If you grew up Greek, you definitely have heard of these lines:

Proper English… Greeklish and real Greek

• Don’t worry about it… doworry… kanena provlima
• Hello… allaou… yia
• I don’t know… eyerono… Pou thes na xero?
• That’s all right… tsorait… kala
• Yes… mmm… ame
• No… mm mm … tsou/oxi re pousti
• Excuse me… eyyyyyyy… re malaka
• What’s the time please… otsi taim… mazi to exoume to roloi
• Could I have a glass or water please… wun wota plis…ena nero grigora
• Could you tell me when the next bus is due?… when caming next bus… miazo yia odigo?
• Oh shit!… fukyen shit… gamimenoooo
• Oh well… awell… den gamiete
• You’re very beautiful… you very sexy… ise mounara
• Would you like to come in for coffee?… you fukoffi… ela, pame gia tsimboukia
• You awful woman… fukyen bits… kariola
• You’re late… cuman, otsi taim… pou ise re pousti
• Thank you… thengiou… (No translation found)
• I’m sorry… sku me… stravomara
• You idiot… sonababitch… kimismeno
• I love beautiful woman… be youri ful ngel… m’aresi na gamao
• You are a disgrace… I kill you… gamiese apo ton golo
• Happy Thanksgiving . . . thanks giveme . . . gia fere to pastitsyo

 

words of advice when going out :

• Ta matia sou dekatessera! Your eyes. Fourteen!!!
• Prosexe min kanis tipota ke yinoume rezili! Watch you dont do anything to bring shame on us!
• Prosehe to potiri sou, mi sou rixei kaneis kamia stahti! Watch your glass in case anyone drops ash in it.
• Ma pos tha sou mini kana frango, afou then mazevese katholou sto spiti? How will be left with a penny, you dont stay home!
• Then varethikes to ‘exo’? Aren’t you sick of “out”?
• Eseis an then ta yirisete ola … tha skasete! If you don’t go to everything … you will just explode!!
• Olo to ‘bye’ ke to ‘goodbye’. Then akoume ke tipot’ allo apo sena! Bye and Goodbye is all we ever hear from you!

Reactions to getting home late:

• Irthes, eh? Oh you’re home are you?
• Mori?ti ora ine afti? What time do you call this!?
• Vre pou yirizeis toses ores? Where have you been roaming for so many hours?
  Vre kalos ‘tin!! Pos egine ke mas thimithikes? Welcome, welcome!! what was it that reminded you of us?
• Pou girizete koritsia monaha sas tetia ora? Where are you girls roaming alone at this hour?
• Kala, then borouses na erthis ligo pio arga? My, wasnt it possible for you to come home a little later?? (thick sarcasm)
• Spiti then ehis? Dont you have a home?
• Xenothoheio to theoris edo mesa? Have you mistaken this place for a hotel?

 

Food:

• Fai pethi mou, fai! Eat my child, eat!

Behaviour :

• Then tha valis mialo pote? Will you never get some brains?
• Then drepese ligaki? Arent you just a little ashamed?
• Bravo?etsi milane sto patera / sti mana tous? Well done, that’s how you speak to your mother / father?
• Re? sovarepsou ligaki! Get a little serious!
• Re sklirokefalo plasma! You hardheaded thing
• Re xerokefalo! You dryhead! Re oneiroparmeno!
• To mialo sou ke mia lira! Your brain and a lira?
• Ta miala sou ehoune pari aera! Your brain has flown awayGeneral remarks:
• To kako sou ton kairo!May you have bad times!
• Ti tha lei o kosmos? What will people say?!
• Re, ise sta kala sou? Hey, are you at your best?
• Ahh?ego ta leo, ego t’ akouo! Ahh,.. i say it,.. i hear it.
• Ma esi pia then troyese me tipota! I cant digest you with anything!
• Ego yia kalo sou s’to leo! I say it for your own good!
• Re, ti aharista pou eisaste! My, what thankless people you are!
• Vre as’ ta skata sou! Hey, leave your shit!
• Ahh, tha se fao! (accompanied by the obligatory biting of the forefinger) Ahh,.. im going to eat you!
• . . . na mou tripisis ti miti! . Pierce my nose!
• triches katsares Hairs curly!
• Ta fortosate sto kokora! You have overloaded the rooster!

 

Life:

• I zoi then ine olo pexe-yelase! Life isn’t all play and laugh
• Eseis i neolea ta thelete ola! Alla then einai etsi i zoi! You young people want everything. But life isn’t like that!
• Vre, emeis irthame me mia valitsa athia, hissame ema kai ithrota na mazepsoume We came here with one empty suitcase, we spilt blood and gathered sweat
• kana frango? oute exo vgename, oute ‘holidays’ pigename?tipota! Some money? we didn’t go out, or go on holidays, nothing!
• Emeis then eimaste anthropi? Mono eseis hreiazeste xekourasi. Akous ekei! No, we aren’t people. Only you need rest,.. listen to yourself.