There are at least 25 reasons why to love Greeks we believe, but maybe also many more..
(And maybe feel a little Greek yourself…)
Do you love Greece?
You’re not Greek… but somehow, you feel Greek?
Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking like a Greek.
Eating like a Greek.
Laughing like a Greek.
So here’s our question: Why can Greeks be proud to be Greek?
After 30 years of teaching Greek to students from all over the world,
Maya and Dimitris have heard hundreds of answers…
Here are 25 of our favorites!
With a little explanation for those of you who just started learning the language and culture.
Take a look below… and tell us what we missed!
Why to love Greeks, or why Greeks are proud to be Greek?
1. Γιατί έχουμε νοοτροπία “και αύριο μέρα είναι.”
Because we believe “there is always tomorrow.”
A deeply Greek philosophy: life continues, problems pass, and the sun rises again.
2. Γιατί στην Ελλάδα η κάθε νύχτα τελειώνει το επόμενο πρωί.
Because in Greece, every night ends the next morning.
Dinner at 8-9pm. Music until midnight. Conversations until sunrise. Life is not rushed.
—> https://masaresi.com/greek-nightlife-bouzoukia/
3. Γιατί τις δυσκολίες τις αντιμετωπίζουμε με χιούμορ.
Because Greeks face difficulties with humor.
When things get tough? We laugh. Then we find (or try to find…) a solution.
4. Γιατί οι μεζέδες με το τσιπουράκι δεν συγκρίνονται με κανένα “hors d’oeuvre”.
Because nothing compares to Greek mezedes with tsipouro (or ouzo).
Simple ingredients, real flavor, shared plates.
(mezedes= small bites/»tapas») Tsipouro –>https://omilo.com/tsipouro-ouzo/
5. Γιατί δεν βάζουμε κέτσαπ στο φαγητό μας.
Because Greek food speaks for itself.
Olive oil, lemon, oregano..that’s enough.
κέτσαπ — >So no ketchup needed!
6. Γιατί λέμε “ένα γλυκό χωρίς” και όλοι ξέρουν ότι μιλάμε για φραπέ.
Because when we say “a sweet one without,” everyone knows it’s a frappé.
A whole culture hidden in one coffee order—> (a sweet frappe,»without» milk)
https://omilo.com/how-to-make-greek-frappe/
7. Γιατί αγοράζουμε το καρπούζι ολόκληρο.
Because we buy the whole watermelon, not a slice 🙂
Abundance is better when shared.
8. Γιατί πίνουμε ένα ποτηράκι παραπάνω χωρίς να μας πίνει.
Because we can have an extra drink… without it drinking us.
Moderation with joy, no need to get drunk to have fun..
9. Γιατί δεν μοιραζόμαστε τη βενζίνη.
Because we don’t split petrol costs.
If you’re in my car, you’re my guest.
10. Γιατι τσακωνομαστε ποιος θα κεράσει
Because we fight about who can pay the bill
We like to treat, we like to pay for the meals of others
11. Γιατί δεν πάμε ποτέ επίσκεψη με άδεια χέρια.
Because we never visit empty-handed.
A box of sweets, a bottle of wine , flowers….There is always a gesture of respect.
12. Γιατί βράζει το αίμα μας.
Because our blood is boiling.
We are expressive, emotional, alive…
13. Γιατί η οικογένεια έχει αξία.
Because family still matters.
All generations together, around one table
14. Γιατί μπορεί να θυμώνουμε… αλλά δεν κρατάμε κακία.
Because we may get angry, but we don’t hold grudges.
We argue loudly, we get upset, but we can easily forgive as well.
15. Γιατί όταν δεν υπήρχαν λέξεις… ο κόσμος δανειζόταν ελληνικές.
Because when there were no words, the world borrowed Greek ones.
Philosophy. Democracy. Biology. Theatre. Zoo, Acoustics, Triathlon, Marathon, Cardiologist….and the list goes on and on..
16. Γιατί το “φιλότιμο” δεν μεταφράζεται.
Because “filotimo” cannot truly be translated.
A mix of honor, dignity, generosity and doing the right thing … even when nobody is watching.
17. Γιατί αγαπάμε και μισούμε με πάθος.
Because we love, and even hate , with passion.
Nothing halfway 🙂
18. Γιατί ο Σωκράτης, ο Αριστοτέλης και ο Περικλής ήταν Έλληνες.
Because Socrates, Aristotle and Pericles were Greek.
And many others…also in modern times!
19. Γιατί το μπουζούκι βγάζει ήχο που δεν ξεχνιέται.
Because the bouzouki sounds like nowhere else in the world.
One note… and you know you are in Greece.
–> example; https://omilo.com/vamvakaris-and-the-rebetika-music/
20. Γιατί μπορούμε να αφήσουμε τα πάντα για έναν μεγάλο έρωτα.
Because we might leave everything for a great love.
Career? City? Logic? Perhaps! The right love gets priority!
–> check out the many love songs…
21. Γιατί ξεχωρίζουμε τον “έρωτα” από την “αγάπη”.
Because we distinguish between “eros” and “agapi.”
Passionate love and deep love. And we live both intensely.
(In the Greek language we make a distinction between “passionate love” and love…but we know, nevertheless, how to live both with passion.
–>difficult word to translate…if you have a better suggestion, please send us an email and let us know!)
22. Γιατί στις δύσκολες στιγμές έχουμε φίλους.
Because in difficult times, we gather with friends.
Conversation is therapy. Friends also introduce their friends, and the connections become bigger and bigger
23. Γιατί “οι ήρωες πολεμούν σαν Έλληνες.”
As Winston Churchill said in 1941:
“Greeks do not fight like heroes; heroes fight like Greeks.”
—> example; https://omilo.com/greek-national-holiday-of-october-28th/
24. Γιατί όταν πονάμε, χορεύουμε ζεϊμπέκικο…αλλά όχι μόνο..
Because when we are hurting, we dance zeibekiko, but not only..
A dance of dignity, solitude, strength, as well as many other dances expressing different feelings.
–> click here and in this article you also find a video with a zeimpekiko
25. Γιατί κατά βάθος… είμαστε καλά παιδιά.
Because deep down… we are good people.
Warm, imperfect, generous and human.
PS. Even the police 🙂
Listen to the Greek Story » The Good Policeman»!
Do you feel a little Greek?
If you read this list and nodded even once…
maybe you already think a little Greek 🙂
And if you’d like to go one step further, why not start speaking Greek too?
If you start from today, then take a look at our tips for Beginners
At Omilo, we don’t just teach grammar.
We teach you how to speak, connect and feel at home in Greece.
Καλή αρχή —> wishing you good start.
