How to Say "Evil Eye" in Greek

βασκανία

vaskaníafeminine

The English phrase 'evil eye' is translated into Greek as βασκανία (vaskanía). Wiktionary also lists μάτι (máti) and μάτιασμα (mátiasma).

Meaning: wicked look conveying dislike or envy believed to be able to cause bad luck or injury, the ability to cause bad luck or injury through such a look (noun)

Ways to say it

“evil eye” in Greek
Greek	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA	Note
βασκανία	vaskanía		feminine
μάτι	máti	/ˈma.ti/
μάτιασμα	mátiasma	/ˈma.tça.zma/	neuter

The term refers to a wicked look conveying dislike or envy that is believed to be able to cause bad luck or injury, or the ability to cause such harm through such a look. In colloquial, everyday spoken Greek, people often use the plural μάτια (eyes) to refer to the evil eye itself, such as in the expression έφαγες μάτια (you ate eyes/you got the evil eye).

Which one should you use?

While βασκανία refers to the concept of the evil eye, μάτιασμα is the most common word used to refer to the specific act or instance of someone casting the evil eye on you. The word μάτι can also be used in this context.

How does it change in a sentence?

The verb ματιάω (to give the evil eye) is conjugated in the past tense as μάτιασε when referring to a third person singular subject.

How do you pronounce it?

vaskanía

Did you know?

When complimenting someone, Greeks may add the phrase φτου φτου (mimicking the sound of spitting) to prevent accidentally casting a μάτιασμα through their praise.
The concept of βασκανία was recognized in antiquity, and Ancient Greeks believed that certain people were born with a natural power to cast the evil eye without intending to.
The word μάτι (eye) is actually a diminutive form in its ancient roots, originally meaning a 'little eye'.

Examples in context

Ποιος με μάτιασε;
Who gave me the evil eye?
This sentence is useful for asking who cast the evil eye using the form μάτι.
Tatoeba #9226310 by Nylez, translation #9700470 by Nylez

Example conversation

Anastasia and Nikos are talking about a broken mirror.

Αναστασία Anastasia

Κόπηκα το δάχτυλό μου και σπάσε το καθρέφτι!
Kopika to dachtylo mou kai spase to kathrefti!
I cut my finger and the mirror broke!
Νίκος Nikos

Μήπως είναι κάποια βασκανία;
Mipos einai kapoia vaskania?
Could it be some kind of evil eye?
Αναστασία Anastasia

Ναι, όλα πάνε στραβά σήμερα.
Nai, ola pane strava simera.
Yes, everything is going wrong today.
Νίκος Nikos

Μην το σκέφτεσαι, Νίκος θα σε βοηθήσει.
Min to skeftesai, Nikos tha se voithisi.
Don't think about it, Nikos will help you.

Sources

Wiktionary, “evil eye” translations and entries βασκανία, μάτι, μάτιασμα, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries βασκανία, μάτι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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How to Say “Evil Eye” in Greek