List of Greek phrases

Α / A

Αγεωμετρητος μηδεις εισιτω

Ageômetriêtos mêdeis eisitô.

"Let no-one without geometry enter". Motto over the entrance to Plato's Academy.

Αει φερει τι Λιβυη κακον καινον

Aei pherei Libyê kakon/kainon.

"Libya always bears something evil/new", Aristotle. (Cf. Latin[?] Ex Africa semper aliquid novi, "From Africa always something new".)

Αει κολοιος παρα κολοιω ιζανει

Aei koloios para koloiô hizanei.

"A jackdaw is always found near a jackdaw", i.e. birds of a kind flock together.

Αετου γηρασ, κορυδου νεοτης

Aetou gêras, korydou neotos.

"An eagle's old age (is worth) a sparrow's youth".

Αναγκα δ'ουδε θεοι μαχονται

Ananka d'oude theoi makhontai.

"Even the Gods do not fight necessity", Simonides[?].

Ανθρωπος μετρον

Anthropos metron.

"Man the measure (of all things)", motto of Protagoras.

Απαξ λεγομενον

Hapax legomenon.

"Once said", i.e. a word that only occurs once in a text or body of literature.

Αριστον μεν υδωρ

Ariston men hydôr.

"Greatest however is water", Pindar.

Β / B

Βρωμα θεων

Brôma theôn.

"Food of the gods" -- allegedly said by Nero of the poisoned mushrooms with which his mother Agrippina murdered Claudius.

Γ / G

Γλαυκ' Αθηναζε/Γλαυκ' εις Αθηνας

Glauk' Athênaze/Glauk' eis Athênas.

"Owls to Athens", i.e. coals to Newcastle, ice to the Eskimos.

Γνωθηι σεαυτον

Gnôthi seauton.

"Know thyself" -- the motto over the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Δ / D

Ε / E

Ζ / Z

Η / Ê

Θ / Th

Θαλασση και πυρ και γυνη, κακα τρια

Thalassa kai pyr kai gynê, kaka tria.

"Sea and fire and woman, three evils."

Ι / I

Κ / K

Λ / L

Μ / M

Μη γενοιτο

Mê genoito.

"Let it not be!"/"Heaven forfend!" -- phrase used frequently by St Paul.

Ν / N

Ξ / X

Ο / O

Π / P

Ρ / R

Σ / S

Σπευδε βραδεως

Speude bradeôs.

"Hasten slowly" (cf. Latin festina lente), "less haste, more speed".

Τ / T

Το γαρ ηδυ, εαν πολυ, ου τι γε ηδυ

To gar hêdy, ean poly, ou ti ge hêdy.

"A sweet thing tasted too often is no longer sweet."

Υ / Y

Φ / Ph

Χ / Ch

Ψ / Ps

Ω / Ô

See also:

• Greek language
• List of Latin phrases