α A
αεριούχο aereeookho fizzy, sparkling
αθερίνα athereena whitebait, usually fried
αρνί γιουβέτσι arnee yoovetsee roast lamb with small pasta
αρνί λεμονάτο arnee lemonato lamb braised in sauce with herbs and lemon juice
αρνί ψητό arnee pseeto roast lamb
αστακός astakos lobster (often served with lemon juice and olive oil)
άσπρο κρασί aspro krasee white wine
αυγολέμονο avgholemono egg and lemon soup
αφέλια afeleea pork in red wine with seasonings
β B
βλήτα vleeta wild greens (like spinach, eaten with olive oil and lemon)
βουτήματα vooteemata biscuits to dip in coffee
βραδινό vradeeno evening meal
βραστό vrasto boiled
γαλακτομπούρεκο ghalaktobooreko custard tart
γαρίδες ghareedhes shrimps; prawns
γαύρος gavros sardine-type fish (if salted: anchovy)
γίδα βραστή yeeda vrastee goat soup
γεμιστά yemeesta stuffed vegetables
γιαούρτι yaoortee yoghurt
γιαούρτι με μέλι yaoortee me melee yoghurt with honey
γιαχνί yakhnee cooked in tomato sauce and olive oil
γίγαντες yeeghantes large broad beans baked in tomato sauce with herbs
γιουβαρλάκια yoovarlakya meatballs in lemon sauce
γλυκά κουταλιού ghleeka kootalyoo crystallized fruits in syrup
γλώσσα ghlosa sole
γόπες ghopes bogue, a type of fish
γραβιέρα ghravyera cheese resembling gruyère
γύρος yeeros doner kebab
δ ∆
δείπνο dheepno dinner
δίπλες dheeples pastry with honey and walnuts
ελάχιστα ψημένο elakheesta pseemeno rare (meat)
ελαιόλαδο eleoladho olive oil
ελιές τσακιστές elyes tsakeestes cracked green olives with coriander seeds and garlic (Cyprus)
εξοχικό eksokheeko stuffed pork or beef with vegetables and cheese
ζ Z
ζεστή σοκολάτα zestee sokolata hot chocolate
ζεστό zesto hot, warm
θ Θ
Θαλασσινά thalaseena seafood
ι I
ιμάμ μπαϊλντί eemam baeeldee stuffed aubergines
κ K
κάβα kava wine shop
καγιανάς με παστό κρέας kayanas me pasto kreas salted pork with cheese, tomatoes and eggs
κακαβιά kakavya fish soup
κακάο kakow hot chocolate
καλαμάκι kalamakee straw (for drinking); small skewer
καλαμάρια kalamarya squid
καλοψημένο kalopseemeno well done (meat)
κάπαρι kaparee pickled capers
καπνιστό kapneesto smoked
καπουτσίνο kapootseeno cappucino
καράφα karafa carafe
καρυδόπιτα kareedhopeeta walnut cake
κασέρι kaseree type of cheese
καταϊφι kataeefee small shredded pastry drenched in syrup
κατάλογος kataloghos menu
κατάλογος κρασιών kataloghos krasyon wine list
καταψυγμένο katapseeghmeno frozen
κατσίκι katseekee roast kid
καφενείο kafeneeo café
καφές kafes coffee (Greek-style)
καφέδες kafedhes coffees (plural)
καφές γλυκός kafes ghleekos very sweet coffee
καφές μέτριος kafes metreeos medium-sweet coffee
καφές σκέτος kafes sketos coffee without sugar
κεράσια kerasya cherries
κεφαλοτύρι kefaloteeree type of cheese, often served fried in olive oil
κιμάς keemas mince
κλέφτικο klefteeko casserole with lamb, potatoes and vegetables
κοκορέτσι kokoretsee traditional spit-roasted dish of spiced liver and other offal
κολοκυθάκια kolokeethakya courgettes
κολοκυθόπιτα kolokeethopeeta courgette pie
κονιάκ konyak brandy, cognac
κοντοσούβλι kontosoovlee spicy pieces of lamb, pork or beef, spit-roasted
κουλούρια kooloorya bread rings
κουπέπια koopepya stuffed vine leaves (Cyprus)
κούπες koopes meat pasties
κουραμπιέδες koorambyedhes small almond cakes eaten at Christmas
κρητική σαλάτα kreeteekee salata watercress salad
κρύο kreeo cold
κυνήγι keeneeghee game
