Hello, my beautiful Greek learner!
Today we are going to see the most common Greek abbreviations. I must say that Greeks love their abbreviations.
It seems like too many is not enough for us. Especially nowadays with the rise of the internet, it seems like we create new ones everyday.
But don’t fret!
We are going to learn only the Greek abbreviations that we most use or the ones you are most likely to see in a text.
Plus, I’m going to give you a hint on how young Greek people create new abbreviations every day, while texting.
But let’s start by exploring the meaning of the word “abbreviation” in Greek.
What does abbreviation mean in Greek?
Abbreviation means συντομογραφία (sintomografia)
It is a feminine word so it must be accompanied with the article “η” when it’s needed.
Η συντομογραφία / Οι συντομογραφίες
It is also a compound word and it is formed by the adjective σύντομος/η/ο (sintomos) – brief and the ending -γραφία which comes from the verb γράφω (grafo) – write.
Please note that all abbreviations are pronounced in their complete form.
But let’s move on to the most common Greek abbreviations and see some examples.
Most Common Greek Abbreviations
κτλ. / κλπ. = etc., et cetera
και τα λοιπά (ke ta leepa) / και λοιπά (ke leepa)
- Έχω να κάνω πολλές δουλειές σήμερα. Να πάω τράπεζα, σούπερ μάρκετ κτλ.
- Eho na kano poles thulies simera. Na pao trapeza, super market ktl.
- I have a lot of work to do today. To go to the bank, supermarket, etc.
κ.ά = etc., et cetera
και άλλα (ke ala)
- Στο σούπερ μάρκετ μπορείς να βρεις φρούτα, λαχανικά, κρέατα, κ.ά.
- Sto super market borees na vrees fruta, lahaneeka, kreata, k.a
- In the supermarket, you can find fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.
π.χ. / λ.χ. = e.g., for example.
παραδείγματος χάρη (paradeegmatos haree) / λόγου χάρη ( logu haree)
- Στο κρέας μπορούμε να χρησιμοποιήσουμε πολλά μπαχαρικά π.χ. κανέλα.
- Sto kreas borume na hreesimopeeisume pola baharika phee kanela.
- We can use many spices in meat e.g cinnamon.
κ.ο.κ. = and so on (and so forth)
και ούτω καθ’ εξής (ke uto kathexees)
- Για την αίτηση, πρέπει να συμπληρώσεις τα στοιχεία σου. Όνομα, επώνυμο κ.ο.κ
- Ya tin eteesi, prepee na simplirosees ta steehia sou. Onoma, epitheto k.o.k.
- For the application, you must fill in your details. Name, surname and so on.
Δηλ. = i.e., id est, that is
δηλαδή (theelathee)
- Θα έρθω με τον ξάδελφό μου, δηλ. τον Γιάννη.
- Tha erthο me ton xathelfo mu, theel. ton Yani.
- I will come with my cousin, i.e. John.
Κος. / Κ. = Mr., Mister
κύριος (keerios)
- Ο κ. Αντωνιάδης απουσιάζει
- O k. Antoniathis apusiazee
- Mr. Antoniadis is absent
Κα. = Mrs., Madam
κυρία (keeria)
- Η κα. Κράλλη θα έρθει σε λίγο
- I ka. Kralee tha erthee se ligo
- Mrs. Krali will be here soon
Δίδα = Miss
δεσποινίς (thespeenees) / δεσποινίδα (thespeeneetha)
- Είστε η δίδα Πετράκη;
- Eeste i theetha Petrakee;
- Are you miss Petraki?
π.Χ. = B.C., before Christ
πρό Χριστού (pro Hreestu)
- Η ναυμαχία της Σαλαμίνας έγινε το 480 π.Χ.
- I navmahia tis Salaminas egine to 480 p.H.
- The naval battle of Salamis took place in 480 B.C.
μ.Χ. =A.D., Anno Domini, after Christ.
μετά Χριστόν (meta Hreeston)
- Ο Πρώτος Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος ξεκίνησε το 1914 μ.Χ.
- O Protos Paggosmios Polemos xekinise to 1914 m.H.
- The First World War began in 1914 A.D.
π.μ. = a.m., ante meridiem, before noon.
προ μεσημβρίας (pro mesimvreeas)
- Το πλοίο φεύγει στις 11.00 π.μ.
- To pleeo fevyee stis 11.00 p.m.
- The ship leaves at 11:00 a.m.
μ.μ. = p.m., post meridiem, after midday, afternoon.
μετά μεσημβρίαν (meta meseemvreean)
- Θα συναντηθούμε στις 8.00 μ.μ.
- Tha seenantithume stis 8.00 m.m.
- We will meet at 8.00 p.m.
If you want to learn more about the Time in Greek you can check this post: How to tell the time in Greek.
ΥΓ. = PS., post scriptum
υστερόγραφο (eesterografo)
- Ο φίλος μου τελείωσε το γράμμα του λέγοντας: “ΥΓ. Σε αγαπώ”
- O filos mu teliose to grama tou legontas: ” IG. Se agapo“
- My boyfriend ended his letter by saying: “PS. I love you”
σελ. = p., page
σελίδα (seleetha)
- Στο τέλος του βιβλίου, από τη σελ. 134 και μετά, υπάρχουν βοηθητικές ασκήσεις.
- Sto telos tu vivliu, apo ti sel. 134 ke meta, eeparhun voithitikes askeesis.
- At the end of the book, from p.134 onwards, there are auxiliary exercises.
Greek months have also a short form. If you want to learn the abbreviations of Greek months you can check this post: Months in Greek
Greek Youth and Abbreviations
With the messaging applications becoming more popular day after day, Greek youngsters have invented a new way of communication. So, if you receive a text in Greek looking like that for instance,
Τ κνς;
don’t panic and don’t feel that you have forgotten all your Greek! It’s not so hard to decipher it if you know the trick. What do a lot of youngsters do while they are texting? They just remove the vowels from most of the words! Why do they do that? Well, to decrease the time of texting…
So, let’s decrypt our phrase
- Greek Abb: Τ κνς;
- Proper Greek: Τι κάνεις; (Ti kanees;)
- Translation: What are you doing? / How are you?
Easy right? Well, I don’t say good because allow me to have my reservations about this kind of writing.
We have covered the basic Greek Abbreviations but as I have already told you there are many more. If you are interested in a particular abbreviation, don’t hesitate to leave a comment and I will get back to you 🙂
