Here are 66 Greek words that start with I, running from “Idea” to “Iounios”. The list mixes everyday nouns, adjectives, verbs and place names, plus the months of the year. You can use it to build vocabulary, prepare for a trip to Greece, or see how many English words trace back to Greek.
Greek words are the building blocks of a language that has been written for more than 3,000 years. Many of them, like “idea” and “hypothesis,” passed into English almost unchanged, which is why Greek feels familiar even to beginners.
Below you’ll find the table with the word, English translation, part of speech, example usage and description for each entry.
Word: The Greek word written in Latin letters, so you can read and say it even if you don’t know the Greek alphabet yet.
English translation: The closest English meaning of the word, so you can quickly check what it stands for before reading further.
Part of speech: Shows whether the word is a noun, adjective, verb or adverb, which helps you see how to use it in a sentence.
Example usage: A short sentence in Greek letters with an English translation, so you can see how the word works in real conversation.
Description: A brief note on where the word comes from, how Greeks use it today, and any link to English words you already know.
Greek words
| Word | English translation | Part of speech | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idea | idea | noun | Έχω μια ιδέα. (I have an idea.) |
| Iatros | doctor | noun | Ο ιατρός εξέτασε τον ασθενή. (The doctor examined the patient.) |
| Iatreio | doctor’s office | noun | Πάω στο ιατρείο. (I’m going to the doctor’s office.) |
| Iatriki | medicine | noun | Σπουδάζει ιατρική. (She studies medicine.) |
| Istoria | history, story | noun | Μου άρεσε αυτή η ιστορία. (I liked this story.) |
| Ilios | sun | noun | Ο ήλιος καίει σήμερα. (The sun is burning hot today.) |
| Iliakos | solar | adjective | Βάζω ηλιακό πάνελ. (I’m installing a solar panel.) |
| Ilikia | age | noun | Ποια είναι η ηλικία σου; (What is your age?) |
| Ilikiomenos | elderly person | noun | Βοήθησε έναν ηλικιωμένο. (He helped an elderly man.) |
| Ilektrismos | electricity | noun | Κόπηκε ο ηλεκτρισμός. (The electricity was cut off.) |
| Ilektronikos | electronic | adjective | Θέλω ένα ηλεκτρονικό βιβλίο. (I want an e-book.) |
| Ipologistis | computer | noun | Ο υπολογιστής μου είναι αργός. (My computer is slow.) |
| Ipiresia | service | noun | Η υπηρεσία ήταν εξαιρετική. (The service was excellent.) |
| Ipothesi | case, hypothesis | noun | Η υπόθεση έκλεισε. (The case was closed.) |
| Ipnos | sleep | noun | Χρειάζομαι ύπνο. (I need sleep.) |
| Ipsos | height | noun | Το ύψος του βουνού είναι δύο χιλιάδες μέτρα. (The mountain’s height is two thousand meters.) |
| Ipsilos | high, tall | adjective | Ένα υψηλό κτίριο. (A tall building.) |
| Ierarchia | hierarchy | noun | Υπάρχει ιεραρχία στην εταιρεία. (There is a hierarchy in the company.) |
| Ieros | sacred, holy | adjective | Ο ιερός χώρος του ναού. (The sacred area of the temple.) |
| Iereas | priest | noun | Ο ιερέας διάβασε την ευχή. (The priest read the blessing.) |
| Idios | same, own | adjective | Έχουμε το ίδιο αυτοκίνητο. (We have the same car.) |
| Idiotis | private individual | noun | Ο ιδιώτης δεν πληρώνει φόρο εδώ. (The private individual doesn’t pay tax here.) |
| Idiaiteros | special, particular | adjective | Είναι ένα ιδιαίτερο δώρο. (It’s a special gift.) |
| Idioktitis | owner | noun | Ο ιδιοκτήτης του σπιτιού ήρθε. (The owner of the house came.) |
| Idiotita | property, capacity | noun | Με την ιδιότητα του δικηγόρου μίλησε. (He spoke in his capacity as a lawyer.) |
