|
|
| (43 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | [[WikiPedia:Greek language]] | | [[WikiPedia:Greek language]] |
| − | '''Greek''' is one of the oldest attested Indo-European languages, known from 1400 BC in inscriptions in a syllabary of Minoan origin. The present alphabet was introduced by a Phoenician called Qadmu (Καδμος) about 800 BC, and has been in use, with a few letters added and removed, continuously since then. The 24-letter alphabet used in Classical Greek is the same one used today. Greek is the official language of both [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]]. | + | '''Greek''' is one of the oldest attested Indo-European languages, known from 1400 BC in inscriptions in a syllabary of Minoan origin. The present alphabet was introduced by a Phoenician called Qadmu (Καδμος) about 800 BC, and has been in use, with a few letters added and removed, continuously since then. The 24-letter alphabet used in Classical Greek is the same one used today. Greek is the official language of both [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]], but is only spoken in the south of the latter. |
| | | | |
| | Many Greek words have been borrowed into other languages, so you will find a lot of these words familiar, such as ''τραυμα'' (''trauma'', "injury") and ''σοφία'' (''sofia'' "wisdom, knowledge"). Originally they were borrowed into Latin, which became the Romance languages. The changes Greek words underwent in Latin are different from those they underwent in Greek. For instance, in a rare case of someone actually returning a word he borrowed, κινημα (''kinema'', motion) was borrowed into Latin as ''cinema'', which in French acquired the meaning "movie", and was returned to Greek as σινεμα (''sinema''). | | Many Greek words have been borrowed into other languages, so you will find a lot of these words familiar, such as ''τραυμα'' (''trauma'', "injury") and ''σοφία'' (''sofia'' "wisdom, knowledge"). Originally they were borrowed into Latin, which became the Romance languages. The changes Greek words underwent in Latin are different from those they underwent in Greek. For instance, in a rare case of someone actually returning a word he borrowed, κινημα (''kinema'', motion) was borrowed into Latin as ''cinema'', which in French acquired the meaning "movie", and was returned to Greek as σινεμα (''sinema''). |
| Line 13: |
Line 13: |
| | ; Α/α alpha (άλφα) : as in p'''a'''t | | ; Α/α alpha (άλφα) : as in p'''a'''t |
| | ; Ε/ε epsilon (έψιλον) : as in p'''e'''t | | ; Ε/ε epsilon (έψιλον) : as in p'''e'''t |
| − | ; Η/η eeta (ήτα) : as in p'''i'''t | + | ; Η/η eeta (ήτα) : as in r''ee''d |
| − | ; Ι/ι iota (ιώτα) : as in p'''i'''t, though when followed by a vowel it can often be pronounced like '''y''' - example: its very name, it's either said as iota or yota. | + | ; Ι/ι iota (ιώτα) : as in r''ee''d, though when followed by a vowel it can often be pronounced like '''y''' - example: its very name, it's either said as iota or yota. |
| | ; Ο/ο omicron (όμικρον) : as in p'''o'''t | | ; Ο/ο omicron (όμικρον) : as in p'''o'''t |
| − | ; Υ/υ eepsilon (ύψιλον) : as in p'''i'''t | + | ; Υ/υ eepsilon (ύψιλον) : as in r''ee''d |
| | ; Ω/ω omega (ωμέγα) : as in p'''o'''t | | ; Ω/ω omega (ωμέγα) : as in p'''o'''t |
