Adding to an air of authenticity, many Greek restaurants use the English spellings for Greek words on their menus. What do they mean? Here are the most commonly used words for the types of foods, dishes, and drinks you might find.
Let's start with the word for "menu." It's katalogos, in Greek: κατάλογος, pronounced kah-TAH-loh-ghohs.
Now, onto the menu!
The listing is ordered like this:
Greek Alliteration
English
Pronunciation
In Greek
Psomia
Breads
psohm-YAH
ψωμιά
Orektika
Appetizers
oh-rek-tee-KAH
ορεκτικά
Mezethes, mezedes
Little plates of tasty tidbits
meh-ZEH-thess
μεζέδες
Pikilia (or Poikilia)
Assortment (usually of appetizers or mezethes)
pee-kee-LEE-yah
ποικιλία
Salates
Salads
sah-LAH-tess
σαλάτες
Soupes
Soups
SOO-pes
σούπες
Hortarika
Vegetables (generally leafy)
hor-tah-ree-KAH
χορταρικά
Lahanika
Vegetables
lah-hah-nee-KAH
λαχανικά
Prota Piata
First Courses
PROH-tah pee-YAH-tah
πρώτα πιάτα
Kyria Piata
Main Courses, Entrees
KEE-ree-yah pee-YAH-tah
κύρια πιάτα
Kreatika
Meat dishes
kray-ah-tee-KAH
κρεατικά
Poulerika
Poultry dishes
poo-leh-ree-KAH
πουλερικά
Kynigia
Game
kee-NEEGH-yah
κυνήγια
Lathera, ladera
Cooked in oil (often vegetarian)
lah-theh-RAH
λαδερά
Psaria
Fish
PSAHR-yah
ψάρια
Thalassina
Seafood
thah-lah-see-NAH
θαλασσινά
Zymarika
Pastas
zee-mah-ree-KAH
ζυμαρικά
Makaronathes, makaronades
Spaghetti dishes
mah-kah-roh-NAH-thess
μακαρονάδες
Epithorpia, epidorpia
Desserts
eh-pee-THOR-pee-yah
επιδόρπια
Glyka
Sweets
ghlee-KAH
γλυκά
Pastes
Pastries
PAHS-tess
πάστες
Pagota
Ice cream
pah-gho-TAH
παγωτά
Frouta
Fruit
FROO-tah
φρούτα
Pota
Drinks (alcoholic)
poh-TAH
πωτά
Liker
Liqueurs
lee-KAIR
λικέρ
Krasia
Wines
krahs-YAH
κρασιά
Rofimata
Drinks (non-alcoholic)
roh-FEE-mah-tah
ροφήματα
Anapsyktika
Soft drinks
ah-nahp-seek-tee-KAH
αναψυκτικά