Pronunciation tip: Stressed syllables are shown in CAPITALS in the pronunciation column. Learn Standard Greek phrases first - locals may reply in English or Cypriot Greek, but the effort is always noticed and appreciated.
Greetings & Basics
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| Hello (formal / to a group) | Γεια σας | Geia sas | YAH sas |
| Hello (informal / one person) | Γεια σου | Geia sou | YAH soo |
| Good morning | Καλημέρα | Kalimera | ka-lee-ME-ra |
| Good afternoon / Good evening | Καλησπέρα | Kalispera | ka-lee-SPE-ra |
| Good night | Καληνύχτα | Kalinychta | ka-lee-NEEKH-ta |
| Goodbye (formal) | Αντίο | Antio | an-DEE-o |
| Goodbye (informal) | Γεια | Geia | YAH |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | Efcharisto | ef-ha-ree-STO |
| Thank you very much | Ευχαριστώ πολύ | Efcharisto poli | ef-ha-ree-STO po-LEE |
| Please / You're welcome | Παρακαλώ | Parakalo | pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Yes | Ναι | Nai | ne |
| No | Όχι | Ochi | O-hee |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Συγγνώμη | Sygnomi | seeg-NO-mee |
| I don't understand | Δεν καταλαβαίνω | Den katalavaino | then ka-ta-la-VE-no |
| I don't speak Greek well | Δεν μιλάω καλά ελληνικά | Den milao kala ellinika | then mee-LA-o ka-LA el-lee-nee-KA |
| Do you speak English? | Μιλάτε αγγλικά; | Milate anglika? | mee-LA-te ang-glee-KA? |
| Please speak slowly | Μιλάτε πιο αργά παρακαλώ | Milate pio arga parakalo | mee-LA-te pyo ar-GA pa-ra-ka-LO |
Shopping & Money
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| How much is it? | Πόσο κάνει; | Poso kanei? | PO-so KA-nee? |
| How much does it cost? | Πόσο κοστίζει; | Poso kostizei? | PO-so ko-STEE-zee? |
| It's too expensive | Είναι πολύ ακριβό | Einai poli akrivo | EE-ne po-LEE a-kree-VO |
| Do you have...? | Έχετε...; | Echete...? | E-he-te...? |
| I would like... | Θα ήθελα... | Tha ithela... | tha EE-the-la... |
| The bill / receipt please | Τον λογαριασμό παρακαλώ | Ton logarismo parakalo | ton lo-ga-ree-az-MO pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Can I pay by card? | Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα; | Boro na pliroso me karta? | bo-RO na plee-RO-so me KAR-ta? |
| Open | Ανοιχτό | Anichto | a-neekh-TO |
| Closed | Κλειστό | Kleisto | klee-STO |
Food & Cafés
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| One coffee please | Έναν καφέ παρακαλώ | Enan kafe parakalo | E-nan ka-FE pa-ra-ka-LO |
| A glass of water please | Ένα ποτήρι νερό παρακαλώ | Ena potiri nero parakalo | E-na po-TEE-ree ne-RO pa-ra-ka-LO |
| The menu please | Τον κατάλογο παρακαλώ | Ton katalogo parakalo | ton ka-TA-lo-go pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Delicious! | Νόστιμο! | Nostimo! | NO-stee-mo! |
| Cheers! (toast) | Στην υγειά μας! | Stin ygeia mas! | steen ee-YA mas! |
| Without meat (vegetarian) | Χωρίς κρέας | Choris kreas | kho-REES KRE-as |
| I am allergic to... | Είμαι αλλεργικός/ή σε... | Eimai allergikos/i se... | EE-me a-ler-yee-KOS/EE se... |
| Bread | Ψωμί | Psomi | pso-MEE |
| Water | Νερό | Nero | ne-RO |
| Wine | Κρασί | Krasi | kra-SEE |
Getting Around
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| Where is...? | Πού είναι...; | Pou einai...? | POO EE-ne...? |
