στο μπαρ / at the Bar

Getting Attention / Ordering:

  1. Γεια σας! (Yia sas!) – Hello! (Polite, can be used for singular or plural, or if you don’t know the person)
    • If you know the person or they are younger, you might use: Γεια σου! (Yia sou!) – Hello! (Singular informal)
  2. Μπορώ να παραγγείλω; (Boró na parangílo?) – Can I order?
  3. Παρακαλώ! (Parakaló!) – Please! (Can also be used to get attention, like “Excuse me!”)
  4. Τι έχετε από μπίρες; (Ti éhete apó bíres?) – What beers do you have?
  5. Τι κρασί έχετε; (Ti krasí éhete?) – What wine do you have?
    • Λευκό (Lefkó): White
    • Κόκκινο (Kókino): Red
    • Ροζέ (Rozé): Rosé
  6. Θα ήθελα… (Tha íthela…) – I would like…
    • …μια μπίρα, παρακαλώ. (…mía bíra, parakaló.) – …a beer, please.
    • …ένα ποτήρι κρασί λευκό. (…éna potíri krasí lefkó.) – …a glass of white wine.
    • …ένα ουίσκι με πάγο. (…éna oúiski me págho.) – …a whisky with ice.
    • …ένα τζιν τόνικ. (…éna tzin tónik.) – …a gin and tonic.
    • …ένα ούζο. (…éna oúzo.) – …an ouzo.
    • …νερό, παρακαλώ. (…neró, parakaló.) – …water, please.

More Specific Orders / Quantities:

  1. Ένα μικρό / μεγάλο (Éna mikró / megálo) – A small / large (e.g., for a draft beer)
  2. Δύο μπίρες, παρακαλώ. (Dhío bíres, parakaló.) – Two beers, please.
  3. Το ίδιο, παρακαλώ. (To ídhio, parakaló.) – The same again, please. (If reordering)

Questions / Preferences:

  1. Έχετε βαρελίσια μπίρα; (Éhete varelísia bíra?) – Do you have draft beer?
  2. Τι προτείνετε; (Ti protínete?) – What do you recommend?
  3. Με πάγο ή χωρίς; (Me págho í horís?) – With ice or without?
  4. Λίγο πάγο, παρακαλώ. (Lígho págho, parakaló.) – A little ice, please.
  5. Χωρίς ζάχαρη, παρακαλώ. (Horís záhari, parakaló.) – Without sugar, please. (If ordering a coffee or a cocktail where sugar might be added)

During / After Drinking:

  1. Στην υγειά μας! (Stin iyá mas!) – Cheers! (Literally “To our health!”) – Very common!
    • If toasting one person: Στην υγειά σου! (Stin iyá sou!) – To your health!
    • Informal alternative often heard: Γεια μας! (Yia mas!)
  2. Είναι πολύ ωραίο! (Íne polí oréo!) – It’s very nice! (About the drink)
  3. Μια χαρά! (Mia harά!) – Great! / Fine! (Can be a response to “how is it?”)

Paying:

  1. Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Ton logariasmó, parakaló.) – The bill, please.
  2. Μπορώ να πληρώσω; (Boró na pliróso?) – Can I pay?
  3. Πληρώνω με κάρτα. (Pliróno me kárta.) – I’m paying by card.
  4. Πληρώνω με μετρητά. (Pliróno me metritá.) – I’m paying with cash.
  5. Κρατήστε τα ρέστα. (Kratíste ta résta.) – Keep the change. (If giving a tip)

Other Useful Phrases:

  1. Συγγνώμη (Signómi) – Excuse me / Sorry
  2. Ευχαριστώ (Efharistó) – Thank you
  3. Ναι (Ne) – Yes
  4. Όχι (Óhi) – No
  5. Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Pou íne i toualéta?) – Where is the toilet?
  6. Δεν κατάλαβα. (Dhen katálava.) – I didn’t understand.
  7. Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Miláte angliká?) – Do you speak English?

Pronunciation Tips:

  • Γ (g/y sound): Before ‘e’ and ‘i’ sounds (like in γεια, γύρος), it’s like the ‘y’ in “yes.” Before ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘ou’ sounds, it’s a voiced velar fricative (a soft ‘g’ sound, not like the ‘g’ in “go” but more like the ‘g’ in Spanish “agua” or German “sagen”).
  • Δ (dh sound): Like “th” in “this” or “the.”
  • Θ (th sound): Like “th” in “think” or “bath.”
  • Χ (h/ch sound): Before ‘e’ and ‘i’ sounds, it’s like the ‘h’ in “hue” or the German “ich.” Before ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘ou’ sounds, it’s a harder ‘ch’ like in Scottish “loch” or German “Bach.”
  • Ρ (r sound): Try to roll it if you can.
  • Stress: Pay attention to where the accent mark (τόνος ´) is, as that syllable is stressed.

Even trying a few of these phrases will likely be appreciated! Καλή διασκέδαση! (Kalí dhiaskédhasi! – Have fun!)

I need a drink. Χρειάζομαι ένα ποτό. Chreiázomai éna potó.
I need to get drunk.Πρέπει να μεθύσω. Prépei na methýso.
Keep them coming.Συνεχίστε να έρχονται.Synechíste na érchontai.

"How are you gonna keep ‘em down on the farm once they’ve seen Karl Hungus?"