κύριο πιάτο keereeo pyato main course
λ Λ
λαδότυρο ladhoteero soft cheese with olive oil
λάχανα lakhana green vegetables
λάχανο lakhano cabbage, greens
λεμονάδα lemonadha lemon drink
λευκό lefko white (used for wine as well as άσπρο)
λίγο leegho a little, a bit
λουκάνικα lookaneeka type of highly seasoned sausage
λουκουμάδες lookoomadhes small fried dough balls in syrup
λουκούμι lookoomee Turkish delight
λούντζα loondza loin of pork, marinated and smoked
μ M
μαγειρίτσα mayeereetsa soup made of lamb offal, special Easter dish
μακαρόνια με κιμά makaronya me keema spaghetti bolognese
μαρίδες mareedhes small fish like sprats, served fried
μαύρο κρασί mavro krasee red wine (although you’ll hear kokeeno krasee more often)
μανιτάρια maneetarya mushrooms
μαυρομάτικα mavromateeka black-eyed beans
μεγάλο meghalo large, big
μεζές mezes (plural μεζέδες mezedhes) small snacks served free of charge with ouzo or retsina; assortment of mini-portions of various dishes, available on the menu (or on request) at some restaurants
μεζεδοπωλείο mezedhopoleeo taverna/shop selling μεζέδες (mezedhes)
μελιτζάνα meleetzana aubergine
μελιτζάνες ιμάμ meleetzanes eemam aubergines stuffed with tomato and onion
μελιτζανοσαλάτα meleetzanosalata aubergine mousse (dip)
μεσημεριανό meseemeryano lunch
μεταλλικό νερό metaleeko nero mineral water
Mεταξά metaksa Metaxa (Greek brandy-type spirit)
μέτρια ψημένο metreea pseemeno medium-grilled (meat)
μη αεριούχο mee aereeookho still, not fizzy
μηλόπιτα meelopeeta apple pie
μοσχάρι moskharee beef
μοσχάρι κοκκινιστό moskharee kokeeneesto beef in wine sauce with tomatoes and onions
μουσακάς moosakas moussaka, layers of aubergine minced meat and potato, with white sauce
μπακαλιάρος παστός bakalyaros pastos salt cod
μπακλαβάς baklavas filo-pastry with nuts soaked in syrup
μπάμιες bamyes okra, ladies’ fingers (vegetable)
μπιφτέκι beeftekee beef rissole/burger
μπουγάτσα booghatsa cheese or custard pastry sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon
μπουρέκι boorekee cheese, potato and courgette pie
μπουρέκια boorekya puff pastry filled with meat and cheese (Cyprus)
μπριάμ(ι) breeam(ee) ratatouille
μπριζόλα breezola steak/chop
μπριζόλα αρνίσια breezola arneesya lamb chop
μπριζόλα μοσχαρίσια breezola moskhareesya beef
steak/chop
μπριζόλα χοιρινή breezola kheereenee pork chop
μπύρα beera beer
ν N
νες, νεσκαφέ nes, nescafe instant coffee (of any brand)
νες με γάλα nes me ghala coffee (instant) with milk
νες φραπέ nes frappe iced coffee
ντολμάδες dolmadhes vine leaves, rolled up and stuffed with rice and sometimes mince
ντομάτες γεμιστές domates yemeestes tomatoes stuffed with rice and herbs, and sometimes with mince
ξ Ξ
ξιφίας kseefeeas swordfish
ομελέτα omeletta omelette
ορεκτικά orekteeka first courses/starters (menu heading)
ουζερί oozeree small bar selling ouzo and other drinks, maybe with μεζέδες (mezedhes)
ούζο oozo ouzo (traditional aniseed-flavoured spirit)
οχταπόδι okhtapodhee octopus (see also χταπόδι)
οχταπόδι κρασάτο okhtapodhee krasato octopus in red wine sauce
π Π
παγάκια paghakya ice-cubes
παϊδάκια paeedhakya grilled lamb chops
παντζάρια pandzarya beetroot with seasonings
παξιμάδια pakseemadhya crispy bread (baked twice)
παπουτσάκια papootsakya stuffed aubergines
πάστα pasta cake, pastry
παστό pasto salted
παστιτσάδα pasteetsada beef with tomatoes, onions, red wine, herbs, spices and pasta