| Ideologia | ideology | noun | Η ιδεολογία του κόμματος. (The party’s ideology.) |
| Ifaisteio | volcano | noun | Το ηφαίστειο της Σαντορίνης. (The Santorini volcano.) |
| Ikogeneia | family | noun | Η οικογένειά μου είναι μεγάλη. (My family is big.) |
| Ikia | house, household | noun | Μια παλιά οικία στην Πλάκα. (An old house in Plaka.) |
| Ikonomia | economy, saving | noun | Η οικονομία πάει καλά. (The economy is doing well.) |
| Ikonomikos | economic, cheap | adjective | Ένα οικονομικό εισιτήριο. (A cheap ticket.) |
| Ikona | icon, picture | noun | Η εικόνα της Παναγίας. (The icon of the Virgin Mary.) |
| Ihos | sound | noun | Ακούω έναν ήχο. (I hear a sound.) |
| Ichnos | trace, footprint | noun | Βρήκαν ίχνη στο χώμα. (They found traces in the soil.) |
| Ichthys | fish | noun | Το σύμβολο του ιχθύος. (The symbol of the fish.) |
| Ichthyopoleio | fish shop | noun | Αγόρασα ψάρι από το ιχθυοπωλείο. (I bought fish from the fish shop.) |
| Ikanos | capable, able | adjective | Είναι ικανός μηχανικός. (He is a capable engineer.) |
| Ikanopoiisi | satisfaction | noun | Νιώθω μεγάλη ικανοποίηση. (I feel great satisfaction.) |
| Ischys | power, strength | noun | Η ισχύς του κινητήρα. (The power of the engine.) |
| Ischyros | strong, powerful | adjective | Ένας ισχυρός άνεμος. (A strong wind.) |
| Irini | peace | noun | Θέλουμε ειρήνη. (We want peace.) |
| Iremia | calm, quiet | noun | Απολαμβάνω την ηρεμία του χωριού. (I enjoy the calm of the village.) |
| Iroas | hero | noun | Ο ήρωας της ιστορίας. (The hero of the story.) |
| Imera | day | noun | Καλή ημέρα! (Have a good day!) |
| Imerologio | calendar, diary | noun | Κοίταξα το ημερολόγιο. (I looked at the calendar.) |
| Imisfairio | hemisphere | noun | Το βόρειο ημισφαίριο. (The northern hemisphere.) |
| Isos | maybe, perhaps | adverb | Ίσως έρθω αύριο. (Maybe I’ll come tomorrow.) |
| Isos (equal) | equal | adjective | Όλοι είναι ίσοι. (Everyone is equal.) |
| Isagogi | introduction | noun | Η εισαγωγή του βιβλίου. (The introduction of the book.) |
| Isodos | entrance | noun | Η είσοδος είναι από την πλατεία. (The entrance is from the square.) |
| Isitirio | ticket | noun | Αγόρασα δύο εισιτήρια. (I bought two tickets.) |
| Ime | I am | verb | Είμαι από την Αθήνα. (I am from Athens.) |
| Iparcho | I exist, there is | verb | Υπάρχουν πολλά νησιά. (There are many islands.) |
| Ipostirixi | support | noun | Χρειάζομαι υποστήριξη. (I need support.) |
| Idrima | institution, foundation | noun | Το ίδρυμα βοηθά τα παιδιά. (The foundation helps children.) |
| Idrotas | sweat | noun | Ιδρώτας έτρεχε στο μέτωπό του. (Sweat ran down his forehead.) |
| Italia | Italy | noun | Θα πάμε διακοπές στην Ιταλία. (We will go on holiday to Italy.) |
| Ispania | Spain | noun | Η Ισπανία έχει ωραίες παραλίες. (Spain has nice beaches.) |
| Islandia | Iceland | noun | Η Ισλανδία έχει ηφαίστεια. (Iceland has volcanoes.) |
| Ithaki | Ithaca | noun | Η Ιθάκη είναι το νησί του Οδυσσέα. (Ithaca is Odysseus’s island.) |
| Ierosolyma | Jerusalem | noun | Ταξίδεψε στα Ιεροσόλυμα. (He traveled to Jerusalem.) |
| Irakleio | Heraklion | noun | Το αεροδρόμιο του Ηρακλείου. (The Heraklion airport.) |
| Ioannina | Ioannina | noun | Τα Ιωάννινα έχουν μια λίμνη. (Ioannina has a lake.) |
| Ianouarios | January | noun | Τον Ιανουάριο κάνει κρύο. (It’s cold in January.) |
| Ioulios | July | noun | Τον Ιούλιο πάμε διακοπές. (We go on holiday in July.) |
| Iounios | June | noun | Τον Ιούνιο ανοίγουν τα σχολεία για διακοπές. (In June the schools close for the holidays.) |
Descriptions
Idea
From Greek ιδέα, the word that gave English “idea.” Plato used it for the perfect forms behind everyday things, and today it simply means a thought or plan.
