Cypriot Phrases and Basics
If you have just arrived here, or have been here for a few weeks or months and you need to learn the basic phrases, just to get by, then this is the place to be..
Here are a few Cypriot basics to help you.
English |
Translation in Greek |
Pronunciation |
Yes |
Ναι |
Né |
No |
Όχι |
Óhi |
Please |
Παρακαλώ |
Parakaló |
OK, agreed |
Εντάξει |
Endáxi |
Thank you |
Ευχαριστώ |
Efharistó |
You are welcome |
Παρακαλώ |
Parakalo |
I don’t understand |
Δεν Καταλαβαίνω |
Den katalavéno |
Do you speak English? |
Μιλάτε Αγγλικά; |
Milate angliká? |
Excuse me / I’ m sorry |
Με συγχωρείτε / Συγγνώμη |
Me sihorite / Signómee |
Today |
Σήμερα |
Símera |
Tomorrow |
Αύριο |
Ávrio |
Yesterday |
Χθες |
Kthes |
Now |
Τώρα |
Tóra |
Open |
Ανοικτό |
Aniktó |
Closed |
Κλειστό |
Kleestó |
Hello |
Χαίρετε / Γεια σας |
Hérete / Yá sas |
Goodbye |
Αντίο |
Andio |
Good Morning |
Καλημέρα |
Kaliméra |
Good afternoon |
Καλό απόγευμα |
Kalo Apogevma |
Good evening |
Καλησπέρα |
Kalispéra |
Good night |
Καληνύκτα |
Kaliníkta |
How are you? |
Πως είστε; |
Pos íste? |
Fine and you? |
Καλά, εσείς; |
Kalá esís? |
Nice to meet you |
Χαίρω Πολύ |
Hero Poli |
What is your Name? |
Πώς σε λένε |
Pos se lene |
My name is… |
Με λένε… |
Me léne… |
I don’t know |
Δεν ξέρω |
Den kséro |
Let’s go |
Πάμε |
Páme |
Enjoy your meal |
Καλή όρεξη |
Kalí óreksi |
Cheers! |
Γεια μας! |
Yá mas! |
How much is…? |
Πόσο κάνει…; |
Póso káni? |
It is expensive |
Είναι ακριβό |
Íne akrivó |
It is cheap |
Είναι φτηνό |
Íne ftinó |
It is good |
Είναι καλό |
Íne kaló |
It is nice |
Είναι ωραίο |
Íne oréo |
What is that? |
Τι είναι αυτό; |
Ti íne aftó? |
I need help |
Θέλω βοήθεια |
Thélo voíthia |
What time is it? |
Τί ώρα είναι |
Ti ora ine |
Where am I? |
Πού είμαι |
Pou ime |
Help |
Βοήθεια |
Voithia |
Need more phrases? Need to know to ask for directions or even to tell someone you want ONE of something? These will certainly help you out…
English Phrase | GreEnglish Phrase | Cypriot Phrase |
Transport |
||
What time does the XYZ leave/arrive? | ti ora fevyi/ftani to XYZ? | |
Plane | aeroplano | |
Boat | karavi | |
Car | Aftokinito | Αυτοκίνητο |
Bus | astiko | |
Train | treno | |
Taxi | taksi | Ταξί |
I’d like.. | tha ithela | |
A return ticket | isitirio me epistrofi | |
First class | proti thesi | |
Directions and Places |
||
How do I get to.? | pos tha pao sto/sti.? | |
Where is..? | pou ine..? | |
Is it near? | ine konda? | |
Straight ahead | efthia | |
Left | aristera | Αριστερά |
Right | dexia | Δεξιά |
Behind | piso | |
Long | Makrino | Μακρινό |
Short | Kondino | Κοντινό |
Up | Pano | Πάνω |
Down | Kato | Κάτω |
Far | Makria | Μακριά |
Near | Konda | Κοντά |
Beach | Paralia | Παραλία |
Sea | Thalassa | Θάλασσα |
Accommodation |
||
Where is.? | pou ine..? | |
I’d like.. | thelo ena .. | |
A good hotel | kalo xenodohio | |
Single | mono | |
Double | dhiplo | |
Room | dhomatio | |
How much is it? | poso kani? | |
