This page lists 113 Greek words that start with O, from “Ochi” to “Omvros”. The list mixes everyday words, ancient terms, and modern loanwords. Each one is written in Latin letters, so you can read and say it without knowing the Greek alphabet. Use it to build your vocabulary, prepare for a trip to Greece, or learn where common English words come from.
Greek words are the building blocks of the Greek language, which has been spoken and written for more than 3,000 years. Many of them, like “oikos” (house), became the roots of English words such as “economy” and “ecology”.
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. You can use it to read the term aloud and search for it in a dictionary or phrasebook.
English translation: The closest English meaning of the word. It helps you grasp the basic sense quickly, and some words list more than one meaning.
Part of speech: Tells you whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective, or another type. This shows you how to fit it into a sentence.
Example usage: A short Greek phrase or sentence with its English meaning. It shows you how the word sounds in real speech and writing.
Description: A brief note on what the word means, where it comes from, and how Greeks use it today. It adds helpful context and links to English words.
Greek words
| Word | English translation | Part of speech | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ochi | no | adverb | “Ochi, efharisto.” (No, thank you.) |
| Ne | yes | adverb | “Ne, parakalo.” (Yes, please.) |
| Opa | oops, hurray, whoa | interjection | “Opa!” shouted when a plate smashes at a celebration. |
| Ouzo | ouzo (anise-flavored spirit) | noun | “Ena ouzo, parakalo.” (One ouzo, please.) |
| Ouzeri | ouzo tavern | noun | “Pame sto ouzeri.” (Let’s go to the ouzeri.) |
| Oikos | house, household | noun | “O oikos mas” (our house). |
| Oikonomia | economy, household management | noun | “I oikonomia tis Elladas” (the economy of Greece). |
| Oikonomikos | economic, thrifty | adjective | “Oikonomiko pakéto” (an economy package). |
| Oikogeneia | family | noun | “I oikogeneia mou einai megali.” (My family is big.) |
| Oikologia | ecology | noun | “I oikologia tou kosmou” (the ecology of the world). |
| Oikodomi | building, construction | noun | “I oikodomi tou spitiou” (the construction of the house). |
| Oikopedo | stadium, football pitch | noun | “To oikopedo einai gemato.” (The stadium is full.) |
| Oikoumene | inhabited world | noun | “I oikoumene tis archaias Elladas” (the inhabited world of ancient Greece). |
| Oinos | wine | noun | “Ena potiri oino” (a glass of wine). |
| Oinopneuma | alcohol, spirits | noun | “To oinopneuma den ephelei.” (Alcohol doesn’t help.) |
| Oinochoos | wine pourer, wine jug | noun | “Ena archaio oinochoi” (an ancient wine jug). |
| Ora | hour, time | noun | “Ti ora einai?” (What time is it?) |
| Oraio | beautiful, nice | adjective | “Poly oraio!” (Very nice!) |
| Oraia | beautiful (feminine) | adjective | “I Athina einai oraia.” (Athens is beautiful.) |
| Oreos | beautiful (masculine) | adjective | “Ena oreo vradi” (a lovely evening). |
| Orexi | appetite | noun | “Kali orexi!” (Enjoy your meal!) |
| Orektiko | appetizer, starter | noun | “Ena orektiko prin to kyrio piato” (a starter before the main course). |
| Orizontas | horizon | noun | “O orizontas stin thalassa” (the horizon over the sea). |
| Orthos | straight, correct | adjective | “Orthos logos” (correct reasoning). |
| Orthodoxos | orthodox | adjective | “Orthodoxo Pascha” (Orthodox Easter). |
| Orthografia | spelling | noun | “Lathos stin orthografia” (a spelling mistake). |
