CYPRIOT GRAMMAR

Chapter 14: Basic Dialogue (1)
I think we just about had enough of basic grammar and it might be better if we focused in more useful things at this point such as basic
phrases in an everyday dialogue.
- Ώρα καλή Αντρικκί!
- Γειά σου Γιάννο!
-Ήντα(μπου) κάμνεις φίλε μου;
- Καλά κάμνω Γιάννο μου. Εσού ήντα(μπου) γινίσκεσαι; Ούλλα καλα;
- Καλά τζ’αι εγιώνι Αντρικκί μου. Ευκαριστώ σε.
- Τέλοσπάντων ρε. Πρέπει να φύω!
- Μεν έσ’εις έννοιαν. Στο καλόν να πάεις.
- Εφκαριστώ. Γειά!
John: Hello Andrew!
Andrew: Hello John!
John: How do you do my friend?
Andrew: I’m fine dear John. How are you doing? Is everything well?
John: I’m fine too dear Andrew. Thank you.
Andrew: Anyways mate. I have to go!
John: No worries. Take care.
Andrew: Thanks! Bye!
Vocabulary and Explanation
Ναί = Yes
Όι = No
Αντρικκίς = Andrew (Drop of final –ς because of Vocative in the sentence)
Γιάννος = John
Ώρα καλή = Hello. Lit. Good is the hour (upon which we meet)
Γειά σου = Hello. Lit. Good health (upon you)
Ήντα = How
Κάμνεις = you do/you are doing
Ήντα(μπου) κάμνεις; = How are you?
φίλε μου = my friend
Καλά κάμνω = I’m fine. I’m (doing) well.
Γιάννο μου = Dear John. In Cyprus it is a habit to use genitive with names. This might be patronizing in other countries but in Cyprus it is
considered to be very friendly.
Εσού ήντα(μπου) γινίσκεσαι; = How are you doing?
Ούλλα καλα; = Is everything well? Here the verb ‘is’ is omitted.
Καλά τζ’αι εγιώνι = I’m fine too. Lit. Good and I
Εφκαριστώ σε = Thank you
Τέλοσπάντων ρε = Anyways mate. Pe is one of the most common words you will hear in Cyprus. It is the vocative article usually used
without a name/noun and in place of them.
Πρέπει να φύω = I have to go.
Μεν έσ’εις έννοιαν = No worries. Lit. Have no worries
Στο καλόν να πάεις = Take care. Lit. Go to the good. This is a somewhat of a blessing and a farewell combined wishing well to the other
person for his departure.
Ευκαριστώ = Thanks.
Γειά = Bye. Very casual way to say goodbye.
Grammar Points
1. Ώρα καλή = Γειά = Γειά σου
The above all mean Hello but with Ώρα καλή being far more Cypriot while the other two being influences by Modern Greek. They all take
the VOCATIVE.
2. Στο καλόν (να πάεις) = Γειά = Γειά σου
Again the above all basically mean Goodbye however Στο καλόν (να πάεις) is far more Cypriot while the other two are influences by
Modern Greek.
3. When writing dialogues in Cypriot a dash ‘-‘ is used to introduce what it is being said.
4. The question mark for Cypriot is ‘;’.
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