This page lists 64 Greek words that start with the letter G, from “gala (γάλα)” to “gkol (γκολ)”. The list includes everyday nouns, verbs, adjectives, a few names, and some borrowed words. You can use it to build your vocabulary, get ready for a trip to Greece, or learn how common words look in Latin letters.
Greek words are the building blocks of one of the oldest written languages still spoken today. Many English terms, such as “galaxy,” “geography,” and “gymnasium,” come straight from Greek roots.
Below you’ll find the table with the word, English translation, part of speech, example usage, and description.
Word: The Greek term in Latin letters, followed by the original Greek spelling in brackets, so you can say it and spot it in writing.
English translation: The closest English meaning or meanings of each word, so you can quickly see what it stands for without searching elsewhere.
Part of speech: Shows whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or another type, which helps you place it correctly in a sentence.
Example usage: A short Greek sentence using the word, with its English translation in brackets, so you can see how people really say it.
Description: A brief note on the word’s meaning, origin, or cultural background, giving you extra context that makes it easier to remember.
Greek words
| Word | English translation | Part of speech | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| gala (γάλα) | milk | noun | Thelo ligo gala. (I want a little milk.) |
| galazio (γαλάζιο) | light blue | noun / adjective | To galazio chroma tis thalassas. (The light blue color of the sea.) |
| galini (γαλήνη) | serenity, calm | noun | Eichame galini sto nisi. (We had calm on the island.) |
| gamos (γάμος) | wedding, marriage | noun | Pame se enan gamo avrio. (We are going to a wedding tomorrow.) |
| gata (γάτα) | cat | noun | I gata kathetai sto parathyro. (The cat is sitting at the window.) |
| gavros (γαύρος) | anchovy | noun | Gavros marinatos me ladi kai xydi. (Marinated anchovy with oil and vinegar.) |
| gazoza (γκαζόζα) | lemon soda, fizzy drink | noun | Mia gazoza, parakalo. (A fizzy lemonade, please.) |
| geia (γεια) | hello, goodbye, health | interjection | Geia sou! (Hi!) |
| geia sou (γεια σου) | hello (informal) | phrase | Geia sou, ti kaneis? (Hi, how are you?) |
| geitonas (γείτονας) | neighbor | noun | O geitonas mou einai poly kalos. (My neighbor is very nice.) |
| gelio (γέλιο) | laughter | noun | Akousa ena megalo gelio. (I heard a loud laugh.) |
| gelao (γελάω) | I laugh | verb | Gelao me ta anekdota tou. (I laugh at his jokes.) |
| gemato (γεμάτο) | full | adjective | To leoforeio einai gemato. (The bus is full.) |
| genethlia (γενέθλια) | birthday | noun | Chronia polla sta genethlia sou! (Happy birthday!) |
| genia (γενιά) | generation | noun | I nea genia einai diaforetiki. (The new generation is different.) |
| genikos (γενικός) | general | adjective | Genikos diefthyntis. (General manager.) |
| gennao (γεννάω) | I give birth, I give rise to | verb | I gata gennise tessera gatakia. (The cat gave birth to four kittens.) |
| genos (γένος) | race, kind, gender, lineage | noun | To anthropino genos. (The human race.) |
| gefsi (γεύση) | taste, flavor | noun | Ekhei poly kali gefsi. (It has a very good flavor.) |
| gefyra (γέφυρα) | bridge | noun | I gefyra tou Rio-Antirrio. (The Rio-Antirrio bridge.) |
| geros (γέρος) | old man | noun | O geros kathetai sto kafeneio. (The old man sits in the cafe.) |
| gi (γη) | earth, land | noun | I Gi gyrizei gyro apo ton ilio. (The Earth turns around the sun.) |
| gia (για) | for, about | preposition | Ayto einai gia sena. (This is for you.) |
| giagia (γιαγιά) | grandmother | noun | I giagia mou psinei psomi. (My grandmother bakes bread.) |
| gianni (Γιάννης) | John | noun (name) | O Giannis einai o filos mou. (John is my friend.) |