| Left | Αριστερά | Aristera | a-ree-ste-RA |
| Right | Δεξιά | Dexia | thek-see-A |
| Straight ahead | Ευθεία | Eftheia | ef-THEE-a |
| Near / Far | Κοντά / Μακριά | Konta / Makria | kon-DA / mak-ree-A |
| Stop here please | Σταματήστε εδώ παρακαλώ | Stamatiste edo parakalo | sta-ma-TEES-te e-THO pa-ra-ka-LO |
| How far is it? | Πόσο μακριά είναι; | Poso makria einai? | PO-so mak-ree-A EE-ne? |
| Airport | Αεροδρόμιο | Aerodromio | a-e-ro-THRO-mee-o |
| Hospital | Νοσοκομείο | Nosokomio | no-so-ko-MEE-o |
| Pharmacy | Φαρμακείο | Farmakeio | far-ma-KEE-o |
| Police station | Αστυνομία | Astynomia | as-tee-no-MEE-a |
| Bank | Τράπεζα | Trapeza | TRA-pe-za |
| Supermarket | Σούπερ μάρκετ | Super market | SOO-per MAR-ket |
Emergencies & Health
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| Help! | Βοήθεια! | Voitheia! | vo-EE-thee-a! |
| I need help | Χρειάζομαι βοήθεια | Chreiazome voitheia | khree-A-zo-me vo-EE-thee-a |
| Call an ambulance! | Καλέστε ασθενοφόρο! | Kaleste asthenoforol! | ka-LES-te as-the-no-FO-ro! |
| Call the police! | Καλέστε την αστυνομία! | Kaleste tin astynomia! | ka-LES-te teen as-tee-no-MEE-a! |
| I am sick | Είμαι άρρωστος / άρρωστη | Eimai arostos / arosti | EE-me A-ro-stos / A-ro-stee |
| I am in pain | Πονάω | Ponao | po-NA-o |
| I need a doctor | Χρειάζομαι γιατρό | Chreiazome giatro | khree-A-zo-me ya-TRO |
| Do you have this medicine? | Έχετε αυτό το φάρμακο; | Echete afto to farmako? | E-he-te af-TO to FAR-ma-ko? |
| Emergency number (Cyprus) | 112 / 199 | 112 / 199 | 112 (European) / 199 (Cyprus ambulance) |
Numbers
| Number |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| 1 | Ένα | Ena | E-na |
| 2 | Δύο | Dio | THEE-o |
| 3 | Τρία | Tria | TREE-a |
| 4 | Τέσσερα | Tessera | TES-se-ra |
| 5 | Πέντε | Pente | PEN-de |
| 6 | Έξι | Exi | EK-see |
| 7 | Επτά | Efta | ef-TA |
| 8 | Οκτώ | Ochto | okh-TO |
| 9 | Εννέα | Ennea | en-YA |
| 10 | Δέκα | Deka | THE-ka |
| 20 | Είκοσι | Ikosi | EE-ko-see |
| 50 | Πενήντα | Peninta | pe-NEEN-da |
| 100 | Εκατό | Ekato | e-ka-TO |
Days & Time
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| Monday | Δευτέρα | Deftera | thef-TE-ra |
| Tuesday | Τρίτη | Triti | TREE-tee |
| Wednesday | Τετάρτη | Tetarti | te-TAR-tee |
| Thursday | Πέμπτη | Pempti | PEM-ptee |
| Friday | Παρασκευή | Paraskevi | pa-ra-ske-VEE |
| Saturday | Σάββατο | Savvato | SA-va-to |
| Sunday | Κυριακή | Kyriaki | kee-ree-a-KEE |
| Today | Σήμερα | Simera | SEE-me-ra |
| Tomorrow | Αύριο | Avrio | AV-ree-o |
| Yesterday | Χθες | Chthes | khthes |
| What time is it? | Τι ώρα είναι; | Ti ora einai? | tee O-ra EE-ne? |
At the Office & Public Services
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| I have an appointment | Έχω ραντεβού | Echo rantevu | E-kho ran-de-VOO |
| I need a document | Χρειάζομαι έγγραφο | Chreiazome enggrafo | khree-A-zo-me EN-gra-fo |
| Where do I sign? | Πού υπογράφω; | Pou ypografo? | POO ee-po-GRA-fo? |
| Is this the right form? | Είναι αυτή η σωστή φόρμα; | Einai afti i sosti forma? | EE-ne af-TEE ee so-STEE FOR-ma? |
| I need a translation | Χρειάζομαι μετάφραση | Chreiazome metafrasi | khree-A-zo-me me-TA-fra-see |
