How Do You Say Excuse Me in Greek Phonetically

When travelers search for how to say excuse me in Greek, one word answers them: συγγνώμη, pronounced seen GNO mee. If you learn only one Greek phrase before a trip, make it this one. It works for apologizing, for getting past someone in a crowd, and for politely getting a stranger’s attention.

This guide breaks the word down sound by sound, shows you the formal and casual options, and flags the small mistakes that give non native speakers away. The pronunciations below follow the standard modern Greek forms listed in phrase references such as Omniglot’s Greek phrases guide.

The phrase is συγγνώμη, written in Latin letters as syngnómi and pronounced seen GNO mee.

Break it into three syllables: syn, gno, mi.

The stress falls on the middle syllable: syn GNO mi. Say it like “seen” plus “GNO” plus “mee,” with the emphasis landing hard on GNO.

Sound by sound:

The σ at the start sounds like a soft s, as in “sun.”

The υ sounds like a long oo, as in “food.”

The γ before ν sounds like a soft g blending into the n, almost like the ng in “sing.”

The ω sounds like a long o, as in “go.”

The η at the end sounds like ee, as in “see.”

Put it together slowly: seen GNO mee. Say it three times and it starts to feel natural.

Use it to apologize for something small, like bumping into someone on the metro.

Use it to squeeze past someone, the way you would say “excuse me” walking down a narrow aisle.

Use it to get a stranger’s attention before asking a question, like “Excuse me, where is the station?”

Greeks use this word constantly in daily life, so you will hear it everywhere once you start listening for it.

For formal situations, use με συγχωρείτε, pronounced meh seeng ho REE teh.

This literally means “forgive me” and carries more weight than συγγνώμη. Use it when apologizing to someone older, in a business setting, or when you have caused a real inconvenience rather than a small one.

Break it down: meh (με), seeng (συγ), ho (χω), REE (ρεί), teh (τε). The stress lands on REE: meh seeng ho REE teh.

Often the politest “excuse me” is actually “please.” The word is παρακαλώ, pronounced pah rah kah LO.

Use it when asking for help, ordering at a café, or flagging down a waiter. Pair it with a smile and a slight nod, and you will be understood even if the rest of your Greek is shaky.

Break it down: pah (πα), rah (ρα), kah (κα), LO (λώ). Stress on the final LO: pah rah kah LO.

Stressing the wrong syllable. In συγγνώμη the stress is on the middle syllable, GNO. Putting it on the first syllable is the classic beginner error.

Using the formal phrase with friends. Με συγχωρείτε to a close friend sounds stiff. Save it for formal moments and use συγγνώμη the rest of the time.

Forgetting the tone. Greek is a friendly, expressive language. Say the phrase warmly and make eye contact. A flat, mumbled συγγνώμη can sound rude even when the words are right.

Overthinking the gamma. English speakers often wrestle with the γ in the middle of συγγνώμη. Do not force a hard g. Let it melt into the n like the ng in “sing” and you will be close enough that every Greek speaker understands you.

Say seen GNO mee five times, a little faster each time, until it flows in one breath.

Practice the formal one: meh seeng ho REE teh, pausing between the words at first, then joining them.

Try a full sentence: “Syngnómi, where is the Acropolis?” Greeks appreciate the effort, and most will happily switch to English to help you.

Now that you have the key phrase, these companions cover the rest of the basics:

Γεια σας, pronounced yah sahs, means hello in a polite, formal way.

Ευχαριστώ, pronounced ef hah ree STO, means thank you.

Ναι, pronounced neh, means yes. And όχι, pronounced OH hee, means no. Yes, the word for yes sounds a bit like no to English ears, which trips up every beginner exactly once.

Συγγνώμη, seen GNO mee, is the one Greek phrase that opens every door: apologies, crowds, and conversations with strangers. Learn the middle syllable stress, keep the formal με συγχωρείτε in your pocket for serious moments, and say it all with a smile. You will sound far more natural than you expect.