Given how tourism-dependent Santorini's economy is, English is spoken fluently in almost every hotel, restaurant and shop you're likely to visit. That said, a handful of basic Greek phrases are easy to pick up and consistently well received, especially away from the busiest tourist strips.
Worth learning
- Yassas (YAH-sas) — hello, and also goodbye; a safe, polite default.
- Efharisto (ef-ha-ri-STOH) — thank you.
- Parakalo (pa-ra-ka-LOH) — please, and also "you're welcome."
- Kalimera / Kalispera — good morning / good evening, commonly used as a greeting depending on time of day.
- Ne / Ochi — yes / no (note: a slight upward head tilt in Greece can mean "no," the opposite of the nod many visitors expect).
Where it actually helps
A simple greeting in Greek when entering a small inland taverna or family-run shop (see our finding a real taverna guide) is a small gesture that's consistently appreciated, even though the conversation will likely continue in English from there.
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