| Can I have a receipt? | Μπορώ να έχω απόδειξη; | Boro na echo apodeixi? | bo-RO na E-kho a-PO-thek-see? |
| How long will it take? | Πόσος χρόνος θα χρειαστεί; | Posos chronos tha chreiastei? | PO-sos KHR O-nos tha khree-as-TEE? |
| I am a foreigner / expat | Είμαι ξένος / ξένη | Eimai xenos / xeni | EE-me KSE-nos / KSE-nee |
Cypriot Culture & Useful Expressions
| English |
Greek / Cypriot |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| Come on! / Let's go! (Cypriot) | Ελα / Ελα ρε | Ela / Ela re | E-la / E-la re |
| What's up? / How's things? (casual) | Τι κάνεις; | Ti kaneis? | tee KA-nees? |
| I'm fine, thank you | Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ | Eimai kala, efcharisto | EE-me ka-LA, ef-ha-ree-STO |
| With pleasure! (of course!) | Με χαρά! | Me chara! | me KHA-ra! |
| Don't worry (it's fine) | Νο πρόβλημα | No problema | no PROB-le-ma |
| Slowly slowly (take it easy) | Σιγά-σιγά | Siga-siga | see-GA see-GA |
| Good health! (response to “thank you”) | Παρακαλώ (Ηγεία σου!) | Parakalo (Ygeia sou!) | pa-ra-ka-LO (ee-YEE-a soo!) |
| Enjoy your meal! | Καλή όρεξη! | Kali orexi! | ka-LEE O-rek-see! |
| Happy to meet you | Χάρηκα που σε γνώρισα | Charika pou se gnorisa | KHA-ree-ka poo se gno-REE-sa |
| What's your name? | Πώς σε λένε; | Pos se lene? | pos se LE-ne? |
| My name is... | Με λένε... | Me lene... | me LE-ne... |
Renting & Home
| English |
Greek |
Romanisation |
Easy pronunciation |
| I am looking for a flat / house | Ψάχνω διαμέρισμα / σπίτι | Psachno diamerisma / spiti | PSAKH-no dee-a-ME-rees-ma / SPEE-tee |
| How much is the rent? | Πόσο είναι το ενοίκιο; | Poso einai to enoikio? | PO-so EE-ne to e-NEE-kee-o? |
| Is water / electricity included? | Περιλαμβάνει νερό / ρεύμα; | Perilamvanei nero / revma? | pe-ree-lam-VA-nee ne-RO / REV-ma? |
| The air conditioning is broken | Το κλιματιστικό είναι χαλασμένο | To klimatistiko einai chalasmeno | to klee-ma-tee-STEE-ko EE-ne kha-laz-ME-no |
| I need a plumber / electrician | Χρειάζομαι υδραυλικό / ηλεκτρολόγο | Chreiazome ydravliko / ilektrologo | khree-A-zo-me ee-thrav-lee-KO / ee-lek-tro-LO-go |
Useful Situations: Quick Reference
- At a shop: “Πόσο κάνει;” (PO-so KA-nee?) - "How much is it?"
- At a café: “Έναν καφέ παρακαλώ” (E-nan ka-FE pa-ra-ka-LO) - "One coffee please."
- Asking directions: “Πού είναι...;” (POO EE-ne?) - "Where is...?"
- Needing help: “Χρειάζομαι βοήθεια” (khree-A-zo-me vo-EE-thee-a) - "I need help."
- At the pharmacy: “Έχετε...;” (E-he-te?) - "Do you have...?"
- Not understanding: “Δεν καταλαβαίνω” (then ka-ta-la-VE-no) - "I don't understand."
- Asking for slower speech: “Μιλάτε πιο αργά παρακαλώ” - "Please speak more slowly."
How to Learn Faster
- Use greetings every day, even when the conversation continues in English. Locals genuinely appreciate the effort.
- Learn numbers, days and food words first - they appear on every receipt, menu and office form.
- Keep a note of words from utility bills, rental contracts and road signs.
- The Greek alphabet takes about two hours to learn and makes pronunciation far easier. Start there.
- Pair this page with the full Greek learning guide when you are ready for classes or structured study.
Related Guide: Learning Greek in Cyprus
Last reviewed: April 2026.
