Contributions

Vicky

Some words that we use...

Scooba- broom
Vaso- vase
Aparo- horse

My mum also said my yia yia…

James Neophytou

“Craftissa”.

Noun.

My wife’s grandmother, God rest her soul, used to use this word.

It …

Christopher C. (via email)

A good many years ago, in a pub near the old London docks, I heard some Greek sailors use a word th…

Christopher C.

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

Desmond Michael

Polishmanos = Policeman
Banga = Bank
Marketa = Market
Duspierithes = Dustmen

Also, perhaps no…

I Stellou

Some contributions from my parents… 😊

Πάσο - bus

Κκόμφμο - fabric softener (ANY fabric soften…

Tony Tasou

What a lovely project, to raise the profile of our Cypriot patois.

Some words that come to mind,…

Greg Theoharis

"En en" was a phrase my Yiayia and Pappou used which was added as a confirmation at the end of a st…

Maria

Before I forget.
Grenglish word
Unsure if it's been used

Parkari... Ebien Na Parkari 🤣

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 …

Michael H. (via email)

In Australia the Cypriots say "ordeno" for "order". This is used when someone calls for to order fo…

Pav masthi

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

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…

Pav mastihi

FOOD AND PRODUCT LABELS 1

I somehow ended up at a Greek Cypriot shop food called Despina’s in S…

Lazaro S.

Many words have been transformed and either used from English to Greek Cypriot or Greek Cypriot to …

Nadia S. (via twitter)

Goodnight

Neighbour of some cousins in Cyprus, who’d lived many years in London. They used to ca…

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…

Brian

I'm of English mother tongue and my knowledge of Greek or Cypriot is very, very basic (maybe a coup…

Kipreo-boullos

1. O Cash-illis - A person who is rich in money and assets.
Example: Epia esso tou Jimmy na t…

Sotiris

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

Costas

My parents are from Bimingam and ran a fishadiko. They sold the usual stuff including carri, sausan…

Dion Georgiou

To Mbaso - The bus
I Mbanka - The bank

Both terms that I heard my grandfather (born in Cyprus i…

George D

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

Sid Paparestis

Andressa = Address
Stampa = Stamp
Ticketo = ticket

Exapeni = was used to refer to Woolworths b…

annao

My yiayia used to say ´Ferilikkos´ for fairy liquid !

Yianna Hajiantonis

To postofi = post office

I oringa = orange drink. My parents didn't use this word but I've heard…

Jon Donnis

"Hem / Hemself" - My dad uses Hem instead of Him or Her, Himself or Herself.

Even after living …

Andy Winters

Yiayia lived in Manor Gardens (Fishbury park)in the 60's. Emigrated to London from Northern Cyprus …

Vasili Soteriou

Pomligao

Vasili Soteriou

Pomligao

Christina

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

Λαζαρώ

Being born and raised in the uk, not london but manchester, i was good friends with georgiou s moth…

Sodoulla Georgiou

Coumpania- company
Mangerena - female managere
Choccolades - chocolates
Gayfren - girlfriend
…

George Charalambous

Κορνφλαϊ - Cornflakes (is used for any breakfast cereal)
Μικι Μαου - Mickey Mouse (used to descri…

Eleni Papageorgiou

Mapo = mop
Postaris= to post something
Smixis= mix together
Paso= bus
Ketlo= kettle
Sakari=…

Andrew Mouzouri

Polishmano - Policeman - my auntie (from Captain Tow) used to say it a lot - with a soft P, almost …

Xpisto

Fishadiko - fish and chip shop

Everyone Greek Cypriot I know uses this word, especially in the W…

Mr Way and Panteli S. (via Twitter)

When I was a kid it was stedde, but since I married, my girls have Yiayia’s. Also, I used to sleep …

Maria Panayiodou

Busairis = bus conductor my mum and friends used this word in the 70’s

Taxigis = taxi driver

George skordis

Rashion from rationing.word used by enclave persons in the maronite village of kormakitis for the w…

Anastasia

My Yiayia and Bapoo use the Gringlish word ‘hoteli’ for ‘hotel’ rather than the standard Greek word…

Nadia S. (via twitter)

Neighbour of some cousins in Cyprus, who’d lived many years in London. They used to call her ‘Κουνά…

Iacovos Neophytou

Πρόσεχε, εν πολλά κκράφτησσα τούτη.

- Be careful, she is very crafty / deceitful / untrustworth…

Andreas Pavlou

Baso- λεωφορείο
Fishatiko- fish and chips shop
Boksi- κουτί
Ινδιάνος--indian
Televijon- τηλεόρα…

Chris P. (via twitter)

My Yiayia used to call Camden Town ‘up and down’