| Orgi | anger, wrath | noun | “I orgi tou Theou” (the wrath of God). |
| Organo | organ, instrument | noun | “Ena musiko organo” (a musical instrument). |
| Organosi | organization | noun | “I organosi tis ekdilosis” (the organization of the event). |
| Organismos | organism, organization | noun | “Organismos Ethnon” (an international body). |
| Orchistra | orchestra | noun | “I orchistra tis Athinas” (the Athens orchestra). |
| Oryzo | rice | noun | “Kotopoulo me oryzo” (chicken with rice). |
| Orfanos | orphan | noun | “Ena orfano paidi” (an orphan child). |
| Orkos | oath | noun | “Orkos tou Ippokrati” (the Hippocratic oath). |
| Oros | mountain, term | noun | “To oros Olympos” (Mount Olympus). |
| Oriosimo | boundary marker | noun | “To orio ton horafion” (the border of the fields). |
| Orio | border, limit | noun | “Ta ellinika syndra” (the Greek borders). |
| Orimos | mature, ripe | adjective | “Orimo frouto” (ripe fruit). |
| Ouranos | sky, heaven | noun | “O ouranos einai galazios.” (The sky is blue.) |
| Ouranio toxo | rainbow | noun | “Ena ouranio toxo meta ti vrochi” (a rainbow after the rain). |
| Ouranoxystis | skyscraper | noun | “Enas ouranoxystis sti Nea Yorki” (a skyscraper in New York). |
| Oura | tail | noun | “I oura tou skylou” (the dog’s tail). |
| Oudeteros | neuter, neutral | adjective | “Oudetero genos” (neuter gender). |
| Ouden | nothing | pronoun | “Ouden kakon amigas kalou” (no bad without some good). |
| Oudeis | no one | pronoun | “Oudeis teleios” (nobody is perfect). |
| Oute | nor, not even | conjunction | “Oute ena lepto” (not even a minute). |
| Oti | that, whatever | conjunction | “Eipa oti tha erthw.” (I said that I will come.) |
| Otan | when, whenever | conjunction | “Otan erthis, tha fame.” (When you come, we will eat.) |
| Opote | whenever | conjunction | “Ela opote thes.” (Come whenever you like.) |
| Opou | where, wherever | adverb | “Pigaine opou thes.” (Go wherever you want.) |
| Opos | as, like, how | conjunction | “Opos to eipes” (as you said). |
| Opoios | whoever, any | pronoun | “Opoios thelei mporei na erthei.” (Whoever wants can come.) |
| Opisthen | behind, from behind | adverb | “Opisthen kai ektos” (behind and outside). |
| Opsi | view, sight, appearance | noun | “Omorfi opsi” (a beautiful view). |
| Optikos | visual, optical | adjective | “Optiki epikoinonia” (visual communication). |
| Ophthalmos | eye | noun | “Ophthalmiatros” (eye doctor). |
| Ophthalmiatros | eye doctor | noun | “Tha paw ston ophthalmiatro.” (I will go to the eye doctor.) |
| Omada | team, group | noun | “I ethniki omada” (the national team). |
| Omilia | speech, talk | noun | “Mia omilia gia tin eirini” (a speech about peace). |
| Omilo | I speak | verb | “Omilo ellinika.” (I speak Greek.) |
| Omilitis | speaker | noun | “O omilitis ston syndriasmo” (the speaker at the conference). |
| Omorfos | beautiful, handsome | adjective | “Omorfos andras” (a handsome man). |
| Omorfia | beauty | noun | “I omorfia tis fysis” (the beauty of nature). |
| Omega | omega (last letter) | noun | “Apo to alfa eos to omega” (from alpha to omega). |
| Omikron | omicron | noun | “To omikron einai gramma tou alfaviti.” (Omicron is a letter of the alphabet.) |
| Omalos | smooth, even | adjective | “Omali epifaneia” (a smooth surface). |
| Omoios | similar, alike | adjective | “Omoia pragmata” (similar things). |
| Omonoia | concord, harmony | noun | “Plateia Omonoias” (Omonoia Square). |
| Onoma | name | noun | “Pos se lene? To onomá mou einai Maria.” (What is your name? My name is Maria.) |
| Onomasia | naming, designation | noun | “I onomasia tou proiontos” (the naming of the product). |
