Blog
Tips, guides, and resources for learning Modern Greek.
- 01
Vasilopita, Kalanta, and Greek Christmas Greetings
The Greek holiday season runs from Christmas Eve through Epiphany, with its own greeting sequence, door-to-door carols, and a New Year cake with a coin hidden inside. Here is the language that ties it all together.
- 02
Greek Tenses Explained: How Past, Present, and Future Work in Modern Greek
Greek has a lot of tenses, but three do most of the work in everyday speech: the present, the simple past, and the future with θα. Start here.
- 03
Souvlaki vs Gyros: What's the Difference?
Souvlaki means "little skewer" and gyros means "turn", but what happens when you try to order one in Athens versus Thessaloniki?
- 04
What Does Meraki Mean? Kefi, Philotimo, and other Greek Words English Can't Translate
Meraki, kefi, and philotimo each name something English needs a whole sentence to explain. What they mean, how to pronounce them, and when to use them.
- 05
Greek Pronunciation: The Sounds English Speakers Always Get Wrong
Greek pronunciation trips up English speakers in a handful of predictable places. Here are the sounds that do not exist in English, and how to make them.
- 06
Greek Words in The Odyssey: Nostos, Xenia and Kleos Explained
Nostos, xenia, and kleos drive the whole plot of The Odyssey. What each word meant to Homer, and the everyday Modern Greek that grew out of them.
- 07
Greek Easter Greetings: Christos Anesti, Kalo Pascha, and When to Say Each
Greek Orthodox Easter is the biggest celebration of the year, and the greetings change as Holy Week progresses. Here is the sequence, and what each phrase means.
- 08
Greek Sentence Structure: Why Word Order Is More Flexible Than English
Greek sentence structure defaults to subject-verb-object, but case endings let you move words around for emphasis. Here is how to use that.
- 09
What Does Yamas Mean? The Rule Most Get Wrong
Yamas (γεια μας) is the Greek "cheers", literally "our health". Where the word comes from, how it relates to the greeting yassas, and the other toasts you will hear around a Greek table.
- 10
7 Greek Exclamations You'll Hear Every Day: Ela, Re, Po Po and More
Greeks lean on a family of short, loud, emotional words that no vocabulary list teaches: έλα, ρε, πω πω, άντε, σιγά, μπράβο, ωχ. Here is what each one means and how to read the tone that decides the meaning.
- 11
What the Greek Evil Eye (Mati) Has to Do With the Way Greeks Speak
The Greek evil eye, mati, is sold as jewellery everywhere. But its significance within Greek culture goes much deeper than being just a pretty decoration. Learn how the evil eye appears in common phrases, words, and gestures.
- 12
The Moutza and the Gestures That Will Get You in Trouble in Greece
Some perfectly innocent-looking gestures are deeply offensive in Greece and the worst of them is one you might use to mean "stop" or "five".
- 13
Greek Adjectives: How to Make Them Agree with Nouns (With Examples)
Greek adjectives change their endings to match the noun they describe. Here is how that agreement works, with clear examples you can copy.
- 14
Greek Articles (ο, η, το): How "The" Works in Modern Greek
Greek has three words for "the" — ο, η, and το — and which one you use tells you the gender of the noun. Here is how the system fits together.
- 15
Filoxenia: The Greek Word for Hospitality That Will Change How You See the Country
What filoxenia means in Greek, why a stranger gets treated like a guest, and the actual phrases Greeks say when they welcome you.
- 16
What Does Opa Mean in Greek? 3 Uses, When to Say It
Opa is not really about smashing plates. Greeks use όπα a dozen times a day: for joy, for surprise, and as a quick "careful!". Here is what it means, how to pronounce it, and how it differs from German Opa and Korean oppa.
- 17
Yes and No in Greek: Why a Nod Means No
The Greek word for yes sounds like "no," and the Greek gesture for no looks like a nod. Here is what each signal really looks like and how to practise responding correctly.
- 18
Greek Question Words: How to Ask Who, What, Where, When, and Why
A complete guide to Greek question words: τι, ποιος, πού, πότε, γιατί, πώς, and πόσο. Including example sentences and pronunciation for beginners.
- 19
How to Order Coffee in Greece: The Complete Phrase Guide
The exact phrases you need to order any coffee in Greece, from freddo to Greek coffee.
- 20
Greek Numbers: What They Are and When You'll Actually Use Them
The Greek numbers from 1 to 1000, plus the situations where you will actually use them: reading and hearing prices, splitting taverna bills, booking a table, and telling the time.
- 21
Greek Greetings: How to Say Hello (and What to Say Back)
The essential guide to Greek greetings. From Γεια σου to phone etiquette, physical customs, and what to say when Greeks greet you first.
- 22
How to Order Food & Drinks at a Greek Taverna (Complete Beginner's Guide)
Everything you need to walk into a Greek taverna and order food and drinks with confidence, including phrases, cultural tips, and a step-by-step meal walkthrough.
- 23
How to Set Up a Greek Keyboard on Any Device (and Switch Instantly)
A step-by-step guide to adding Greek input on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android — plus the shortcuts that let you flip between languages without breaking your flow.
- 24
Masculine, Feminine & Neuter Greek Nouns Explained for Beginners
Greek nouns come in three genders — and knowing which is which changes everything else in the sentence.
- 25
The Most Important Greek Foods (And How to Talk About Them)
Learn the Greek food words you'll actually use — with pronunciation tips, grammar notes, and cultural context all in one place.
- 26
Introduction to the Greek Alphabet: Your First Step to Reading Greek
Learn the Greek alphabet from scratch and discover why mastering it is the best first step in your Greek learning journey.