| | | | |
| Line 27: |
Line 27: |
| | ; ΟΥ/ου omicron-eepsilon: as in p'''oo'''l | | ; ΟΥ/ου omicron-eepsilon: as in p'''oo'''l |
| | ; ΑΥ/αυ alpha-eepsilon | | ; ΑΥ/αυ alpha-eepsilon |
| − | ; ΕΥ/ευ epsilon-eepsilon : For the last two diphthongs: when followed by a voiceless consonant or a vowel or nothing (end of the word), the upsilon is pronounced as '''f''' resulting to '<b>af</b>' and '<b>ef</b>'; though, when followed by a voiced consonant the '''f''' is voiced as well making it a '''v'''.. so we have '<b>av</b>' and '<b>ev</b>'. (example: 'aura' and 'tau' in Greek are pronounced as 'avra' and 'tav'; although "au" and "eu" are increasingly pronounced among the younger generation, 45 years and under.) | + | ; ΕΥ/ευ epsilon-eepsilon : For the last two diphthongs: when followed by a voiceless consonant or a vowel or nothing (end of the word), the upsilon is pronounced as '''f''' resulting to '<b>af</b>' and '<b>ef</b>'; though, when followed by a voiced consonant the '''f''' is voiced as well making it a '''v'''.. so we have '<b>av</b>' and '<b>ev</b>'. (example: 'aura' and 'tau' in Greek are pronounced as 'avra' and 'taf'. |
| | | | |
| | ===Consonants and such Clusters=== | | ===Consonants and such Clusters=== |
| Line 48: |
Line 48: |
| | ; Τ/τ taf (ταυ) : T/t | | ; Τ/τ taf (ταυ) : T/t |
| | ; Φ/φ fee (φι) : F/f | | ; Φ/φ fee (φι) : F/f |
| − | ; Χ/χ chi (χι) : Scottish ch [lo'''ch'''] / like an H/h but with the tongue touching the palate | + | ; Χ/χ hee (χι) : Scottish ch [lo'''ch'''] / like an H/h but with the tongue touching the palate |
| | ; Ψ/ψ psi (ψι) : as in li'''ps''' | | ; Ψ/ψ psi (ψι) : as in li'''ps''' |
| | | | |
| Line 55: |
Line 55: |
| | ; Γκ/γκ gamma-kappa : as in '''g'''o'''ng''' | | ; Γκ/γκ gamma-kappa : as in '''g'''o'''ng''' |
| | ; γγ gamma-gamma : as in '''g'''o'''ng''' | | ; γγ gamma-gamma : as in '''g'''o'''ng''' |
| − | ; γχ gamma-chi : n+chi / like ngh in Buckingham: Μπάκιγχαμ | + | ; γχ gamma-hee : n+hee / like ngh in Buckingham: Μπάκιγχαμ |
| | ; Μπ/μπ mee-pee : as in '''bumbl'''e / B/b. At the beginning of the word is read just as b. Inside the word is pronounced like mb | | ; Μπ/μπ mee-pee : as in '''bumbl'''e / B/b. At the beginning of the word is read just as b. Inside the word is pronounced like mb |
| | ; Ντ/ντ nee-taf : as in '''d'''a'''nd'''er / D/d. At the beginning of the word is read just as d. Inside the word is pronounced like nd | | ; Ντ/ντ nee-taf : as in '''d'''a'''nd'''er / D/d. At the beginning of the word is read just as d. Inside the word is pronounced like nd |
| Line 72: |
Line 72: |
| | The capital letters are more or less the same with the ones of the English alphabet. Although the small letters seem entirely different (and some of them are indeed) at people's handwriting they can be extremely close to English. | | The capital letters are more or less the same with the ones of the English alphabet. Although the small letters seem entirely different (and some of them are indeed) at people's handwriting they can be extremely close to English. |
| | | | |
