Page 314 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

PHRASE BOOK

There is no universally accepted system for representing Guidelines for Pronunciation
the modern Greek language in the Roman alphabet and The accent over Greek and transliterated words indicates
not all Greek phonemes have exact English equivalents. the stressed syllable. In this guide the accent is not written
The system of transliteration adopted in this guide is over capital letters nor over monosyllables, except for
adapted from the one used by the Greek government. question words and the conjunction ή (meaning “or”).
For Classical names this guide uses the most commonly In the right-hand “Pronunciation” column below, the
accepted Greek spelling without accents, with a preference syllable to stress is given in bold type.
for –os endings on names, as opposed to the more old- On the following pages, the English is given in the left-
fashioned -us. In a few cases, such as Socrates, the more hand column with the Greek and its transliteration in the
familiar Latin form has been used. Likewise, where a well- middle column. The right-hand column provides a literal
known English form of a name exists, such system of pronunciation and indicates the stressed
as Athens or Corfu, this has been used. syllable in bold.
THE GREEK ALPHABET Where is the nearest Πού είναι το poo ee-ne to plee-
telephone/hospital/ πλησιέστερο see-e-ste-ro tee-
Α α A a cat pharmacy? τήλεφωνο/νοσοκο- le-pho-no/no-so-
Β β V v vote μείο/φαρμακείο? ko-mee-o/
Γ γ G g year (when followed Poú eínai to plisiés- far-ma-kee-o?
by e and i sounds ) but g as in gas tero tiléfono/nosoko-
(when followed by a, o or ou meío/farmakeío?
sounds)
Δ δ D d that COMMUNICATION ESSENTIALS
Ε ε E e egg
Z ζ Z z zoo Yes Ναι neh
Η η I i ski Nai
Θ θ Th th think No Oχι o-chee
Ι ι I i ski Ochi
Κ κ K k kid Please Παρακαλώ pa-ra-ka-lo
Λ λ L l lap Parakaló
Μ μ M m man Thank you Ευχαριστώ ef-cha-ree-sto
Ν ν N n not Efcharistó
Ξ ξ X x taxi You are welcome Παρακαλώ pa-ra-ka-lo
O ο O o fox Parakaló
Π π P p pot OK/alright Εντάξει en-dak-zee
Ρ ρ R r red, but more rolled as in Scottish Entáxei
Σ σ S s sit (zero when followed by μ) Excuse me Με συγχωρείτε me seen-cho-
ς s (used at end of word) Me synchoreíte ree-teh
Τ τ T t tea Hello Γειά σας yeea sas
Υ υ Y y ski Geiá sas
Φ φ F f fish Goodbye Αντίο an-dee-o
Χ χ Ch ch loch in most cases, but Antío
he when followed by Good morning Καλημέρα ka-lee-me-ra
a, e or i sounds Kaliméra
Ψ ψ Ps ps maps Good night Καληνύχτα ka-lee-neech-ta
Ω ω O o fox Kalinýchta
Morning Πρωί pro-ee
COMBINATIONS OF LETTERS Proí
In Greek there are two-letter vowels that are pronounced Afternoon Απόγευμα a-po-yev-ma
as one sound: Apógevma
Αι αι Ai ai egg Evening Βράδυ vrath-i
Ει ει Ei ei ski Vrádi
Oι οι Oi oi ski This morning Σήμερα το πρωί see-me-ra to
Oυ ου Ou ou lute Símera to proí pro-ee
Yesterday Χθές chthes
There are also some two-letter consonants that are Chthés
pronounced as one sound: Today Σήμερα see-me-ra
Μπ μπ Mp mp but, sometimes number Símera
in the middle of a word Tomorrow Αύριο av-ree-o
Ντ ντ Nt nt dog, sometimes under Avrio
in the middle of a word Here Εδώ ed-o
Γκ γκ Gk gk go, sometimes bingo in Edó
the middle of a word There Εκεί e-kee
Γξ γξ nx thanks Ekeí
Γγ γγ Gg gg bingo, only in the middle What? Τί? tee?
of a word Tí?
Why? Γιατί? ya-tee?
Giatí?
IN AN EMERGENCY Where? Πού? pou?
Help! Βοήθεια! vo-ee-theea How? Poú? pos?
Πώς?
Voítheia! Pós?
Stop! Σταματήστε! sta-ma-tee-steh Wait! Πεpίμενε! pe-ree-me-neh
Stamatíste! Perímene!
Call a doctor! Φωνάξτε ένα fo-nak-steh e-na
γιατρό! ya-tro USEFUL PHRASES
Fonáxte éna giatró!
Call an ambulance/ Καλέστε το ka-le-steh to How are you? Τί κάνεις? tee ka-nees
the police/the fire ασθενοφόρο/την as-the-no-fo-ro/ Tí káneis?
brigade! αστυνομία/την teen a-sti-no-mia/ Very well, thank you Πολύ καλά, po-lee ka-la,
πυροσβεστική! teen pee-ro- ευχαριστώ ef-cha-ree-sto
zve-stee-kee Poly kalá, efcharistó
Kaléste to How do you do? Πώς είστε? pos ees-te?
asthenofóro/tin Pós eíste?
astynomía/tin Pleased to meet you Χαίρω πολύ che-ro po-lee
pyrosvestikí! Chaíro polý
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