Embarking on the journey of learning a new language is always an exciting endeavor. Once you have mastered the basics of Greek, you might find yourself wanting to dive deeper into the language, aiming to understand more complex conversations and texts. This article will guide you through some essential Greek words and phrases that will help you elevate your skills from a beginner to an intermediate level. By incorporating these words into your vocabulary, you’ll be better equipped to navigate more nuanced dialogues and enhance your overall fluency.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language. Here are some intermediate-level Greek verbs that will help you express a wider range of actions and emotions.

1. **Κερδίζω** (kerth-EE-zo) – *to win, to earn*
– Example: Κέρδισα το παιχνίδι. (I won the game.)

2. **Προτιμώ** (pro-tee-MO) – *to prefer*
– Example: Προτιμώ τον καφέ από το τσάι. (I prefer coffee over tea.)

3. **Εξαρτώμαι** (ex-ar-TO-me) – *to depend*
– Example: Η επιτυχία εξαρτάται από τη σκληρή δουλειά. (Success depends on hard work.)

4. **Συμφωνώ** (sim-fo-NO) – *to agree*
– Example: Συμφωνώ με την άποψή σου. (I agree with your opinion.)

5. **Αποφασίζω** (apo-fa-SI-zo) – *to decide*
– Example: Αποφάσισα να πάω στο πανεπιστήμιο. (I decided to go to university.)

Essential Nouns

Nouns are crucial for naming people, places, things, and ideas. Here are some nouns that are particularly useful at the intermediate level.

1. **Η απόφαση** (ee a-PO-fa-si) – *decision*
– Example: Η απόφαση ήταν δύσκολη. (The decision was difficult.)

2. **Το ραντεβού** (to ran-te-VOO) – *appointment, date*
– Example: Έχω ραντεβού με τον γιατρό. (I have an appointment with the doctor.)

3. **Η ευκαιρία** (ee ef-ke-REE-a) – *opportunity*
– Example: Αυτή είναι μια καλή ευκαιρία. (This is a good opportunity.)

4. **Η εμπειρία** (ee em-bee-REE-a) – *experience*
– Example: Η εργασία αυτή μου έδωσε πολλές εμπειρίες. (This job gave me a lot of experiences.)

5. **Η υπομονή** (ee ee-po-mo-NEE) – *patience*
– Example: Η υπομονή είναι αρετή. (Patience is a virtue.)

Adjectives for More Detailed Descriptions

Adjectives add color and detail to your speech. Here are some essential adjectives that will help you describe people, places, and situations more vividly.

1. **Ενθουσιασμένος** (en-thoo-si-as-ME-nos) – *excited*
– Example: Είμαι ενθουσιασμένος για το ταξίδι. (I am excited about the trip.)

2. **Ειλικρινής** (ee-lee-kri-NEES) – *honest*
– Example: Είναι ένας ειλικρινής άνθρωπος. (He is an honest person.)

3. **Ακριβός** (a-kri-VOS) – *expensive*
– Example: Αυτό το ρολόι είναι πολύ ακριβό. (This watch is very expensive.)

4. **Ευγενικός** (ev-ye-ni-KOS) – *polite, kind*
– Example: Ήταν πολύ ευγενικός μαζί μου. (He was very kind to me.)

5. **Επικίνδυνος** (e-pee-KEEN-thi-nos) – *dangerous*
– Example: Αυτό το μέρος είναι επικίνδυνο τη νύχτα. (This place is dangerous at night.)

Useful Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, giving more context to actions, qualities, and quantities. Here are some adverbs you will find particularly useful.

1. **Αμέσως** (a-ME-sos) – *immediately*
– Example: Θέλω να φύγεις αμέσως. (I want you to leave immediately.)

2. **Σπάνια** (SPAH-nia) – *rarely*
– Example: Σπάνια πηγαίνω στον κινηματογράφο. (I rarely go to the cinema.)

3. **Προσεκτικά** (pro-sek-ti-KA) – *carefully*
– Example: Οδηγώ προσεκτικά όταν βρέχει. (I drive carefully when it rains.)

4. **Ακριβώς** (a-kri-VOS) – *exactly*
– Example: Αυτό είναι ακριβώς αυτό που ήθελα. (This is exactly what I wanted.)

5. **Προφανώς** (pro-fa-NOS) – *obviously*
– Example: Προφανώς, έκανε λάθος. (Obviously, he made a mistake.)

Everyday Phrases

Knowing individual words is useful, but understanding common phrases can make your speech sound more natural and fluent. Here are some everyday phrases you might find helpful.

1. **Τι νέα;** (tee NE-a?) – *What’s new?*
– Example: Τι νέα; Πώς ήταν το Σαββατοκύριακο σου; (What’s new? How was your weekend?)

2. **Καλώς ήρθες!** (ka-LOS EER-thes) – *Welcome!*
– Example: Καλώς ήρθες στο σπίτι μου! (Welcome to my home!)

3. **Δεν πειράζει.** (then pee-RA-zee) – *It doesn’t matter.*
– Example: Αν αργήσεις, δεν πειράζει. (If you are late, it doesn’t matter.)

