Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it’s as rich and historic as Greek. Whether you’re planning a trip to Greece, have Greek-speaking friends, or are simply interested in the language, mastering some essential vocabulary can greatly enhance your experience. In this article, we’ll cover 50 essential words you need to know for Greek at the A1 level. These words will form the foundation of your Greek language skills, helping you navigate basic conversations and everyday situations.
1. **ฮฮตฮนฮฑ (Yia)** – Hello
2. **ฮฮฑฮปฮทฮผฮญฯฮฑ (Kalimรฉra)** – Good morning
3. **ฮฮฑฮปฮทฯฯฮญฯฮฑ (Kalispรฉra)** – Good evening
4. **ฮฮฑฮปฮทฮฝฯฯฯฮฑ (Kalinychta)** – Good night
5. **ฮฮฝฯฮฏฮฟ (Adรญo)** – Goodbye
6. **ฮ ฮฑฯฮฑฮบฮฑฮปฯ (Parakalรณ)** – Please
7. **ฮฯ
ฯฮฑฯฮนฯฯฯ (Efcharistรณ)** – Thank you
8. **ฮฃฯ
ฮณฮณฮฝฯฮผฮท (Signรณmi)** – Sorry/Excuse me
9. **ฮฮฑฮน (Ne)** – Yes
10. **ฮฯฮน (รchi)** – No
These basic greetings and polite phrases will help you make a good impression and show respect to Greek speakers. Note that “ฮฮฑฮน” (Ne) means “yes,” which can be confusing for English speakers since it sounds like “no.”
Knowing numbers is crucial for everyday activities such as shopping, dining, and navigating public transportation.
11. **ฮฮฝฮฑ (รna)** – One
12. **ฮฯฮฟ (Dรฝo)** – Two
13. **ฮคฯฮฏฮฑ (Trรญa)** – Three
14. **ฮคฮญฯฯฮตฯฮฑ (Tรฉssera)** – Four
15. **ฮ ฮญฮฝฯฮต (Pรฉnte)** – Five
16. **ฮฮพฮน (รxi)** – Six
17. **ฮฯฯฮฌ (Eptรก)** – Seven
18. **ฮฮบฯฯ (Oktรณ)** – Eight
19. **ฮฮฝฮฝฮนฮฌ (Enniรก)** – Nine
20. **ฮฮญฮบฮฑ (Dรฉka)** – Ten
Once you’re comfortable with these, try counting to 20, then 100. Understanding numbers will help you in almost any situation.
Being able to ask and understand basic questions is essential for communication.
21. **ฮ ฯฯ ฯฮต ฮปฮญฮฝฮต; (Pรณs se lรฉne?)** – What is your name?
22. **ฮฮต ฮปฮญฮฝฮต… (Me lรฉne…)** – My name is…
23. **ฮ ฯฯฮฟ ฮบฮฟฯฯฮฏฮถฮตฮน; (Pรณso kostรญzei?)** – How much does it cost?
24. **ฮ ฮฟฯ ฮตฮฏฮฝฮฑฮน…; (Poรบ eรญnai…?)** – Where is…?
25. **ฮคฮน ฮบฮฌฮฝฮตฮนฯ; (Ti kรกneis?)** – How are you?
26. **ฮฮฑฮปฮฌ, ฮตฯ
ฯฮฑฯฮนฯฯฯ. (Kalรก, efcharistรณ.)** – Fine, thank you.
27. **ฮคฮน ฮตฮฏฮฝฮฑฮน ฮฑฯ
ฯฯ; (Ti eรญnai aftรณ?)** – What is this?
28. **ฮฮนฮปฮฌฯ ฮฮณฮณฮปฮนฮบฮฌ; (Milรกs Anglikรก?)** – Do you speak English?
29. **ฮฮฑฮน, ฮปฮฏฮณฮฟ. (Ne, lรญgo.)** – Yes, a little.
30. **ฮ ฯฯฮฟ ฯฯฮฟฮฝฯฮฝ ฮตฮฏฯฮฑฮน; (Pรณso chronรณn eรญsai?)** – How old are you?
These questions and answers will help you start conversations and gather basic information.
Greek cuisine is famous worldwide, and knowing some food-related vocabulary can enhance your dining experience.
31. **ฮจฯฮผฮฏ (Psomรญ)** – Bread
32. **ฮฮตฯฯ (Nerรณ)** – Water
33. **ฮฮฑฯฮญฯ (Kafรฉs)** – Coffee
34. **ฮคฯฮฌฮน (Tsรกi)** – Tea
35. **ฮฯฮฑฯฮฏ (Krasรญ)** – Wine
36. **ฮฯฯฯฮฑ (Bรฝra)** – Beer
37. **ฮฮฌฮปฮฑ (Gรกla)** – Milk
38. **ฮฆฯฮฟฯฯฮฑ (Froรบta)** – Fruit
39. **ฮฮฑฯฮฑฮฝฮนฮบฮฌ (Lachanikรก)** – Vegetables
40. **ฮฯฮญฮฑฯ (Krรฉas)** – Meat
Knowing these words can help you order food and drinks, and understand menus in Greek restaurants.
Understanding directions and place names is crucial for navigating a new environment.
41. **ฮฯฯฮผฮฟฯ (Drรณmos)** – Road
42. **ฮ ฮปฮฑฯฮตฮฏฮฑ (Plateรญa)** – Square
43. **ฮฮบฮบฮปฮทฯฮฏฮฑ (Ekklisรญa)** – Church
44. **ฮฮตฯฮฟฮดฯฯฮผฮนฮฟ (Aerodrรณmio)** – Airport
45. **ฮฃฯฮฑฮธฮผฯฯ (Stathmรณs)** – Station
46. **ฮฮตฮฝฮฟฮดฮฟฯฮตฮฏฮฟ (Xenodochรญo)** – Hotel
47. **ฮฯฯฮนฮฑฯฯฯฮนฮฟ (Estiatรณrio)** – Restaurant
48. **ฮฆฮฑฯฮผฮฑฮบฮตฮฏฮฟ (Farmakeรญo)** – Pharmacy
49. **ฮฮณฮฟฯฮฌ (Agorรก)** – Market
50. **ฮ ฮฑฯฮฑฮปฮฏฮฑ (Paralรญa)** – Beach
These words will be extremely useful when asking for directions or exploring your surroundings.
Mastering these 50 essential Greek words will provide you with a solid foundation for basic communication. As with any language, practice is key. Try to incorporate these words into your daily routine, whether by labeling items in your home with their Greek names, practicing conversations with a language partner, or using language learning apps. Remember, language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to fluency. ฮฮฑฮปฮฎ ฯฯฯฮท (Kalรญ tรฝchi) โ good luck!
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