μπίρα
bíra/ˈbira/feminine
μπίρα (bíra) is the Greek word for beer. Wiktionary also lists ζύθος (zýthos).
Meaning: alcoholic drink made of malt (noun)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| μπίρα | bíra | /ˈbira/ | feminine |
| ζύθος | zýthos | /ˈziθos/ | masculine |
The word refers to the alcoholic drink made of malt.
Which one should you use?
μπίρα is the common, everyday word used in conversation. In contrast, ζύθος is a more formal or technical term often used in historical or literary contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
μπίρα is a feminine noun. Its plural form is μπίρες. ζύθος is a masculine noun, and its genitive singular form (used to say 'of beer') is ζύθους.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbira/.
When do people say it?
A common way to express a request is to say 'Tha ithela mia mpira', which means 'I would like a beer'.
Did you know?
- In Greece, beer is often served with a small bowl of salted nuts or olives, and it is common to clink glasses while saying stin ygeia sou, which means 'to your health'.
- The common word μπίρα is a linguistic traveler that entered Greek via Venetian, rather than being a native Greek word. This reflects the long history of maritime trade and influence in the Aegean.
- The term ζύθος is a linguistic relative of the word 'zymology', the scientific study of fermentation.
Examples in context
- Μ' αρέσει η μπίρα.I like beer.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for the form μπίρα.Tatoeba #5488507 by Zeus, translation #2245932 by CK
- Δε μ' αρέσει η μπίρα.I don't like beer.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for the form μπίρα.Tatoeba #5488510 by Zeus, translation #4073321 by CK
- Ο Τομ πίνει πολλή μπίρα.Tom drinks a lot of beer.This sentence shows how to describe an action involving the form μπίρα.Tatoeba #5517187 by Zeus, translation #4700124 by CK
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kostas and Maria are at a pub.
- Κώστας KostasΘέλεις μια μπίρα, Μαρία;Thélis mia mpíra, María?Do you want a beer, Maria?
- Μαρία MariaΝαι, θα ήθελα μια κρύα μπίρα.Nai, tha íthela mia krýa mpíra.Yes, I would like a cold beer.
- Κώστας KostasΘα παραγγείλω δύο μπίρες τώρα.Tha parangílo dýo mpíres tóra.I will order two beers now.
- Μαρία MariaΕυχαριστώ πολύ, Κώστα!Efcharistó polý, Kósta!Thank you very much, Kostas!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beer” translations and entries μπίρα, ζύθος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ζύθος, μπίρα, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
