A quick introduction to the Greek Alphabet (το αλφαβήτο) from BBC Website
Key Phrases from BBC website.
‘Look at Pronunciation 1’ (on front page)
Aim: this will not only help us recognise the Greek letters it will also help with pronunciation.
1. Listen to the sounds being read out at least twice.
2. Listen again and say the sounds with the the tape.
3. Pause before the start of each line and try to predict the sounds.
BBC Greek Language Page
First Phrases
The words and phrases below are the one’s I found useful in the early stages of learning Greek. These are, in my opinion, the most common first words. Other websites and books may include other phrases but these will do for now.
| Word/phrase | Tranlation/note |
| καλημέρα | good morning |
| καλησπέρα | good afternoon/evening |
| καληνύχτα | good night |
| γειά σου | hello/goodbye |
| γειά σας | hello/goodbye (polite/plural) |
| Πώς σε λένε; | What are you called? |
| Με λένε Νίκο. | I am called Niko. |
| Κι εσύ, πώς σε λένε; | And, you, what are you called? |
| Με λένε Μαρία. | I am called Maria |
| Τι κάνεις; | How are you? / What are you doing? |
| Καλά, ευχαριστώ. | Well, thanks. |
| Κι εσύ; | And you? |
| Είμαι πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. | I am very well thanks. |
| Πώς είσαι; | How are you? |
| Καλά, ευχαριστώ. | Well, thanks. |
| Κι εσύ; | And you? |
| Είμαι πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. | I am very well thanks. |
| Τι κάνετε; | How are you? (plural/polite) |
| Καλά, ευχαριστώ. | Well, thanks. |
| Κι εσύ; | And you? |
| Είμαι πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. | I am very well thanks. |
| Πώς είστε; | How are you? (plural/polite) |
| Καλά, ευχαριστώ. | Well, thanks. |
| Κι εσύ; | And you? |
| Είμαι πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. | I am very well thanks. |
| Άπο που είσαι; | Where are you from? |
| Άπο που είστε; | Where are you from? (Polite/plural) |
| Πόσο χρονών είσαι; | How old are you? |
| Είμαι δέκα εφτά χρονών. | I am 17 years (old). |
| Πόσο χρονών είστε; | How old are you? (plural/polite) |
| Είμαι δέκα εφτά χρονών. | I am 17 years (old). |
| Ναι | Yes |
| Όχι | No |
A couple of things to note before we use the flash cards below:
The Greek language and culture is very polite. Respect is given, through the language, to those who are more senior in age or status, by the use of the polite plural (similar to French and German). So γειά σου (hello and goodbye) would be said to someone who is of equal status or to someone who is younger than you, while the more polite form, γειά σας, is used to greet someone who is older or of higher status or someone you do not know.
As in many languages, there is more than one way to ask, “How are you?” Both are very common, although I was introduced to Τι Κάνεις; first from Greek speakers and from lessons. As Τι Κάνεις; literally means “What are you doing?” there can sometime be confusion about what is being asked. It may be safer to stick to Πώς είσαι; – the choice is up to you.