| − | Greek people know they have a difficult language (for foreigners) and don't expect any tourist to know more than a couple words. And even while they think its easy phonetically, they understand the problems foreigners have pronouncing it. You can say gamma as a hard 'g', chi as 'h', and rho as an unrolled English 'r', you can also say "au" or "eu" instead of "av" and "ev" and you'll be totally understood. People in no way expect you to be proficient in any aspect of Greek, so by studying a bit before visiting you can really impress people and win their hearts! Of course, it will require serious effort and dedication to learn to speak Greek fluently, as Greek grammar is admittedly more complex than it is in most other languages (much more demanding than German, for example, which is a language with relatively complex grammar). But still, you can master relatively easily the fundaments of communication and get your meaning across! And even if you don't, don't despair! Almost all Greeks (but the oldest) can understand and speak English! | + | Note also that Greek punctuation differs a little: The Greek question mark (ερωτηματικό) is just like the Latin semi-colon ''';''' . While the Greek semi-colon (άνω τελεία) is like the full stop "flying" just above the line '''•'''. |
| | + | |
| | + | Greek people know they have a difficult language (for foreigners) and don't expect any tourist to know more than a couple words. And even while they think it's easy phonetically, they understand the problems foreigners have pronouncing it. You can say gamma as a hard 'g', chi as 'h', and rho as an unrolled English 'r', you can also say "au" or "eu" instead of "av" and "ev" and you'll be totally understood. People in no way expect you to be proficient in any aspect of Greek, so by studying a bit before visiting you can really impress people and win their hearts! Of course, it will require serious effort and dedication to learn to speak Greek fluently, as Greek grammar is admittedly more complex than it is in most other languages (much more demanding than German, for example, which is a language with relatively complex grammar). But still, you can master relatively easily the fundaments of communication and get your meaning across. And even if you don't, don't despair: almost all Greeks (but the oldest) can understand and speak English. |
| | | | |
| | ==Phrase list== | | ==Phrase list== |
| Line 88: |
Line 90: |
| | ; Yes. : Ναι / Μάλιστα (polite) . (''neh / MAH-li-sta'') | | ; Yes. : Ναι / Μάλιστα (polite) . (''neh / MAH-li-sta'') |
| | ; No. : Όχι. (''OH-hee'') | | ; No. : Όχι. (''OH-hee'') |
| − | ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Συγνώμη / Με συγχωρείτε . (''See-GHNO-mee'' / ''Meh seen-ho-REE-teh'') | + | ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Συγγνώμη / Με συγχωρείτε . (''See-GHNO-mee'' / ''Meh seen-ho-REE-teh'') |
| − | ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Συγνώμη. (''See-GHNO-mee'') | + | ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Συγγνώμη. (''See-GHNO-mee'') |
| | ; I'm sorry. : Λυπάμαι. (''lee-PAH-meh'') | | ; I'm sorry. : Λυπάμαι. (''lee-PAH-meh'') |
| | ; See you later. : Τα λέμε. (''Ta LE-me'') | | ; See you later. : Τα λέμε. (''Ta LE-me'') |
| Line 101: |
Line 103: |
| | ; Good night. : Καληνύχτα. (''kah-lee-NEEKΗ-tah'') | | ; Good night. : Καληνύχτα. (''kah-lee-NEEKΗ-tah'') |