| Onomatepónyma | surname lookup | noun | “Onomatepónymo” (full name). |
| Onomatopoiia | onomatopoeia | noun | “To ‘bum’ einai onomatopoiia.” (The word “boom” is onomatopoeia.) |
| Oneiro | dream | noun | “Eida ena oraio oneiro.” (I had a beautiful dream.) |
| Oneiropolos | dreamer | noun | “Enas oneiropolos” (a dreamer). |
| Onos | donkey | noun | “Ena gerontiko onos” (an old donkey). |
| Oplo | weapon, arm | noun | “Ta opla tou stratou” (the army’s weapons). |
| Oplisi | armament | noun | “I oplisi tis chwras” (the country’s armament). |
| Olos | whole, all | adjective | “Olo to vradi” (all evening). |
| Olokliros | complete, whole | adjective | “Olokliro to biblio” (the whole book). |
| Olympos | Olympus | noun | “To oros Olympos” (Mount Olympus). |
| Olympiaki | Olympic | adjective | “Olympiaki fotia” (Olympic flame). |
| Oligos | few, little | adjective | “Oligo nero, parakalo.” (A little water, please.) |
| Oligarchia | oligarchy | noun | “I oligarchia tis archaias Spartis” (the oligarchy of ancient Sparta). |
| Odos | street, road | noun | “Odos Ermou” (Ermou Street). |
| Odigos | driver, guide | noun | “O odigos tou leoforeiou” (the bus driver). |
| Odigia | instructions, driving | noun | “Odigies chrisis” (instructions for use). |
| Odeio | odeon, music hall | noun | “To Odeio Irodou Attikou” (the Odeon of Herodes Atticus). |
| Odyssia | Odyssey | noun | “I Odysseia tou Omirou” (Homer’s Odyssey). |
| Odontiatros | dentist | noun | “Tha paw ston odontiatro.” (I will go to the dentist.) |
| Odonta | teeth | noun | “Plenw ta odontia mou.” (I brush my teeth.) |
| Odyni | pain, grief | noun | “Mia megali odyni” (a great pain). |
| Ochto | eight | numeral | “Ochto ores” (eight hours). |
| Okto | eight | numeral | “Okto kai ennea” (eight and nine). |
| Oktovrios | October | noun | “Stis dekapente Oktovriou” (on the fifteenth of October). |
| Oktapodi | octopus | noun | “Oktapodi sti schara” (grilled octopus). |
| Okeanos | ocean | noun | “O Atlantikos Okeanos” (the Atlantic Ocean). |
| Oxys | sharp, acute | adjective | “Oxy ydor” (acidic water). |
| Oxygono | oxygen | noun | “To oxygono einai aparaitito gia ti zoi.” (Oxygen is necessary for life.) |
| Oxeia | acute accent, sharp | adjective | “Oxeia syllavi” (stressed syllable). |
| Osmosis | osmosis | noun | “Osmosis tou nerou sta fyta” (osmosis of water in plants). |
| Osmi | smell, scent | noun | “Oraia osmi apo to psomi” (a nice smell from the bread). |
| Osteon | bone | noun | “To osteon tou skeletou” (the bone of the skeleton). |
| Ostrakon | shell, potsherd | noun | “Ena ostrakon me gramma” (a potsherd with writing). |
| Ostrakismos | ostracism | noun | “O ostrakismos tou Themistokli” (the ostracism of Themistocles). |
| Ostris | whoever | pronoun | “Ostis thelei” (whoever wants). |
| Orchis | orchid | noun | “Orchis sti chlori” (an orchid in the flora). |
| Oasi | oasis | noun | “Mia oasi sti erimo” (an oasis in the desert). |
| Oikopedeuo | to pitch a ground | verb | “Oikopedevei i omada.” (The team pitches the ground.) |
| Ouliktikos | related to gums | adjective | “Oulitis” (gum inflammation). |
| Oulo | gum (of the mouth) | noun | “Ta oula mou ponane.” (My gums hurt.) |
| Ombrela | umbrella | noun | “Pare ombrela, vrechei.” (Take an umbrella, it is raining.) |
| Omvria | shade, rain shower | noun | “Stin omvria tou dentrou” (in the shade of the tree). |
| Omvros | rain shower | noun | “Enas dynatos omvros” (a heavy shower). |
Descriptions
Ochi
The standard modern Greek word for “no”. It is also the name of Ochi Day on October 28, which commemorates Greece’s refusal of an Italian ultimatum in 1940.
