This page lists 72 Greek words that start with F, from “fagito” to “fyto”. The list covers everyday vocabulary such as food, family, nature, feelings, and daily routines. You can use it to build your Greek vocabulary, prepare for a trip to Greece, or study for a language class.
Greek words are the building blocks of one of the oldest written languages still spoken today. Many of them have traveled far beyond Greece, and “fotografia” literally means “writing with light”, which is where the English word “photograph” comes from.
Below you’ll find the table with each word, its English translation, its part of speech, an example sentence, and a short description.
Word: The Greek word written in Latin letters, so you can read it and say it aloud without knowing the Greek alphabet.
English translation: The closest English meaning of the word, so you can quickly check what it means and pick the right one.
Part of speech: Shows whether the word is a noun, verb, or adjective, which helps you understand how to use it in a sentence.
Example usage: A short Greek sentence with its English translation, so you can see how people use the word in real conversation.
Description: The Greek spelling, along with background on the word’s origin, related English terms, and cultural notes that make it easier to remember.
Greek words
| Word | English translation | Part of speech | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| fagito | food, meal | noun | To fagito eine etoimo. (The food is ready.) |
| fainomeno | phenomenon | noun | Aftό eine ena periergo fainomeno. (This is a strange phenomenon.) |
| fakelos | envelope, folder, file | noun | Vale ta eggrafa sto fakelo. (Put the documents in the folder.) |
| fakes | lentils | noun | I giagia gotvei fakes kathe Paraskevi. (Grandma cooks lentils every Friday.) |
| falaina | whale | noun | I falaina kolympa sto vathos. (The whale swims in the depths.) |
| fanari | lantern, headlight | noun | Anapse to fanari. (Turn on the lantern.) |
| fanatikos | fanatic, avid fan | noun / adjective | Einai fanatikos opados tou Panathinaikou. (He is a devoted fan of Panathinaikos.) |
| fantasia | imagination, fantasy | noun | Ta paidia echoun poli fantasia. (Children have a lot of imagination.) |
| fantasma | ghost, phantom | noun | Eida ena fantasma sto spiti. (I saw a ghost in the house.) |
| farangi | gorge, ravine | noun | Perpatisame sto farangi tis Samarias. (We walked in the Samaria Gorge.) |
| faros | lighthouse | noun | O faros fotizei ti thalassa. (The lighthouse lights up the sea.) |
| farmako | medicine, drug | noun | Pare to farmako sou. (Take your medicine.) |
| farmakeio | pharmacy | noun | To farmakeio einai kleisto simera. (The pharmacy is closed today.) |
| fasaria | commotion, fuss | noun | Eginе mia megali fasaria. (There was a big fuss.) |
| fasolada | bean soup | noun | I fasolada einai to ethniko faghito. (Fasolada is the national dish.) |
| fasoli | bean | noun | Agorasa fasolia apo tin agora. (I bought beans from the market.) |
| fengari | moon | noun | To fengari einai plires apopse. (The moon is full tonight.) |
| fevgo | I leave, I go away | verb | Fevgo apo to spiti stis okto. (I leave the house at eight.) |
| fetta | slice, feta cheese | noun | Thelo mia fetta psomi. (I want a slice of bread.) |
| fidi | snake | noun | Eida ena fidi sto vouno. (I saw a snake on the mountain.) |
| fili | kiss | noun | Mou edose ena fili. (He gave me a kiss.) |
| filia | friendship | noun | I filia einai poli simantiki. (Friendship is very important.) |
| filo | phyllo pastry, sheet | noun | To spanakopita echei filo. (Spanakopita has phyllo pastry.) |
| filosofia | philosophy | noun | I filosofia gennithike stin archaia Ellada. (Philosophy was born in ancient Greece.) |
| filos | friend (male) | noun | O Giannis einai o kaliteros mou filos. (Giannis is my best friend.) |
| filotimo | sense of honor, doing right by others | noun | Echei poli filotimo. (He has a strong sense of honor.) |
| filoxenia | hospitality | noun | I filoxenia ton Ellinon einai gnosti. (Greek hospitality is well known.) |
| fleva | vein | noun | Mia fleva ston avcheno mou. (A vein in my neck.) |