| | ; I don't understand. : Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (''dhen kah-tah-lah-VEH-no'') | | ; I don't understand. : Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (''dhen kah-tah-lah-VEH-no'') |
| − | ; Where is the toilet? : Που είναι η τουαλέτα? (''poo ΕΕ-ne ee too-ah-LEH-tah?'') | + | ; Where is the toilet? : Που είναι η τουαλέτα; (''poo ΕΕ-ne ee too-ah-LEH-tah?'') |
| − | ; Condom : Προφυλακτικό (''pro-fee-lak-tee-ko'') | + | ; Condom : Προφυλακτικό (''pro-fee-lak-tee-KO'') |
| | + | ; I love you: Σ'αγαπώ (''sa-gha-POH'') |
| | + | ; You are beautiful/handsome: Είσαι όμορφη/όμορφος. (''EE-seh OH-mor-fee/OH-mor-fos'') |
| | + | ; You have nice eyes : Έχεις ωραία μάτια. (''E-khees or-EH-ah MA-tiah'') |
| | | | |
| | ===Problems=== | | ===Problems=== |
| Line 155: |
Line 160: |
| | ; 90 : ενενήντα (''en-en-EEN-dah'') | | ; 90 : ενενήντα (''en-en-EEN-dah'') |
| | ; 100 : εκατό (''eh-kah-TO'') | | ; 100 : εκατό (''eh-kah-TO'') |
| − | ; 200 : διακόσια (''dhyah-KOH-syah'') | + | ; 200 : διακόσιοι/διακόσιες/διακόσια (''dhyah-KOH-syah'') |
| − | ; 300 : τριακόσια (''tryah-KOH-syah'') | + | ; 300 : τριακόσιοι/τριακόσιες/τριακόσια (''tryah-KOH-syah'') |
| | ; 1000 : χίλιοι/χίλιες/χίλια (''KHEE-lee-ee / KHEE-lyehs / KHEE-lyah'') | | ; 1000 : χίλιοι/χίλιες/χίλια (''KHEE-lee-ee / KHEE-lyehs / KHEE-lyah'') |
| | ; 2000 : δύο χιλιάδες (''DHEE-oh khee-lyAH-dhes'') | | ; 2000 : δύο χιλιάδες (''DHEE-oh khee-lyAH-dhes'') |
| Line 163: |
Line 168: |
| | ; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : number _____ (''...'') | | ; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : number _____ (''...'') |
| | ; half : μισός/μισή/μισό (''mee-SSOHS / mee-SSEE / mee-SSOH'') | | ; half : μισός/μισή/μισό (''mee-SSOHS / mee-SSEE / mee-SSOH'') |
| − | ; less : λιγότερος/λιγότερη/λιγότερο (''lee-GHO-teh-rohs / lee-GHO-teh-ree / lee-GHO-teh-roh'') | + | ; less : λιγότερος/πιο λίγος/λιγότερη/πιο λίγη/λιγότερο/πιο λίγο (''lee-GHO-teh-rohs / lee-GHO-teh-ree / lee-GHO-teh-roh'') |
| − | ; more : περισσότερος/περισσότερη/περισσότερο (''peh-ree-SSOH-teh-rohs / peh-ree-SSOH-teh-ree / peh-ree-SSOH-teh-ro'') | + | ; more : περισσότερος/πιο πολύς/περισσότερη/πιο πολλή/περισσότερο/πιο πολύ (''peh-ree-SSOH-teh-rohs / peh-ree-SSOH-teh-ree / peh-ree-SSOH-teh-ro'') |
| | | | |
| | ===Time=== | | ===Time=== |
| Line 178: |
Line 183: |
| | ====Clock time==== | | ====Clock time==== |
| | | | |
| − | ; one o'clock AM : μία η ώρα προ μεσημβρίας (''...'') | + | ; one o'clock AM : μία η ώρα το πρωί(''...'') |
| − | ; two o'clock AM : δύο η ώρα προ μεσημβρίας(''...'') | + | ; two o'clock AM : δύο η ώρα το πρωί(''...'') |
| | ; noon : το μεσημέρι (''toh mess-ee-MEHR-ee'') | | ; noon : το μεσημέρι (''toh mess-ee-MEHR-ee'') |
| − | ; one o'clock PM : μία η ώρα μετά μεσημβρίαν (''...'') | + | ; one o'clock PM : μία η ώρα το απόγευμα(''...'') |
| − | ; two o'clock PM : δύο η ώρα μετά μεσημβρίαν (''...'') | + | ; two o'clock PM : δύο η ώρα το απόγευμα(''...'') |
| | ; midnight : τα μεσάνυχτα (''tah meh-SAH-neekh-tah'') | | ; midnight : τα μεσάνυχτα (''tah meh-SAH-neekh-tah'') |
| | + | ; noon : μεσημέρι (12.00 : δώδεκα το μεσημέρι, δώδεκα το βράδυ/τα μεσάνυχτα) |
| | | | |
| | ====Duration==== | | ====Duration==== |
| Line 191: |
Line 197: |
| | ; _____ day(s) : _____ μέρα/μέρες (''MEH-rah/res'') | | ; _____ day(s) : _____ μέρα/μέρες (''MEH-rah/res'') |