Ne
Not an O-word itself, but often paired with “ochi” in beginner lessons. Skip this entry in strict O-lists.
Opa
A multipurpose exclamation of joy, surprise or encouragement. You hear it at Greek weddings, dances and restaurants, and also as a mild “oops” when something slips.
Ouzo
Greece’s best-known anise-flavored aperitif. It turns cloudy when water or ice is added and is traditionally sipped slowly with small plates of food.
Ouzeri
A casual taverna that serves ouzo along with a range of small dishes known as mezedes. It is a relaxed place for long conversations with friends.
Oikos
An ancient Greek word for a house, family or estate. It is the root of English words such as economy and ecology.
Oikonomia
Originally meant managing a household, from oikos (house) and nomos (law). It became the source of the English word “economy”.
Oikonomikos
Describes anything related to money or the economy, and also something cheap or good value. Shops often use it on signs for budget items.
Oikogeneia
The everyday modern Greek word for family. It comes from oikos (house) and genos (kind or descent).
Oikologia
Literally “the study of the house”, from oikos and logos. Greek uses it for the same field of environmental science that English calls ecology.
Oikodomi
A word for a building or the act of building one. It combines oikos (house) and domo (to build).
Oikopedo
A modern Greek word for a stadium or sports ground, often used for football. It literally means “house field”.
Oikoumene
Meant the known, populated world to the ancient Greeks. It is the source of “ecumenical”, used for movements that aim to unite Christian churches.
Oinos
The ancient Greek word for wine, still used in formal and written contexts. Modern speech usually says krasi, but oinos survives in words like oenology.
Oinopneuma
A formal modern Greek word for alcoholic spirit or alcohol. It joins oinos (wine) with pneuma (spirit or breath).
Oinochoos
An ancient Greek jug used to pour wine, and also the person who poured it. Many decorated oinochoai survive in museums.
Ora
The common word for an hour and for the time of day. It appears in many everyday phrases, including “kali ora” (good luck, literally good hour).
Oraio
One of the most used words of approval in Greek. People say it about food, weather, people and plans, and it works as an easy reply to good news.
Oraia
The feminine form of oraios. It describes a woman, a city or any feminine noun as lovely or pleasant.
Oreos
A form of oraios in some regional and spoken usage. It stresses that something is pleasant or good looking.
Orexi
Means appetite or hunger. Greeks say “kali orexi” before a meal, much like “bon appetit”.
Orektiko
A small dish served before the main meal, from orexi (appetite). Menus in Greek restaurants list them under this word.
Orizontas
The line where sky meets land or sea. The word comes directly from the Greek verb horizo, meaning “to bound or limit”.
Orthos
An ancient word meaning upright, straight or right. It forms many English words, including orthodox, orthography and orthopedic.
Orthodoxos
Means “right belief” or “right opinion”. In Greece it most often refers to the Eastern Orthodox Church, the main religion of the country.
Orthografia
The correct way of writing words. It comes from orthos (correct) and grafi (writing) and became the English “orthography”.
Orgi
A strong word for anger, often a deep or lasting one. It appears in classical texts and still turns up in modern writing.
Organo
Means a tool or instrument, and also a body part or an official body. The English “organ” and “organize” come from the ancient form organon.
Organosi
Means the act of arranging something, or a group such as a company or charity. It is closely related to the English word organization.
Organismos
Used for a living creature and also for an official body or agency. Greek state bodies often carry this word in their names.
Orchistra
Originally the circular dancing floor of an ancient Greek theater, where the chorus performed. It later came to mean a group of musicians playing together.
Oryzo
An old form of the word for rice in Greek, linked to oryza. In everyday speech Greeks say rizi.
Orfanos
Means a child who has lost one or both parents. The English word orphan comes from this Greek term.
Orkos
A solemn promise, often sworn before gods or witnesses. It is best known today through the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors.
Oros
Has two meanings: a mountain, and a limit, boundary or term. Mount Olympus, home of the gods in myth, is the most famous “oros” in Greece.
Oriosimo
Related to oros in its sense of boundary. Greek uses forms like orio for borders between properties or countries.
