In our humble opinion, traveling is one of the best gifts that you can give to yourself. However, we’ve all been in that situation where you’re traveling to a country where English is not as widely spoken as you’d wish and you cannot seem to communicate with the people that you meet.
Source: Honeymoons.com
Case in point: Greece. It’s no secret that we’re in love with the country around here. However, it is not always easy to get your message across, especially if you are traveling somewhere that is off the beaten track and away from the principal touristic areas.
So, we thought that it might be useful to round up some handy phrases and keywords for you. Now, you can set sail in Greece at ease.
Ordering Food
Let’s face it; this is the most crucial category. There is nothing more frustrating than being hungry and not being able to communicate your order. So, here are some simple words to help you while ordering food (and keeping those #hangry situations under control).
| menu – menoú | portion – merida |
| plate – piato | glass – potíri |
| bon appétit – kalí órexi | the bill – o logariasmós |
Greetings and Polite Expressions
It’s always nice to be able to reciprocate the greeting of a friendly local in the street and it doesn’t hurt to know a few elementary words or polite phrases that you can use while you’re out and about.
| yes – naí | no – óchi |
| good morning/afternoon/night – kaliméra kalispera – kalinychta | hello – geia sou |
| please – parakalo | thank you – efcharistó |
Directions
With the advent of technology and the increased availability of navigation tools such as GPS or Google Maps, it is nowadays easier to find your way while you’re abroad. However, it is still important to know a few keywords in this area…particularly if you’re renting a car and Google Maps thinks that it is a good idea to pass through a pedestrian zone.
| street – drómos | around the corner – stin apó ti gonía |
| left – aristerá | right – dexia |
| entrance – eísodos | exit – éxodos |
Shopping
If you desperately feel the need to indulge in a spot of retail therapy and those handmade leather sandals are calling your name, do not worry because we’ve got you covered.
| shoe size to – mégethos tou papoutsioú | clothing size – mégethos roúchon |
| bigger – megalýtero | smaller – mikrótero |
| price tag – timí | changing room – dokimastírio |
Basic Sailing Words
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; Greece is the perfect destination for a summer holiday and an incredible sailing hub too. If you’re considering the option of renting a boat in Greece and setting sail in Greece, here are some terms to keep in mind.
| boat – skáfos | sail – pleo |
| port – limáni | skipper – ploíarchos |
| yacht – skáfos anapsychís | mast – katárti |
Miscellaneous but Useful
We’re also including an assorted selection of words and phrases that may be helpful at some point during your trip.
| doctor – giatrós | airport – aerodrómio |
| police station – astynomikó tmíma | ferry – porthmeío |
| insurance – asfalisi | hotel reservation – krátisi xenodocheíou |
