ
VAL-teh toh tah-KSEE-meh-troh, pah-rah-kah-LOH
Turn on the meter, please. The polite way to head off a flat "tourist price".
Σταματήστε εδώ, παρακαλώ
stah-mah-TEE-steh eh-DHOH, pah-rah-kah-LOH
Stop here, please.
Εδώ είναι καλά
eh-DHOH EE-neh kah-LAH
Here is fine.
Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;
boh-ROH nah plee-ROH-soh meh KAR-tah
Can I pay by card? Many are cash-only — check first.
Κρατήστε τα ρέστα
krah-TEE-steh tah REH-stah
Keep the change.

On the boat · island-hopping

Πότε φεύγουμε;
POH-teh FEV-ghoo-meh
When do we set off?
Πότε γυρίζουμε;
POH-teh yee-REE-zoo-meh
When do we head back?
Πού είναι η καμπίνα μου;
poo EE-neh ee kah-BEE-nah moo
Where's my cabin?
Πάμε για μπάνιο;
PAH-meh yah BAH-nyoh
Are we going for a swim? The best question on the boat.
Ζαλίζομαι
zah-LEE-zoh-meh
I feel dizzy / seasick.
Έχετε κάτι για τη ναυτία;
EH-kheh-teh KAH-tee yah tee nahf-TEE-ah
Got anything for seasickness?
Υπέροχα!
ee-PEH-roh-khah
Gorgeous! Gesture at the view, mean it.
Ευχαριστούμε τον καπετάνιο
ef-khah-ree-STOO-meh ton kah-peh-TAH-nyoh
Thanks to the captain.

Shops & getting by · everyday

Απλώς κοιτάζω
ah-PLOHS kee-TAH-zoh
Just looking — in a shop, with a smile.
Έχετε...;
EH-kheh-teh
Do you have...?
Συγγνώμη, δεν μιλάω ελληνικά
see-GHNOH-mee, dhen mee-LAH-oh eh-lee-nee-KAH
Sorry, I don't speak Greek. The graceful exit.

Sea & scenery · quick vocab

θάλασσα
THAH-lah-sah
Sea.
παραλία
pah-rah-LEE-ah
Beach.
λιμάνι
lee-MAH-nee
Harbour / port.
νησί
nee-SEE
Island.
όμορφο
OH-mor-foh
Beautiful / lovely.

Numbers 1–10 · prices & ordering

ένα
EH-nah
1
δύο
DHEE-oh
2
τρία
TREE-ah
3
τέσσερα
TEH-seh-rah
4
πέντε
PEN-deh
5
έξι
EH-ksee
6
εφτά
ef-TAH
7
οχτώ
okh-TOH
8
εννιά
eh-NYAH
9
δέκα
DHEH-kah
10
μηδέν
mee-THEN
0
έντεκα
EN-deh-kah
11 Irregular, not a ten+one compound.
δώδεκα
THOH-theh-kah
12 Irregular, not a ten+one compound.
δεκατρία
theh-kah-TREE-ah
13
δεκατέσσερα
theh-kah-TEH-seh-rah
14
δεκαπέντε
theh-kah-PEN-deh
15
δεκαέξι
theh-kah-EK-see
16
δεκαεπτά
theh-kah-ep-TAH
17
δεκαοκτώ
theh-kah-ok-TOH
18
δεκαεννέα
theh-kah-eh-NEH-ah
19
είκοσι
EE-koh-see
20
τριάντα
tree-AN-dah
30
σαράντα
sah-RAN-dah
40
πενήντα
peh-NEEN-dah
50
εξήντα
ek-SEEN-dah
60
εβδομήντα
ev-thoh-MEEN-dah
70
ογδόντα
og-THON-dah
80
ενενήντα
eh-neh-NEEN-dah
90
εκατό
eh-kah-TOH
100 Stands alone, no leading "one" — never ένα εκατό.
χίλια
HEE-lyah
1,000 Stands alone, no leading "one" — never ένα χίλια.
εκατομμύριο
eh-kah-toh-MEE-ree-oh
1,000,000 Takes a leading ένα: ένα εκατομμύριο.
How the numbers build
  • Tens and ones join with και (and), not by bare juxtaposition. 21 is είκοσι ένα, often fuller as είκοσι και ένα ("twenty and one"). In fast speech the και is dropped for two-digit numbers, but it reappears once a hundreds or thousands word precedes: 121 is εκατόν είκοσι ένα.
  • 200-900 are fused, gender-agreeing compounds — 100 alone is not. 100 alone is εκατό, but 200-900 are single words that shift ending for gender: διακόσια/διακόσιοι (200), τριακόσια (300)... For prices (ευρώ), the -οι ending is used: διακόσιοι ευρώ.
  • χίλια takes no leading "one"; εκατό takes a linking -ν before a vowel. 1,000 is bare χίλια, never ένα χίλια. When a hundred-compound is directly followed by a number with no word between, εκατό gains -ν before a vowel: 101 is εκατόν ένα.
  • 1, 3 and 4 change form for gender right before a noun. Ένα (1) has forms ένας/μία/ένα; τρία/τέσσερα become τρεις/τέσσερις before most nouns. Ευρώ mostly sidesteps this (ένα ευρώ, τρία ευρώ), but expect ένας/μία elsewhere.
  • εκατομμύριο is an ordinary noun and pluralizes. Ένα εκατομμύριο (1,000,000), and 2+ million pluralizes regularly: δύο εκατομμύρια, πέντε εκατομμύρια — the -ο becomes -α.
Formal default: with anyone you don't know — waiters, shopkeepers, older people — use the polite plural and Γεια σας / Καλημέρα. Save Γεια σου for peers you've warmed up to.
Hearing & reading Greek

New alphabet, but it reads cleanly.

