Useful tips
From LBW2007
Contents |
Practical Issues
Currency
The official currency of Greece as of January 2002 is the Euro/ευρώ
Currency converter can be found here!
Banks
Open Monday to Thursday 8:00-14:30 Friday 8:00-14:00. Of course there are enough ATM (Automatic Transfer Machines) available, for transactions around the clock for any major credit or debit card (such as visa, mastercard, maestro, euro, etc).
Can convert foreign currency to €, but usually charge the transaction and each have its own prizes.
There are also many exchange bureaus open all day long.
Safety Issues
- Drinking - Prohibited to minors
- Driving - On the right side of the road
- Heat - up to 32°C (90°F)
Computer stores
Language
Alphabet
Here is the Greek Alphabet. Next to each letter are the corresponding letters of the latin alphabet. If there is no such letter, there is a combination of letters that make the same sound.
Αα - Aa
Ββ - Vv
Γγ - Yy
Δδ - Th (like in "the")
Εε - Ee (like in "letter")
Ζζ - Zz
Ηη - Ii
Θθ - Th (like in "theme")
Ιι - Ii
Κκ - Kk
Λλ - Ll
Μμ - Mm
Νν - Nn
Ξξ - Ks
Οο - Oo
Ππ - Pp
Ρρ - Rr
Σσ - Ss (Heard like "ss")
Ττ - Tt
Υυ - Ii
Φφ - Ff
Χχ - Hh (like in "hiss")
Ψψ - Ps
Ωω - Oo
2-character letters
There are also a few two-character letters
αι = e
αυ = af or av
ει = i
ευ = ef or ev
οι = i
ου = oo
Mind that if the tone is one the first hyphen, then this rule does not apply and characters are pronounced as if they were separate.
γγ & γκ = g
μπ = b
ντ = d
Words
Here are a few words written in Greek (iso-8859-7 or utf8) and how they are pronounced using latin characters To know how to pronounce the word correctly, mind the tone ' on the hyphens of the Greek words. On that hyphen you should raise the tone of your voice ;-)
hello - γειά σου (yia sou)
how are you - τι κάνεις (ti kanis)
yes/no - ναι/όχι (ne/ohi)
today - σήμερα (simera)
tomorrow - αύριο (avrio)
yesterday - χτες (htes)
entrance/exit - είσοδος/έξοδος (isodos/exodos)
arrival/departure - άφιξη/αναχώριση (afiksi/anahorisi)
open/closed - ανοιχτό/κλειστό (anihto/klisto)
wc - τουαλέτα (toualeta)
smoking - κάπνισμα (kapnisma)
where is... - πού είναι... (pou ine...)
when - πότε (pote)
what - τι (ti)
now - τώρα (tora)
cold/hot - κρύο/ζεστό (krio/zesto)
cheap/expensive - φτηνό/ακριβό (ftino/akribo)
left/right - αριστερά/δεξιά (aristera/theksia)
up/down - πάνω/κάτω (pano/kato)
good morning - καλή μέρα (kali mera)
1...9 - ένα,δύο,τρία,τέσσερα,πέντε,έξι,επτά,οκτώ,εννιά (ena,thio,tria,tesera,pente,eksi,epta,okto,enia)
Monday...Sunday - Δευτέρα,Τρίτη,Τετάρτη,Πέμπτη,Παρασκευή,Σάββατο,Κυριακή (Deftera,Triti,Tetarti,Pempti,Paraskevi,Savato,Kiriaki)
good afternoon - καλό απόγευμα (kalo apogevma)
good night - καλή νύχτα (kali nihta)
good evening - καλό βράδυ (kalo vrathi)
please & you're welcome - παρακαλώ (parakalo)
thank you - ευχαριστώ (efharisto)
beer - μπύρα (bira)
water - νερό (nero)
Heraklio - Ηράκλειο (Iraklio)
Hersonissos - Χερσόνησσος (Hersonissos)
Crete - Κρήτη (Kriti)
food - φαγητό (fayito)
bread - ψωμί (psomi)
milk - γάλα (yala)
coffee - καφέ (kafe)
tea - τσάι (tsai)
bus - λεωφορείο (leoforio)
taxi - ταξί (taxi)
car - αυτοκίνητο (aftokinito)
ship - πλοίο (plio)
do you speak English - μιλάτε Αγγλικά (milate Agglika)
bottle - μπουκάλι (boukali)
sun - ήλιος (ilios)
sea - θάλασσα (thalassa)
beach - παραλία (paralia)
telephone - τηλέφωνο (tilefono)
music - μουσική (mousiki)
