Μαρία
María/maˈri.a/
The English name Mary is expressed in Greek as Μαρία (María). Wiktionary also lists Μαίρη (Maíri).
Meaning: female given name (name)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Μαρία | María | /maˈri.a/ | |
| Μαίρη | Maíri | transliteration |
Μαρία is the standard Greek form of the name.
Which one should you use?
Μαρία is the traditional Greek form of the name, whereas Μαίρη is a phonetic transliteration of the English name Mary.
How do you pronounce it?
The name is pronounced (maˈri.a). The stress is on the second of the three syllables.
Did you know?
- In many Greek communities, a woman might actually have two names, with 'Maria' being the first name given at baptism regardless of her actual primary name.
- In Greece, the name Μαρία is so common that it is often used as a generic placeholder or a way to address a woman whose name you have forgotten.
- The Greek form Μαρία is the direct ancestor of the many variations seen in English, such as 'Maria' and 'Mary', via the Koine Greek used in the New Testament.
Examples in context
- Πως είναι η Μαίρη;How is Mary?This sentence demonstrates how to use Μαίρη when asking about someone's well-being.Tatoeba #2818376 by glavkos, translation #31942 by CN
- Γνωρίζω μια Μαρία.Gnorízo mia María.I know a Mary.
- 711 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nikos and Kyriaki are talking about a mutual friend at a cafe.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΓνώρισες τη Μαρία;Gnórises ti María;Did you meet Mary?
- Νίκος NikosΝαι, η Μαρία είναι πολύ ευγενική.Ne, i María inei polí evgenikí.Yes, Mary is very kind.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΕίναι πολύ έξυπνη κοπέλα.Inei polí éxypni kopéla.She is a very smart girl.
- Νίκος NikosΣυμφωνώ απόλυτα μαζί σου.Symfóno apólita mazí sou.I agree with you completely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mary” translations and entries Μαρία, Μαίρη, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Μαρία, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
