How to Tell Time and Dates in Greek for English Speakers

Understanding the Greek Clock: 12-hour and 24-hour Formats

In Greek, both the 12-hour and 24-hour clock systems are used. The 24-hour format is common in official contexts like transportation schedules, while the 12-hour format is often used in everyday conversation. Knowing both will help you understand and express time accurately.

Saying the Hour in Greek

To say the hour in Greek, you start with the word for the hour followed by the word for 'o'clock' (η ώρα). For example, 3:00 is τρεις η ώρα (tris i ora). The numbers from 1 to 12 are used for the hours.

Here are the Greek numbers for hours 1 to 12:

• 1 - μία (mía)
• 2 - δύο (dýo)
• 3 - τρεις (tris)
• 4 - τέσσερις (tésseris)
• 5 - πέντε (pénte)
• 6 - έξι (éxi)
• 7 - επτά (eptá)
• 8 - οκτώ (októ)
• 9 - εννιά (eniá)
• 10 - δέκα (déka)
• 11 - έντεκα (éndeka)
• 12 - δώδεκα (dódeka)

Expressing Minutes

Minutes are added after the hour using the word και (kai), which means 'and'. For example, 3:15 is τρεις και δεκαπέντε (tris kai dekapénte). For minutes less than 10, you can say the number directly, e.g., 3:05 is τρεις και πέντε (tris kai pénte).

Talking About Past and To the Hour

To express minutes past the hour, use και (and). To express minutes to the next hour, use παρά (pará), which means 'to' or 'before'. For example, 3:45 can be said as τρεις και σαράντα πέντε (tris kai saránta pénte) or τέσσερις παρά δεκαπέντε (tésseris pará dekapénte), meaning 'four minus fifteen'.

Days of the Week in Greek

Knowing the days of the week is essential for talking about dates. Here are the days of the week in Greek with their English equivalents:

• Monday - Δευτέρα (Deftéra)
• Tuesday - Τρίτη (Tríti)
• Wednesday - Τετάρτη (Tetárti)
• Thursday - Πέμπτη (Pémpti)
• Friday - Παρασκευή (Paraskeví)
• Saturday - Σάββατο (Sávvato)
• Sunday - Κυριακή (Kiriakí)

Months of the Year in Greek

The months in Greek are similar to English but with Greek spellings and pronunciations. Here are the months:

• January - Ιανουάριος (Ianouários)
• February - Φεβρουάριος (Fevrouários)
• March - Μάρτιος (Mártios)
• April - Απρίλιος (Aprílios)
• May - Μάιος (Máios)
• June - Ιούνιος (Ioúnios)
• July - Ιούλιος (Ioúlios)
• August - Αύγουστος (Ávgoustos)
• September - Σεπτέμβριος (Septémvrios)
• October - Οκτώβριος (Októvrios)
• November - Νοέμβριος (Noémvrios)
• December - Δεκέμβριος (Dekémvrios)

Expressing Dates in Greek

Dates in Greek are usually expressed in the order: day, month, and year. For example, April 5, 2024 is 5 Απριλίου 2024 (pénte Aprilioú 2024). Notice that the month is in the genitive case.

To say the day of the month, use the cardinal number, and for the month, use the genitive form. Years are said as numbers, e.g., δύο χιλιάδες είκοσι τέσσερα (dýo chiliádes eíkosi téssera) for 2024.

Ordinal Numbers for Dates

Sometimes ordinal numbers are used for dates, especially in formal contexts. For example, πρώτος Απριλίου (prótos Aprilioú) means 'the first of April'.

• 1st - πρώτος (prótos)
• 2nd - δεύτερος (défteros)
• 3rd - τρίτος (trítos)
• 4th - τέταρτος (tétartos)
• 5th - πέμπτος (pémptos)

Common Phrases for Talking About Time and Dates in Greek