Learning a new language can be both an exciting and daunting experience. Greek, with its rich history and unique alphabet, presents an intriguing challenge for language enthusiasts. If you’re just starting your journey with Greek, mastering a set of essential words and phrases can significantly boost your confidence and ability to communicate. This article will guide you through the most important Greek words to know for the A1 level, helping you build a solid foundation for further learning.

Basic Greetings and Politeness

When starting any language, being able to greet people and be polite is crucial. Here are some fundamental Greek words and phrases for greetings and common courtesies:

1. **Γειά σου** (Yia sou) – *Hello* (informal)
2. **Γειά σας** (Yia sas) – *Hello* (formal or plural)
3. **Καλημέρα** (Kalimera) – *Good morning*
4. **Καλησπέρα** (Kalispera) – *Good evening*
5. **Καληνύχτα** (Kalinikhta) – *Good night*
6. **Ευχαριστώ** (Efharisto) – *Thank you*
7. **Παρακαλώ** (Parakalo) – *Please/You’re welcome*
8. **Συγγνώμη** (Signomi) – *Sorry/Excuse me*
9. **Ναι** (Ne) – *Yes*
10. **Όχι** (Ohi) – *No*

These words will help you navigate basic interactions and show respect in conversations.

Numbers and Counting

Understanding numbers is essential for daily activities like shopping, telling time, and understanding prices. Here are the Greek numbers from one to ten:

1. **Ένα** (Ena) – *One*
2. **Δύο** (Dio) – *Two*
3. **Τρία** (Tria) – *Three*
4. **Τέσσερα** (Tessera) – *Four*
5. **Πέντε** (Pente) – *Five*
6. **Έξι** (Exi) – *Six*
7. **Επτά** (Epta) – *Seven*
8. **Οκτώ** (Okto) – *Eight*
9. **Εννέα** (Ennea) – *Nine*
10. **Δέκα** (Deka) – *Ten*

For higher numbers, you can combine these basic numbers. For example, **δεκατρία** (dekatria) means thirteen, combining “ten” and “three.”

Days of the Week and Months

Knowing the days of the week and months in Greek will help you make appointments, understand schedules, and engage in everyday conversations about time.

Days of the Week

1. **Δευτέρα** (Deftera) – *Monday*
2. **Τρίτη** (Triti) – *Tuesday*
3. **Τετάρτη** (Tetarti) – *Wednesday*
4. **Πέμπτη** (Pempti) – *Thursday*
5. **Παρασκευή** (Paraskevi) – *Friday*
6. **Σάββατο** (Savvato) – *Saturday*
7. **Κυριακή** (Kiriaki) – *Sunday*

Months of the Year

1. **Ιανουάριος** (Ianouarios) – *January*
2. **Φεβρουάριος** (Fevrouarios) – *February*
3. **Μάρτιος** (Martios) – *March*
4. **Απρίλιος** (Aprilios) – *April*
5. **Μάιος** (Maios) – *May*
6. **Ιούνιος** (Iounios) – *June*
7. **Ιούλιος** (Ioulios) – *July*
8. **Αύγουστος** (Avgoustos) – *August*
9. **Σεπτέμβριος** (Septemvrios) – *September*
10. **Οκτώβριος** (Oktovrios) – *October*
11. **Νοέμβριος** (Noemvrios) – *November*
12. **Δεκέμβριος** (Dekemvrios) – *December*

Common Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language, enabling you to convey actions and states of being. Here are some essential Greek verbs:

1. **είμαι** (eimai) – *to be*
2. **έχω** (eho) – *to have*
3. **κάνω** (kano) – *to do/make*
4. **πάω** (pao) – *to go*
5. **βλέπω** (vlepo) – *to see*
6. **τρώω** (troo) – *to eat*
7. **πίνω** (pino) – *to drink*
8. **μιλάω** (milao) – *to speak*
9. **διαβάζω** (diavazo) – *to read*
10. **γράφω** (grafo) – *to write*

Using these verbs, you can start forming basic sentences and express your daily activities.

