This is a Greek listening comprehension exercise for language students on level B1. You will listen to three intermediate-level conversations in modern Greek and then you will be requested to answer a few questions. There will be background noises and, since you are now an intermediate speaker, the last audio will play only once.
This Greek listening comprehension exercise is for beginners. You will listen to three easy-to-follow conversations and monologues in modern Greek and then you will be requested to answer a few questions.
Today’s video is dedicated to Greek grammar. You will learn ten (10) very common Greek verbs in all tenses. You will be provided with the first-person singular for each verb, which you can memorize. You will then be presented with some examples. Take pen and paper and let’s get started!
“Yes” (Ναι) and “No” (Όχι) are standard answers in all languages. But, as you progress in your language journey, it is time to move forward and start using synonyms to express negation and affirmation. Usually, conversations between beginners in Greek are as follows:
-«Πεινάς;» (are you hungry?)
-«Ναι.» (yes.)
-«Κατάλαβες;» (was it clear to you?)
-«Όχι.» (no.)
Here are some words and phrases that will upgrade your Greek vocabulary in minutes. These will help you express affirmation and negation in Greek.
Greek Synonyms of “Yes” and “No” | No More “Ναι”/”Όχι”
Βεβαίως – Sure
Φυσικά – Of course
Αποκλείεται – No way
Αμέ – Yep
Τς/ τσου – (disapproval sound, informal no)
Άπαπα – Oh no/ Νο way
Μάλιστα – Sure/ Indeed
Οκέι (οκ) – Okay (ok)
Σίγουρα – For sure
Σαφώς – Definitely/ Clearly
Προφανώς – Obviously
Εννοείται – Of course/ It goes without saying
Οπωσδήποτε – Definitely
Ούτε καν – No way/ Never/ Not at all
Ούτε να το σκέφτεσαι – Don’t even think about it
Δεν παίζει – No way (slang)
Με την καμία – No way (slang)
Σε καμία περίπτωση – No way
Let’s see some examples:
«Διάβασες;» (Have you studied?)
«Φυσικά και διάβασα.» (Of course I’ve studied)
«Κρασί;» (Wine?)
«Βεβαίως…» (Sure…)
«Πάμε για ποτό;» (Shall we go out for a drink?)
«Αποκλείεται!» (No way!)
«Έχεις αναπτήρα;» (Do you have a lighter?)
«Τς…» (No…)
«Θέλεις γλυκό;» (Would you like some dessert?)
«Άπαπα, έχω σκάσει.» (No way, I’m full.)
«Γνωρίζεστε;» (Do you know each other?)
«Ούτε καν…» (Not at all…)
«Έχεις να μου δανείσεις πέντε ευρώ;» (Can you lend me five euros?)
«Με την καμία.» (No, no way.)
Well, these were some examples of words and phrases that express affirmation or negation in Greek that are not “yes” or “no”. If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to click subscribe; it’s free and you’ll discover many more free videos like this. You can always visit helinika.com and don’t forget to check the description for some helpful links. Till next time!
As you probably already know, the names of countries may be pronounced differently from language to language. In some cases, a country or nation may have multiple different names when translated into different languages. A great example of that is Greece. In Greek, Greece or Hellas is named “Ελλάδα” (η). The name “Greece” actually derives from the Latin “Graeci” – a term the Romans used to describe Greeks. Now, let’s see how the names of some countries sound in Greek.