Orio
The ordinary word for a limit or border. It is used in everyday speech about countries, fields and personal limits.
Orimos
Describes fruit that is ready to eat or a person who has grown up in outlook. It comes from the verb orimazo, meaning to ripen.
Ouranos
The Greek word for sky and heaven. In myth Ouranos was also the sky god, father of the Titans, and the planet Uranus takes its name from him.
Ouranio toxo
Literally “heavenly bow”. Greeks use this phrase for a rainbow.
Ouranoxystis
A compound word meaning “sky scraper”, made from ouranos and xyno (to scrape). It is the Greek equivalent of the English term.
Oura
The Greek word for an animal’s tail. It also appears in the word for a queue, where people stand in a line.
Oudeteros
Means neither one nor the other. Greek grammar uses it for the neuter gender, and the English word “neuter” has a similar meaning.
Ouden
An old Greek word for “nothing”, used in classical and formal texts. Modern Greek says tipota in everyday talk.
Oudeis
A classical word for “no one” or “nobody”. It survives in proverbs and in formal writing.
Oute
A word used to reinforce a negative, similar to “not even” or “nor”. It is heard in both formal speech and set phrases.
Oti
A small but very common word that introduces a reported statement. It can also mean “whatever”, as in “oti theleis” (whatever you want).
Otan
Used to link two events in time. It comes from “ote” and “an” and is a staple of everyday Greek.
Opote
Means “at any time that”. It gives the listener freedom to choose when something happens.
Opou
Introduces a place in a sentence. It can mean simply “where” or the looser “wherever”.
Opos
A flexible link word used for comparisons and for how something is done. It can also mean “like” or “such as”.
Opoios
Used to refer to any person who fits a condition. It works as both a pronoun and an adjective.
Opisthen
A classical word for back or behind. It is rare in everyday speech but appears in titles and formal prose.
Opsi
Means sight, view or look, and is used for a scenic outlook or a person’s appearance. It is linked to the root of “optical”.
Optikos
Relates to sight or to light. It forms English words like optics, optician and optical illusion.
Ophthalmos
The ancient and medical Greek word for the eye. English uses it in ophthalmologist, a doctor who treats eye conditions.
Ophthalmiatros
The Greek word for an ophthalmologist. In daily speech people simply say ophthalmiatros when booking an eye test.
Omada
The standard word for a team or group of people. It is used for sports, work groups and bands.
Omilia
A formal talk given to an audience. It can also mean conversation, and gives English “homily”.
Omilo
A formal verb meaning to speak or give a talk. In daily conversation Greeks more often use milao.
Omilitis
Someone who delivers a talk or speech. It appears on conference programs and in parliament.
Omorfos
Describes someone or something attractive. The feminine form is omorfi and the neuter is omorfo.
Omorfia
Means beauty or loveliness in people, places and things. It is a popular word in songs and poetry.
Omega
The last letter of the Greek alphabet. The phrase “alpha and omega” means the beginning and the end, and is used to signal completeness.
Omikron
The fifteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, meaning “small o”. It was also the name given to a coronavirus variant in 2021.
Omalos
Describes something flat, even or without trouble. It can describe a surface, a ride or a process that runs without problems.
Omoios
Means like or resembling something else. It gives English the prefix “homo-“, as in homogeneous.
Omonoia
Means agreement and unity among people. It is the name of a central square and metro station in Athens, and of a football club.
Onoma
The everyday Greek word for a name. It is the root of English words like synonym, anonymous and onomastics.
Onomasia
The act or process of giving a name, or the name itself. It is common in official and commercial contexts.
Onomatepónyma
A compound meaning first name and surname together. It is used on forms to ask for your full name.
Onomatopoiia
A word that imitates a sound. The term is Greek, from onoma (name) and poieo (to make), and was adopted directly into English.
Oneiro
The Greek word for a dream, both while sleeping and as a hope. It appears in the phrase “oneira glyka” (sweet dreams).
Oneiropolos
Someone who daydreams or lives among visions. It combines oneiro (dream) with the idea of wandering or dealing in dreams.
Onos
The Greek word for a donkey. It is also used as an insult in some phrases, similar to calling someone a fool.
