Eye in Greek

Μάτι (mati) is the eye, stressed MA-ti, and the plural μάτια is what you need far more often — Greek talks about eyes in pairs. It also names the ring on a stove, so τα μάτια της κουζίνας are hobs, not anatomy.

Greeks use the same word for the superstition. The evil eye is το μάτι, or κακό μάτι when someone wants to be explicit, and a whole family of words grows from it: ματιάζω, to cast it; μάτιασμα, the state of having been caught by it; ξεμάτιασμα, the ritual for undoing it. The blue glass charm sold in every gift shop is also called a μάτι.

The reflex that goes with it is φτου φτου φτου, three dry spitting sounds after a compliment, particularly one aimed at a baby. It is meant to deflect the attention rather than express disgust, and it is done affectionately.