| giatros (γιατρός) | doctor | noun | Thelo na do ton giatro. (I want to see the doctor.) |
| gida (γίδα) | goat | noun | I gida vosketai sto vouno. (The goat grazes on the mountain.) |
| gigantas (γίγαντας) | giant | noun | O gigantas Polyfimos. (The giant Polyphemus.) |
| giorti (γιορτή) | celebration, holiday, feast | noun | Simera einai giorti. (Today is a holiday.) |
| glaros (γλάρος) | seagull | noun | Enas glaros peta pano apo to limani. (A seagull flies over the harbor.) |
| glentzi (γλέντι) | party, celebration | noun | Eixame ena megalo glenti. (We had a big party.) |
| glossa (γλώσσα) | tongue, language | noun | Mathainw tin ellinikh glossa. (I am learning the Greek language.) |
| glyko (γλυκό) | sweet, dessert | noun / adjective | Thelete kapoio glyko? (Would you like a dessert?) |
| glykos (γλυκός) | sweet | adjective | O kafes einai glykos. (The coffee is sweet.) |
| gnosi (γνώση) | knowledge | noun | I gnosi einai dynami. (Knowledge is power.) |
| gnomi (γνώμη) | opinion | noun | Ti gnomi echeis? (What is your opinion?) |
| gnorizo (γνωρίζω) | I know, I meet | verb | Se gnorizo ap’ to scholeio. (I know you from school.) |
| gonato (γόνατο) | knee | noun | Ptoua to gonato mou. (I hurt my knee.) |
| gonia (γωνία) | corner, angle | noun | Stin gonia tou dromou. (At the corner of the street.) |
| goneis (γονείς) | parents | noun | Oi goneis mou menoun sti Thessaloniki. (My parents live in Thessaloniki.) |
| gorgona (γοργόνα) | mermaid | noun | I gorgona tou Megalexandrou. (Alexander the Great’s mermaid.) |
| gourouni (γουρούνι) | pig | noun | To gourouni einai sto chorafi. (The pig is in the field.) |
| grafeio (γραφείο) | office, desk | noun | Eimai sto grafeio. (I am at the office.) |
| grafo (γράφω) | I write | verb | Grafo ena gramma. (I am writing a letter.) |
| gramma (γράμμα) | letter, written character | noun | Mathe ta grammata tou alfavitou. (Learn the letters of the alphabet.) |
| grammi (γραμμή) | line | noun | Perimene stin grammi. (Wait in line.) |
| grigora (γρήγορα) | quickly, fast | adverb | Trexe grigora! (Run quickly!) |
| gripi (γρίπη) | flu | noun | Echo gripi. (I have the flu.) |
| gymnasio (γυμνάσιο) | junior high school | noun | To paidi pigainei sto gymnasio. (The child goes to junior high school.) |
| gymnastiki (γυμναστική) | exercise, gymnastics | noun | Kano gymnastiki kathe proi. (I exercise every morning.) |
| gymnos (γυμνός) | naked, bare | adjective | Ta gymna podia. (Bare feet.) |
| gynaika (γυναίκα) | woman, wife | noun | I gynaika mou einai daskala. (My wife is a teacher.) |
| gyalia (γυαλιά) | glasses | noun | Chasa ta gyalia mou. (I lost my glasses.) |
| gyriz (γυρίζω) | I turn, I return | verb | Gyrizo sto spiti. (I am going back home.) |
| gyros (γύρος) | gyro, round | noun | Thelo ena pita gyro. (I want a gyro wrap.) |
| gaidaros (γάιδαρος) | donkey | noun | O gaidaros metaferei ta fortia. (The donkey carries the loads.) |
| gaia (Γαία) | Earth, goddess of the earth | noun | I Gaia einai i mitera olwn. (Gaia is the mother of all.) |
| galaxias (γαλαξίας) | galaxy | noun | O Galaxias mas. (Our galaxy.) |
| garifalo (γαρύφαλλο) | clove, carnation | noun | Ena garifalo sto vazo. (A carnation in the vase.) |
| genesis (γένεση) | origin, creation | noun | I genesi tou kosmou. (The origin of the world.) |
| gnomon (γνώμων) | one who knows, sundial pointer | noun | O gnomon tou rologiou. (The pointer of the sundial.) |
| glaukos (γλαυκός) | gleaming, blue-gray | adjective | Glaukopis Athina. (Bright-eyed Athena.) |
| gkri (γκρι) | gray | adjective | To gkri aftokinito. (The gray car.) |
| gkol (γκολ) | goal | noun | Egine gkol! (A goal was scored!) |
Descriptions
gala (γάλα)
The everyday word for milk. It is one of the first words learners pick up, and it is also the root of the English word “galaxy” through the Milky Way.
