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Greek idiomatic expressions describing feelings and mood Posted by Ourania on Sep 18, 2013
When someone asks «τι κάνεις» (ti kaneis, how are you) the answer they get is «καλά» (kala, well). This is one of the first words that people learn in Greek. The Greek language is very rich in idiomatic and slang expressions used when we talk about our mood. Below, there’s a list of some…
Texting and Tweeting in Greek Posted by Ourania on Sep 11, 2013
What does TLM mean? Does S AGP has anything to do with graphics? What if someone sends you FLK? The first mobile phones appeared in Greece in the mid 90’s and a few years later they were accessible to anyone. Texting was very popular among younger users , who were using prepaid SIM cards, but…
Reading Suggestions for Greek Learners Posted by Ourania on Sep 4, 2013
Καλό φθινόπωρο! (Kalo fthinoporo= enjoy autumn in free translation) Autumn is the season of apple picking, watching season premieres and reading. This post is about material related to reading. My list is rather limited, I’m afraid, as material for A1 students is almost inexistent. For C2 level students, on the contrary, the list never ends…
Stop texting, start whistling: A whistling language in Greece Posted by Ourania on Aug 26, 2013
Texting is one of the most popular ways of communicating: we schedule a meet up, check in, share good news and bad news, even start an affair, by means of a mobile phone. Some populations, all around the world, communicate with a more “organic” way: whistling. The inhabitants of some villages in South Evia (Νότια…
Do you have crabs in your pockets? (Fish and Seafood Idioms) Posted by Ourania on Aug 12, 2013
The Mediterranean diet is rich in fish and seafood. In Greece, not only do we eat seafood, but we use it in many idioms and expressions, too. In this article there’s a list of some popular fishy phrases. The English translation is not always accurate because it’s not possible to translate these expressions literally…
Survival phrases in Greek Posted by Ourania on Aug 6, 2013
In Greece most people speak English, so language is not really a barrier. If you’d like to use simple Greek words though, now and then, feel free to do so. We really appreciate it when a foreigner is trying to talk to us to our language, and if we laugh, it’s not because you’re funny…
Coffee, coffee, coffee: how to make a Greek frappe Posted by Ourania on Jul 30, 2013
Coffee is a very popular beverage in Greece. The most famous coffee is a type of cold coffee called φραπές (frappe). Some people love it, some others hate it and for some of us it’s a comfort drink, related to the summer. If you have been to Greece, you have definitely tasted it…