| flitzani | cup | noun | Ena flitzani kafe, parakalo. (A cup of coffee, please.) |
| flogera | shepherd’s flute | noun | O voskos paizei flogera. (The shepherd plays the flute.) |
| foitao | I attend school | verb | Foito sto panepistimio. (I attend university.) |
| foititis | university student | noun | O foititis meleta gia tis exetaseis. (The student is studying for exams.) |
| fokia | seal | noun | I fokia kolympa sto limani. (The seal swims in the harbor.) |
| foni | voice | noun | Echei omorfi foni. (She has a beautiful voice.) |
| forema | dress | noun | Afto to forema se pai poli. (This dress suits you very well.) |
| foros | tax | noun | Plirono foro stin eforia. (I pay tax at the tax office.) |
| fortigo | truck, lorry | noun | To fortigo metaferei frouta. (The truck carries fruit.) |
| forto | load, burden | noun | Echei poli forto sti doulia. (He has a heavy workload.) |
| fos | light | noun | Anapse to fos. (Turn on the light.) |
| fotia | fire | noun | Anapse fotia sto tzaki. (Light a fire in the fireplace.) |
| fotizo | I light up, I illuminate | verb | To fengari fotizei to dromo. (The moon lights the road.) |
| fotografia | photograph | noun | Tiraxe mia fotografia tis thalassas. (Take a photograph of the sea.) |
| fotografos | photographer | noun | O fotografos tirase to gamo. (The photographer shot the wedding.) |
| fovamai | I am afraid | verb | Fovamai ta skylia. (I am afraid of dogs.) |
| fovia | phobia, fear | noun | Echei fovia me ta ypsi. (He has a phobia of heights.) |
| fovos | fear | noun | O fovos einai fysiko synaisthima. (Fear is a natural emotion.) |
| fourtouna | storm, gale | noun | Mia megali fourtouna ktypise to nisi. (A big storm hit the island.) |
| fournos | oven, bakery | noun | Psinw to psomi sto fourno. (I bake the bread in the oven.) |
| foustanella | pleated kilt | noun | Oi evzones foroun foustanella. (The Evzones wear the foustanella.) |
| foustani | skirt | noun | Agorasa ena kokkino foustani. (I bought a red skirt.) |
| fragma | barrier, dam | noun | To fragma echei poli nero. (The dam holds a lot of water.) |
| fraktis | fence | noun | O fraktis tou kipou einai kainourgios. (The garden fence is new.) |
| frappe | iced foam coffee | noun | Thelo ena frappe metrio. (I want a medium-sweet frappe.) |
| frasi | phrase, sentence | noun | Gramma mia frasi sta Ellinika. (Write a phrase in Greek.) |
| fraoula | strawberry | noun | Agorasa fraoules apo tin agora. (I bought strawberries from the market.) |
| freno | brake | noun | Patise to freno. (Press the brake.) |
| fresko | fresh | adjective | To psari einai fresko. (The fish is fresh.) |
| fronimos | sensible, wise | adjective | Ise poli fronimos. (You are very sensible.) |
| frontida | care, concern | noun | Pare frontida tou eautou sou. (Take care of yourself.) |
| frouto | fruit | noun | Troo frouta kathe mera. (I eat fruit every day.) |
| fteri | wing, feather | noun | To pouli echei ftera. (The bird has wings.) |
| fthinoporo | autumn | noun | To fthinoporo echei poli vrochi. (Autumn has a lot of rain.) |
| ftochos | poor | adjective | I ftochi oikogeneia echei ligo fagito. (The poor family has little food.) |
| ftiaxno | I make, I build | verb | Ftiaxno kafe gia ola. (I make coffee for everyone.) |
| fylaki | prison | noun | O kleftis pige sti fylaki. (The thief went to prison.) |
| fylachto | amulet, charm | noun | Forei ena fylachto gia ti ftheira. (She wears an amulet against bad luck.) |
| fylo | gender, sex, tribe | noun | Se poio fylo anikeis? (What gender do you belong to?) |
| fyllo | leaf | noun | To fyllo peftei apo to dentro. (The leaf falls from the tree.) |
| fysao | I blow | verb | Fysao tin fotia. (I blow on the fire.) |
| fysi | nature | noun | I fysi tis Elladas einai omorfi. (The nature of Greece is beautiful.) |
| fysiki | physics | noun | Spoudazo fysiki sto panepistimio. (I study physics at university.) |
| fyto | plant | noun | To fyto thelei nero. (The plant needs water.) |
Descriptions
fagito
The everyday Greek word for food or a meal, written φαγητό. It comes from the verb “troo” and covers everything from home cooking to restaurant dishes.
