γύρος
gýros/ˈʝiros/masculine
The Greek word for gyro, the sandwich of meat from a rotating spit, is γύρος (gýros).
In Greece γύρος refers to the meat cooked on a vertical rotating spit, and it is also used for the whole sandwich, usually wrapped in a pita.
Meaning: Greek sandwich (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
γύρος literally means turn, circle or revolution, which refers to the way the meat turns on the spit.
Which one should you use?
γύρος is meat sliced from a rotating spit, while σουβλάκι is meat cooked on small skewers.
How does it change in a sentence?
γύρος is a masculine noun. After a preposition such as με it loses the final s and becomes γύρο.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized it is gýros, and in IPA /ˈʝiros/. The first sound is close to the y in yes, not a hard g and the stress falls on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not pronounce it with the j sound of jeep or the hard g of gate. The Greek word starts with a sound close to the y in yes.
Did you know?
- The word γύρος shares the same root as the English word 'gyroscope', which is a device based on the principle of rotation.
- The term γύρος was used to replace the original loanword ντονέρ in an effort to 'de-Turkify' the Greek language.
- In Greece, you can order γύρος στο πιάτο, which means 'gyro on a plate'. This version serves the meat with fries and salad on the side instead of inside a pita.
Examples in context
- Πάω στο σουβλατζίδικο να φάω μία πίτα με γύρο, ντομάτα, κρεμμύδι και τζατζίκι.I'm going to the souvlaki-shop to eat a gyro-wrap with tomato, onion(s) and tzatziki.πίτα με γύρο is the usual way to order a gyro wrapped in pita, here with tomato, onion and tzatziki.
- Θέλω ένα γύρο, παρακαλώ.I would like a gyro, please.
- Ο γύρος εδώ είναι πολύ νόστιμος.O gyro edo einai poly nostimos.The gyro here is very delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gyro” translations and entries γύρος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries γύρος, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