The Names of 80+ Countries in Greek | Greek Geography Vocabulary
Αίγυπτος – Egypt
Αιθιοπία – Ethiopia
Αλβανία – Albania
Αλγερία – Algeria
Αργεντινή – Argentina
Αρμενία – Armenia
Αυστραλία – Australia
Αυστρία – Austria
Αφγανιστάν – Afghanistan
Βενεζουέλα – Venezuela
Βιετνάμ – Vietnam
Βόρεια Κορέα – North Korea
Βουλγαρία – Bulgaria
Βραζιλία – Brazil
Γαλλία – France
Γερμανία – Germany
Γουατεμάλα – Guatemala
Γροιλανδία – Greenland
Δανία – Denmark
Δομινικανή Δημοκρατία – Dominical Republic
Ελβετία – Switzerland
Εσθονία – Estonia
Ζάμπια – Zambia
Ζιμπάμπουε – Zimbabwe
Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα – United Arab Emirates
Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες (της Αμερικής)/ ΗΠΑ – United States (of America)/ USA
Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο/ Αγγλία – United Kingdom/ England
Ιαπωνία – Japan
Ινδία – India
Ινδονησία – Indonesia
Ιορδανία – Jordan
Ιράκ – Iraq
Ιράν – Iran
Ιρλανδία – Ireland
Ισημερινός – Ecuador
Ισλανδία – Iceland
Ισπανία – Spain
Ισραήλ – Israel
Ιταλία – Italy
Καναδάς – Canada
Κένυα – Kenya
Κίνα – China
Κολομβία – Colombia
Κούβα – Cuba
Κροατία – Croatia
Κύπρος – Cyprus
Λάος – Laos
Λετονία – Latvia
Λευκορωσία – Belarus
Λίβανος – Lebanon
Λιθουανία – Lithuania
Λουξεμβούργο – Luxemburg
Μαδαγασκάρη – Madagascar
Μάλτα – Malta
Μαρόκο – Morocco
Μεξικό – Mexico
Μολδαβία – Moldova
Μονακό – Monaco
Νέα Ζηλανδία – New Zealand
Νιγηρία – Nigeria
Νορβηγία – Norway
Νότια Αφρική – South Africa
Νότια Κορέα – South Korea
Ολλανδία/ Κάτω Χώρες – Holland/ Netherlands
Ουγγαρία – Hungary
Ουκρανία – Ukraine
Ουρουγουάη – Uruguay
Περού – Peru
Πολωνία – Poland
Πορτογαλία – Portugal
Ρουμανία – Romania
Ρωσία – Russia
Σερβία – Serbia
Σκωτία – Scotland
Σλοβακία – Slovakia
Σλοβενία – Slovenia
Σουηδία – Sweden
Συρία – Syria
Τζαμάικα – Jamaica
Τσεχία – Czech Republic
Φινλανδία – Finland
Now, where are you from? You can leave a comment down below. For more free content like this, like and subscribe. Don’t forget to binge-watch all of Helinika’s videos and visit helinika.com for free Greek resources. In the description, you’ll find some helpful links, including your Udemy discount and Helinika’s other social media accounts. Till next time.
Zeus, Aphrodite, Poseidon. The names of the members of the ancient Greek pantheon are known to the English-speaking world. But, it goes without saying, that these names are pronounced differently in (modern) Greek. Here is how Greeks call the Greek gods and goddesses we know from our favorite myths.
You may hear them in Greek movies and tv-series or even on the street. These Greek insults are not meant to be offensive – they are normally used in a playful way, just for laughs.
(ο) μπαγλαμάς – this small Greek musical instrument is often used to describe people that are… unimportant and useless.
(ο) κουραμπιές – this Christmas delicacy has been used as a funny insult. A Greek actress named Dimitra Matsouka once admitted calling a fellow driver she argued with “κουραμπιέ”. The phrase “ναι τον είπα κουραμπιέ” (yes, I called him kourabie) instantly became a meme.
(η) κουφαλίτσα – literally translated as “little tree hollow”, it is used to describe people who are deceptive and sneaky but, at the same time, they are not dangerous or evil. The term was popularized by a Greek tv-series.
(η) τσαπερδόνα – from the Italian “sopra donna”, this Greek word is used to describe women who are overly flirty. It is used in a playful way and it is not considered offensive. You should not mix it up with offensive slurs that refer to women’s sexuality.
(ο) μπουμπούνας – this Greek insult describes someone who is a bit stupid in a funny rather than an offensive way.
(o) γάιδαρος/ (η) γαϊδάρα – donkeys are beloved animals in Greece. However, they are considered stubborn, and they are therefore used to describe people who have this quality. At the same time, a “γάιδαρος” in Greek is also a taker who never gives to others or returns favors.
είναι στον κόσμο του/της – he/she is in his/her own cosmos (world). This phrase is used when someone is absent-minded and/or does not pay attention to non-verbal cues and does not “read” the room.
τρεις λαλούν και δυο χορεύουν – three (people) are singing and two are dancing. This creative insult is used during a conversation when someone says something that is unrelated to the subject or when someone has probably not understood what the other person talked about.
Every language has words and phrases that are either funny or can be used for some smart comebacks. Here is a list of the funniest Greek words you should start using.
Funny Greek Words and Phrases:
Αμπελοφιλοσοφίες (οι): “vine philosophies” a.k.a drunk philosophical conversations or (metaphorically) ideas that sound smart but are actually stupid. Example: «Άσε μας με τις αμπελοφιλοσοφίες σου.» (Stop with your vine philosophies).
Πιασ’ τ’ αβγό και κούρευ’ το (πιάσε το αβγό και κούρεψε το): “take the egg and shave it” a.k.a the situation is difficult to handle or the task is impossible. Example: «Να επισκευάσω την πόρτα; Πιάσ’ τ’ αβγό και κούρευτ’ το!» (Repair the door? Take the egg and shave it).
