This page lists 41 Greek words that start with R, running from “radíki” to “rouvi?”. The list covers everyday nouns, a few verbs and adjectives, and some place names. You can use it to learn food and household vocabulary, build your Greek word bank, or find a quick translation.
Greek words are the building blocks of one of the oldest written languages in the world, with a record stretching back about 3,000 years. Many English terms, such as “rhythm” and “rhombus,” come straight from Greek, so you may already know more than you think.
Below you’ll find the table with each word, its English translation, part of speech, example usage, and description.
Word: The Greek term 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 each word, so you can quickly check what it means before reading further.
Part of speech: Shows whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective or another type, which helps you place it correctly in a sentence.
Example usage: A short Greek sentence with its English translation, showing how native speakers use the word in real situations and everyday conversation.
Description: A brief note on what the word means, where it is used, and any cultural or language details worth remembering.
Greek words
| Word | English translation | Part of speech | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| radíki | chicory, wild greens | noun | Ta radíkia vrastá me ládi ke lemóni. (Boiled chicory greens with oil and lemon.) |
| rafí | seam, stitch | noun | I rafí sto pantelóni skísti. (The seam on the trousers tore.) |
| ráfi | shelf | noun | To vivlío ine sto páno ráfi. (The book is on the top shelf.) |
| ráftis | tailor | noun | O ráftis ékane to kostoúmi. (The tailor made the suit.) |
| ráhi | ridge, back | noun | Perpatísame sti ráhi tou vounoú. (We walked along the mountain ridge.) |
| rakí | raki (grape spirit) | noun | Pírame éna rakí me meze. (We had a raki with some small plates.) |
| rámfos | beak | noun | To pouláki ánixe to rámfos tou. (The bird opened its beak.) |
| rantevoú | appointment, date | noun | Éhoume rantevoú stis októ. (We have an appointment at eight.) |
| rávo | I sew | verb | Rávo éna koumbí sto poukámiso. (I am sewing a button on the shirt.) |
| revíthia | chickpeas | noun | Ta revíthia sto foúrno ine éna paradosiakó fagitó. (Oven-baked chickpeas are a traditional dish.) |
| réma | stream, brook | noun | To réma perná apó to horió. (The stream passes through the village.) |
| rekór | record | noun | O athlitís éspase to rekór. (The athlete broke the record.) |
| reklámа | advertisement | noun | I reklámа itan poli kalí. (The advertisement was very good.) |
| rempétiko | rebetiko (urban folk music) | noun | To rempétiko tragoudái gia ti zoí sti póli. (Rebetiko sings about city life.) |
| rempélis | slacker, rebel | noun | O rempélis den thélei na doulépsei. (The slacker does not want to work.) |
| retsína | retsina | noun | Pame gia retsína sti taverna. (Let’s go for retsina at the tavern.) |
| réfma | current, draft | noun | Éhei réfma sto domátio. (There is a draft in the room.) |
| rénga | herring | noun | I rénga ine psári pou vriskoume kapnistí. (Herring is a fish we find smoked.) |
| rígani | oregano | noun | Vále lígo rígani sti saláta. (Put a little oregano on the salad.) |
| rízi | rice | noun | Thélo rízi me kotópoulo. (I want rice with chicken.) |
| ríza | root | noun | I ríza tou déndrou ine vathiá. (The root of the tree is deep.) |
| ríhno | I throw | verb | Ríhno tin bála sto kalátheri. (I throw the ball into the basket.) |
| rísko | risk | noun | Éhei rísko na vréxei. (There is a risk it will rain.) |
| rithmós | rhythm, pace | noun | O rithmós tis mousikís ine grígoros. (The rhythm of the music is fast.) |
| ritoriki | rhetoric | noun | I ritoriki ine i téhni tou lógou. (Rhetoric is the art of speech.) |
| rimа | verb | noun | To réma “gráfo” ine rímа. (The word “write” is a verb.) |
| roí | flow, stream | noun | I roí tou potamoú ine grígori. (The flow of the river is fast.) |
| rolói | clock, watch | noun | Pîo ine i óra sto rolói? (What time is it on the clock?) |
| romantikós | romantic | adjective | Ítan éna romantikó vrádi. (It was a romantic evening.) |
| romfaía | sword | noun | O strategós kratoúse mia romfaía. (The general held a sword.) |
| rómvos | rhombus | noun | To skhíma ine rómvos. (The shape is a rhombus.) |
| rodákino | peach | noun | Tróo éna rodákino to kalokaíri. (I eat a peach in summer.) |
| ródi | pomegranate | noun | To ródi ine simvolo gia tin tihi. (The pomegranate is a symbol of luck.) |
| ródo | rose | noun | Mou éfere éna kokkino ródo. (He brought me a red rose.) |
| ródino | rosy, pink | adjective | Ta ródina ména tis. (Her rosy cheeks.) |
| róz | pink | adjective | Foráei éna róz foústani. (She is wearing a pink dress.) |
| Ródos | Rhodes | proper noun | Tha páme diakopés sti Ródo. (We are going on holiday to Rhodes.) |
| romiós | Greek (traditional word) | noun | O Romiós ine ellinas. (The Romios is a Greek.) |
| roúha | clothes | noun | Plénno ta roúha mou. (I wash my clothes.) |
| roukéta | arugula, rocket | noun | I roukéta ine kalí sti saláta. (Arugula is good in a salad.) |
| rouvi? |
Descriptions
radíki
A bitter leafy green that is a staple of Greek home cooking. It is usually boiled and served warm as a side dish dressed with olive oil and lemon.
