I would like to start by saying that I am in no way an expert in Cypriot Greek. I do not speak in this dialect, nor do I try nor am I able to (at least confidently and with certainty). However, coming from a Cypriot background I have picked up a few things that have helped me understand them better… but mainly only when they use some of the Standard language.
I have heard many times that the dialect is becoming less and less useful or needed due to a growing economy and educational standards on the island. It would be mainly the older generations who only know this dialect, while the younger ones will be able to switch and speak "properly" as the Standard is what they learn in at school. The Standard Modern Greek language is the RP of the Greek-speaking world, one could say.
So, I have compiled a list of the differences in the dialect’s pronunciation and differing words in comparison with the Standard language. Hopefully, for those of you who intend to go to Cyprus or come from a Cypriot background, this will help you shift a bit easier from what you will learn from your text books and in your classrooms to understanding the Cypriots.
It should be noted that the Cypriot dialect is both very similar and very different from the Standard language. Their dialect is heavily influenced by the Turkish language, of course, and others such as Old French and Italian (!). There is quite a lot of English, too, which would make you laugh. Cypriot intonation differs greatly from that of Greece, so much so that to me they sound like they could be speaking Turkish if I wasn’t concentrating. They do mumble, the intonation is “jumpy” and some consonants are harsh and “dental”.
Letter and Sound Differences
Κ κ = J j (ΤΖ, τζ) at the start of a word
the most famous marker of the Greek Cypriot dialect --> και = τζαι = je = and
Χ χ = SH, sh in the middle of a word
έχει = eshi = he / she / it has, there is
ΤΣ τσ = CH ch
το τσάι = to chay = tea
ΓΓ γγ = NJ nj (ΝΤΖ, ντζ) in the middle of a word
μην αγγίζεις! = min an-jeezis = don’t touch (continuous command)!
Greek Cypriot has retained a lot of Ancient Greek. Neuter nouns normally ending in –ο are found/heard as –ον in speech, which is how they were in ancient times and some just have a "neuter ni" as I call it (το παράθυρο / το παράθυρον, το τραπέζι / το τραπέζιν) . There is also the appearance of a “final ni” (τελικό νι) which is used in the accusative: στην Κύπρον instead of Standard στην Κύπρο (to / in Cyprus).
You will find a lot of words in Cypriot, verbs and nouns mainly, that end as follows in the Standard are found as:
-ουμε = -ομεν --> ελπίζουμε = ελπίζομεν = we hope, we are hoping
-εύω = -εύκω --> γυρεύω = γυρεύκω = I look for, I’m looking for
-έσω = -έσκω --> μου αρέσει = αρέσκει μου = I like (it), Ancient Greek --> αρέσκει μοι
-ια = -κια --> τα πόδια = τα πόδκια = feet
-τια = -δκια --> τα μάτια = τα μάδκια = eyes
Some words that will help you understand what you might hear are:
δεν = εν = not
εγώ = εγιώ = I --> eyó instead of eghó
εσύ = εσού(νι) = you (sing.) --> This could be used as living evidence of the Classical pronunciation of the letter Υ υ as “ou” and not “ee” like in the standard, modern language!
είστε = είσθε = you are (pl.) --> Similar to Ancient Greek είσθαι
βρήκα = ηύρα = I found --> Pronounced “ivra”
εκεί = τζαμαί = ja-meh = there
Also, the word order used is normally similar to English:
Where is it? = Πούν το; --> [Που είναι] το;
Literally “where is it?” rather than Standard: Πού είναι; (Notice no word for “the”, i.e. no article, as there is no need and is grammatically complete!)
The word for “this”, rather than using αυτό, is τούτο (same as Ancient Greek):
What is this? = Ήντα τούτο; --> Ήντα = τί είναι
I hope this will help someone out there! Thanks for reading!
If anyone feels this information is incorrect, please do let me know. This is only what I’ve picked up from watching Cypriot TV shows and what my grandmother used to tell me! Σας ευχαριστώ!