Family and Relationships

Talking about family and relationships is a common conversation topic. Here are some Greek words for family members and relationships:

1. **οικογένεια** (ikogenia) – *family*
2. **πατέρας** (pateras) – *father*
3. **μητέρα** (mitera) – *mother*
4. **αδελφός** (adelfos) – *brother*
5. **αδελφή** (adelfi) – *sister*
6. **παππούς** (pappous) – *grandfather*
7. **γιαγιά** (giagia) – *grandmother*
8. **σύζυγος** (syzygos) – *spouse*
9. **γιος** (gios) – *son*
10. **κόρη** (kori) – *daughter*

Understanding these words will allow you to discuss your family and ask about others’ families, which is a great way to build connections.

Food and Drink

Knowing the names of common foods and drinks is essential for dining out and shopping for groceries. Here are some basic Greek words related to food and drink:

1. **ψωμί** (psomi) – *bread*
2. **τυρί** (tyri) – *cheese*
3. **κρέας** (kreas) – *meat*
4. **ψάρι** (psari) – *fish*
5. **νερό** (nero) – *water*
6. **καφές** (kafes) – *coffee*
7. **κρασί** (krasi) – *wine*
8. **φρούτο** (frouto) – *fruit*
9. **λαχανικό** (lachaniko) – *vegetable*
10. **γλυκό** (glyko) – *dessert/sweet*

These words will help you navigate menus and grocery stores, making your experience in Greek-speaking environments more enjoyable.

Colors

Colors are often used to describe objects, clothing, and much more. Here are the basic colors in Greek:

1. **κόκκινο** (kokkino) – *red*
2. **μπλε** (ble) – *blue*
3. **πράσινο** (prasino) – *green*
4. **κίτρινο** (kitrino) – *yellow*
5. **μαύρο** (mavro) – *black*
6. **άσπρο** (aspro) – *white*
7. **πορτοκαλί** (portokali) – *orange*
8. **μοβ** (mov) – *purple*
9. **καφέ** (kafe) – *brown*
10. **γκρι** (gri) – *gray*

Using these color words, you can describe objects and ask about preferences more effectively.

Basic Adjectives

Adjectives help describe nouns, adding more detail to your conversations. Here are some fundamental Greek adjectives:

1. **μεγάλος** (megalos) – *big*
2. **μικρός** (mikros) – *small*
3. **καλός** (kalos) – *good*
4. **κακός** (kakos) – *bad*
5. **όμορφος** (omorfos) – *beautiful*
6. **άσχημος** (ashimos) – *ugly*
7. **ζεστός** (zestos) – *hot*
8. **κρύος** (krios) – *cold*
9. **νέος** (neos) – *young/new*
10. **παλιός** (palios) – *old*

These adjectives will enhance your ability to describe people, places, and things.

Common Phrases

Finally, here are some common phrases that will help you in various situations:

1. **Τι κάνεις;** (Ti kaneis?) – *How are you?* (informal)
2. **Τι κάνετε;** (Ti kanete?) – *How are you?* (formal)
3. **Πώς σε λένε;** (Pos se lene?) – *What is your name?* (informal)
4. **Πώς σας λένε;** (Pos sas lene?) – *What is your name?* (formal)
5. **Με λένε…** (Me lene…) – *My name is…*
6. **Από πού είσαι;** (Apo pou ise?) – *Where are you from?* (informal)
7. **Από πού είστε;** (Apo pou iste?) – *Where are you from?* (formal)
8. **Είμαι από…** (Eimai apo…) – *I am from…*
9. **Δεν καταλαβαίνω** (Den katalaveno) – *I don’t understand*
10. **Μιλάτε Αγγλικά;** (Milate Anglika?) – *Do you speak English?*

These phrases will help you introduce yourself, ask about others, and navigate conversations when you need help.

Conclusion

Mastering these basic Greek words and phrases will provide you with a strong foundation for further learning. As you become more comfortable with these terms, you will find it easier to engage in simple conversations and understand more of what you hear and read. Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and consistency is key. Practice these words regularly, and don’t be afraid to use them in real-life situations. With time and effort, you’ll find yourself progressing to higher levels of Greek proficiency. Happy learning!