τυρί
tyrí/tiˈɾi/neuter
The Greek word for cheese is τυρί (tyrí).
τυρί is a noun used to refer to any dairy cheese product.
Meaning: dairy product (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Crete, you may encounter μυζήθρα, which is a traditional Greek cheese made from sheep or goat milk.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun τυρί is neuter, meaning it is used with the neuter definite article το (το τυρί). If you need to express the plural genitive, such as 'of the cheeses', use των τυριών.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is tyrí and the IPA is /tiˈɾi/.
Did you know?
- The root of τυρί comes from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'to swell'. This refers to the physical process of milk curdling and expanding during cheese production.
- While τυρί is the general word, the famous φέτα is so central to Greek identity that it has a protected designation of origin in the European Union.
- In Greece, the word τυρί is often used as a generic category, but in daily life, people almost always name the specific variety, such as φέτα, to avoid ambiguity.
Examples in context
- Σ' αρέσει το τυρί;Do you like cheese?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes τυρί.Tatoeba #5488466 by Zeus, translation #3825773 by CK
- Δε μ' αρέσει το τυρί.I don't like cheese.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for τυρί.Tatoeba #5488475 by Zeus, translation #3196474 by Theocracy
- Θέλω να φάω λίγο τυρί.I want to eat some cheese.This sentence is useful for stating a desire to eat some τυρί.Tatoeba #2733951 by Zeus, translation #2733947 by CM
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Eleni and Kostas are at a local market.
- Ελένη EleniΚώστα, κοίτα αυτό το τυρί!Kosta, koita afto to tiri!Kostas, look at this cheese!
- Κώστας KostasΕίναι πολύ αλμυρό, Ελένη.Einai poly almuro, Eleni.It is very salty, Eleni.
- Ελένη EleniΘέλεις να δοκιμάσεις λίγο;Theleis na dokimaseis ligo;Do you want to taste a little?
- Κώστας KostasΌχι, ευχαριστώ.Ochi, efcharisto.No, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheese” translations and entries τυρί, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries τυρί, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