| | ; _____ week(s) : _____ εβδομάδα/δες (''ev-dhoh-MAH-dhah/dhes'') | | ; _____ week(s) : _____ εβδομάδα/δες (''ev-dhoh-MAH-dhah/dhes'') |
| − | ; _____ month(s) : _____ μην/μήνες (''MEEN / MEE-nes'') | + | ; _____ month(s) : _____ μήνας/μήνες (''MEEN / MEE-nes'') |
| − | ; _____ year(s) : _____ έτος/έτη (''EH-tohs/tee'') | + | ; _____ year(s) : _____ έτος/χρόνος/χρονιά/έτη/χρόνοι/χρονιές |
| | | | |
| | ====Days==== | | ====Days==== |
| Line 207: |
Line 213: |
| | ; Tuesday : Τρίτη (''TREE-tee'') | | ; Tuesday : Τρίτη (''TREE-tee'') |
| | ; Wednesday : Τετάρτη (''teh-TAR-tee'') | | ; Wednesday : Τετάρτη (''teh-TAR-tee'') |
| − | ; Thursday : Πέμπτη (''PEMB-tee'') | + | ; Thursday : Πέμπτη (''PEM-tee'') |
| | ; Friday : Παρασκευή (''pah-rah-skeh-VEE'') | | ; Friday : Παρασκευή (''pah-rah-skeh-VEE'') |
| | ; Saturday : Σάββατο (''SAH-vah-toh'') | | ; Saturday : Σάββατο (''SAH-vah-toh'') |
| Line 213: |
Line 219: |
| | ====Months==== | | ====Months==== |
| | | | |
| − | ; January : Ιανουάριος (''Ya-NWAH-ryos) | + | ; January : Ιανουάριος (''Eea-NOOAH-reeos) |
| − | ; February : Φεβρουάριος (''fe-VRWAH-ryos'') | + | ; February : Φεβρουάριος (''fe-VROOAH-reeos'') |
| − | ; March : Μάρτιος (''MAHR-tyos'') | + | ; March : Μάρτιος (''MAHR-teeos'') |
| − | ; April : Απρίλιος (''ah-PREE-lyos'') | + | ; April : Απρίλιος (''ah-PREE-leeos'') |
| | ; May : Μάϊος (''MAH-yos) | | ; May : Μάϊος (''MAH-yos) |
| − | ; June : Ιούνιος (''yOOH-nyos) | + | ; June : Ιούνιος (''ee-OOH-neeos) |
| − | ; July : Ιούλιος (''yOOH-lyos) | + | ; July : Ιούλιος (''ee-OOH-leeos) |
| | ; August : Αύγουστος (''AHV-ghoo-stos'') | | ; August : Αύγουστος (''AHV-ghoo-stos'') |
| − | ; September : Σεπτέμβριος (''sep-TEHM-vryos'') | + | ; September : Σεπτέμβριος (''sep-TEHM-vreeos'') |
| − | ; October : Οκτώβριος (''ok-TAU-vryos) | + | ; October : Οκτώβριος (''ok-TOH-vreeos) |
| − | ; November : Νοέμβριος (''naw-EM-vryos) | + | ; November : Νοέμβριος (''noh-EM-vreeos) |
| − | ; December : Δεκέμβριος (''the-KHEM-vryos'') | + | ; December : Δεκέμβριος (''the-KHEM-vreeos'') |
| | | | |
| | ====Writing Time and Date==== | | ====Writing Time and Date==== |
| − | Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.
| + | ;'''Date''' |
| | + | The date in greek is written in the form of DD/MM/YY. For example Christmas Day of 2009 is written 25.12.09 or 25-12-09 or 25/12/09. Having said that, 9/11 in greek means the 9th day of November. |
| | + | ;'''Time''' |
| | + | Time is written and said either in twelve hour clock form in everyday speech or in twenty-four hour clock especially in timetables. AM is πμ (π(ρο) μ(μεσημβρίας)) and PM is μμ (μ(ετά) μ(εσημβρίας)) |
| | | | |
| | ===Measurement=== | | ===Measurement=== |
| Line 240: |
Line 249: |
| | | | |
| | ===Colors=== | | ===Colors=== |
| − | ; black : μάυρος/η/ο or μέλαν/μέλασα/μέλαν [archaic] (''MAHV-ros/ri/roh or MEH-lan'') | + | ; black : μαύρος/η/ο or μέλαν/μέλασα/μέλαν [archaic] (''MAHV-ros/ri/roh or MEH-lan'') |
| | ; white : άσπρος or λευκός (''AHS-prohs or leh-FKOS'') | | ; white : άσπρος or λευκός (''AHS-prohs or leh-FKOS'') |
| | ; gray : γκρι or φαιός [archaic] (''gree or feh-OHS'') | | ; gray : γκρι or φαιός [archaic] (''gree or feh-OHS'') |
| − | ; red : κόκκινο ("KOH-kih-noh") | + | ; red : κόκκινος/η/ο (''KOH-kih-noh'') |
