The Day I Went Shopping Alone
I wanted to be bold.
I went to the outdoor market by myself. Just me, my bags and the beautiful Greek sunshine. Everything went fine on the way there. Pleasant walk, no humidity and actually a very nice day.
Oh but coming home!
Just before I got to the hill my foot slipped right out from under me. Before I knew it I was going down. It did not hurt a lot. It was mostly embarrassing. Very embarrassing. My bags went up with the fruits and vegetables. I remember watching the produce as it was tossed into the air. Everything was flying, including my dress.
It happened so fast. But it felt like slow motion.
Once I landed I had one mission. Get my dress down and looking decent before anyone saw me.
I collected myself and looked up. There was my husband coming over the top of the hill. He had been waiting for me the whole time.
He gathered the fruits and vegetables rolling down the hill and checked me over to make sure I was not hurt. I told him I was okay. Just embarrassed.
That is when my husband started smiling. Then he doubled over laughing, redder than a beet with tears streaming down his face.
Something caught his attention making him look away for just a moment. When he looked back, there was produce rolling downhill toward him. That is when he knew I had fallen.
Once he caught his breath he looked at me and said:
“You should have yelled, Voithia!”
The One Word That Should Have Been On My Lips
Voithia!
It means Help! It sounds like Vo-EE-thia.
I had walked those hills and gone to market alone in a foreign country. Yet I never knew that one word.
We never thought to learn it before the trip. But believe me, we have never forgotten it since.
A Few More Phrases Worth Knowing
After that trip we picked up some key phrases.
The first was I need a doctor, Χρειάζομαι γιατρό. It sounds like Chree-YAH-zoh-meh yah-TRO. That one came in useful when pink eye paid me a visit.
Then things got serious.
Later that same visit I needed words that really mattered. Not for laughs. For someone I loved.
Χρειάζεται νοσοκομείο. Έχει καρδιακό πρόβλημα.
Sounds like: Chri-A-ze-te no-so-ko-MI-o. E-chi kar-di-a-KO PRO-vli-ma.
Translation: He needs a hospital. He has a cardiac problem.
That moment taught me something I carry to this day. A few words in the right language can make all the difference when it counts most.
Phrases That Could Save Your Life
Before your next trip to Greece learn these:
For more about traveling in Greece visit the Greek National Tourism Organization at visitgreece.gr
| Greek | Sounds Like | English |
|---|---|---|
| Βοήθεια! | Vo-EE-thia! | Help! |
| Χρειάζομαι γιατρό! | Khree-YAH-zoh-meh yah-TRO! | I need a doctor! |
| Καλέστε ασθενοφόρο! | Ka-LES-te as-the-no-FO-ro! | Call an ambulance! |
| Χρειάζεται νοσοκομείο! | Khree-A-ze-te no-so-ko-MI-o! | He/She needs a hospital! |
| Έχει καρδιακό πρόβλημα! | E-chi kar-di-a-KO PRO-vli-ma! | He/She has a cardiac problem! |
| Έχει πάθει εγκεφαλικό! | E-chi PA-thi en-ke-fa-li-KO! | He/She has had a stroke! |
| Δεν αισθάνεται καλά! | Den es-THA-ne-te ka-LA! | He/She is not feeling well! |
| Έχω πονοκέφαλο | E-cho po-no-KE-fa-lo | I have a headache |
| Είμαι χαμένος/η! | I-me ha-ME-nos/ni! | I am lost! |
| Καλέστε την αστυνομία! | Ka-LES-te tin as-ti-no-MI-a! | Call the police! |
Basic Body Parts Worth Knowing
Point to where it hurts using these words:
| Greek | Sounds Like | English |
|---|---|---|
| Κεφάλι | Ke-FA-li | Head |
| Στομάχι | Sto-MA-chi | Stomach |
| Καρδιά | Kar-dYA | Heart |
| Χέρι | CHE-ri | Arm / Hand |
| Πόδι | PO-di | Leg / Foot |
| Πλάτη | PLA-ti | Back |
| Στήθος | STI-thos | Chest |
You Do Not Need to Be Fluent
You just need the right words at the right time.
A few phrases learned well can mean the difference between panic and calm in an emergency.
Want to learn more? Read our post on why learning Greek first makes every language easier.
That is what SpeakGreek was built for. Real language for real life. The words that matter most taught simply and clearly.
One focused session at a time.
Ας αρχίσουμε. Let us begin.
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