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Greek for Beginners: From Alphabet to Conversation

Are you interested to learn Greek?
Then here some tips how to go from the Greek alphabet to conversations; —>start Greek with the right foundations

Learning Greek is not just about grammar and vocabulary.

It’s about:

  • Speaking with locals

  • Feeling closer to the culture

  • Understanding songs

  • Reading signs without translating

  • Connecting to history, philosophy, and everyday life in Greece

But every journey needs a first step.

Greek has a reputation for being a “difficult language”…

But in reality, most students struggle not because Greek is impossible,
–> they struggle because they start without a clear plan.

After 30 years of teaching Greek at Omilo, to international students, we’ve seen one thing again and again:

When beginners follow the right order, Greek becomes logical, structured, and even fun.

This article gives you:

  • A clear guide for beginners

  • The most important things to learn first

  • Practical learning tips

  • Links to videos, exercises, and eBooks

  • Guidance for both self-learners or course participants

Whether you are learning for travel, personal interest, family roots, or long-term studies…
this guide will help you start with confidence.

Let’s build your foundation

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Step 1: Start with the Greek Alphabet
(but don’t get stuck there)

Why the Alphabet Matters?

The Greek alphabet is consistent and phonetic.
Once you learn the sounds, you can read almost anything.

Focus on:

  • Letter recognition

  • Basic pronunciation

  • Understanding stress marks

But don’t aim for perfection.

We often see beginners spending weeks only on the alphabet. That’s not necessary.
Focus a bit on a daily basis, but move forward confidently at the same time, learning vocabulary

The good news?
It’s much easier than it looks.

You don’t need weeks.
With the right method, you can learn it in a few days.

Free Alphabet YouTube video 1 – the 24 letters  (small and capital letters)

As in any language, it is not only about 24 letters, there are also some extra combinations of vowels and consonants

Free Alphabet YouTube video 2 – the vowel combinations

Free Alphabet YouTube video 3 – the consonant combinations


  If you are looking for more examples and exercises with answer keys,
then check out this useful Alphabet eBook

Important Tip

Don’t aim for perfection.
Many beginners stay too long in “alphabet mode” and delay real learning.

And other beginners believe the alphabet does not matter, and they can survive with “greeklish”
Read this article, learn the difference between greeklish and Greek, and why the Greek Alphabet really matters..


Step 2: Learn Sounds Before Grammar

Greek pronunciation is very consistent.

Once you understand:

  • vowel combinations (αι, ει, οι, ου)

  • stress marks

  • basic sound rules

you can read AND pronounce almost anything.

You can listen to the pronunciation in our videos mentioned above, but..

Greek alphabet

modern greek alphabet

   If you would prefer to learn together with a teacher,
and practice your pronunciation

then check out the Omilo Alphabet mini-course

This builds immediate confidence.

When you can read, you feel empowered.

 

Step 3:  Speak from Day One

This is where many learners hesitate.

They think:
“I need more grammar first.” or “I need to memorize words with an app!”

Language is not mathematics, or single words after each other, neither a written exam
It’s communication!
Yes, grammar and vocabulary are very important, but..

Start with easy sentences:

  • Greetings

  • Introducing yourself

  • Ordering coffee

  • Simple everyday phrases

How to greet in Greek Click here to download your FREE ebook “How to Greet in Greek”
Even with limited vocabulary, you can communicate, or create connection

Confidence grows when you use the language,  not when you wait for perfection.
Dare to make mistakes!

 

Step 4: Discover the Logic of Greek Grammar

Yes, Greek grammar has structure, a lot of it.

So it is not chaos!

Verbs follow patterns, Nouns have clear endings, Word formation shows meaning connections

For example:

γράφω — I write

γράφεις — you write

γράφει — he/she writes

You already see the pattern, in order to conjugate a verb in the present tense, you need to know the  “endings”:
-ω
-εις
-ει

Now look at the noun:

γράμμα — letter

γραφή — writing

υπογραφή — signature

The root γραφ– stays the same.

When students see this, something changes.

Instead of memorizing separate words, they begin to recognize word families.

They understand that:

  • Word endings show grammar

  • Roots show meaning

  • Patterns repeat

Also for you, when you start seeing connections like this, Greek becomes fascinating.