Iatros
The formal word for a physician, found on clinic signs and in medical writing. In daily speech Greeks usually say γιατρός (giatros), which comes from the same ancient root.
Iatreio
A medical practice or clinic where a doctor sees patients. It is built from iatros, the Greek word for doctor.
Iatriki
The field of medicine, both as a science and as a university subject. It traces back to the ancient Greek tradition of Hippocrates.
Istoria
One word covers both “history” and “story” in Greek. Herodotus used it to mean “inquiry,” which is why he is called the father of history.
Ilios
The Greek word for the sun, familiar from the Greek summer. It is the root of English words like “helium” and “heliocentric.”
Iliakos
Describes anything related to the sun, such as solar energy or sunlight. Also used for a type of sun lotion called ηλιακό.
Ilikia
Used for a person’s age or stage of life. It is a common word in forms, conversation and age-group labels.
Ilikiomenos
A respectful term for an older person. It is the standard way to refer to the elderly in Greek.
Ilektrismos
Built on ήλεκτρον (electron), the Greek word for amber, which ancient observers noticed could attract light objects when rubbed.
Ilektronikos
Used for anything that runs on electronics, from email to e-commerce. Greek gave the word to English through “electron.”
Ipologistis
The everyday Greek word for a computer, literally “the one who calculates.” It comes from the verb υπολογίζω, meaning to calculate.
Ipiresia
Covers a service in a shop or restaurant and also a government office or department. It also appears in the word for military service.
Ipothesi
Can mean a legal case, a matter, or a scientific hypothesis. It is the source of the English word “hypothesis.”
Ipnos
The Greek word for sleep. Hypnos was also the name of the Greek god of sleep, and he lends his name to “hypnosis.”
Ipsos
Used for the height of buildings, mountains or people. The related adjective υψηλός means high or tall.
Ipsilos
Describes something high, tall or of high rank. It can also describe prices, temperatures and standards.
Ierarchia
Literally “sacred rule,” it first described ranks of priests. It now covers any ordered system of levels in an organization.
Ieros
Describes anything holy, from temples to the Iera Odos, the Sacred Way to Eleusis. It is the root of “hieroglyph,” meaning sacred carving.
Iereas
The word for a priest, especially in the Greek Orthodox Church. In ancient times it was used for priests of the Olympian gods.
Idios
A flexible word meaning “same,” “own” or “very.” It is the root of English words like “idiom” and “idiosyncrasy.”
Idiotis
Ancient Greeks used it for a person who stayed out of public life. English turned it into “idiot,” while Greek still uses it neutrally for a private citizen.
Idiaiteros
Describes something out of the ordinary or specific to one case. It is widely used in compliments and recommendations.
Idioktitis
Literally “one who has possession of his own.” Used for owners of homes, shops and land.
Idiotita
Means a characteristic or a role someone holds. Also used for the legal status of a person.
Ideologia
A system of ideas and beliefs, often political. It is a Greek-built word that English borrowed unchanged in meaning.
Ifaisteio
Named after Hephaestus, the god of fire and metalworking. Santorini and Nisyros are well-known volcanic sites in Greece.