| − | ; red (blood) : ερυθρός [archaic] (''eh-ree-thrOHs'') | + | ; red (blood) : ερυθρός/ά/ό [archaic] (''eh-ree-thrOHs'') |
| | ; red (fire) : πυρρός (not used as an expression) (''peer-ROHS'') | | ; red (fire) : πυρρός (not used as an expression) (''peer-ROHS'') |
| − | ; blue : μπλε or κυανός [archaic] (''bleh or kyah-NOHS'') | + | ; blue : μπλε or κυανός/ή/ούν [archaic] (''bleh or kyah-NOHS'') |
| − | ; yellow : κίτρινο (''KIT-ree-noh'') | + | ; yellow : κίτρινος/η/ο (''KIT-ree-noh'') |
| | ; green : πράσινο (''PRAH-si-no'') | | ; green : πράσινο (''PRAH-si-no'') |
| − | ; orange : πορτοκαλί(''por-toh-kah-LEE'') | + | ; orange : πορτοκαλής/ή/ί(''por-toh-kah-LEE'') |
| − | ; purple : μωβ or ιώδες [archaic] (''mov or yOH-thes'') | + | ; purple : μωβ or ιώδης/ης/ες/ [archaic] (''mov or yOH-thes'') |
| | ; brown : καφέ (''kah-FEH'') | | ; brown : καφέ (''kah-FEH'') |
| | | | |
| Line 280: |
Line 289: |
| | ; Can you show me on the map? : Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε στον χάρτη; (''...'') | | ; Can you show me on the map? : Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε στον χάρτη; (''...'') |
| | ; street : οδό (''...'') | | ; street : οδό (''...'') |
| − | ; Turn left. : Στρεψατε αριστερα. (''STREP-sah-teh steen ah-riss-teh-RAH'') | + | ; Turn left. : Στρίψτε αριστερά. (''STREEP-steh ah-riss-teh-RAH'') |
| − | ; Turn right. : Στρεψατε δεξια. (''STREP-sah-teh stee dheh-xee-AH'') | + | ; Turn right. : Στρίψτε δεξιά. (''STREEP-steh dheh-xee-AH'') |
| − | ; left : αριστερα (''ah-riss-teh-RAH'') | + | ; left : αριστερά (''ah-riss-teh-RAH'') |
| − | ; right : δεξια (''dheh-xee-AH'') | + | ; right : δεξιά (''dheh-xee-AH'') |
| − | ; straight ahead : ευθεία (''...'') | + | ; straight ahead : ευθεία (''eh-fthee-ah'') |
| | ; towards the _____ : προς το/τον/την _____ (''...'') | | ; towards the _____ : προς το/τον/την _____ (''...'') |
| | ; past the _____ : μετά από _____ (''...'') | | ; past the _____ : μετά από _____ (''...'') |
| Line 326: |
Line 335: |
| | ; Please clean my room. : Παρακαλώ καθαρίστε το δωμάτιό μου. (''...'') | | ; Please clean my room. : Παρακαλώ καθαρίστε το δωμάτιό μου. (''...'') |
| | ; Can you wake me at _____? | Μπορείτε να με ξυπνήσετε στις _____; (''...'') | | ; Can you wake me at _____? | Μπορείτε να με ξυπνήσετε στις _____; (''...'') |
| − | ; I want to check out. : Την κάνω από εδώ. (''...'') | + | ; I want to check out. : Θέλω να φύγω. (''...'') |
| | | | |
| | ===Money=== | | ===Money=== |
| Line 362: |
Line 371: |
| | ; ham : ζαμπόν (''...'') | | ; ham : ζαμπόν (''...'') |
| | ; sausage : λουκάνικο (''...'') | | ; sausage : λουκάνικο (''...'') |
| − | ; cheese : τυρι (''TEE-ree'') | + | ; cheese : τυρι (''tee-REE'') |
| | ; eggs : αυγά (''ahv-GHAH'') | | ; eggs : αυγά (''ahv-GHAH'') |
| − | ; salad : σαλατα (''SAH-lah-tah'') | + | ; salad : σαλατα (''sah-LAH-tah'') |
| − | ; (fresh) vegetables : (fresh) vegetables (''...'') | + | ; (fresh) vegetables : (φρέσκα) λαχανικά (''FREH-ska'') lah-ha-ni-KA |
| | ; (fresh) fruit : (fresh) fruit (''...'') | | ; (fresh) fruit : (fresh) fruit (''...'') |
| | ; bread : αρτος (''AHR-toss''), ψωμι (''psoh-MEE'') | | ; bread : αρτος (''AHR-toss''), ψωμι (''psoh-MEE'') |
| Line 386: |
Line 395: |