galazio (γαλάζιο)
Used for the pale blue of the Aegean sky and sea, and it is the shade found in the Greek flag’s stripes.
galini (γαλήνη)
Describes a peaceful, still state, whether of the sea, a place, or a person’s mind.
gamos (γάμος)
Greek weddings are famously large and lively. The word also refers to the state of being married.
gata (γάτα)
The standard word for a cat. Stray cats are a familiar sight in Greek villages and on the islands.
gavros (γαύρος)
A small silver fish that is a staple of Greek taverna menus, usually served marinated or fried.
gazoza (γκαζόζα)
A traditional sweet fizzy drink that older Greeks remember from kafeneia and village festivals.
geia (γεια)
The all-purpose greeting, used for both hello and goodbye. It comes from the older word for health, which is why it also appears in toasts.
geia sou (γεια σου)
The informal way to greet one person. Use “geia sas” for a group or for someone you should address formally.
geitonas (γείτονας)
Neighbors play a big role in Greek daily life, and the word is also the root of “geitonia”, meaning neighborhood.
gelio (γέλιο)
The noun for laughter. Its verb form “gelao” means to laugh.
gelao (γελάω)
The first-person present tense of the verb to laugh. It is a common verb for early learners.
gemato (γεμάτο)
Describes anything that is full or packed, from a glass to a crowded bus or a busy schedule.
genethlia (γενέθλια)
Used for birthdays, usually in the plural. Greeks also celebrate name days, which are often a bigger occasion.
genia (γενιά)
Refers to a group of people born around the same time, or to a line of descent in a family.
genikos (γενικός)
A common adjective in job titles and official language, similar to “general” in English.
gennao (γεννάω)
Means to give birth, and also to produce or create something more broadly.
genos (γένος)
An old and flexible word that gives English “genus”, “gene” and “gender” among others.
gefsi (γεύση)
Used for the sense of taste and for the flavor of food, as in “gefsi” meals at a restaurant.
gefyra (γέφυρα)
The standard word for a bridge, including the famous cable-stayed bridge across the Gulf of Corinth.
geros (γέρος)
Used for an elderly man. It is not always polite on its own, so Greeks often add a title or a first name.
gi (γη)
The planet Earth or the soil. It is the root of English words like “geography” and “geology”.
gia (για)
A very common little word that means “for” or “about”. It also appears in many everyday expressions.
giagia (γιαγιά)
The affectionate Greek word for grandma, often paired with a long list of home-cooked dishes.
gianni (Γιάννης)
One of the most common Greek male names, tied to the name day of Saint John on January 7.
giatros (γιατρός)
A very common word, and the root of English “pediatrics” and “psychiatrist” through “iatros”.
gida (γίδα)
Goats are common in rural Greece and their meat and cheese are staples on traditional menus.
gigantas (γίγαντας)
The word for a giant, and the root of English “gigantic”. It is famous from Greek myths like the tale of the Cyclops.
giorti (γιορτή)
Used for any festival, name day or national holiday, and widely used for religious feast days.