GREEK VERBS A1 CATEGORY  Learn more about conjugating verbs in present tense

  Click here to watch the FREE Video explaining how to conjugate a verb –> To Write

The key is learning grammar in small, structured pieces,  not all at once.

TIP; learning verbs is the most useful grammar for beginners.
If you can not conjugate a verb correctly, then communication will become confusing

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Build Vocabulary the Smart Way

Memorizing long word lists rarely works.

Instead:

  • Learn words in context, learn only the words you need on a daily basis in Greece

  • Learn word families

  • Learn useful phrases, not isolated words

For example, instead of only learning:
σπίτι (house)

Also learn:

  • πάω σπίτι  – I am going home

  • στο σπίτι – at home

  • το σπίτι μου – at my home

    Greek speaking starter kit

This creates active language —> language you can actually use, from the day you arrive in Greece.

For this purpose, we have created the Greek Speaking Starter Kit, for Beginners
Click here for more info

 

greek coffeeAnd what about preparing yourself for your next visit to Greece, and order coffee in Greek?

With this FREE eBook, you will learn ;

» How to order your preferred  coffee (or another drink) in Greek,

» How to ask for extra sugar, the bill, etc,

» Helpful vocabulary, you can use everyday in Greece,

» Everyday useful sentences,

Click here for more info and download your free ebook

 

Step 6: Immerse Yourself (even at beginner level)
Enjoy the culture, the country, and stay motivated!

You don’t need to live in Greece to immerse yourself.

You can:

  • Listen to simple Greek songs, Watch slow, clear Greek videos, Read short beginner stories, Follow Greek content online

Even passive exposure builds familiarity.

Understanding 30% today becomes 50% tomorrow.

–> Articles about Greek songs

–> Articles about Greek culture
–> Articles about Greek food
–-> videos about Greek dancing on the YouTube Channel

Common Mistakes When Learning Greek

If you want to avoid frustration, avoid these:

  1. Waiting too long before speaking

  2. Trying to understand every grammar detail immediately

  3. Comparing Greek to English constantly

  4. Using too many random apps without any structure  (one of the biggest mistakes students make the last 5 years…)

  5. Expecting fast results without steady practice

Greek rewards patience and structure.

Dare to make mistakes…you are not the only ones 🙂

—> read here some more funny mistakes which were made by others

Should You Learn Alone or Join a Course?

Self-study works if you:

  • Follow a clear roadmap , Practice consistently, Use structured material

A group course helps if you:

  • Want correction, Prefer interaction, Need accountability, Enjoy community learning

At Omilo, we combine structured lessons with cultural experience and small groups,
online and in Greece.

AthensClick here for info about Online Greek lessons

Click here for our 1-and 2-week Intensive Group courses in Greece (all levels)
(Greek Language and Culture Holidays –
you can choose a course in different locations; Athens, Nafplion, Syros or Lefkada)

Already Beyond Absolute Beginner?

Beginner (A1–A2) – How to continue?

If you already:

  • Know the Greek alphabet

  • Use present tense verbs

  • Can introduce yourself and read simple texts

but still feel unsure or slow when speaking … this is completely normal.

At the advanced beginner level, you need more structured practice.

This means:

  • Strengthening verb patterns

  • Expanding everyday vocabulary

  • Building longer sentences

  • Listening to slightly more complex dialogues

  • Gently preparing for past tenses

That’s why we offer dedicated materials for this level,
including structured practice eBooks, short story collections, vocabulary modules, and guided online lessons.

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eBooks for Advanced Beginner Levels

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Greek verbs for beginnersLearn How To Conjugate Greek Verbs of Group B1 and B2 , With Grammar Intro & Videos

Boost your Greek - Practice bookBoost Your Greek – Practice Books for A1–A2 Level

 

greek lessons

Greek online lessons with Zoom

Online lessons with an Omilo teacher

Omilo’s online Greek lessons offer structured progression, and personal guidance from experienced teachers.
They are designed to help you build real confidence , step by step, in a supportive and interactive environment.
–> https://omilo.com/course/greek-skype-lessons/

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5 Greek Love Songs and 2 Love Stories!