Greek is a different alphabet, not a puzzle: 24 letters, nearly one sound each, and the accent mark shows exactly where the stress lands. Meet all of them once, then drill the tricky ones. Tap anything to hear it.

The whole alphabet — all 24

Tap a letter to hear its Greek name. Half of them you already know from math class.

The letters that trip people up
β
"v", never "b" — the #1 misreading
e.g. βοήθεια — help
γ
soft "gh" in the throat; before e/i it's a "y"
e.g. γεια — hello
δ
soft "th" like THIS
e.g. δέκα — ten
θ
hard "th" like THINK
e.g. θάλασσα — sea
χ
"kh" — like the ch in loCH
e.g. όχι — no
ξ
"ks" like boX
e.g. έξι — six
ψ
"ps" like laPSe
e.g. ψωμί — bread
ρ
lightly rolled, like Spanish
e.g. ρακί — raki
Letter teams — read these as one sound

Greek spells some sounds with two letters. These pairs unlock most menus and signs.

ου
"oo" like zOO
e.g. ούζο — ouzo
αι
"e" like bEt
e.g. και — and
ει οι
"ee" (so do η ι υ — five spellings, one sound)
e.g. είναι — it is
ευ
"ev" or "ef"
e.g. ευχαριστώ — thank you
αυ
"av" or "af"
e.g. αύριο — tomorrow
μπ
"b" — Greek spells B this way
e.g. μπύρα — beer
ντ
"d" — and D this way
e.g. ντομάτα — tomato
γκ γγ
hard "g" / "ng"
e.g. Αγγλικά — English
τσ τζ
"ts" / "dz"
e.g. τζατζίκι — tzatziki
A few rules that explain the rest
Don't-be-that-tourist

The rules nobody prints on the menu.

Your Greek rarely outs you. These do. Read once, and you'll move differently.

Do

Greet before you ask

Walk into a shop, bakery, kafeneío, or taverna and lead with Καλημέρα (kah-lee-MEH-rah) or Γεια σας (YAH sahss) before anything else. Launching straight into English is the #1 tourist tell.

Know

Ναι means YES (not no)

The classic trap: Ναι (neh) sounds like "no" but means yes; Όχι (OH-khee) means no. Burn this in before you nod at the wrong moment.

Do

Toast early, toast often

Greeks toast at the first pour and at any excuse after. Γεια μας (YAH mahss, "to us") is the everyday one; Στην υγειά σας (steen ee-YAH sahss) is the warmer, formal version. Clink every glass at the table — and never toast with an empty one.

Know

Ouzo & raki are a ritual, not a shot

A host or taverna will often pour ouzo (OO-zoh) or raki (RAH-kee), often free after a meal. Sip it with a little meze and toast back — it is not a frat shot.

Know

Coffee is a sport, not a transaction

A freddo (FREH-doh) or frappé (frah-PEH) is a one-to-two-hour social sit. Nobody does takeaway-and-run. Sit, slow down, σιγά σιγά (see-GHAH see-GHAH).

Avoid

No swimwear off the beach

Walking through a town or village in just a bikini or shirtless is frowned on and sometimes fined. Cover up the moment you leave the sand — and shoulders/knees in churches and monasteries.

Know

Tipping: round up, ~5–10%

Not obligatory, but for good service round up or leave ~5–10%, ideally in cash. For a quick coffee, the coins are plenty.

Know

"Σιγά σιγά" is the island mood

Siga siga (SEE-ghah SEE-ghah) — "slowly, slowly." The Aegean runs on unhurried time. Service is relaxed by design; match the tempo instead of fighting it.

Do

Learn "Χρόνια πολλά"

Chrónia pollá (KHROH-nyah poh-LAH, "many years") works for birthdays, name days, and holidays alike — name days often matter more than birthdays here.

Know

A small cover charge is normal

Bread and table service (couvert (koo-VEHR)) is often a small per-person charge on the bill. It is standard, not a scam.

Food & drink to try

The plates and glasses worth going out of your way for — each with the name as you'd say it out loud.

γύρος YEE-ros
pork shaved off a vertical spit, wrapped in pita with tomato, onion, chips and tzatziki
σουβλάκι soo-VLAH-kee
small cubes of pork grilled on a wooden skewer, ordered by the stick with bread
χωριάτικη σαλάτα khor-YAH-tee-kee sah-LAH-tah
tomato, cucumber, onion and olives under a whole slab of feta, no lettuce anywhere
σπανακόπιτα spah-nah-KOH-pee-tah
spinach and feta baked between sheets of filo, sold by the square at any bakery
χταπόδι στα κάρβουνα khtah-POH-dhee stah KAR-voo-nah
a whole octopus tentacle charred over coals, dressed with olive oil, vinegar and oregano
φάβα FAH-vah
yellow split peas cooked down to a warm purée, topped with raw onion and capers
γίγαντες πλακί YEE-ghan-des plah-KEE
big butter beans baked slowly in tomato and dill, brought to the table barely warm
παϊδάκια pah-ee-DHAH-kya
thin lamb chops grilled over coals with salt and lemon, picked up by the bone
λουκουμάδες loo-koo-MAH-dhes
small yeast doughnuts fried to order and drowned in honey syrup and cinnamon
ελληνικός καφές eh-lee-nee-KOHS kah-FEHS
unfiltered coffee boiled in a tiny pot and served grounds and all, with a glass of water
φραπέ frah-PEH
instant coffee shaken with ice and sugar into a thick foam, drunk slowly through a straw
ρετσίνα reh-TSEE-nah
white wine flavoured with pine resin, poured cold from a jug or a small tin
Make it stick

Test the four channels.

Understanding Greek by ear, reading, recall, and your own mouth. Quick rounds — do them twice.