| | ; black pepper : μαύρο πιπέρι (''...'') | | ; black pepper : μαύρο πιπέρι (''...'') |
| | ; butter : βουτυρο (''VOO-tee-roh'') | | ; butter : βουτυρο (''VOO-tee-roh'') |
| − | ; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server'') : Συγγώμη, σερβιτόρε; (''...'') | + | ; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server'') : Συγνώμη, σερβιτόρε; (''...'') |
| | ; I'm finished. : Τελείωσα. (''...'') | | ; I'm finished. : Τελείωσα. (''...'') |
| | ; It was delicious. : Ήταν εξαιρετικό. (''...'') | | ; It was delicious. : Ήταν εξαιρετικό. (''...'') |
| Line 401: |
Line 410: |
| | ; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ and _____, please. (''...'') | | ; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ and _____, please. (''...'') |
| | ; whiskey : ουίσκι (''...'') | | ; whiskey : ουίσκι (''...'') |
| − | ; vodka : βότκα (''...'') | + | ; vodka : βότκα (''v-O-tka'') |
| − | ; rum : ρούμι (''...'') | + | ; rum : ρούμι (''ro-E-mi'') |
| − | ; water : νερό (''...'') | + | ; water : νερό (''neh-rO'') |
| − | ; club soda : σόδα (''...'') | + | ; club soda : σόδα (''sO-da'') |
| | ; tonic water : tonic water (''...'') | | ; tonic water : tonic water (''...'') |
| | ; orange juice : χυμός πορτοκάλι (''...'') | | ; orange juice : χυμός πορτοκάλι (''...'') |
| − | ; Coke (''soda'') : Κόκα Κόλα (''...'') | + | ; Coke (''soda'') : Κόκα Κόλα (''kOka kOla'') |
| | ; Do you have any bar snacks? : Έχετε bar snacks; (''...'') | | ; Do you have any bar snacks? : Έχετε bar snacks; (''...'') |
| − | ; One more, please. : Ένα ακόμα, παρακαλώ. (''...'') | + | ; One more, please. : Ένα ακόμα, παρακαλώ. (''e-na akOma, para-ka-lO'') |
| | ; Another round, please. : Μια από τα ίδια, παρακαλώ. (''...'') | | ; Another round, please. : Μια από τα ίδια, παρακαλώ. (''...'') |
| − | ; When is closing time? : Πότε κλείνετε; (''...'') | + | ; When is closing time? : Πότε κλείνετε; (''pO-te ...'') |
| | | | |
| | ===Shopping=== | | ===Shopping=== |
| Line 454: |
Line 463: |
| | ; stop (''on a street sign'') : stop (''...'') | | ; stop (''on a street sign'') : stop (''...'') |
| | ; one way : μονόδρομος (''...'') | | ; one way : μονόδρομος (''...'') |
| − | ; yield : παραχώρηση προτερεότητος (''...'') | + | ; yield : παραχώρηση προτεραιότητος (''...'') |
| | ; no parking : Απαγορεύεται η στάθμευση (''...'') | | ; no parking : Απαγορεύεται η στάθμευση (''...'') |
| | ; speed limit : όριο ταχύτητας (''...'') | | ; speed limit : όριο ταχύτητας (''...'') |
| Line 477: |
Line 486: |
| | [[ja:ギリシア語会話集]] | | [[ja:ギリシア語会話集]] |
| | [[ru:Греческий разговорник]] | | [[ru:Греческий разговорник]] |
| | + | |
| | + | {{usablephrasebook}} |
| | + | {{phrasebookguide}} |
Many Greek words have been borrowed into other languages, so you will find a lot of these words familiar, such as τραυμα (trauma, "injury") and σοφία (sofia "wisdom, knowledge"). Originally they were borrowed into Latin, which became the Romance languages. The changes Greek words underwent in Latin are different from those they underwent in Greek. For instance, in a rare case of someone actually returning a word he borrowed, κινημα (kinema, motion) was borrowed into Latin as cinema, which in French acquired the meaning "movie", and was returned to Greek as σινεμα (sinema).
