Speaking Greek in Athens
English is widely spoken in Athens tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. However, smaller shops, local tavernas, pharmacies, and medical settings may have limited English. Knowing a few key Greek phrases will help you get the assistance you need, especially when asking about accessibility.
Greek uses its own alphabet, so the phrases below include the Greek script, a simplified transliteration, and a pronunciation guide for English speakers.
Essential Accessibility Words
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelchair | Anapirikó karotsáki (Αναπηρικό καροτσάκι) | ah-nah-pee-ree-KOH kah-ro-TSAH-kee |
| Elevator / Lift | Asansér (Ασανσέρ) | ah-sahn-SEHR |
| Ramp | Rámpa (Ράμπα) | RAHM-pah |
| Accessible | Prosvásimo (Προσβάσιμο) | pros-VAH-see-moh |
| Accessible toilet | Prosvásimi toualéta (Προσβάσιμη τουαλέτα) | pros-VAH-see-mee too-ah-LEH-tah |
| Help | Voítheia (Βοήθεια) | voh-EE-thee-ah |
| Disability | Anapiría (Αναπηρία) | ah-nah-pee-REE-ah |
| Person with disability | Átomo me anapiría / AmeA (ΑμεΑ) | AH-toh-moh meh ah-nah-pee-REE-ah |
| Step-free | Chorís skaliá (Χωρίς σκαλιά) | hoh-REES skah-lee-AH |
| Ground floor | Isógeio (Ισόγειο) | ee-SOH-yee-oh |
| Stairs | Skáles (Σκάλες) | SKAH-les |
| Entrance | Eísodos (Είσοδος) | EE-soh-thos |
| Exit | Éxodos (Έξοδος) | EH-xoh-thos |
| Door | Pórta (Πόρτα) | POHR-tah |
| Barrier-free | Chorís empódia (Χωρίς εμπόδια) | hoh-REES em-POH-thee-ah |
Asking for Help
These phrases will help you ask for accessibility-related assistance:
- Boreíte na me voithísete? (Μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε;) - Can you help me?
- Ypárchei asansér? (Υπάρχει ασανσέρ;) - Is there an elevator?
- Ypárchei rámpa? (Υπάρχει ράμπα;) - Is there a ramp?
- Chreiázomai voítheia. (Χρειάζομαι βοήθεια.) - I need help.
- Chrisimopoió anapirikó karotsáki. (Χρησιμοποιώ αναπηρικό καροτσάκι.) - I use a wheelchair.
- Pou eínai i prosvásimi toualéta? (Πού είναι η προσβάσιμη τουαλέτα;) - Where is the accessible toilet?
- Eínai prosvásimo aftó to méros? (Είναι προσβάσιμο αυτό το μέρος;) - Is this place accessible?
- Ypárchei eísodos chorís skaliá? (Υπάρχει είσοδος χωρίς σκαλιά;) - Is there a step-free entrance?
Transport Phrases
Useful words and phrases for getting around Athens:
- Stási (Στάση) - Stop (bus/tram)
- Stathmós (Σταθμός) - Station
- Apováthra (Αποβάθρα) - Platform
- Chreiázomai voítheia gia na anévo. (Χρειάζομαι βοήθεια για να ανέβω.) - I need boarding assistance.
- Epómeni stási (Επόμενη στάση) - Next stop
- Eínai prosvásimo aftó to leoforeío? (Είναι προσβάσιμο αυτό το λεωφορείο;) - Is this bus accessible?
- Pou eínai i stási tou leoforeíou? (Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου;) - Where is the bus stop?
At Restaurants and Shops
- Échete trapézi sto isógeio? (Έχετε τραπέζι στο ισόγειο;) - Do you have a table on the ground floor?
- Échete exoterikó chóro? (Έχετε εξωτερικό χώρο;) - Do you have outdoor seating?
- Eínai prosvásimi i toualéta? (Είναι προσβάσιμη η τουαλέτα;) - Is the toilet accessible?
- Ton logariasmó, parakaló. (Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.) - The bill, please.
- Échete menoú sta angliká? (Έχετε μενού στα αγγλικά;) - Do you have a menu in English?
Medical and Emergency Phrases
- Epígeion (Επείγον) - Emergency/Urgent
- Nosokomío (Νοσοκομείο) - Hospital
- Farmakeío (Φαρμακείο) - Pharmacy
- Yatrós (Γιατρός) - Doctor
- Chreiázomai yatrós. (Χρειάζομαι γιατρό.) - I need a doctor.
- Paírno fármaka. (Παίρνω φάρμακα.) - I take medication.
- Eímai allergikós/allergikí se... (Είμαι αλλεργικός/αλλεργική σε...) - I am allergic to...
- Kaleste asthenosfóro. (Καλέστε ασθενοφόρο.) - Call an ambulance.
Numbers and Basics
| English | Greek | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Nai (Ναι) | Neh |
| No | Óchi (Όχι) | OH-hee |
| Please | Parakaló (Παρακαλώ) | pah-rah-kah-LOH |
| Thank you | Efcharistó (Ευχαριστώ) | ef-hah-ree-STOH |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Siggnómi (Συγγνώμη) | see-GNOH-mee |
| Do you speak English? | Miláte angliká? (Μιλάτε αγγλικά;) | mee-LAH-teh ang-lee-KAH? |
| I don't understand | Den katalavaíno (Δεν καταλαβαίνω) | then kah-tah-lah-VEH-noh |
| Good morning | Kaliméra (Καλημέρα) | kah-lee-MEH-rah |
| Good evening | Kalispéra (Καλησπέρα) | kah-lee-SPEH-rah |
Translation Apps
Download Google Translate or DeepL with the Greek language pack before your trip. Both work offline and can translate text from photos, which is useful for reading signs, menus, and pharmacy labels. Google Translate also supports Greek script input via the camera function.
Pronunciation Tips
A few key rules for Greek pronunciation:
- Greek has a phonetic alphabet: each letter is generally pronounced the same way
- "th" as in "thin" (not as in "the") for the letter theta (θ)
- "ch" as a soft guttural sound, like the "ch" in Scottish "loch" for chi (χ)
- Stress is marked with an accent and is important: "NE" (yes) vs "ne" changes meaning
- "ou" sounds like "oo" in "food"
- "ei" and "i" both sound like "ee" in "see"
- Most Greeks will appreciate any attempt at Greek, even if imperfect
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