Valentine day became the international day for romance, but in fact,
any time of the year, is a good time, to listen to Greek Love Songs or  Love stories!
Do you agree?
In general, Greeks are romantic! And this reflects in many love songs or real love stories…
Let’s take a look…

Read more

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Easy Greek Stories Podcast #37 – From a bottle of water ..to Epirus!

Easy Greek Stories podcast -no.37

If you are at an intermediate level in Greek, then boost your Greek listening skills with the Omilo Podcast.  It also helps you learn common everyday Greek vocabulary and life situations in Greece. In this podcast you can listen to every story first at a slow reading pace, followed by the same story, narrated at a normal Greek native speaking pace, as well as an extra vocabulary list at the end.

Every 2nd month one new Greek story. And it is free!
(Note: this podcast is not a Greek course and the episodes don’t follow a step-by-step grammar or difficulty sequence.)

Listen to story #37 on various Podcast channels listed below.

Story 37; Πώς ένα μπουκάλι νερό μας πήγε στην Ήπειρο

From a Bottle of Water…to the Mountains of Epirus

In this episode, Sophia reads a story about 3 friends from Tinos, traveling to Epirus, looking for the Vikos spring,
and ending up in an adventure. 

Author story, Podcast script +  Notebook content & design ; Maya Andreadi
Podcast narrator;  Sophia Devetzi
Read more

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International Greek Language Day | Omilo

Every year on February 9th, people around the world celebrate International Greek Language Day (Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Ελληνικής Γλώσσας).
This day honours the Greek language and its important role in literature, science, philosophy, and world culture. Greek, known as “Ελληνικά”  in Greek, is one of the world’s oldest recorded living languages, with a history spanning over 3,400 years. It has influenced many other languages, including English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN GREEK, AND LISTEN TO THE GREEK AUDIO FILE

 

Read more

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Aristophanes In Comics! Learn About The Famous Ancient Greek Comedy Writer

stophanes in Comics? Yes it exists!
AriDiscover the works of the greatest representative of ancient Greek comedy, Aristophanes, through cleverly illustrated comics versions of his plays and learn more about the importance of comedy in ancient Greece.

Read this article in Greek and listen to the Audio

Comedy in ancient Athens

Ancient Greek comedy was one of the three main dramatic forms of theatre in classical Greece; the other two were tragedy and the satyr play.  The term classical Greece refers to the period from the beginning of the fifth century B.C and the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. It was a period of intense conflict, first between the Greeks and the Persians, then between the Athenians and the Spartans. Aristophanes used the political circumstances of his time as the historical context for his comedies. Read more

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Greek Song by Machairitsas, and Greek Vocabulary

A Greek song by famous Greek singer Machairitsas is also ideal to learn Greek vocabulary.
Let’s enjoy beautiful Greek music,  while improving your Greek.

But just in case you do not know him…

Who is Machairitsas?

Read more

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Publications and online materials to learn Greek

Improving your Greek with online materials,  any time, any place

Which Greek eBook is right for you?

At Omilo, we know that every Greek learner is unique ;  some love grammar, others prefer listening, and many just want to speak and be understood while enjoying Greek culture.

That’s why we’ve created a wide range of eBooks, designed to help you improve your Greek at your own pace and level.
Whether you’re a complete beginner, an intermediate speaker, or getting close to fluency, we love to help you out.

But we also know it can be confusing to choose the right material , especially since some topics (like proverbs or songs) are enjoyable for everyone, no matter the level!

So to help you out, here’s an overview of our eBooks, organized by language level and learning focus.

Take a look below and find your next favorite Greek resource!

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Where can you purchase those materials?

At Omilo, our main focus is organizing high-quality Greek language courses in Greece — with small groups, cultural activities, and personal attention.
Since we dedicate most of our time to teaching and supporting our students, or creating materials when we have no groups running,
we chose not to run a web shop ourselves.

Instead, all our eBooks are available through our trusted partner masaresi.com ;
an independent online shop specialized in Greek learning materials and cultural products.

On masaresi.com, you can easily:

  • Browse all the Omilo eBooks

  • Pay securely with debit or credit card

  • Download your materials instantly

This allows us to focus on what we do best —> teaching Greek !
And in the meantime,  you still get fast and reliable access to the resources you need.

Visit masaresi.com to view all Omilo eBooks »


Ready?
Then scroll down and find the Best Materials for your level!

