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Lesson 5 · Φαγητό και ποτό — Food and drink
Ordering in a taverna: a salad, a souvlaki, water, and the bill.
Read each line aloud: the sentence, how it sounds, then what it means.
Καλώς ήρθατε! Τι θα πάρετε;
Kalós írthate! Ti tha párete?
Welcome! What will you have?
Θα ήθελα μια χωριάτικη σαλάτα, παρακαλώ.
Tha íthela mia horiátiki saláta, parakaló.
I would like a Greek salad, please.
Αμέσως. Θέλετε και κάτι άλλο;
Amésos. Thélete ke káti álo?
Right away. Would you like anything else?
Ναι, ένα σουβλάκι και ένα νερό.
Ne, éna souvláki ke éna neró.
Yes, a souvlaki and a water.
Κρασί ή μπύρα;
Krasí i bíra?
Wine or beer?
Όχι, ευχαριστώ. Μόνο νερό.
Óhi, efharistó. Móno neró.
No, thank you. Just water.
Ορίστε. Καλή όρεξη!
Oríste. Kalí órexi!
Here you are. Enjoy your meal!
Ευχαριστώ! Είναι πολύ νόστιμο.
Efharistó! Íne polí nóstimo.
Thank you! It is very tasty.
Το λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.
To logariasmó, parakaló.
The bill, please.
Grammar notes
Θα ήθελα… — I would like…
The polite way to order anything: Θα ήθελα έναν καφέ. Shorter and just as common: Έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ.
ένας, μία, ένα — a
Every noun is masculine, feminine or neuter, and a changes with it: ένας καφές, μία μπύρα, ένα νερό.
Καλή όρεξη!
Said before eating — good appetite. If someone says it to you while you eat, reply Ευχαριστώ, επίσης!
παρακαλώ does three jobs
Please when you ask, you are welcome after ευχαριστώ, and can I help you? when a shopkeeper greets you.
Three things about the culture
Nobody orders their own dish
A Greek table is covered in small plates — μεζέδες — that everyone reaches into. Ordering one main course each and guarding it would look strange, and splitting the bill to the last cent stranger still: usually one person insists on paying, and next time it is your turn.
A Greek salad has no lettuce in it
The χωριάτικη — the village salad — is tomato, cucumber, onion, pepper, olives and a slab of feta with oil poured over. The best part comes last: bread dipped in what is left in the bowl, a move with its own name, παπάρα.
The meal ends with something you did not order
Ask for the bill in a taverna and it often arrives with a small dessert or a glass of raki on the house — το κέρασμα, the treat. Coffee, likewise, always comes with a free glass of water, no matter how small the order.
Now lock in the words
This lesson has its own flashcard folder — every new word and grammar point from the conversation.
Study this lesson's cards