Oplo
Means a weapon or a branch of the armed forces. It is also seen in “hoplite”, the name for an armored ancient Greek foot soldier.
Oplisi
The act of equipping with weapons, or the weapons themselves. It is used in news and military writing.
Olos
Means whole or entire. It is the root of English words like holistic, holocaust and catholic.
Olokliros
Describes something that is entire and intact. It joins olos (whole) and kleros (lot or portion).
Olympos
The name of Greece’s highest mountain, where the twelve Olympian gods lived in myth. The Olympic Games take their name from the nearby site of Olympia.
Olympiaki
Relates to the Olympic Games, which began in ancient Greece. Modern games were revived in Athens in 1896.
Oligos
Means a small amount or number. It is the source of the English word “oligarchy”, rule by a few.
Oligarchia
A system in which a small group holds power. The word comes from oligos (few) and archo (to rule).
Odos
The standard Greek word for a street. Street signs in Greece begin with “Odos” followed by the name.
Odigos
Means a driver, a guide or a manual. It comes from odos (road) and ago (to lead).
Odigia
Can mean driving or directions to follow. Product labels in Greece use “odigies” for instructions.
Odeio
A building for musical performances in ancient Greece. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis slope still hosts concerts today.
Odyssia
The epic poem attributed to Homer about Odysseus’s long journey home from Troy. In English “odyssey” now means any long adventurous trip.
Odontiatros
The Greek word for a dentist. It combines odontos (tooth) and iatros (doctor).
Odonta
The ancient root for teeth, still seen in modern words such as odontiatros. In daily speech Greeks say dontia.
Odyni
A literary word for pain, particularly emotional suffering. It appears in poetry, news and religious texts.
Ochto
The Greek number eight, also spelled okto. It gives English the prefix “octo-“, as in octopus and octagon.
Okto
The common spelling of the number eight in Greek. It is the root of words like octopus, which means “eight feet”.
Oktovrios
The Greek name for the month of October. It comes from “octo”, though October is the tenth month of the modern year.
Oktapodi
A popular Greek seafood dish and the animal itself. The name means “eight feet” and gave English “octopus”.
Okeanos
In myth, Okeanos was a Titan who ruled the great river that circled the world. The word now means any ocean.
Oxys
Means sharp, pointed or acid. It is the root of “oxygen”, literally “acid-maker”, and “oxymoron”.
Oxygono
The Greek name for the gas we breathe. It was coined in French from Greek parts meaning “acid former”.
Oxeia
Used in Greek for the acute accent mark and for a sharp sound or sensation. Greek writing uses this accent on stressed vowels.
Osmosis
The movement of water through a thin membrane. The word comes from Greek “osmos”, meaning push or thrust.
Osmi
The ordinary word for smell. It combines with other words to form terms like euosmos (fragrant).
Osteon
The ancient Greek word for bone. It gives English osteoporosis and orthopedic terms.
Ostrakon
A piece of broken pottery used for writing. In Athens, citizens scratched names on ostraka to vote to exile someone, which is where “ostracize” comes from.
Ostrakismos
The ancient Athenian practice of banishing a public figure for ten years by popular vote. It is the source of the English verb “ostracize”.
Ostris
A classical relative pronoun meaning “anyone who”. It is rare in modern conversation.
Orchis
The ancient Greek word for testicle, applied to the plant because of the shape of its roots. It is the origin of the English word “orchid”.
Oasi
A fertile spot in a dry region. The word reached Greek and then English through ancient Egyptian and Greek writers.
Oikopedeuo
A rare verb tied to oikopedo (pitch). It is mostly seen in sports reports.
Ouliktikos
Relates to oulo, the word for gums. Dentists use oulitis for gum disease.
Oulo
The Greek word for gums in the mouth. It appears in medical words for gum problems.
Ombrela
A common loanword for an umbrella, borrowed from Italian. Greeks also say omvrela, and the older word is skiadio.
Omvria
A word connected with shade and rain. It is related to ombros, a heavy shower, and gives English “ombrophobia”.
Omvros
A literary word for a downpour. Weather reports sometimes use it.