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Beginner (A1–A2)

If you’re just starting to learn Greek,  or you know a few basic words and phrases but still feel unsure in conversations,
then you’re likely at the Beginner level (A1–A2).

At this stage, the focus is on:

  • Building simple vocabulary, daily Greek language

  • Learning everyday expressions or wishes, which you can use every day.

  • Understanding basic grammar, and how to conjugate verbs

  • Practicing pronunciation and reading

It’s the perfect time to develop a strong foundation, and the eBooks below are designed to help you do exactly that.

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eBooks for Beginner Levels

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Intermediate (B1–B2)

 

At the Intermediate level, you’re no longer a beginner . μπράβο!!

You can already handle basic conversations, read short texts, and understand the general idea of spoken Greek.

Now it’s time to:

  • Expand your vocabulary

  • Use more complex grammar (like verb tenses and cases)

  • Improve your listening and speaking confidence

  • Understand and join real-life conversations

The eBooks in this section will help you break through the “intermediate plateau” and move closer to fluency.

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eBooks for Intermediate levels

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  • Mastering Greek Prepositions

  • → When it comes to forming sentences and thoughts in the Greek language, using the correct preposition is necessary.  In this e-book, we will analyze some very important prepositions, their meaning, and their syntax. At the same time you will find examples of several sentences (translations in English included), exercises, and answer key.
    https://masaresi.com/product/greek-prepositions/

  • The Lydia (2) Easy Reader; “A new life in Greece

  • → Easy reader in Greek,  intended for A2 – early stages of B1 Greek learners, and accompanied by the MP3 AUDIO-Book
    Hard copy; https://masaresi.com/product/lydia-2-hardcopy/
    eBook; https://masaresi.com/product/lydia-2-ebook/

 

  • «Φύγαμε για ελληνικά!»

  • → Improve your Greek reading/listening skills and enrich your vocabulary while learning about Greek culture and everyday life in modern Greece! The book is also accompanied by MP3 down-loadable audio files. Intended for Intermediate Greek learners (B1-B2 levels).
    available in Hard Copy or eBook format
    Hard copy; https://masaresi.com/product/fygame-yia-ellinka-printed/
    eBook; https://masaresi.com/product/fygame-yia-ellinika/

     

  • The Easy Greek Stories ( PODCAST /YouTube & NOTEBOOKS)

  • Listen to the Omilo “Easy Greek Stories Podcast” for Intermediate Learners in Greek, and improve your Greek with the accompanying digital and printable notebooks, including Greek transcript, English translation, vocab list, grammar exercises,  video link + Greek subtitles, and useful info about Greece related to the story.
    Already 35 stories are written
    For all links and info, go to https://omilo.com/podcasts/greek-stories/
    You can also download a free sample at : https://omilo.com/for-free/easy-greek-stories-podcast-notebook/

     

  • Learn how to conjugate Greek passive verbs of C1 and C2 groups

  • →  This eBook is also useful for advanced levels, but when you are at Intermediate 2 level, you will start encounter those verbs.
    Learn more about the passive verbs, the syntax phenomena, with videos, exercises, answer key, etc..
    https://masaresi.com/product/conjugate-greek-passive-verbs/

 


Advanced (C1–C2)

 

If you’re at the Advanced level, you’re probably already using Greek regularly.
Maybe you are  living in Greece, working, or visiting Greek very often, or  just for the love of the language.

At this stage, your goals often include:

  • Understanding native-level content (news, stories, idioms)

  • Expressing opinions clearly and naturally

  • Refining your grammar and pronunciation

  • Sounding more like a native speaker

Our advanced eBooks are designed to challenge you, help you grow, and enjoy the richness of modern Greek language and culture.

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eBooks for Advanced Levels

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  • Greek Compound Verbs and Prepositions, for Advanced Levels

  • → deepen your understanding of Greek prepositions and the compound verbs you can form with them.
    Starting with the meaning of key Greek prepositions, it lays the groundwork for mastering more complex verb structures.
    Complete with exercises, an answer key, and English translations, this eBook is the perfect tool to refine your grammar and boost your vocabulary.
    https://masaresi.com/product/compound-verbs-and-prepositions/

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What do learners say about the Omilo eBooks?

Over the years, many students from around the world have used our eBooks to support their Greek learning journey.
Some students have attended a course in Greece, others used the materials with teachers abroad, and others use it to study by themselves from home.