rafí
The line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together. The word is also used for a surgical stitch.
ráfi
A flat board fixed to a wall or cabinet for holding objects. Greeks use it for bookshelves and kitchen shelves alike.
ráftis
Someone who makes or alters clothes by hand. The word comes from the verb rávo, “to sew”.
ráhi
The long upper line of a hill or mountain, and also a word for a person’s or animal’s back. It appears often in place names and hiking talk.
rakí
A strong clear spirit distilled from grape pomace. It is especially popular in Crete, where it is also called tsikoudiá, and is served with snacks.
rámfos
The hard pointed mouth part of a bird. It is sometimes used jokingly for a person’s pointed nose.
rantevoú
A word borrowed from French for a scheduled meeting. Greeks use it for doctor visits, business meetings and romantic dates.
rávo
The first-person form of the verb meaning to sew. It is the root of words such as ráftis (tailor) and rafí (seam).
revíthia
A protein-rich legume used in soups, stews and oven dishes. Revithada, a slow-baked chickpea dish from the island of Sifnos, is especially well known.
réma
A small flowing watercourse. It can also describe a gully that fills only after heavy rain.
rekór
A best-ever result in a sport or competition. The word is borrowed from English and used in the same way.
reklámа
A promotional message in print, on TV or online. Greeks also use it informally to mean showing off.
rempétiko
A style of Greek urban music that grew up in port cities in the early 20th century. Its songs often deal with hardship, love and life on the margins.
rempélis
A loose, often affectionate word for someone who lives outside the rules or avoids work. It is related to the culture around rebetiko.
retsína
A Greek white or rosé wine flavored with pine resin, a tradition that goes back thousands of years. It has a distinct piney taste and pairs well with seafood.
réfma
A word for a flow of air or of electrical current. In everyday talk it is most often used for a cold draft.
rénga
A small oily fish that is often salted or smoked. In Greece it is more common in preserved forms than fresh.
rígani
A wild herb that grows on Greek hillsides and is the signature flavor of Greek cooking. It is sprinkled on salads, grilled meat and feta.
rízi
A staple grain that is cooked in pilafs and stuffed vegetables. It is also the base of dishes such as giouvarlákia and spanakórizo.
ríza
The underground part of a plant. The word is also used for the origin or basis of something, as in “root cause”.
ríhno
A common verb meaning to throw, drop or pour. It also appears in expressions such as ríhno mia matiá, “to take a quick look”.
rísko
A chance of loss or danger, borrowed from Italian. It is used in business, health and everyday decisions.
rithmós
The pattern of beats in music or the pace of a process. The English word “rhythm” comes straight from this Greek word.
ritoriki
The skill of persuasive speaking and writing. Ancient Greek thinkers such as Aristotle laid out its rules, and the word passed into English.
rimа
The Greek grammatical term for a verb. The word literally means “word” or “saying” in Ancient Greek.
roí
The movement of water, traffic or information in one direction. It is used in both everyday and technical speech.
rolói
A timepiece of any kind, from a wall clock to a wristwatch. It is one of the most commonly used R words in modern Greek.
romantikós
Describes something connected with love, sentiment or the imagination. It is used in the same way as in English.
romfaía
A large broad sword, mostly found in literature, history and religious texts. It is a more formal word than ksífos.
rómvos
A four-sided shape with equal sides and slanted corners. The English word “rhombus” comes directly from this Greek word.
rodákino
A juicy summer fruit that Greece grows in large quantities, especially in the north. It is a favorite fruit in the hot months.
ródi
A round red fruit filled with juicy seeds. Greeks smash one on the floor on New Year’s Day for good luck.
ródo
The flower itself, with a poetic tone. In everyday speech Greeks more often say triandáfyllo.
ródino
Describes something pinkish like a rose. It often appears in poetry, as in “rosy-fingered dawn”.
róz
The everyday word for the color pink. It does not change form for gender or number.
Ródos
A large Greek island in the Dodecanese, known for its medieval old town and beaches. In ancient times it was home to the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders.
romiós
A traditional word for a Greek, from the Byzantine “Roman” identity. It is often used with warmth in folk songs and everyday speech.
roúha
The plural of roúho. It is the everyday word for clothing of any kind.
roukéta
A peppery leafy green that is popular in Greek salads. The same word is also used for a firework or space rocket.
rouvi?