Greetings
Καλημέρα
ka-li-MEH-ra
Good morning. Used until roughly early afternoon and the standard opener at any counter.
Καλό βράδυ
ka-LO VRA-thi
Good evening — used as a parting phrase in the late afternoon onwards.
Social
Ευχαριστώ πολύ
ef-ha-ri-STO po-LEE
Thank you very much. Worth the extra word in an office where you will be back next week.
Γεια μας
YAH mas
Cheers — literally 'to our health'. Said before the first sip, with eye contact.
Σιγά σιγά
si-GHA si-GHA
Slowly, slowly. The honest description of a Nicosia government queue, and said without complaint.
Daily life
Λευκωσία
lef-ko-SEE-a
Nicosia's Greek name — what everyone here actually calls it. 'Lefkoşa' is the Turkish name used in the north.
Πράσινη Γραμμή
PRA-si-ni gra-MEE
The Green Line — the UN buffer zone that has divided the city since 1974.
ARC
A-R-C
Alien Registration Certificate — your residence card number, and the identifier every Cypriot system runs on.
ΓεΣΥ (GESY)
YEH-see
The General Healthcare System. Registering and choosing a personal doctor are steps you take yourself.
Πόσο κάνει;
PO-so KA-ni
How much is it? The most immediately useful phrase in any Nicosia market.
Food
Σουβλάκι
soo-VLA-ki
Grilled meat in pitta with salad and lemon. In Cyprus it comes with halloumi as a matter of course.
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