Ψαροκώσταινα (η): “Fish Kostena” a.k.a a poor and uncultured person or place – named after a 19th century old lady named Kostena from the town of Psara. Example: «Μένουμε στην ψαροκώσταινα της Ευρώπης.» (We reside in Europe’s fish Kostena).
Κάγκουρας (ο): “Kangaroo man” a.k.a a man who wears a funny pack and tunes his vehicles. Example: «Τι φοράς; Σαν κάγκουρας είσαι.» (What are you wearing? You look like a kangaroo man).
Ψωροευρώ (τα): “Poor people’s euros” a.k.a an amount of money that is too less to make you rich. Example: «Δουλεύει όλη μέρα για μερικά ψωροευρώ.» (He/she works all day for some poor people’s money).
Έφαγα πόρτα: “I ate a door” a.k.a someone slammed a door in my face or simply denied me access to a place. «Δεν μπήκα στο κλαμπ. Έφαγα πόρτα.» (I did not enter the club. I ate a door).
Which phrase are you going to use from now on? Leave a comment down below. If you are new to this channel, make sure to subscribe and check the rest of my videos. Till next time!
The Greek language may have loaned many words to English and other languages, especially in science. Words such as “philosophy”, “biology”, “theatre”, “history”, “idea”, “politics”, and “Democracy” are of Greek origin. Here is how a few Greek loanwords sound when pronounced in Greek.
There are many more Greek loanwords that are used daily from English-speakers. If you use these words, you already speak Greek and you don’t know it. In a next video we will see how English and other foreign loanwords are pronounced in Greek. It is recommended to watch Helinika’s video titled “You Pronounce Greek wrong. Here is Why.” and learn how to properly pronounce modern Greek words.
This article/ video will help you improve your Greek language listening skills by addressing the main reasons why intermediate and advanced speakers might find difficulties listening to others and by providing solutions to these problems.
Many people find it difficult to understand others in the foreign language they have started learning. This is expected for beginners. As a Greek language beginner, you don’t have a wide range of vocabulary and it may take a while to get used to the native speaker’s accent. And your listening skills are probably more or less on the same level as your speaking, reading, and writing skills.
But what if you are progressing in your language journey and your listening skills are significantly worse than the rest of your Greek language skills? What if you can easily respond to e-mails and texts and ask for things in Greek but you find it difficult to understand other people’s remarks and questions?
Reasons Why You Don’t Understand Others in Your Target Language
There are many reasons why you may not be able to understand auditory messages in Greek or any other language. If you suspect having problems with your hearing, please contact a physician. If this is not the case, here are a few reasons why this may be happening.
You are not an Auditory Learner. Visual, verbal, and kinesthetic learners might find listening exercises difficult.
You don’t exercise your listening skills enough. Maybe you skip the listening tasks in your coursebooks. Or perhaps you focus on reading Greeks-speaking books and magazines but avoid watching shows or listening to the Greek radio.
You have a shy and/or anxious personality. Overthinking your next response takes the focus away from the person you’re talking with. As a result, you might often miss what they are saying to you.
You’re talking to someone who uses a Greek dialect. It is impossible to know all the dialects of your target language. If you are visiting a town or village away from the capital and “it’s all Greek to you”, you may be listening to a dialect you don’t know.
How to Improve Your Greek Language Skills
Take advantage of the listening exercises you are provided with. For example, you can use Helinika’s 100% free listening exercises.
Start watching and listening to Greek-speaking media. The more you listen to native and proficient speakers, the easier it will get.
Don’t be afraid to ask people to repeat what they said. It’s better than letting speak for minutes without understanding a word.
Stay focused. If you notice yourself getting lost in your own thoughts, pinch your hand and focus on what you are being told. Missing a couple of sentences in a foreign language will result in a catastrophe.
Pay attention to the non–verbal cues. When in doubt, pay attention to the person’s body language. Fortunately, Greeks tend to speak with their hands (and their whole bodies).
If you are a visual learner, visualize what you hear. It will help you stay focused and comprehend what they are telling you.
Be present. If you are in Greece and you hear people speak Greek to each other, it may be too tiring to stay alert and listen to what everyone says. But if someone addresses you, you will probably not realize what they said.
Correct your pronunciation. When discovering a new Greek word in a book, try listening to its pronunciation on Google translate or on another similar application. It will be easier recognizing this word in a conversation.
Was this helpful? You can find plenty of Greek-language resources at helinika.com and all of its social media platforms.