Here’s what some of them have shared:

Hello Omilo-team

I would like to share how much I love your materials! Really and truly, I learn so much from them.
Sometimes I’m too quick to read them once and move on, when I should stick with one story longer, practicing it longer.
I have just about everything from your site. I really enjoyed the easy short story #12, about Φάνης και Ντίλαν. It made me laugh.

Thank you for all the work you all do to help us learn the beloved Greek language!

Regards, Lisa Efthymiou, USA

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Since a few years my study-buddy and I practice Greek together via Skype. Now that we have reached a certain level in grammar, reading, writing and speaking, we find it important to make listening a spearhead. Because listening and understanding what is being said is the most difficult thing in a foreign language. But we want to practice in a fun way. Omilo’s Podcasts offer us that opportunity. They are fun stories, to listen to at different speeds. The stories are spoken by professional native speaker in a very nice way, so nice to listen to, and the exercises in the Notebook give us the depth we need. In addition, we also have a lot of fun with Figame sta ellinika. Fun listening exercises and varied challenging assignments. This keeps us motivated to keep improving our Greek. Thank you, Omilo!

ilse I, The Netherlands

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podcast testimonial

fygame book reference gonda van steen

 

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Learning Greek Past Tenses; Aoristos and Paratatikos

Greek Past Tenses: Making Peace with Aoristos and Paratatikos

If you have been learning Greek for a while, you’ve probably reached that magical (and sometimes mysterious) moment when you want to talk about something that already happened.

That’s when two important Greek tenses appear: Aoristos and Paratatikos —> the most used Greek past tenses.

They sound fancy, but they are just your new storytelling friends. And once you get to know them, you’ll start sounding a lot more like a native Greek speaker

Meet Mr. Aoristos (Αόριστος) – The Simple Guy

Aoristos means Simple Past in Greek. He’s direct, efficient, and never overcomplicates things.
He is the tense for completed actions —> things that happened once and are now done.

✏️ Example:
Έφαγα ένα σουβλάκι. → I ate a souvlaki.

That’s it. You ate it. Finished. No drama. Aoristos tells you what happened,  fast and clean,  and then moves on.

He’s the Greek grammar equivalent of “mission accomplished.”
Read more

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Easy Greek Stories Podcast #36 – At the hairdresser!

Easy Greek Stories podcast -no.36

If you are at an intermediate level in Greek, then boost your Greek listening skills with the Omilo Podcast.  It also helps you learn common everyday Greek vocabulary and life situations in Greece. In this podcast you can listen to every story first at a slow reading pace, followed by the same story, narrated at a normal Greek native speaking pace, as well as an extra vocabulary list at the end.

Every 2nd month one new Greek story. And it is free!
(Note: this podcast is not a Greek course and the episodes don’t follow a step-by-step grammar or difficulty sequence.)

Listen to story #36 on various Podcast channels listed below.

Story 36; Στο κομμωτήριο – At the hair dresser.

In this episode, Myrto reads a story about a foreigner going for a haircut in Greece, and experiencing something she did not expect!

Author story, Podcast script +  Notebook content & design ; Maya Andreadi
Video montage +  proofreading and grammar; Myrto Yfanti
Podcast narrator;  Myrto Yfanti
Read more

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Easy Greek Stories Podcast #35 – A life with… earthquakes!

Easy Greek Stories podcast -no.35

If you are at an intermediate level in Greek, then boost your Greek listening skills with the Omilo Podcast.  It also helps you learn common everyday Greek vocabulary and life situations in Greece. In this podcast you can listen to every story first at a slow reading pace, followed by the same story, narrated at a normal Greek native speaking pace, as well as an extra vocabulary list at the end.

Every 2nd month one new Greek story. And it is free!
(Note: this podcast is not a Greek course and the episodes don’t follow a step-by-step grammar or difficulty sequence.)

Listen to story #35 on various Podcast channels listed below.

Story 35;  Μια ζωή με… σεισμούς!  A life with… earthquakes!

In this episode, Eva reads a story about a mother with child experiencing an earthquake in Athens. 

Author story, Podcast script +  Notebook content & design ; Maya Andreadi
Podcast narrator;  Eva Christodoulou
Read more

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