Greek has changed less in the last two thousand years than English has in the last five hundred. It still has three genders, five cases, and movable ν. Although the dative dropped out of use in Greek before the dative merged with the accusative in English, one can still form the dative of μπαγλαμας (a stringed instrument smaller than the μπουζουκι), even though it belongs to a new declension. So if you know some Attic or Koine Greek and pronounce it as Modern Greek, though you will sound archaic, you will probably be understood.
Following are the uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter, followed by its name in English (Latin) and Greek. (You can also see how the transliteration works)
The accent (similar in usage as in Spanish), if written, is placed on the vowel of the tonic syllable, or onto the second vowel if there's a diphthong. If there's an accent at the first vowel of a diphthong, or a diaeresis on the second, then it isn't an actual diphthong and the two vowels are pronunced separately. The former occasion is the most common, but since words written in capital letters never get accents, the diaeresis is the only way to note the broken diphthong at all-caps phrases - English such example: naïve. (diairesis = two dots on top of iota or upsilon, Ϊ/ϊ - Ϋ/ϋ)
All vowels have the same short length. So yes, there are 2 ways to write 'e', 6 to write 'i' and 2 letters to write 'o'!
Diphthongs 'γγ' and 'γχ' are never found at the start of a word. Vowel diphthong 'υι' is very rare, virtually only in a couple words.
Greek language lacks a 'sh' sound. Consequently there are only simple unaspirated s, z, ts, j, x 's (no shame, pleasure, luxurious, chin etc.). Also, "ς" is the form of Sigma used only when it is the last letter of a word. Graphically it looks like English s.
The capital letters are more or less the same with the ones of the English alphabet. Although the small letters seem entirely different (and some of them are indeed) at people's handwriting they can be extremely close to English.
Note also that Greek punctuation differs a little: The Greek question mark (ερωτηματικό) is just like the Latin semi-colon ; . While the Greek semi-colon (άνω τελεία) is like the full stop "flying" just above the line •.
Greek people know they have a difficult language (for foreigners) and don't expect any tourist to know more than a couple words. And even while they think it's easy phonetically, they understand the problems foreigners have pronouncing it. You can say gamma as a hard 'g', chi as 'h', and rho as an unrolled English 'r', you can also say "au" or "eu" instead of "av" and "ev" and you'll be totally understood. People in no way expect you to be proficient in any aspect of Greek, so by studying a bit before visiting you can really impress people and win their hearts! Of course, it will require serious effort and dedication to learn to speak Greek fluently, as Greek grammar is admittedly more complex than it is in most other languages (much more demanding than German, for example, which is a language with relatively complex grammar). But still, you can master relatively easily the fundaments of communication and get your meaning across. And even if you don't, don't despair: almost all Greeks (but the oldest) can understand and speak English.
The different forms of 1-4, 13, 14, 21, 23, 1000, are used with nouns of different genders.
The date in greek is written in the form of DD/MM/YY. For example Christmas Day of 2009 is written 25.12.09 or 25-12-09 or 25/12/09. Having said that, 9/11 in greek means the 9th day of November.
Time is written and said either in twelve hour clock form in everyday speech or in twenty-four hour clock especially in timetables. AM is πμ (π(ρο) μ(μεσημβρίας)) and PM is μμ (μ(ετά) μ(εσημβρίας))
Greeks prefer all-Greek words to mixed Greek-and-Latin words. "Meter", "liter", and "gram" being Greek, they don't use Latin prefixes like "milli" with them. Instead they use the following:
The word λεπτο means both a euro cent and a minute of time. A second is δευτερολεπτο, δευτερο meaning second (the ordinal).