HSC Modern Greek Beginners key terms

The group of people you are related to, such as parents, children, grandparents and siblings. In Greek it is a feminine noun, and exam texts often describe who belongs to it and where they live.

A male parent. A masculine noun used to introduce or describe a family member, often with a possessive such as «ο πατέρας μου» meaning my father.

A female parent. A feminine noun; in everyday speech Greeks often say «η μαμά». Texts may mention her job, age or what she cooks at home.

Brothers and sisters considered together as a group. A neuter plural noun. A single brother is «ο αδερφός» and a single sister is «η αδερφή».

A grandfather. A masculine noun also used politely for any elderly man. Greek families often mention grandparents living in a village or helping to look after children.

A grandmother. A feminine noun also used politely for an elderly woman. Grandmothers often appear in texts as cooks of traditional food and as storytellers about the past.

A house or home, and by extension the household. A neuter noun. Listening and reading texts often describe its rooms, its location and who lives in it.

A flat or apartment inside a larger building. A neuter noun. Candidates should know phrases about the floor it is on and whether it has a balcony or a view.

The neighbourhood, meaning the area around your home and the people living there. A feminine noun. Texts may describe it as quiet or busy and mention its shops, park or square.

Everyday life, the ordinary routine of waking, working or studying, eating and resting. A feminine phrase. Exam tasks often ask you to describe your daily routine and the times you do things.

A school, and also the idea of schooling. A neuter noun. Candidates should know the names of school subjects, school hours and common verbs such as «πηγαίνω στο σχολείο».

A lesson, class or school subject. A neuter noun. In texts it appears in timetables and in sentences about which subject someone likes, finds difficult or studies for an exam.

Free time, the hours left after work or school. A masculine phrase. Reading and writing tasks often ask what someone does then, such as sport, music, television or meeting friends.

A hobby, an activity done for pleasure in free time. A neuter noun borrowed from English. Useful for describing interests such as photography, cooking, dancing or collecting things.

A friend, and also a boyfriend in some contexts. A masculine noun with feminine form «η φίλη». Texts often describe how long people have known each other and what they do together.

A group of friends or companions who spend time together. A feminine noun. It carries a warm social meaning, so it suits descriptions of outings, cafés and celebrations with friends.

A tradition, a custom passed down through generations. A feminine noun. Texts about Greek communities often contrast old traditions with modern habits and ask what is still kept today.

A custom or customary practice, often tied to a festival or a religious occasion. A neuter noun. Candidates should be able to say what people do, eat or sing during a particular custom.

A celebration, feast or name day festival. A feminine noun. Greeks celebrate both national holidays and personal name days, so texts often mention food, guests and church services.

Easter, the most important religious festival in Greece. A neuter noun written with a capital letter. Traditions include midnight church services, red-dyed eggs, lamb and family gatherings.

Christmas, celebrated on 25 December. A neuter plural noun. Greek customs include carols called «κάλαντα», decorated boats or trees, and sweets such as «μελομακάρονα».

A local fair or festival, usually held in a village square on a saint's feast day. A neuter noun. It involves music, dancing, stalls and food, and often appears in texts about village life.

Dance, and also a dance event or a choir. A masculine noun. Traditional Greek dances such as «συρτάκι» and «καλαματιανός» are common in texts about customs and community celebrations.

Food, or a meal. A neuter noun. Exam texts often describe what a family eats, who cooks, and which dishes are typical for a region or a festival.

A sweet food or dessert. A neuter noun, also used for a sweet person. Greek sweets such as «μπακλαβάς» and «λουκούμι» often appear in texts about festivals and hospitality.

A small traditional restaurant serving local dishes, often with outdoor tables. A feminine noun. Texts about food and community life frequently mention eating there with family or friends.

The sea. A feminine noun. Because Greece has thousands of islands and a long coastline, the sea appears constantly in texts about holidays, geography, work and food.

An island. A neuter noun. Greek texts often describe island life, ferries, summer tourism and the different character of islands such as Crete or Santorini.

A village. A neuter noun. Many Greek families have roots in a village, so texts often describe grandparents living there, summer visits and village festivals.

A city or town. A feminine noun. Candidates should be able to compare city life with village life, mentioning traffic, shops, noise and opportunities.

The Greek flag, with blue and white stripes and a cross in the corner. A feminine phrase. It appears in texts about national holidays, school parades and community events abroad.

A national holiday. A feminine phrase. Greece marks independence and resistance days with parades, wreaths and school ceremonies, topics that appear in reading and listening passages.

Listening, the skill of understanding spoken Greek. A feminine noun. In the exam you hear short passages and answer questions, so practise catching key details, numbers and times.

A question. A feminine noun. Recognising question words such as «τι», «πού», «πότε» and «γιατί» is essential for answering listening and reading tasks correctly.

An answer or reply. A feminine noun. Candidates must respond in Greek, often in a full sentence, using information heard or read rather than copying the question.

A piece of information or detail. A feminine noun. Reading and listening tasks test whether you can find specific information such as a price, a place, a time or a name.

A text, such as a notice, message, article or advertisement. A neuter noun. Reading tasks ask you to identify the purpose, audience and main idea of a short Greek text.

A paragraph. A feminine noun. Good writing in Greek organises ideas into short paragraphs, each with one main point and linking words between them.

An essay or written composition, and also an exhibition. A feminine noun. In the writing task you may need to produce a short text such as a message, email or description.

A letter, and also a letter of the alphabet. A neuter noun. Writing tasks often ask for an informal letter or email with a greeting, news, questions and a closing formula.

A linking word such as «και», «αλλά», «επειδή» or «όταν», and also a club or association. Linking words connect ideas and raise the quality of written Greek.