Is breakfast included? | symberilamvani ke pro-ino? | |
May I see it? | boro na to dho? | |
Hotel | Ksenodohio | Ξενοδοχείο |
Time |
||
What time is it? | ti ora ine? | |
It’s | ine | |
1 o’clock | mia i ora | |
7:30 | efta ke misi | |
today | simera | |
tonight | apopse | |
now | tora | |
yesterday | hthes | |
tomorrow | avrio | |
Food |
||
Breakfast | pro-ino | |
Lunch | mesimvrino | |
Dinner | vradhyno | |
Bread | psomi | |
Beer | byra | |
Cheese | tyri | |
Chicken | kotopoulo | |
Milk | ghala | |
Water | nero | |
Tea | tsai | |
Restaurant | Estiatorio | Εστιατόριο |
Bar | Baraki | Μπαράκι |
Numbers |
||
0 | Μηδέν | Miden |
1 | Ένα | enas (m) mia (f) ena (n) |
2 | Δύο | dhio |
3 | Τρία | tris (m&f) tria (n) |
4 | Τέσσερα | teseris (m&f) tesera (n) |
5 | Πέντε | pende |
6 | Έξι | eksi |
7 | Εφτά | efta |
8 | Οκτό | ohto |
9 | Εννιά | enia |
10 | Δέκα | dheka |
This next section provides you with an introduction to Basic Greek which includes the Greek alphabet (you will thank us later), weekdays, months names and a few other phrases to help you out.
Greek Alphabet
Letters |
Greek Pronunciation |
Α |
Alpha |
Β |
Beta |
Γ |
Gamma |
Δ |
Delta |
Ε |
Epsilon |
Ζ |
Zita |
Η |
Ita |
Θ |
Thita |
Ι |
Yiota |
Κ |
Kapa |
Λ |
Lamda |
Μ |
Mi |
Ν |
Ni |
Ξ |
Ksi |
Ο |
Omikron |
Π |
Pi |
Ρ |
Ro |
Σ |
Sigma |
Τ |
Taf |
Υ |
Ipsilo |
Φ |
Fi |
Χ |
Hi |
Ψ |
Psi |
Ω |
Omega |
Days of the Week
English | Greek | Greek Pronunciation |
Monday | Δευτέρα | Deftera |
Tuesday | Τρίτη | Triti |
Wednesday | Τετάρτη | Tetarti |
Thursday | Πέμπτη | Pempti |
Friday | Παρασκευή | Paraskevi |
Saturday | Σάββατο | Savato |
Sunday | Κυριακή | Kiriaki |
Months of the Year
English | Greek | Greek Pronunciation |
January | Ιανουάριος | Genaris |
February | Φεβρουάριος | Fevraris |
March | Μάρτιος | Martis |
April | Απρίλιος | Aprilis |
May | Μάιος | Mais |
June | Ιούνιος | Iounis |
July | Ιούλιος | Ioulis |
August | Αύγουστος | Avgoustos |
September | Σεπτέμβριος | Septevris |
October | Οκτόμβριος | Oktovris |
November | Νοέμβριος | Noemvris |
December | Δεκέμβριος | Dekemvris |
and now that you have master that..here’s some other important words / phrases that you may need
English | Greek | Greek Pronunciation |
Police | Αστυνομία | Astinomia |
Fire brigade | Πυροσβεστική | Pirosvestiki |
Hospital | Νοσοκομείο | Nosokomio |
Ambulance | Ασθενοφόρο | Asthenoforo |
Airport | Αεροδρόμιο | Aerodromio |
Port | Λιμάνι | Limani |
Passport | Διαβατήριο | Diavatirio |
Identity Card | Ταυτότητα | Taftotita |
Shop | Κατάστημα | Katastima |
Church | Εκκλησία | Eklisia |
Bus | λεωφορειο | Leoforio |
Bus Stop | Στάση λεωφορειο | Stasi Leoforiou |
Pharmacy | Τράπεζα | Trapeza |
Museum | Μουσείο | Mousio |
Bank | Τράπεζα | Τράπεζα |
Road | Δρόμος | Dromos |
Toilets | Τουαλέτα | Toualeta |
Water | Νερό | Nero |
Food | Φαγητό | Fagito |
Mountain | Βουνό | Vouno |
Valley | Κοιλάδα | Kilada |
Map | Χάρτης | Hartis |
(Sources for the above include Cyprus Island.net and Cyprus.com)