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Do people speak English in Greece?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 21, 2026

Although the official language in Greece and Athens is Greek, English is also widely spoken, so you shouldn't experience any problems when visiting the city. English is very widely spoken in Greece, especially in the most touristy parts of the city.Although the official language in Greece

language in Greece

Chi (uppercase/lowercase Χ χ) is the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet. It is used to represent the "ch" sound (as in Scottish "loch" or German "Bauch") in Ancient and Modern Greek. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 600. Letters that came from it include the Roman X and Cyrillic Х.

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and Athens is Greek, English is also widely spoken, so you shouldn't experience any problems when visiting the city. English is very widely spoken in Greece, especially in the most touristy parts of the city.

What percentage of Greece speaks English?

Greece's population is roughly 10.8 million people. Out of the total population about 51% or 5.5 million Greeks speak English. In southern European countries it is common for a lower percentage of the population to speak English. English speakers are usually better educated, live in the cities and are richer.

Can you live in Greece only speaking English?

Generally speaking yes you can get by in Athens with English. You will only face small problems with your transactions with the public sector but I am sure you will find your way. In Greek but when there is a foreigner in the group they will speak English; actually you can find many Greeks speak German too.

Is it rude to speak English in Greece?

Most greek people who work in the tourist industry (bars, restaurants, taxi, bus, car hire, hotels etc) can speak good english and won't feel offended if you are not able to speak greek.

Can English live in Greece?

Many non-EU citizens including Brits, USA citizens, etc., can stay in Greece for up to 3 months without a visa. After this, you will need to apply for permanent residency. Generally, this must be completed at the Greek consulate in your home country.

36 related questions found

Is Greece a poor country?

GREECE is a relatively wealthy country, or so the numbers seem to show. Per-capita income is more than $30,000 — about three-quarters of the level of Germany.

Is Greece a nice place to live?

There are many reasons to love living in Greece. It's an easy place to adopt a healthy lifestyle, the entire country is physically breathtaking, and the Greek people are some of the friendliest, most helpful, and genuinely caring folks you'll ever meet.

Is Greek hard to learn?

Despite the fact that Greek roots are found throughout the English language, Greek is among the hardest languages for English speakers to learn, according to studies conducted by the US Department of State.

Is Greece safe?

OVERALL RISK : LOW. Greece is a very safe country to travel to. Tourists are unlikely to experience any crime or violence. The only concern is petty crime on the streets, but if you apply the basic precaution measures, your trip should go smoothly.

Is Athens safe?

OVERALL RISK : LOW. Athens is considered a very safe city, even for solo female travelers. The crime rate is very low and as long as you take normal precautions, you will feel safe here. Most visits are trouble-free, but the theft of passports and wallets are common on the metro and in crowded tourist sights.

Can I go to Greece without knowing Greek?

Although the official language in Greece and Athens is Greek, English is also widely spoken, so you shouldn't experience any problems when visiting the city.

Can I live in Greece without knowing Greek?

You won't suffer if you don't speak Greek, but you will miss out on opportunities to chat with the locals, who are a very colourful, interesting bunch. You can learn so much from them and gain local knowledge, such as where to buy the best spanakopita [spinach pies] and who can fix your roof and so on.

Is Athens English friendly?

Athens – A very international city and huge tourist spot, so English very widely spoken. Metro signs also in English. No problems reported at all by any tourists, and some people even report being able to live there long term without knowing Greek. Having a few Greek words always helps with the locals though.

Is Greek still spoken?

Greek is spoken today by at least 13 million people, principally in Greece and Cyprus along with a sizable Greek-speaking minority in Albania near the Greek-Albanian border.

Can you wear shorts in Greece?

You have no problem wearing shorts in Greece, more or less wherever you go, other than churches or monasteries, where it is expected that your knees and shoulders are covered. You are OK with short sleeves, in these places, and sometimes you will see wrap around skirts at the entrance for those wearing shorts.

Is Greece child friendly?

Greece is one of the best countries in the world for travel with children. Rather than just catering to kids with entertainment parks and special menus, the Greeks will welcome them with true warmth and a natural sense of inclusion in all activities.

Is it always hot in Greece?

The climate of Greece is mediterranean with summers that are usually hot and dry, and the winters that can be quiet cold and wet. The upper part of Greece can be very cold during the winter and snow is not uncommon. However, for the south of Greece and the islands, the winters will be milder.

Is Greece a 3rd world country?

Greece has the trappings of an advanced Western economy, but its government's capacity to tax and spend seems distinctly Third World. The proportion of self-employed Greeks is more than twice as high as in the rest of Europe.

Is Greek a pretty language?

Not only is Greek a beautiful language, it is also filled with thousands of years of history and influence.

Is Greek a Romance language?

Greek is a completely separate branch of the Indo-European languages (Hellenic) from Romance languages (which are Italic languages), and has been separate from the branch of Indo-European to which the Romance languages today belong for at least 3000 years, long before there was even a Latin language, much less Romance ...

Is Greek worth learning?

By learning Greek, one can get a deeper understanding of European history and culture. The Greek alphabet is the base of the Roman alphabet. Knowing Greek will help one learn other European languages, such as French or English, more easily. An estimated twelve percent of the English vocabulary has Greek origins.

Is Greece Lgbtq friendly?

Greece is one of Europe's most popular LGBT tourist destinations, particularly its largest cities Athens and Thessalonica as well as several of its islands. The gay scene of Mykonos is well-known, with many establishments catering for the LGBT community.

Does it snow in Greece?

Snow is common in the Greek mountains and in northern Greece but is less frequent in central Athens and on Aegean islands. Last year, a major snowstorm caused severe problems in the capital, knocking out power for days. Thousands of trees collapsed from the weight of the snow and ice.

What religion is in Greece?

Greece is an overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian nation – much like Russia, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. And, like many Eastern Europeans, Greeks embrace Christianity as a key part of their national identity.

Is Greek still broke?

Since the debt crisis began in 2010, the various European authorities and private investors have loaned Greece nearly 320 billion euros. It was the biggest financial rescue of a bankrupt country in history. 2 As of January 2019, Greece has only repaid 41.6 billion euros. It has scheduled debt payments beyond 2060.