Quotes are an essential part of every language, as they demonstrate how the local people perceive important things about life. With this in mind, we’ve prepared for you a comprehensive blog post on the most popular sayings and quotes in Greek.
Take a step closer to the Greek language and culture, and start using these quotes today.
- → And since you’re here, don’t forget to become familiar with the Essential Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker!
Table of Contents
- Quotes About Success
- Quotes About Life
- Quotes About Time
- Quotes About Love
- Quotes About Family
- Quotes About Friendship
- Quotes About Food
- Quotes About Health
- Quotes About Language Learning
- Conclusion
1. Quotes About Success
Who doesn’t want to be successful? Raise your hands, please!
Oh, I thought so… Anybody?
Here are some quotes about success in Greek to motivate you in your everyday life:
- Greek: Για να πετύχεις στη ζωή χρειάζεσαι δύο πράγματα: άγνοια και αυτοπεποίθηση.
- Romanization: Ya na petíhis sti zoí hriázese dío prágmata: ágnia ke aftopepíthisi.
- Translation: “To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”
- Greek: Έχω αποτύχει ξανά και ξανά και ξανά στη ζωή μου και αυτός είναι ο λόγος που πετυχαίνω.
- Romanization: Ého apotíhi xaná ke xaná ke xaná sti zoí mu ke aftós íne o lógos pu petihéno.
- Translation: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
- Greek: Επιτυχημένος είναι ο άνθρωπος που μπορεί να θέσει σταθερά θεμέλια με τα τούβλα που οι άλλοι έχουν πετάξει πάνω του.
- Romanization: Epitihiménos íne o ánthropos pu borí na thési statherá themélia me ta túvla pu i áli éhun petáxi páno tu.
- Translation: “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
Intrigued to learn more? Check out our vocabulary list of the Top 11 Quotes About Success in Greek!
2. Quotes About Life
Many ancient Greek philosophers have studied life and developed many theories about our whole existence. But this was just the beginning. Since then, many people worldwide have tried to decrypt the miracle of life from their point of view.
Here are some meaningful quotes in Greek concerning the phenomenon of life:
- Greek: Γίνε εσύ η αλλαγή που θες να δεις στον κόσμο.
- Romanization: Yíne esí i alayí pu thes na dis ston kósmo.
- Translation: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
- Greek: Η ευτυχία δεν είναι κάτι που παίρνουμε έτοιμο. Έρχεται μέσα από τις δικές μας πράξεις.
- Romanization: Ι eftihía den íne káti pu pérnume étimo. Érhete mésa apó tis dikés mas práxis.
- Translation: “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”
- Greek: Δεν έχει σημασία το πόσο αργά προχωράς, αρκεί να μη σταματήσεις.
- Romanization: Den éhi simasía to póso argá prohorás, arkí na mi stamatísis.
- Translation: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
If you need another dose of motivation, check out our full vocabulary list on the Top 10 Inspirational Quotes in Greek!
3. Quotes About Time
Time passes by…even while you’re reading this blog post! Moments are gone forever and become precious memories.
Below, you can find some of the most popular quotes about time in Greek:
- Greek: Μην αφήνετε να περνά ο χρόνος χωρίς να βιώνετε τις στιγμές.
- Romanization: Min afínete na perná o hrónos horís na viónete tis stigmés.
- Translation: “Don’t let time pass by without living the moments.”
- Greek: Μια αστραπή η ζωή μας, μα προλαβαίνουμε.
- Romanization: Mia astrapí i zoí mas, ma prolavénume.
- Translation: “Our life is (like) lightning, but we’re catching up.”
- Greek: Το πρόβλημα είναι ότι νομίζετε πως έχετε χρόνο.
- Romanization: To próvlima íne óti nomízete pos éhete hróno.
- Translation: “The problem is that you think you have time.”
4. Quotes About Love
Oh love… What’s more beautiful in this life than love?
Greek culture is purely based on loving each other: your family, your friends, your partners, and even your acquaintances.
Here are some popular quotes about love in Greek:
- Greek: Το να αγαπάς δεν είναι τίποτα. Το να σε αγαπούν είναι κάτι. Αλλά το να αγαπάς και να σε αγαπούν είναι τα πάντα.
- Romanization: To na agapás den íne típota. To na se agapún íne káti. Alá to na agapás ke na se agapún íne ta pánda.
- Translation: “To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved is everything.”
- Greek: Είμαι πιο πολύ ο εαυτός μου όταν είμαι μαζί σου.
- Romanization: Íme pio polí o eaftós mu ótan íme mazí su.
- Translation: “I’m much more me when I’m with you.”
- Greek: Σ’ ευχαριστώ που πάντα είσαι το ουράνιο τόξο μου μετά την καταιγίδα.
- Romanization: S’ efharistó pu pánda íse to uránio tóxo mu metá tin kateyída.
- Translation: “Thank you for always being my rainbow after the storm.”
Are you craving more romantic quotes in Greek? We thought so! GreekPod101 has you covered with our vocabulary list of Quotes About Love.
5. Quotes About Family
Greek family values are very strong. As such, many elements of Greek culture, ethics, and tradition are passed on from generation to generation. Within the same context, social life revolves around the family and the extended family. We could say that family is the core of Greek society.
Here are some popular quotes about family in Greek:
- Greek: Η οικογένειά μου είναι η δύναμή μου και η αδυναμία μου.
- Romanization: I ikoyéniá mu íne i dínamí mu ke i adinamía mu.
- Translation: “My family is my strength and my weakness.”
