Animals

1. Σκύλος

   SKI-los

   Dog

   Usage

   Greece has many friendly strays. "Me dagkose skylos" means a dog bit me

2. Γάτα

   GA-ta

   Cat

   Usage

   Cats are everywhere in island alleys and harbours — use it to ask a shop whether feeding them is OK

3. Πουλί

   pu-LI

   Bird

   Usage

   Wild birds in general; chicken on a menu is κοτόπουλο

4. Ψάρι

   PSA-ri

   Fish

   Usage

   Works while snorkelling and at a taverna; "to psari tis imeras" is the fish of the day

5. Άλογο

   A-lo-go

   Horse

   Usage

   For riding tours, or the horse carriages on Santorini and Rhodes

6. Γαϊδούρι

   ga-i-DU-ri

   Donkey

   Usage

   Still used to carry loads on Hydra and Santorini; also handy if you want to decline a donkey ride

7. Κατσίκα

   ka-TSI-ka

   Goat

   Usage

   Common on mountain roads and Cretan cliffs; also used for goat cheese, κατσικίσιο τυρί

8. Πρόβατο

   PRO-va-to

   Sheep

   Usage

   Flocks often block inland roads; also comes up when talking about sheep's-milk feta

9. Αγελάδα

   a-ge-LA-da

   Cow

   Usage

   Use it to check for cow's milk, γάλα αγελάδας, when you have a dairy allergy

10. Γουρούνι

    gu-RU-ni

    Pig

    Usage

    If you avoid pork, show this word together with «ochi» (no)

11. Κότα

    KO-ta

    Hen / chicken

    Usage

    The live bird; chicken as a dish is κοτόπουλο

12. Πάπια

    PA-pi-a

    Duck

    Usage

    Seen in park ponds and wetlands; also useful when asking what a duvet is filled with

13. Ποντίκι

    pon-DI-ki

    Mouse / rat

    Usage

    Report one to the front desk; the same word means a computer mouse

14. Κουνέλι

    ku-NE-li

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Rabbit stew, kouneli stifado, is a common Greek dish — on a menu this is the meat

15. Νυχτερίδα

    ni-chte-RI-da

    Bat

    Usage

    Common at summer dusk, and mentioned on cave tours

16. Κουνούπι

    ku-NU-pi

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Essential in summer — at a pharmacy ask for «sprei gia kounoupia», mosquito repellent

17. Κατσαρίδα

    ka-tsa-RI-da

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Report one at the front desk. Never apply it to a person — it is an insult

18. Μυρμήγκι

    mir-MIN-gi

    Ant

    Usage

    They find food on terraces and in self-catering flats — use it when asking for a clean-up

19. Μέλισσα

    ME-li-sa

    Bee

    Usage

    Greek honey, μέλι, comes from this word; also use it to report a sting allergy

20. Σφήκα

    SFI-ka

    Wasp

    Usage

    Drawn to sweet drinks at outdoor tables in summer; the sting hurts more than a bee's, so it is worth naming

21. Αράχνη

    a-RA-chni

    Spider

    Usage

    Common in old stone houses; almost none in Greece are dangerous to people

22. Πεταλούδα

    pe-ta-LU-da

    Butterfly

    Usage

    The name of the Valley of the Butterflies on Rhodes, Koilada ton Petaloudon

23. Μύγα

    MI-ga

    Fly

    Usage

    They settle on food at outdoor tavernas — use it when asking for a cover

24. Τζιτζίκι

    tzi-TZI-ki

    Cicada

    Usage

    The sound of a Greek summer; also what you name when a pine-shaded room is noisy

25. Χταπόδι

    chta-PO-di

    Octopus

    Usage

    Often seen drying at harbours; on menus the classic is chtapodi sta karvouna, grilled over coals

26. Μέδουσα

    ME-du-sa

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    More common in late summer. "Echi medouses?" asks whether there are jellyfish

27. Αχινός

    a-chi-NOS

    Sea urchin

    Usage

    You can step on one on rocky shores — use it to ask whether you need swim shoes

28. Χελώνα

    che-LO-na

    Turtle / tortoise

    Usage

    Key word around the loggerhead sanctuaries on Zakynthos; land tortoises share the word

29. Σαύρα

    SAV-ra

    Lizard

    Usage

    They sun themselves on ruins and stone walls, and are harmless

30. Φίδι

    FI-di

    Snake

    Usage

    You may meet one while hiking; vipers (οχιά) exist, so say «Me dagkose fidi» if bitten

31. Σκορπιός

    skor-pi-OS

    Scorpion

    Usage

    Small species hide under dry stones; stings are rarely serious, but go to a pharmacy

32. Γλάρος

    GLA-ros

    Seagull

    Usage

    Always at harbours and on ferry decks — they come for food in your hand

33. Δελφίνι

    del-FI-ni

    Dolphin

    Usage

    Often seen from island ferries, and the namesake of the Flying Dolphin hydrofoils

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