Alphabet

The Greek language is one of the oldest languages in the world and the oldest language in Europe. The language is dating back to the second millennium BC and was hence a source of linguistic loanwords for other European languages. In particular the medical terminology is for a very large part based on ancient Greek medical terms. Close contact between the Greek civilization and other civilizations had their effect with numerous linguistic influences on the Greek language at the same time. When studying Greek history of the last two thousand years we find numerous conquests upon some Greek geographical areas, with the consequence that the Greek language, and in particular the local dialects, are included as such or modified numerous linguistic items to fit in the Greek grammar and the syntax.

The script of the Modern Greek alphabet consists of twenty-four letters whereat a number of characters and punctuation marks are added. The «αλφαβήτα» has vowels and consonants. The seven vowels are  α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ  and ω. The sound of a vowel is short, i.e. there is no difference between long and short vowels. Together with the double vowels αι, ει, οι, ου  and υι.  It means that MG has only five different sounds.

Upper-case	Lower-case	English name	pronunciation	Greek name
Α	α	Alpha	a as in father	άλφα
Β	ß	Beta	v as in vote	βήτα
Γ	γ	Gamma	g as in get [(before vowels α, ο, υ], y as in yet [before vowels ι, ε]	γάμα
Δ	δ	Delta	th as in then [but softer than in thin]	δέλτα
Ε	ε	Epsilon	e as in set	έψιλον
Ζ	ζ	Zeta	z as in zoo	ζήτα
Η	η	Eta	ee or i as in feet	ήτα
Θ	θ	Theta	th as in thin, [but not as soft as in then]	θήτα
Ι	ι	Iota	ee or i as in feet, or y as in yet	γιώτα
Κ	κ	Kappa	c as in "cab" [before vowels ι, ε], k as in key [before vowels α, ο, υ]	κάπα
Λ	λ	Lambda	l as in leg, [followed by i it turns to a sound that not exist in English]	λάμδα
Μ	µ	Mu	m as in map	μι
Ν	ν	Nu	n as in not, [followed by i it turns to a sound that not exist in English but it exists in Spanish as niña]	νι
Ξ	ξ	Xi	ksi as in wax	ξι
Ο	ο	Omicron	o as in box	όμικρον
Π	π	Pi	p as in top [close to b]	πι
Ρ	ρ	Rho	like a rolled r [a long trill] as in roller	ρο
Σ	σ, ς *	Sigma	like s and sh as between soap and shower, the ς is the s at word-ending	σίγμα
Τ	τ	Tau	t as in hot, but softer and close to d	ταυ
Υ	υ	Upsilon	ee or i as in feet	ύψιλον
Φ	φ	Phi	f and ph as in fan and phone	φι
Χ	χ	Chi	ch is a sound that does not exist in English, but the Scottish loch comes close or ich in German	χι
Ψ	ψ	Psi	ps as in lips and oops	ψι
Ω	ω	Omega	o is the same sound as the omikron in the word box, (also as in law))	ωμέγα

(For a detailed explanation, see the Alphabet-link on the right)

A few expressions are:

hello! or  good day!  is said the entire day: «γεια σου» or «γεια σας»
goodday! so long! or goodbye!:  «χαίρετε» is said at coming and going. 
(for more expressions, see the basic phrases on the right) 

Naxos



Naxos (Νάξος), is the largest Greek cyclades island (429 km2) in the Aegean. It is a mountainous island located in the center of Cyclades. It also was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The largest town and capital of the island is Chora or Naxos City, with 6,533 inhabitants and a web of steep cobbled alleys, filled with the hubbub of tourism and shopping. Naxos produces olives, grapes, figs, citrus fruit, corn and potatoes. A drive to the inland will bring you to atmospheric villages, ancient sights and interesting sightseeing. You don't need to travel far to find isolated beaches. The beaches on the western side, particularly Mikri Vigla, are ideal for windsurfing and kite surfing, due to the strong winds that blow there in the afternoon. Naxos is famous for the exotic beaches of which Plaka, Agios Prokopios, Orkos and Mikri Vigla are among the most beautiful beaches on the island. The main villages are Filoti, Apiranthos, Vivlos, Agios Arsenios, Koronos and Glinado.

Agia Anna

Agia Anna is a small village located in the western part of Naxos,  about 7 kilometers away from Chora. The village has several shops, a bank machine, car and motorbike rentals, restaurants and cozy tavernas. But the village is best known for Agia Anna Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Cyclades!

Naxos Mare

A highly recommended place to stay in Agia Anna is Naxos Mare situated just outside of Agia Anna, about 5 minutes walk from a beautiful beach and some bars and restaurants. This  appartment complex is ideal for relaxing. It is quiet, very very clean, with friendly, helpful and polite people. The appartments are spacious and comfortable, with a pool just outside your  window and from your balcony you can enjoy the sundown sunset.