Here are 22 Greek words that start with Y, running from “Yassou” to “Ydor”. The list covers everyday greetings, family terms, and classic dishes. You’ll also find adjectives, nature words, and a few ancient terms. They are useful for travelers, language learners, and anyone curious about Greek food and culture.

Greek words are the building blocks of one of the world’s oldest written languages, spoken for more than 3,000 years. Many start with Y because English spellings of the sounds “γ” and “υ” often use that letter. Words like “Ydor” even gave us “hydrogen” and “hydrant.”

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 it and say it aloud without knowing the Greek alphabet.

English translation: The closest English meaning, so you can quickly see what each word stands for and when you might use it.

Part of speech: Whether the word is a noun, adjective, or interjection, which helps you understand how it fits into a sentence.

Example usage: A short Greek sentence with its English meaning, showing you how real speakers use the word in everyday conversation.

Description: A brief note on where the word comes from, what it means in daily life, and any cultural background worth knowing.

Greek words

WordEnglish translationPart of speechExample usage
YassouHello / goodbye (informal)InterjectionYassou, ti kaneis? (Hi, how are you?)
YassasHello / goodbye (formal or plural)InterjectionYassas, kyrie Nikola. (Hello, Mr. Nikolas.)
Yia masCheersInterjectionYia mas! Stin ygeia mas! (Cheers! To our health!)
YiayiaGrandmotherNounI yiayia mou gemizei piperies. (My grandmother stuffs peppers.)
YaourtiYogurtNounYaourti me meli, parakalo. (Yogurt with honey, please.)
YiouvetsiBaked meat and orzoNounTo yiouvetsi psinetai ston fourno. (The giouvetsi bakes in the oven.)
YemistaStuffed vegetablesNoun (plural)I mama kanei yemista to Savvato. (Mom makes yemista on Saturday.)
YiouvarlakiaMeatballs in egg-lemon soupNoun (plural)Ta yiouvarlakia einai zesta. (The meatball soup is hot.)
YirosGyro (spit-roasted meat)NounEna yiro me pita, parakalo. (One gyro in pita, please.)
YiortiFestival / feast dayNounSimera einai megali yiorti. (Today is a big feast day.)
YachniStew in tomato sauceNounYachni me patates. (Potato stew.)
YiatrosDoctorNounPrepei na dw ton yiatro. (I have to see the doctor.)
YiosSonNounO yios mou paei sxoleio. (My son goes to school.)
YialosSeashore / beachNounPerpatame ston yialo. (We walk along the shore.)
YerosOld manNounO yeros kathotan sto kafeneio. (The old man was sitting in the cafe.)
YpnosSleepNounO ypnos einai simantikos. (Sleep is important.)
YpsilonUpsilon (the letter Y)NounTo ypsilon einai to eikosto gramma. (Upsilon is the twentieth letter.)
YpsosHeightNounTo ypsos tou vounou einai 2,000 metra. (The height of the mountain is 2,000 meters.)
YperochoExcellentAdjectiveAyto to fagito einai yperocho! (This food is excellent!)
YperifanosProudAdjectiveImaste yperifani gia esena. (We are proud of you.)
YfasmaFabric / textileNounAfto to yfasma einai apo vamvaki. (This fabric is made of cotton.)
YdorWater (ancient Greek)NounYdor esti ariston. (Water is best.)

Descriptions

Yassou
A friendly, informal greeting from “γειά σου”. Greeks use it for both hello and goodbye with one person. It is one of the first phrases visitors to Greece learn.
Yassas
The polite or plural form of “yassou”. Use it with elders, strangers, or a group of people.
Yia mas
A toast said when glasses clink, literally “to our health”. It is the standard drinking toast at Greek tables and celebrations.
Yiayia
The affectionate Greek word for grandma, from “γιαγιά”. It is also widely used in English by Greek families and diaspora communities.
Yaourti
The Greek word for yogurt, from “γιαούρτι”. Traditional Greek yogurt is strained until thick and is often eaten with honey, fruit, or in tzatziki.
Yiouvetsi
A classic Greek casserole of lamb or beef baked with orzo pasta in a tomato sauce. It is named after the clay pot it was traditionally cooked in.
Yemista
Tomatoes, peppers, or other vegetables stuffed with rice and herbs, then baked. It is a staple of summer home cooking in Greece.
Yiouvarlakia
Small meat and rice balls simmered in broth and finished with avgolemono, a lemony egg sauce. It is a comforting home-style dish.
Yiros
The Greek word for gyro, from “γύρος”, meaning “turn”, because the meat rotates on a vertical spit. It is usually served in pita with tomato, onion, and tzatziki.
Yiorti
A holiday, name day, or celebration, from “γιορτή”. Greek life revolves around yiortes, especially religious feasts and village festivals.
Yachni
A style of Greek cooking in which vegetables or meat are simmered in a tomato and onion sauce. It is a common everyday home dish.
Yiatros
The Greek word for a physician, from “γιατρός”. It is the standard term for a medical doctor.
Yios
The Greek word for son, from “γιος”, often spelled “yios” or “gios” in English. It is used in everyday family talk and in surnames ending in -idis or -opoulos.
Yialos
A word for the shore or beach, from “γιαλός”. It appears in many Greek place names and in older, more poetic speech.
Yeros
The Greek word for an old man, from “γέρος”. Depending on tone, it can be respectful or affectionate.
Ypnos
The Greek word for sleep, from “ύπνος”. It is the root of the English word hypnosis and gives the name of Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.
Ypsilon
The twentieth letter of the Greek alphabet, written Υ or υ. The English letter Y descends from it.
Ypsos
The Greek word for height or altitude, from “ύψος”. It is the root of English words such as hypsometer and appears in names like Hypsos.
Yperocho
A word for something superb, from “υπέροχος”. Greeks use it to praise food, views, and experiences.
Yperifanos
A word meaning proud, from “υπερήφανος”. The same root gives English words that begin with “hyper”.
Yfasma
The Greek word for woven cloth, from “ύφασμα”. It is closely tied to the traditional weaving crafts of the Greek islands.
Ydor
The ancient Greek word for water, from “ὕδωρ”. It is the source of English words such as hydrant, hydrogen, and dehydrate.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.