Τεύχος 01 · Issue one · For the modern Greek girl

From Athens to Astoria to Laval — hi, κούκλα.

The group chat, translated: 12 Greek words that say everything

Έλα, άντε, σιγά. The tiny Greek words that do all the emotional heavy lifting.

Two friends laughing together outdoors

Photo: Omar Lopez / Unsplash

Greek has a word for every mood, and most of them are only a syllable or two. Here are the ones that carry every group chat.

  • Έλα (éla): hi, come on, no way, hurry up. It depends on the tone.
  • Άντε (ánte): let’s go, finally, or “oh please.”
  • Ρε (re): hey, dude. Add it to anything.
  • Μωρέ (moré): affectionate emphasis. “Oh, μωρέ, stop.”
  • Τι λες; (ti les): “What are you saying?!” For gossip.
  • Σιγά (sigá): slowly. Also: “yeah, right.”
  • Καλά (kalá): fine, okay. Sometimes it is not fine.
  • Αμάν (amán): ugh, oh my god.
  • Ωχ (ohh): oops, uh-oh.
  • Δεν πειράζει (den pirázi): it doesn’t matter, never mind.
  • Τέλος πάντων (télos pándon): anyway…
  • Όπα (ópa): whoa! Also for smashing plates, allegedly.

Which one do you use most? Screenshot this and send it to the chat.