glaros (γλάρος)
A typical sight along the Greek coast and ferry routes, and one of the first sea birds visitors notice.
glentzi (γλέντι)
A lively gathering with food, music and dancing. It captures the spirit of a good Greek night out.
glossa (γλώσσα)
Means both the body part and a language. It is the root of English words like “glossary” and “polyglot”.
glyko (γλυκό)
Refers to anything sweet, and especially “glyko tou koutaliou”, a fruit preserve served on a spoon with water.
glykos (γλυκός)
The masculine adjective for sweet. It is used in the Greek coffee order “glykos”, meaning with sugar.
gnosi (γνώση)
The general word for knowledge. It is the root of English “gnostic” and “diagnosis”.
gnomi (γνώμη)
Used when asking for or giving a view. The related word “gnomon” refers to the part of a sundial that casts a shadow.
gnorizo (γνωρίζω)
Means to know a person or fact, and can also mean to get acquainted with someone.
gonato (γόνατο)
The body part. Greek has a few common phrases using it, such as kneeling to show respect.
gonia (γωνία)
The word for a street corner or the angle in geometry, and it is the root of English “polygon”.
goneis (γονείς)
The plural noun for parents. Family ties are very important in Greek culture.
gorgona (γοργόνα)
A mermaid in Greek folklore. Legend says she is Alexander the Great’s sister, and she appears in many folk tales and paintings.
gourouni (γουρούνι)
The common word for pig, also used as a mild insult for a messy person.
grafeio (γραφείο)
Used for both a workplace and a desk. The same word appears in “grafeio taxidion”, a travel agency.
grafo (γράφω)
The verb to write, and the source of English “graph”, “paragraph” and “autograph”.
gramma (γράμμα)
Means a letter of the alphabet or a written letter. It is the basis of English “grammar”.
grammi (γραμμή)
Used for any line, such as a queue, a train route or a drawn line.
grigora (γρήγορα)
A very common adverb in everyday speech, often shouted when someone is in a hurry.
gripi (γρίπη)
The Greek word for influenza. It is useful to know when visiting a pharmacy.
gymnasio (γυμνάσιο)
In Greece it is the middle school for ages 12 to 15. The word came from ancient Greek and gave rise to English “gymnasium”.
gymnastiki (γυμναστική)
General term for physical exercise and for the sport of gymnastics.
gymnos (γυμνός)
The origin of English “gymnasium”, since ancient Greeks trained naked. It now means bare or exposed.
gynaika (γυναίκα)
The standard word for woman or wife, and the source of English “gynecology”.
gyalia (γυαλιά)
Always plural in this sense. It is used for both eyeglasses and sunglasses.
gyriz (γυρίζω)
A versatile verb meaning to turn around, come back or spin, as in “gyrizo” to return from a trip.
gyros (γύρος)
Slices of meat cooked on a vertical spit and served in pita. The word means “turn”, from the way the meat rotates.
gaidaros (γάιδαρος)
Donkeys have long been used on Greek islands such as Santorini. The word is also an insult for a stubborn person.
gaia (Γαία)
The ancient Greek primal goddess of the Earth. Her name is the origin of English “geo” words and the Gaia hypothesis.
galaxias (γαλαξίας)
Literally “milky”, named after the pale band of stars in the night sky. It is the direct source of the English word “galaxy”.
garifalo (γαρύφαλλο)
Means both the clove spice and the carnation flower, which is also a Greek national flower of tradition.
genesis (γένεση)
The Greek word for origin or birth. It gave the first book of the Bible its English name.
gnomon (γνώμων)
An ancient word for someone who knows or judges. It now names the part of a sundial that casts the shadow.
glaukos (γλαυκός)
A poetic color word often used for Athena’s eyes. It gave English the term “glaucoma”.
gkri (γκρι)
A loanword from French “gris”. It is used for the color gray in modern Greek, as many color words are borrowed.
gkol (γκολ)
A football term borrowed from English and spelled as heard. You will hear it shouted loudly at any Greek match.