Learning a few Greek phrases for tourists, from hello and thank you to ordering food and asking directions, transforms a trip to Athens and Greece, opening doors and delighting locals. Pair these handy words with skip-the-line sightseeing tickets and tours from My Greece Tours for a warmer, smoother visit.
This handy language guide is a practical part of the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover why a few words matter, greetings, please and thank you, ordering food and drink, asking directions and shopping, and tips on pronunciation.
Why learn a few Greek phrases?
Learning a few basic Greek phrases is not necessary, as most Greeks in tourist areas speak good English, but it is hugely worthwhile. Even simple efforts like saying kalimera (good morning) or efcharisto (thank you) delight locals, create warm, positive interactions, and often lead to friendlier service, helpful tips and memorable cultural exchanges. A handful of words shows respect for the culture and enriches your trip, making the effort one of the most rewarding small investments a visitor can make.
Before diving into the phrases themselves, it is worth understanding why bothering to learn a few words of Greek is so worthwhile, even though it is not strictly necessary. The practical reality is that you can travel through Athens and the main tourist areas of Greece perfectly well speaking only English, as most people working in tourism, hospitality and the cities speak it well, so you will rarely be stuck. The value of learning a little Greek is therefore not about necessity but about connection and courtesy. Greeks deeply appreciate when a visitor makes the effort to use their language, even just a word or two, and even the simplest greetings, a cheerful kalimera for good morning or a sincere efcharisto for thank you, reliably bring a smile, warm the interaction, and often lead to friendlier service, generous recommendations and genuine, memorable exchanges with locals.
Making the effort signals respect for the culture and the country, and it transforms you from a passing tourist into a more engaged and welcome guest. For the tiny effort involved, learning a handful of phrases is one of the most rewarding things a visitor can do. The most useful place to start is with greetings.
What are the essential greetings?
The key greetings are: kalimera (good morning, used until noon), kalispera (good evening, from late afternoon), kalinihta (good night), and the all-purpose yia sas (hello/goodbye, polite) or yia sou (hello/goodbye, casual). Yia sas is formal and respectful for strangers, waiters and elders, while yia sou is friendly for peers. To say goodbye you can also use andio. These simple, warm greetings are the most useful and appreciated words a visitor can learn.
Greetings are the single most useful category of Greek to learn, as you will use them constantly throughout the day and they instantly create goodwill. The Greeks greet according to the time of day: you say kalimera, meaning good morning, from waking until around noon; kalispera, good evening, from the late afternoon onward through the evening; and kalinihta, good night, when parting at the end of the day, for instance leaving a restaurant or passing the hotel reception on the way to bed. The most versatile greeting of all, however, is yia, which serves for both hello and goodbye.
Crucially, it comes in two forms reflecting Greek politeness: yia sas is the polite, formal and respectful version, ideal for addressing strangers, older people, waiters, shopkeepers and anyone you wish to show respect, while yia sou is the casual, friendly form used with friends, peers and people your own age. As a visitor, using yia sas is the safe and courteous default. To say goodbye you can also say andio. Master these few warm greetings and you will already make a wonderful impression. Closely linked are the words for courtesy. Please and thank you are indispensable.
How do you say please, thank you, yes and no?
The essential courtesy words are: efcharisto (thank you), parakalo (please, also meaning you’re welcome), ne (yes, confusingly it sounds like “no”), and ohi (no). Note that ne means yes despite sounding like the English no, a common source of confusion. Parakalo conveniently covers both please and you’re welcome. Add signomi (excuse me/sorry) for getting attention or apologising. These polite words, sprinkled into your interactions, smooth every exchange and are warmly received by locals.
After greetings, the small words of politeness are the most important to learn, as they smooth every interaction and are always warmly received. The most essential is efcharisto, meaning thank you, which you will want to use constantly and which never fails to please; you can add poly, meaning very or much, to say efcharisto poly, thank you very much. Equally useful is parakalo, which conveniently does double duty, meaning both please when you make a request and you’re welcome when responding to thanks, so it is well worth remembering. A common and amusing pitfall for English speakers concerns yes and no: the Greek word for yes is ne, which confusingly sounds very much like the English word no, while the Greek word for no is ohi, so take care not to mix them up, as nodding ne actually means agreement.