παστίτσιο pasteetseeo baked pasta dish with a middle layer of meat and white sauce
πατσάς patsas tripe soup
πατάτες τηγανιτές patates teeghaneetes chips, fries
πιάτο της ημέρας pyato tees eemeras dish of the day
πιπεριές γεμιστές peeperyes yemeestes stuffed peppers with rice, herbs and sometimes mince
πίτα or πίττα peeta pitta (flat unleavened bread); pie with different fillings, such as meat, cheese, vegetables
πλακί plakee fish in tomato sauce
πουργούρι poorghooree cracked wheat (Cyprus)
πουργούρι πιλάφι poorghooree peelafee salad made of cracked wheat (Cyprus)
πρωινό proeeno breakfast
ρ P
ραβιόλι ravyolee pastry stuffed with cheese (Cyprus)
ρακή, ρακί rakee raki, strong spirit a bit like schnapps
ρέγγα καπνιστή renga kapneestee smoked herring, kipper
ρετσίνα retseena retsina, traditional resinated white wine
ρίγανη reeghanee oregano
ροζέ κρασί roze krasee rosé wine
ρυζόγαλο reezoghalo rice pudding
σ ς Σ
σαγανάκι saghanakee cheese coated in flour and fried in olive oil
σεφταλιά seftalya minced pork sausage (Cyprus)
σικαλένιο ψωμί seekalenyo psomee rye bread
σικώτι seekotee liver
σκορδαλιά skordhalya garlic and potato mash
σκορδαλιά με ψάρι τηγανιτό skordhalya me psaree teeghaneeto fried fish served with garlic and potato mash
σουβλάκι soovlakee meat (often pork) kebab skewers
σουβλατζίδικο soovlatzeedheeko shop selling souvlakia, doner kebabs, etc.
σουπιά soopya cuttlefish
σουτζουκάκια sootzookakya highly seasoned meat balls
σπανάκι spanakee spinach
σπανακόπιτα spanakopeeta spinach pie
σπαράγγια σαλάτα sparangya salata asparagus salad
στη σούβλα stee soovla spit-roasted
στιφάδο steefadho braised beef in spicy onion and tomato sauce
στο φούρνο sto foorno baked in the oven
στρείδια streedhya oysters
σχάρας skharas grilled
ταραμοσαλάτα taramosalata mousse of cod roe
τζατζίκι tzatzeekee yoghurt, garlic and cucumber dip
τηγανιτό teeghaneeto fried
τραχανάς trahanas soup made of cracked wheat and yoghurt (Cyprus)
τσιπούρα tseepoora type of sea bream
τσουρέκι tsoorekee festive bread
τυροκαυτερή teerokafteree spicy dip made of cheese and peppers
τυρόπιτα teeropeeta cheese pie
τυροσαλάτα teerosalata starter made of cream cheese and herbs
φ Φ
φάβα fava yellow split peas or lentils, served in a purée with olive oil and capers
φασολάδα fasoladha soup made with white beans and vegetables, eaten with lemon
φασολάκια fasolakya green beans
φασόλια fasolya haricot beans
φέτα feta feta cheese, tangy white cheese used in salads and other dishes; a slice
φλαούνες flaoones Easter cheese (Cyprus)
φραπέ frape iced coffee
φρέσκο fresko fresh
χαλβάς khalvas sesame seed sweet
χαλούμι khaloomee ewe’s or goat’s-milk cheese, often grilled
χόρτα khorta wild greens (similar to spinach) eaten cold with oil and lemon
χορτοφάγος khortofaghos vegetarian
χούμους khoomoos dip made with puréed chickpeas, hummus (Cyprus)
χταπόδι khtapodhee octopus, grilled or as a side-salad
χωριάτικη σαλάτα khoryateekee salata Greek-style salad, with tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumber, onions, olives and oregano
ψ Ψ
ψάρια καπνιστά psarya kapneesta smoked fish
ψάρια πλακί psarya plakee baked whole fish with vegetables and tomatoes
ψαρόσουπα psarosoopa seafood soup
ψαροταβέρνα psarotaverna fish taverna
ψησταριά pseestarya grill house
ψητό pseeto roast/grilled
ψωμί ολικής αλέσεως psomee oleekees aleseos wholemeal bread