The Greek Language
The Greek language is probably the oldest in Europe, with a four thousand year oral tradition and a three thousand year written tradition. Today, Greek constitutes a large part of the vocabulary of any Indo-European language, and much of the lexicon of any scientific repertoire.
It's surprising how a little Greek will enhance your stay here. Greek people are very proud of their language, but they also realise that it is very difficult for non-Greeks to get to grips with. So, if you can offer a few words, even the most simple greetings, you will receive in return an even more enthusiastic welcome. Below is the Greek alphabet and a few words and phrases that you might find useful. Don't be bashful, just have a go.
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Α
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α
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alfa
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like a in carpet
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Β
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β
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vita
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like v in video
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Γ
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γ
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gamma
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like y in yard
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Δ
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δ
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delta
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like th in therefore
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Ε
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ε
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epsilon
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like e in envelope
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Ζ
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ζ
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zita
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like z in zebra
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Η
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η
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ita
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like i in ignore
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Θ
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θ
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theta
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like th in theatre
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Ι
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ι
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yiota
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like i in ignore
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Κ
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κ
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kappa
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like k in kiss
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Λ
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λ
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lamda
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like l in lab
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Μ
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μ
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mi
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like m in mother
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Ν
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ν
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ni
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like n in net
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Ξ
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ξ
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ksi
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like x in six
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Ο
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ο
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omicron
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like o in ordinary
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Π
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π
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pi
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like p in poster
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Ρ
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ρ
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ro
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like r in rabbit
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Σ
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σ
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sigma
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like s in sigma
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Τ
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τ
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taf
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like t in tie
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Υ
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υ
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ipsilon
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like i in ignore
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Φ
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φ
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fi
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like f in fire
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Χ
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χ
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hi
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like h in hotel
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Ψ
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ψ
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psi
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like ps in lapse
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Ω
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ω
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omega
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like o in ordinary
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ΝΑΙ
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Neh
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Yes
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ΟΧΙ
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O-hee
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No
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KAΛHMEΡA
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Kal-ee-meh-ra
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Good
morning
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KAΛHΣΠEΡA
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Kal-ee-speh-ra
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Good
evening
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KAΛHNΥΧTA
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Kal-ee-nee-ta
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Good
night
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ΠAΡAKAΛΩ
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Par-a-ka-lo
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Please
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EΥΧAΡIΣTΩ
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Ef-har-is-to
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Thank
you
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ΚΑΛΑ
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Ka-la
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Good
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ΣΥΓΝΩΜΗ
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Sig-no-mi
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Excuse
me
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ΕΝΤΑΞΕΙ
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Eh-daxi
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OK
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ΔΕΝ
ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΑΙΝΩ
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Then ka-ta-la-veh-no
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I do
not understand
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ΜΙΛΑΤΕ
ΑΓΓΛΙΚΑ
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Mi-lah-teh an-glee-ka?
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Do
you speak English?
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ΘΕΛΩ
ΝΑ ΠΑΩ
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Thel-o na pao...
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I
want to go...
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ΠΟΣΟ
ΚΑΝΕΙ
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Po-so ka-nee?
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How
much does it cost?
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ΤΟ
ΛΟΓΟΡΙΑΣΜΟ
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To lo-gar-e-as-mo
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The
bill
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ΠΟΣΟ
ΜΑΚΡΙΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ
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Po-so mahk-rea een-eh...
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How
far is...
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ΠΟΥ
ΕΙΝΑΙ
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Poo een-eh...?
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Where
is...?
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ΓΕΙΑ
ΣΑΣ
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Ye-a-sas
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Hello
and Goodbye
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ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΕΣ
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Plee-ro-for-ee-es
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Information
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ΜΑΖΙ
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Ma-zee
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With
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ΠΟΥ
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Poo?
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Where?
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ΠΟΣ
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Pos?
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How?
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ΓΙΑΤΙ
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Yeah-ti
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Why?
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ΚΑΛΟ
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Ka-lo
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Good
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ΚΑΚΟ
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Ka-ko
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Bad
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ΑΝΟΙΚΤΟ
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An-ik-to
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Open
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ΚΛΕΙΣΤΟ
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Klee-sto
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Closed
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ΤΩΡΑ
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To-ra
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Now
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ΦΤΗΝΟ
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Ftee-no
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Cheap
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ΑΚΡΙΒΟ
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Ak-ree-vo
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Expensive
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ΣΗΜΕΡΑ
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See-mer-ah
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Today
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ΑΥΡΙΟ
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Av-ree-o
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Tomorrow
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0
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μιδεν
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mith-en
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1
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ενα
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e-na
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2
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δυο
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dee-o
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3
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τρια
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tree-a
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4
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τεσσερα
|
tess-era
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5
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πεντε
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pen-te
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6
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εζι
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ex-ee
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7
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επτα
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ep-ta
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8
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οχτω
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och-to
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9
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εννια
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en-ia
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10
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δεκα
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de-ka
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20
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εικοσι
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ee-kosee
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30
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τριαντα
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tree-an-da
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40
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σαραντα
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sa-ran-da
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50
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πενηντα
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pen-in-da
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60
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εζηντα
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ex-in-da
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70
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εβδομηντα
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evtho-min-da
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80
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ογδοντα
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ogth-on-da
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90
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εννενηντα
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enen-in-da
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100
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εκατο
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eka-to
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MONDAY
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δευτερα
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deft-e-ra
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TUESDAY
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τριτη
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tree-tee
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WEDNESDAY
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τεταρτη
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tet-ar-tee
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THURSDAY
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πεμπτη
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pem-tee
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FRIDAY
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παρασκευη
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para-skev-ee
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SATURDAY
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σαββατο
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sav-ato
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SUNDAY
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κυριακη
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kee-ri-a-kee
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For a comprehensive list of sites and software for learning Greek click here.
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