Another handy word is signomi, meaning excuse me or sorry, useful both for politely getting someone’s attention, such as a waiter, and for apologising or squeezing past in a crowd. Sprinkling these courteous words, efcharisto, parakalo, ne, ohi and signomi, into your daily exchanges will make every interaction friendlier and mark you as a considerate visitor. They are simple but powerful. Food and drink offer the next useful set.
What phrases help with food and drink?
Useful dining phrases include: ena kafe parakalo (a coffee, please), nero (water), krasi (wine), mia bira (a beer), and to logariasmo parakalo (the bill, please). To express enjoyment, say ti nostimo (how delicious), and yamas is the toast meaning cheers. You can point and add parakalo to order anything. Greeks love food, so showing appreciation for a meal with efcharisto and ti nostimo delights cooks and hosts, enriching the wonderful Greek dining experience.
Since eating and drinking are among the great joys of a trip to Greece, a few food-related phrases are both practical and appreciated. When ordering, the magic formula is simply to name what you want and add parakalo: for example, ena kafe parakalo for a coffee, please, or mia bira parakalo for a beer. Handy words to know include nero for water, krasi for wine, bira for beer, psomi for bread and the indispensable kafe for coffee, the lifeblood of Greek social life. When you have finished your meal and want to pay, ask for to logariasmo parakalo, meaning the bill, please. To show your enjoyment, which Greeks, proud of their cuisine, love to hear, you can exclaim ti nostimo, meaning how delicious, and of course thank your host with efcharisto.
When raising a glass, the universal Greek toast is yamas, meaning cheers or to our health, accompanied by clinking glasses and good cheer. Even if you cannot remember the exact word for a dish, you can always point to it on the menu or display and add parakalo. Engaging with the food in Greek adds warmth and fun to the wonderful experience of Greek dining. The final useful category covers getting around and shopping.
What about directions, shopping and pronunciation tips?
For getting around, useful phrases are pou ine (where is), poso kani (how much is it), and milate anglika (do you speak English). Numbers and the words aristera (left) and dexia (right) help too. For pronunciation, follow the stress marks over vowels, as Greek stress matters, and note that the soft Greek g before e or i sounds like the English y. Don’t worry about being perfect; locals warmly appreciate any attempt, so speak with a smile and have fun trying.
Rounding out your useful Greek, a few more phrases help with navigating and shopping. To ask for directions or locate something, use pou ine, meaning where is, followed by your destination, for example pou ine to metro for where is the metro. When shopping or checking a price, the key phrase is poso kani, meaning how much is it, and the words aristera for left and dexia for right help you follow directions. If you are struggling, you can politely ask milate anglika, meaning do you speak English, though most people in tourist areas will switch to English readily. As for pronunciation, a couple of tips make a big difference: Greek words carry a stress accent, marked in writing by a small accent over the stressed vowel, and putting the emphasis on the correct syllable makes you far easier to understand, so it is worth noting where the stress falls.
Note too that the soft Greek letter g, before the vowels e or i, sounds like the y in yes rather than a hard g. Above all, do not worry about getting it perfect: Greeks are delighted and patient with any attempt, however imperfect, so relax, speak with a smile, and enjoy the warm reactions your efforts bring. It is also worth learning to recognise a few words written in the Greek alphabet, such as the signs for the metro, the exit, or your destination, which can make finding your way around a little easier. But even without the alphabet, a warm kalimera and a heartfelt efcharisto will carry you far, and locals will happily point you in the right direction. The effort, however small, is always met with a smile and genuine appreciation. A little Greek goes a long, rewarding way. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most useful Greek phrases for tourists?
The most useful Greek phrases for tourists are the greetings kalimera (good morning), kalispera (good evening) and yia sas (hello/goodbye, polite), plus efcharisto (thank you), parakalo (please/you’re welcome), ne (yes), ohi (no), signomi (excuse me), and to logariasmo parakalo (the bill, please). Even a few of these delight locals and warm every interaction.
Must you speak Greek to visit Athens?
No, you do not need to speak Greek to visit Athens, as most people in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants and shops speak good English, so you can travel easily. However, learning a few basic phrases like kalimera and efcharisto is hugely appreciated by locals, shows respect for the culture, and often leads to friendlier service and warmer, more memorable exchanges.
How do you say thank you in Greek?
You say thank you in Greek as efcharisto. To say thank you very much, add poly: efcharisto poly. The word for please and you’re welcome is parakalo, which conveniently covers both. These simple courtesy words are warmly received throughout Greece and are among the most useful and rewarding phrases a visitor can learn for a friendlier trip.