We’ve created this simple table of Greek numbers from 1 to 20 just for students who have just started learning Greek. We’ve also included a video with voice pronunciation. Listen to it a few times, and make sure to practice saying the words out loud too; if you’re a self-guided learner it’s an easy step to ignore, but this will really help you retain the information.

When you’re ready for more, we’ve got lots of resources and community support available to help you learn Greek.  Good luck, and happy language learning!

And here’s the video with spoken numbers:

The Olympic flame (Ολυμπιακή φλόγα) is one of the most famous Olympic symbols (σύμβολο), commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus (Δίας) by Prometheus (Προμηθέας). Its roots lie in Ancient Greece where a flame was kept throughout the Olympic Games.  Heralds (κήρυκες) were sending messengers (αγγελιοφόρους), wearing olive crowns, to announce the games and to declare peace across the nations and all competitors throughout the competition.  The fire was reintroduced at the1928 Olympics.

The idea for the modern torch relay (λαμπαδηδρομία) tradition is not as old as you may think.  It was introduced in 1936 Olympic Games when the flame carried by runners using a torch from Greece to Germany. The lit of the Olympic flame (αφή της ολυμπιακής φλόγας) takes part in the area of the sanctuary of Olympia, on the altars of Zeus and Hera (Ήρα), situated in front of their temples.

The fire is obtained from the sun’s rays with the use of a parabolic mirror during a traditional ceremony where the high priestess (πρωθιέρια) asks from the god of the sun Appollon (Απόλλωνας) to light up the fire. The flame represents piece, friendship and unity.

At the end of the ceremony the flame is passed to first torch speeder, while the first flame is kept in a special place for the next four years until the next Olympic Games. Over the last seventy years thousands of people have had the honor to carry the flame which has been transported in many different ways. It has travelled by car, bicycle, boat, plane, ski, wheel chairs, camels, horses and even underwater.

Finally, the last torch speeder brings the flame to the host city of the Olympic Games at an opening ceremony which marks the official start of the Olympic games.

It is considered a great honor to be the first or the last torch speeder.

ps: Sorry for the video but I couldn’t find a proper one in English

Like in every culture, Greek people have their own superstitions. Though, some of them are very similar and even identical to many cultures. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Sneezing (φτέρνισμα): means that someone is talking or thinking about you. You can ask someone to give you a 3 digit number. Count each digit together and then find the corresponding letter in the alphabet. This letter is supposed to be the initial of the person that is talking about you.

Mirror (καθρέπτης): If you break a mirror, you will have 7 years bad luck. Many also believe that if you look at the mirror after midnight, great evil will find you.

Rabbit foot (λαγοπόδαρο):  Brings good luck in general.

Stars (αστέρια): It’s bad luck to count the stars. But if you see a falling star, make a wish.

Scissors (ψαλίδι): if a pregnant sit on open scissors unintentionally, she will give birth to a boy. If you leave it open you will soon have an argument with somebody.

Salt (αλάτι): Makes unwelcome visitors to leave. All you need is to shoot a little behind theirback.

Garlic (σκόρδο):  A way to ward off the evil eye. You can find it sometimes hanging in a corner of some houses.

Black cat (μαύρη γάτα):  If you see a black cut means that bad luck is waiting for you for the rest of the day.

Ladybug (πασχαλίτσα): It is the opposite of the black cat. It will bring luck if it lands on you.

Ladder (σκάλα):  It will bring bad luck if you pass under it.

Wine (κρασί):  If you are not married and the wine finishes in own glass while serving, then you will have a good marriage.

Bread (ψωμί): You eat the corner of the bread in order to be loved by your wife’s mother.

Food (φαγητό): This is for the children to eat all of their food. If you not finish all your food, you leave some of your muscle power on the plate.

Nails (νύχια): It is bad to cut them at nights or on Friday

Dragees (κουφέτα): If are single person and you put the dragges from a wedding under your pillow before you sleep, you will dream the person that you will get married to.    

Dates (ημερομινίες): Most of you already know the Friday 13th. For us the unlucky days are Tuesday 13th and Friday 14th. In general the number 13 is considered unlucky in any case.