25 Greek Expressions and Idioms Locals Use Every Day
From siga siga to filotimo, Greek is full of expressions that reveal how the country thinks. Here are 25 that locals use every day, explained with examples.
Greek runs on expressions. A single word can carry a whole attitude, and the right idiom at the right moment tells locals you actually get the culture. Common Greek expressions and idioms mix ancient roots with sharp modern humor, and learning a handful is the fastest way to sound natural instead of translated.
Below are 25 Greek expressions and idioms locals use every day. For each one you get the Greek, a simple transliteration, the meaning, and an example, so you know exactly when to use it.
Everyday Greek Expressions
The words that fill ordinary Greek conversation from morning to night.
1. Σιγά σιγά (sigá sigá)
Meaning: Slowly, slowly. Take it easy, no rush. Almost a national philosophy.
Example: "Θα το κάνουμε σιγά σιγά." ("We'll do it slowly, no rush.")
2. Έλα (éla)
Meaning: Literally come, but used for come on, really?, and even hello when answering the phone.
Example: "Έλα ρε, σοβαρά;" ("Come on, seriously?")
3. Ρε (re)
Meaning: An emphatic particle, roughly dude or hey. Friendly with friends, rude with strangers.
Example: "Τι κάνεις, ρε φίλε;" ("How are you, dude?")
4. Όπα (ópa)
Meaning: An all purpose exclamation: whoa, oops, hey, or pure joy at a celebration.
Example: "Όπα! Πρόσεχε!" ("Whoa! Careful!")
5. Χαλαρά (halará)
Meaning: Relaxed, chill, no worries. Χαλάρωσε (halárose) means relax.
Example: "Όλα χαλαρά εδώ." ("Everything's chill here.")
6. Πάμε (páme)
Meaning: Let's go. Also a cheer of encouragement, like come on, you can do it.
Example: "Πάμε, θα αργήσουμε!" ("Let's go, we'll be late!")
7. Τζάμπα (tzámpa)
Meaning: For free, or in vain, for nothing.
Example: "Πήγαμε τζάμπα, ήταν κλειστά." ("We went for nothing, it was closed.")
8. Μπράβο (brávo)
Meaning: Well done, bravo. Used constantly for praise, sometimes sarcastically.
Example: "Μπράβο σου, τα κατάφερες!" ("Well done, you made it!")
Greek Expressions for Food and Company
Sharing a table is sacred in Greece, and the language shows it.
9. Καλή όρεξη (kalí órexi)
Meaning: Enjoy your meal, bon appétit. Said before everyone digs in.
Example: "Καλή όρεξη σε όλους!" ("Enjoy your meal, everyone!")
10. Στην υγειά μας (stin ygiá mas)
Meaning: To our health. The classic toast, glasses raised.
Example: "Στην υγειά μας, παιδιά!" ("To our health, everyone!")
11. Καλώς τον (kalós ton)
Meaning: Well, look who's here. A warm, sometimes teasing welcome.
Example: "Καλώς τον! Χρόνια και ζαμάνια." ("Look who's here! Long time no see.")
12. Γεια χαρά (giá hará)
Meaning: A cheerful hi or bye, literally health and joy.
Example: "Γεια χαρά, τα λέμε αύριο." ("Bye, see you tomorrow.")
Greek Idioms That Reveal the Culture
Here is where Greek gets colorful, and very Greek.
13. Φιλότιμο (filótimo)
Meaning: Almost untranslatable: a deep sense of honor, duty, and doing the right thing by others. Greeks consider it a core virtue.
Example: "Το έκανε από φιλότιμο." ("He did it out of a sense of honor.")
14. Έγινε χαμός (égine hamós)
Meaning: All hell broke loose. Chaos, mayhem, an unforgettable scene.
Example: "Στο πάρτι έγινε χαμός." ("At the party, all hell broke loose.")
15. Σιγά τον πολυέλαιο (sigá ton polyéleo)
Meaning: Literally easy with the chandelier, meaning big deal, so what. Pure sarcasm.
Example: "Άργησε πέντε λεπτά, σιγά τον πολυέλαιο." ("He was five minutes late, big deal.")
16. Μου έφαγες τ' αυτιά (mou éfages t'aftiá)
Meaning: You ate my ears, meaning you talked my ear off.
Example: "Σταμάτα, μου έφαγες τ' αυτιά!" ("Stop, you've talked my ear off!")
Idioms like these only stick when you meet them in real speech. Our 100 Greek Phrases for Travelers put expressions like these into everyday situations, so you learn when a local would actually say them.
17. Ούτε γάτα ούτε ζημιά (oúte gáta oúte zimiá)
Meaning: Neither cat nor damage. Act as if nothing happened, no harm, no witnesses.
Example: "Το φτιάξαμε, ούτε γάτα ούτε ζημιά." ("We fixed it, like nothing ever happened.")
18. Τρώω κόλλημα (tróo kóllima)
Meaning: To get stuck or fixated on something, to obsess over it.
Example: "Έφαγα κόλλημα με αυτό το τραγούδι." ("I got obsessed with that song.")
19. Μου κάθεται στο στομάχι (mou káthetai sto stomáhi)
Meaning: It sits on my stomach, meaning I can't stand him or her.
Example: "Αυτός ο τύπος μου κάθεται στο στομάχι." ("I can't stand that guy.")
20. Άσ' τα να πάνε (ás ta na páne)
Meaning: Let them go, meaning don't even get me started, things are a mess.
Example: "Πώς πάει η δουλειά; Άσ' τα να πάνε." ("How's work? Don't even ask.")
Greek Reactions and Attitude
Short phrases that carry a lot of feeling.
21. Έχω νεύρα (ého névra)
Meaning: I'm on edge, irritated, in a bad mood.
Example: "Μη μου μιλάς, έχω νεύρα." ("Don't talk to me, I'm irritated.")
22. Κάτσε καλά (kátse kalá)
Meaning: Behave, calm down, or no way, depending on tone.
Example: "Κάτσε καλά, δεν το πιστεύω!" ("No way, I don't believe it!")
23. Ό,τι να 'ναι (óti na 'nai)
Meaning: Whatever, any old thing, nonsense.
Example: "Αυτά που λέει είναι ό,τι να 'ναι." ("What he says is nonsense.")
24. Σου 'στριψε; (sou 'strixe?)
Meaning: Has a screw come loose? Have you lost it?
Example: "Θα πας με τα πόδια; Σου 'στριψε;" ("You'll walk there? Have you lost it?")
25. Μαλάκα (maláka)
Meaning: Warning: literally a strong vulgar insult, but among close friends it is thrown around like dude or man. Use it only with people you know well, never with strangers or in formal settings.
Example: "Έλα ρε μαλάκα, τι έγινε;" ("Come on man, what happened?")
How to Use Greek Expressions Naturally
To go from reading to sounding like a local:
- Start with the safe staples. Σιγά σιγά, έλα, πάμε, and καλή όρεξη are friendly and hard to misuse. Lead with those.
- Respect the register. Ρε and especially μαλάκα are for close friends only, never for strangers or work.
- Build a daily habit. The 5-Minute Greek Journal turns small daily practice into real fluency, so these expressions become second nature.
Want to understand the difference between the sayings and idioms you are learning? Read the difference between an idiom and a saying, and pick up more study habits with great ways to use social media for language learning.