Ikogeneia
Written οικογένεια in Greek, with the first syllable pronounced “i.” It is one of the first words learners pick up.
Ikia
A more formal word for a home than σπίτι. It shares a root with “economy,” which originally meant household management.
Ikonomia
Pronounced “ikonomia” and written οικονομία. It began as household management and now covers national economies and personal savings.
Ikonomikos
Means economic in a general sense and also “budget-friendly.” Greeks use it for inexpensive hotels and flights.
Ikona
Written εικόνα, it means a picture or image and also a religious icon. In technology it is the word for a computer icon.
Ihos
The word for any sound or noise. It is related to the English word “echo.”
Ichnos
Means a footprint, trail or faint trace of something. Detectives and trackers use it, and it is behind the word “ichnology.”
Ichthys
The ancient and formal word for fish. Early Christians used it as a symbol, with the letters standing for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
Ichthyopoleio
A fishmonger’s store, common in Greek harbor towns. Written ιχθυοπωλείο, it combines the words for fish and selling.
Ikanos
Describes someone skilled or competent. It also appears in the phrase ικανός αριθμός, meaning “a sufficient number.”
Ikanopoiisi
Used for the feeling of being pleased or having needs met. It is common in customer surveys and reviews.
Ischys
Used for physical, political or technical power. The related phrase “ισχύει” means “it is valid” or “it applies.”
Ischyros
Describes forces, people, arguments and winds. It comes from ισχύς, the word for strength.
Irini
Written ειρήνη, this is also a popular girl’s name in Greece. In mythology Eirene was the goddess of peace.
Iremia
Written ηρεμία. It describes peace and quiet and is often used when talking about a relaxing holiday.
Iroas
Written ήρωας. In ancient times it meant a demigod such as Heracles, and now it covers any brave person or lead character.
Imera
Written ημέρα, with the first sound as “i.” It appears in greetings like “kalimera” (good morning).
Imerologio
Means both a wall calendar and a personal diary. It is built from imera (day) and logos (account).
Imisfairio
Literally “half a sphere.” It is used in geography and also for the two halves of the brain.
Isos
A very common word to express uncertainty. It is also the way Greeks hedge when they do not want to commit.
Isos (equal)
Describes things that are the same in size, value or rights. It is the root of “isosceles” and “isotope.”
Isagogi
Written εισαγωγή. It means the opening section of a text and also the act of importing goods.
Isodos
Written είσοδος. It is the standard word on doors and signs for an entry point.
Isitirio
Written εισιτήριο. It is the word for any ticket, from the bus to the cinema to the ferry.
Ime
Written είμαι, this is the first-person form of the verb “to be.” It is among the most used words in Greek.
Iparcho
Written υπάρχω. The third person form υπάρχει means “there is” and is used constantly.
Ipostirixi
Written υποστήριξη. It covers emotional support, technical support and political backing.
Idrima
Written ίδρυμα. It names a charity, a university or any organization that has been established.
Idrotas
Written ιδρώτας. It is a common word in Greek summers and in sayings about hard work.
Italia
Written Ιταλία. It is one of Greece’s closest neighbors across the Ionian Sea.
Ispania
Written Ισπανία. Spain is a popular travel destination for Greeks.
Islandia
Written Ισλανδία. The Greek name is a direct borrowing of the island’s name.
Ithaki
Written Ιθάκη. The Ionian island is the home of Odysseus in Homer’s poem and the subject of a famous poem by Cavafy.
Ierosolyma
Written Ιεροσόλυμα. The Greek form of Jerusalem is used in the New Testament and Orthodox tradition.
Irakleio
Written Ηράκλειο. It is the largest city on Crete and is named after Heracles.
Ioannina
Written Ιωάννινα. It is a city in northwestern Greece known for its lake and silver crafts.
Ianouarios
Written Ιανουάριος. It is named after the Roman god Janus.
Ioulios
Written Ιούλιος. It is named after Julius Caesar and is peak holiday season in Greece.
Iounios
Written Ιούνιος. The name comes from the Roman goddess Juno.