fainomeno
Written φαινόμενο, this word passed into English as “phenomenon”. It refers to something observable, usually something unusual or remarkable.
fakelos
Written φάκελος, it covers an envelope, a folder, or a case file. It is a common office and bureaucracy word in Greece.
fakes
Written φακές, this is the name of a humble, filling lentil soup that is a staple of Greek home cooking, especially during Lent.
falaina
Written φάλαινα, the Greek word for whale. It is also the root of English terms such as “ballast” in some etymological accounts, though the link is debated.
fanari
Written φανάρι, it means a lantern, a car headlight, or a traffic light, depending on context. Greeks use it constantly when driving.
fanatikos
Written φανατικός, this word describes someone with extreme enthusiasm or devotion. In Greece it is commonly used for passionate sports supporters.
fantasia
Written φαντασία, it means imagination or a fantasy. English borrowed it as “fantasy” and “fantasia”.
fantasma
Written φάντασμα, the Greek word for ghost or apparition. It is the origin of the English word “phantasm”.
farangi
Written φαράγγι, it means a deep, narrow valley. The Samaria Gorge on Crete is among the most famous in Greece.
faros
Written φάρος, the lighthouse. The word is linked to the ancient Pharos of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
farmako
Written φάρμακο, it means a medicine or drug. English words like “pharmacy” and “pharmaceutical” come from it.
farmakeio
Written φαρμακείο, the Greek word for a pharmacy. Greek pharmacies are easy to spot by their green cross sign.
fasaria
Written φασαρία, it means noise, a commotion, or trouble. Greeks use it for anything from a noisy street to a family argument.
fasolada
Written φασολάδα, a thick soup of white beans, tomato, carrot, and olive oil. Many Greeks call it the national dish.
fasoli
Written φασόλι, the Greek word for a bean. The plural “fasolia” is more common and appears in many traditional recipes.
fengari
Written φεγγάρι, the everyday word for the moon. It is more poetic and colloquial than the formal “selini”.
fevgo
Written φεύγω, a very common verb meaning to leave or depart. The imperative “fyge” means “go away”.
fetta
Written φέτα, it means a slice. The cheese was named “feta” because it is cut into slices.
fidi
Written φίδι, the Greek word for a snake. The diminutive “fidaki” means a small snake.
fili
Written φιλί, a kiss. It is related to “filos” (friend) and the verb “filao” (to kiss).
filia
Written φιλία, the abstract noun for friendship. It comes from the same root as “filos” and the English suffix “-phile”.
filo
Written φύλλο, it means a leaf or a sheet. In cooking it refers to the paper-thin pastry used in pies and baklava.
filosofia
Written φιλοσοφία, literally “love of wisdom”. English took the word directly from Greek.
filos
Written φίλος, the word for a male friend. The feminine form is “fili” (φίλη), spelled the same way in Latin letters as “kiss”.
filotimo
Written φιλότιμο, a hard-to-translate word for generosity, pride, and duty toward others. Greeks regard it as a core cultural value.
filoxenia
Written φιλοξενία, literally “love of strangers”. It describes the Greek tradition of welcoming guests warmly.
fleva
Written φλέβα, a blood vessel. Figuratively it also means a creative streak, as in “poetiki fleva”.
flitzani
Written φλιτζάνι, the standard word for a coffee or tea cup. It is a staple word in every Greek cafe.
flogera
Written φλογέρα, a traditional wooden flute used in Greek folk music, especially by shepherds in mountain areas.
foitao
Written φοιτώ, a formal verb meaning to attend a school or university. The related noun “foititis” means student.
foititis
Written φοιτητής, a university student. A female student is a “foititria”.
fokia
Written φώκια, the Greek word for a seal. The Mediterranean monk seal lives in Greek waters and is critically endangered.