4. **Πες μου.** (pes moo) – *Tell me.*
– Example: Πες μου τι συνέβη. (Tell me what happened.)

5. **Καλή τύχη!** (ka-LEE TEE-kee) – *Good luck!*
– Example: Καλή τύχη στις εξετάσεις σου! (Good luck on your exams!)

Connecting Words

Connecting words, or conjunctions, help you link sentences and ideas, making your speech more coherent and fluid.

1. **Ωστόσο** (o-STOS-o) – *however*
– Example: Προσπάθησα πολύ. Ωστόσο, δεν τα κατάφερα. (I tried hard. However, I didn’t succeed.)

2. **Επιπλέον** (e-pee-PLE-on) – *in addition*
– Example: Επιπλέον, πρέπει να είσαι και συνεπής. (In addition, you must also be consistent.)

3. **Επομένως** (e-po-ME-nos) – *therefore*
– Example: Δούλεψες σκληρά. Επομένως, αξίζεις την προαγωγή. (You worked hard. Therefore, you deserve the promotion.)

4. **Παρόλο που** (pa-RO-lo poo) – *even though*
– Example: Παρόλο που βρέχει, θα πάμε βόλτα. (Even though it’s raining, we will go for a walk.)

5. **Επειδή** (e-pee-THEE) – *because*
– Example: Δεν ήρθα επειδή ήμουν άρρωστος. (I didn’t come because I was sick.)

Expressions of Time

Understanding and using expressions of time correctly is crucial for effective communication. Here are some time-related phrases and words.

1. **Πριν από** (preen a-PO) – *before*
– Example: Πριν από τρεις μέρες, πήγαμε στο μουσείο. (Three days ago, we went to the museum.)

2. **Μετά από** (me-TA a-PO) – *after*
– Example: Μετά από το δείπνο, θα δούμε ταινία. (After dinner, we will watch a movie.)

3. **Πρόσφατα** (PROS-fa-ta) – *recently*
– Example: Πρόσφατα, άρχισα να μαθαίνω κιθάρα. (Recently, I started learning guitar.)

4. **Πάντα** (PAN-ta) – *always*
– Example: Πάντα φεύγω από τη δουλειά στις πέντε. (I always leave work at five.)

5. **Συνήθως** (see-NEE-thos) – *usually*
– Example: Συνήθως, πηγαίνω στο γυμναστήριο το πρωί. (I usually go to the gym in the morning.)

Polite Expressions

Politeness is a significant part of Greek culture. Knowing how to express yourself politely can make your interactions smoother and more pleasant.

1. **Ευχαριστώ πολύ** (ef-cha-ree-STO po-LEE) – *Thank you very much.*
– Example: Ευχαριστώ πολύ για τη βοήθειά σας. (Thank you very much for your help.)

2. **Συγγνώμη** (see-GNO-mee) – *Sorry, excuse me*
– Example: Συγγνώμη, μπορώ να περάσω; (Excuse me, can I pass?)

3. **Παρακαλώ** (pa-ra-ka-LO) – *Please*
– Example: Παρακαλώ, καθίστε. (Please, sit down.)

4. **Με συγχωρείτε** (me see-gho-REE-te) – *I’m sorry, excuse me*
– Example: Με συγχωρείτε που άργησα. (I’m sorry I’m late.)

5. **Θα μπορούσατε** (tha bo-roo-SA-te) – *Could you?*
– Example: Θα μπορούσατε να μου δώσετε λίγο νερό; (Could you give me some water?)

Numbers Beyond Basics

While you may already know the numbers from one to ten, it’s useful to learn numbers beyond the basics, especially for practical situations like shopping or discussing dates.

1. **Εντεκα** (EN-de-ka) – *eleven*
2. **Δώδεκα** (THO-the-ka) – *twelve*
3. **Δεκαπέντε** (the-ka-PEN-te) – *fifteen*
4. **Είκοσι** (EE-ko-see) – *twenty*
5. **Τριάντα** (tree-AN-ta) – *thirty*
6. **Σαράντα** (sa-RAN-da) – *forty*
7. **Πενήντα** (pe-NEEN-da) – *fifty*
8. **Εκατό** (e-ka-TO) – *one hundred*
9. **Χίλια** (HEE-lya) – *one thousand*
10. **Δύο χιλιάδες** (THEE-o hee-LYA-thes) – *two thousand*

Learning Tips

To effectively incorporate these words into your vocabulary, consider the following tips:

1. **Practice Daily:** Consistency is key. Try to incorporate these words into your daily conversations or writing exercises.

2. **Use Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the Greek word on one side and the English translation on the other. Review them regularly.

3. **Watch Greek Media:** Engage with Greek movies, TV shows, and news to hear these words in context.

4. **Speak with Natives:** If possible, practice speaking with native Greek speakers. This will help you understand how these words are used naturally.

5. **Write Sentences:** Practice writing sentences using these words. This will help reinforce their meanings and correct usage.

By mastering these intermediate-level Greek words, you’ll find yourself better equipped to handle more complex conversations and texts. Remember, language learning is a journey, and each new word you learn is a step closer to fluency. Καλή τύχη! (Good luck!)