Contributions

Paraskos

*busso / bus - at a guess there were not many buses in rural Cyprus when people left in the 1960s a…

Olga

Το Φισσάδικον (= Fish and chips shop. Οι πιο πολλοί μαθητες και μαθήτριες είχαν τουλάχιστον δύο!)
…

Madden Χρήστος Walsh

words: see you later

pronunceation: SEEoo lateR
the r is trilled

Xenia Karayiannis

Boxshia (plural of boxes)
Chickia (plural of chicken)
Ta carka (curry sauce)
Sausinges (sausage…

Luke K. (via email)

I am fascinated by your research into Grenglish. I was born and brought up in London, UK, originall…

Louis

This is wonderful and would be a shame to lose the cypriot/english language as spoken by that immig…

Christopher C.

I was born (1947) in London, to Greek Cypriot parents; for five years (from the age of 6 years till…

Androulla L.

Sandwigi = sandwich

Billin = the bill (when you have paid for something).

Anastasia

Abetchou - I bet you
Dipozito- deposit
Boxi- box
Basaris- bus driver
Garashi - garage
Fishatik…

Peter Papacosta

I remember my yia yia when she tried to say thank you. It came out as thekyou

Sotiris Hajittofi (sidney)

box- boxin. boxes- boxia(boksha, it's important to get the pronounciation correct)
list- lista,…

Sotiris Hajittofi (Sidney)

box- boxin. boxes- boxia(boksha, it's important to get the pronounciation correct)
list- lista,…

John

A very good friend of mine created the word antisiseptic. Pronounced the Greek way Andi...etc. she …

Choftes

To talk choftes is to talk rubbish.

"You chat choftes"

"What is this choftes"

Pav masthi

Πιζινες/ πιζινες Μάν ( obviously business/ business man. The way it’s used has cultural connotation…

Rebecca Z. (via email)

Slyeesooess for slices of something

Busserris for bus driver

Posta for post

Postaro P…

Harry

Greek Cypriots in New Zealand are very very few. There are more Greeks in Wellington but all those…

Harry

Kavnas

Another interesting word coined by the Cypriots which my father was perplexed back in th…

Angela N.

I'm so glad you're doing this. It's something I wanted to do, but didn't where to start or have tim…

Harry

I lived in London for 20 years and now in New Zealand.

The friendly how are you as per Cypriots …

Sotiris

I have 2 brilliant words nobody knows about. They are probably worth about £1000 each. But you can …

Thekla

well its more the about the accent you can hear north london cypriot its very specific. I meet peop…

Maria

Halva yew? How are you

George D

Bomb-li-gao: this was what they used to call a pub (from 'public house'). One of the funniest Greng…

zoe

ti sidiroo = sitting room

to kichi

brettez = breakfast

sossinja = sausage

aiscri = ice…

Pav mastihi

As you do, you go to Σεσπουρι to do the σιοπια in the γεριμη the βρακα. No idea where his πασκεττα…

Martin Pyroyiannos

Addressa- address
Mapo- mop
Treno - train
Sandala- sandals
Ascot- boiler
Mapa- football
Fishb…

Nicholas Nicou

Kori- in Greek you would refer to a close friend or family member who is female and saying that wor…

Christina

'Faies' (fires)
My parents used this word to describe the central heating in the house or the heat…

Cleo R.

Guys you also have to think of words the other way around.

For example, 'No Horses' aka Oi apar…

Costas

" kamneis ligolai" do you offer legal aid - persons looking for solicitor that does legal aid w…

SpartanStathi

Unbisteftable - blend of unbelievable and 'abistefto'
Blondissa - blonde woman
Chigoui - as in 't…

Tina K. (via twitter)

My Yiayia used to use ‘jusdasay’ (just the same) and ‘abetchoo’ (I bet you) in her Greek sentences.…

Marianna M. (via twitter)

“Where did you parkares to car”

Petro N (via twitter)

I was about write to you & complain. But I had no "στάμπα" to put on the letter, so I was going to …

Kimchi (via twitter)

Oh god, my mum and godmother have quite a few 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Caioukia = cake
Sausenges = sausages
Cig…

Pav Mastihi

Οι αηρισς / the Irish (this is interesting because presumably my parents generation didn't know any…

George P. (via twitter)

You pbly know these but... Marketa (market) basketa,(basket) buson, (bus)

Daspieris - bin man
a…

Pav Mastihi

HALLOUMINATI THE BAND

The name of the band Halloumunati is a Grenglish name for a punk/ rebetiko…

MIRANDA

Sosinja- sausage
Fishbury park - Finsbury Park
Tornepikekani- Turnpike Lane
Kitchoui - kitche…

Pav Panayioti Mastihi

Οι πιτλοι/ the Beatles ( the band, not the insects)

Ο ποηφρε/ boyfriend

Η κεηφρε/ the girlfr…

Pav panayioti mastihi

GORY

Gory roughly translates as hey you or hey girl used when women address each other.

Tech…

Maria

Buseri - the bus drive

Postaji - the postman

Checkin - the cheque

Billin - the bill

Fis…

Andros Mavroleftheros

Ttatta - ta (Thanks)
Koutsia street - Goodge Street

Ττάττα ρα Τταλλού τζαι ση γιου στο Κούτσια …

Helen Evangelou

Bobligao = Public House (pub)
Exapenni = Woolworth (everything for sale was under sixpence, someti…

Pelayia

Ελαβέρα - elevator

Μουβάρεις - you are moving

Τρόκι- truck

Αμπουλάνζα - ambulance

Σπι…

Despena Vasiliou

Stop’ed - car brake - use to hear this a lot s a child, in fact mum still uses it, to stop is stop …

Niko T

ARHITHOMANDILO..........Men's underwear.

BROSTOMOUNA............Apron you wear for cooking.