foni
Written φωνή, the word for voice. English words such as “phonetics” and “telephone” come from this root.
forema
Written φόρεμα, the common word for a woman’s dress. It comes from the verb “foro”, meaning to wear.
foros
Written φόρος, the Greek word for a tax. It appears in many everyday phrases about the economy.
fortigo
Written φορτηγό, a truck or delivery lorry. It comes from “forto”, meaning a load.
forto
Written φορτίο or φόρτος, meaning a load or burden, in both physical and figurative senses.
fos
Written φως, the Greek word for light. It is the root of English words like “photograph” and “photon”.
fotia
Written φωτιά, the everyday word for fire. Greeks also say it to mean a wildfire, “dasiki fotia”.
fotizo
Written φωτίζω, a verb meaning to illuminate or light something. It is also used figuratively for enlightening someone.
fotografia
Written φωτογραφία, literally “writing with light”. English borrowed it from Greek.
fotografos
Written φωτογράφος, a photographer. It joins “fos” (light) and “grafo” (I write).
fovamai
Written φοβάμαι, the verb for being afraid. It is one of the first verbs learners meet.
fovia
Written φοβία, the Greek word behind every English “-phobia”. It means an intense, lasting fear.
fovos
Written φόβος, the Greek word for fear. It is the root of English “phobia”.
fourtouna
Written φουρτούνα, a rough sea or storm. Sailors use it widely, and it can also mean a stroke of bad luck.
fournos
Written φούρνος, an oven or a bakery. Greek bakeries, called “fournos”, are popular spots for breakfast pies.
foustanella
Written φουστανέλα, the pleated kilt worn by Greek soldiers of the Presidential Guard and in folk costume.
foustani
Written φούστα or φουστάνι, meaning a skirt or a dress, depending on region and usage.
fragma
Written φράγμα, a barrier, a dam, or a blockade. It comes from the verb “fraso”, meaning to block.
fraktis
Written φράχτης, a fence or hedge around a property. It is common in village and farm settings.
frappe
Written φραπέ, a foamy iced instant coffee invented in Thessaloniki in 1957. It is a symbol of Greek cafe culture.
frasi
Written φράση, a phrase or expression. English “phrase” comes from the same Greek root.
fraoula
Written φράουλα, the Greek word for a strawberry. The plural “fraoules” is the form you will see most often.
freno
Written φρένο, the brake of a vehicle. It is a loan from older Greek and shares a root with words about restraint.
fresko
Written φρέσκο, an adjective for fresh food, air, or paint. Greek borrowed it from Italian “fresco”.
fronimos
Written φρόνιμος, it describes someone prudent and well behaved. Parents often use it for a child who behaves.
frontida
Written φροντίδα, meaning care or attention. It is used in medical, family, and everyday contexts.
frouto
Written φρούτο, the Greek word for fruit. The plural “frouta” is used for fruit in general.
fteri
Written φτερό, a wing or feather. The plural “ftera” is the form most often heard, and it features in phrases about flying.
fthinoporo
Written φθινόπωρο, the season of autumn. It is a literary-sounding word that every Greek student learns.
ftochos
Written φτωχός, describing someone without much money. It can also express sympathy, as in “ftochos mou” (poor thing).
ftiaxno
Written φτιάχνω, a very common everyday verb meaning to make, fix, or prepare. Greek speakers use it constantly.
fylaki
Written φυλακή, meaning a prison or jail. It also appears in phrases about guarding something.
fylachto
Written φυλαχτό, a protective charm, often a blue eye, worn to ward off the evil eye.
fylo
Written φύλο, meaning gender, sex, or tribe. English “phylum” and “phyletic” come from the related Greek word “phylon”.
fyllo
Written φύλλο, the leaf of a plant. The plural “fylla” is also used for sheets of paper.
fysao
Written φυσάω, a verb meaning to blow. It describes wind, breath, or blowing out candles.
fysi
Written φύση, nature in both the physical sense and the sense of character. English “physics” comes from the same root.
fysiki
Written φυσική, the science of physics. It is derived from “fysi”, nature.
fyto
Written φυτό, the Greek word for a plant. It is the origin of English prefixes and terms such as “neophyte”.