- Greek: Πρέπει να υπερασπίζεσαι την τιμή σου. Και την οικογένειά σου.
- Romanization: Prépi na iperaspízese tin timí su. Ke tin ikoyéniá su.
- Translation: “You have to defend your honor. And your family.”
- Greek: Η οικογένεια είναι ένα από τα αριστουργήματα της φύσης.
- Romanization: I ikoyénia íne éna apó ta aristuryímata tis físis.
- Translation: “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
Read through more quotes on our Top 10 Quotes About Family in Greek vocabulary list, and while you’re at it, learn the Must-Know Terms for Family Members.
6. Quotes About Friendship
Friends are the family we choose. They play an invaluable role throughout our entire life. They hear our thoughts and offer us a brand-new perspective for every situation.
Below are some quotes about friendship in Greek that touch on this:
- Greek: Το μεγαλύτερο δώρο της ζωής είναι η φιλία, και το έχω λάβει.
- Romanization: To megalítero dóro tis zoís íne i filía ke to ého lávi.
- Translation: “The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.”
- Greek: Οι φίλοι δείχνουν την αγάπη τους στους δύσκολους καιρούς, όχι στην ευτυχία.
- Romanization: I fíli díhnun tin agápi tus stus dískolus kerús, óhi stin eftihía.
- Translation: “Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.”
- Greek: Φίλος είναι κάποιος που σου δίνει πλήρη ελευθερία να είσαι ο εαυτός σου.
- Romanization: Fílos íne kápios pu su díni plíri elefthería na íse o eaftós su.
- Translation: “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.”
Also study our Top 10 Quotes About Friendship in Greek vocabulary list, and express your gratitude to your Greek friends!
7. Quotes About Food
We’re sure that you’ve at least heard of Greek cuisine. Some of you might have even tasted some Greek specialties in a taverna by the sea. Cooking is an integral part of Greek culture, so you’ll often hear people talking about food and exchanging recipes.
Let’s take a look at some quotes about food in Greek:
- Greek: Η μαγειρική είναι ένα είδος ψυχοθεραπείας.
- Romanization: I mayirikí íne éna ídos psihotherapíasi.
- Translation: “Cooking is a form of psychotherapy.”
- Greek: Το πρωινό είναι το σημαντικότερο γεύμα της ημέρας.
- Romanization: To proinó íne to simadikótero yévma tis iméras.
- Translation: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
- Greek: Μια ισορροπημένη διατροφή μπορεί να προσφέρει πολλά οφέλη για την υγεία.
- Romanization: Mia isoropiméni diatrofí borí na prosféri pollá oféli ya tin iyía.
- Translation: “A balanced diet can offer plenty of benefits for the health.”
Interested in learning more about Greek cuisine? Visit our vocabulary lists on the most popular Greek foods and the top 10 foods to help you live longer!
8. Quotes About Health
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is thought of as the Father of Modern Medicine. We can say that Greeks value health above any other commodity in life.
It’s not a coincidence, after all, that in Greek we say Γεια σου! (Ya su!) to say “Hello!“ This word stems from υγεία (iyía), meaning “health.“ So, every time you greet someone, you wish for them to be healthy at the same time!
Since Hippocrates’s time, medicine has flourished, leading to more and more people perceiving health as the ultimate commodity. Therefore, talking about health is part of our everyday lives.
Let’s take a look at some quotes about health in Greek:
- Greek: Όποιος έχει υγεία μπορεί να έχει δύναμη και ελπίδα. Και όποιος έχει αυτά, έχει τα πάντα.
- Romanization: Ópios éhi iyía borí na éhi dínami ke elpída. Ke ópios éhi aftá, éhi ta pánda.
- Translation: “Whoever has health may have strength and hope. And whoever has those, has everything.”
- Greek: Το γέλιο κάνει καλό στην υγεία.
- Romanization: To yélio káni kaló stin iyía.
- Translation: “Laughter is good for the health.”
- Greek: Αποφάσισα να είμαι ευτυχισμένος επειδή κάνει καλό στην υγεία.
- Romanization: Apofásisa na íme eftihisménos epidí káni kaló stin iyía.
- Translation: “I’ve decided to be happy because it is good for my health.”
9. Quotes About Language Learning
Did you know that more than half of Greeks speak English? Indeed, language learning is integrated within the Greek educational system, with many people learning other languages as well, including German, French, Italian, and Spanish.
What better way to motivate you in your own language studies than to close our article with quotes about language learning in Greek?
- Greek: Μια νέα γλώσσα είναι μια νέα ζωή.
- Romanization: Mia néa glósa íne mia néa zoí.
- Translation: “A new language is a new life.”
- Greek: Τα όρια της γλώσσας μου είναι τα όρια του κόσμου μου.
- Romanization: Ta ória tis glósas mu íne ta ória tu kósmu mu.
- Translation: “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”
- Greek: Δεν θα μπορείς να καταλάβεις ποτέ μία γλώσσα, αν δεν καταλαβαίνεις τουλάχιστον δύο.
- Romanization: Den tha borís na katalávis poté mía glósa, an den katalavénis tuláhiston dío.
- Translation: “You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.”
If you’re interested in learning more, check out our vocabulary list on Language Learning Quotes.
10. Conclusion
In this blog post, we tried to present in Greek some of the most popular quotes and sayings. By studying them, you’ll gain more fluency and be able to understand the Greek language to a greater extent.
Have you heard of any other quote in Greek that we didn’t include above?
Please let us know in the comments; we always love hearing from you!
