How to Say "Spinach" in Greek

σπανάκι

spanákineuter

The Greek word for spinach is σπανάκι (spanáki).

σπανάκι refers to the edible plant Spinacia oleracea.

Meaning: a particular edible plant, Spinacia oleracea (noun)

Which one should you use?

While σπανάκι is the standard term, you may also encounter the informal diminutives σπανακάκι or σπανακλάκι.

The plural form of σπανάκι is σπανάκια.

spanáki

The word σπανάκι is not native to the Greek language but was borrowed from the Classical Persian word 'ispanāx'.
Because the word ends in the diminutive suffix -άκι, it sounds much more 'cute' or 'small' to a Greek ear than the standard English word 'spinach'.
In Greek culture, σπανάκι is often lumped into the broader category of χόρτα, a term for wild greens that English lacks a single word for.

Μισώ το σπανάκι.
I hate spinach.
This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for the word σπανάκι.
Tatoeba #5460493 by Zeus, translation #2184380 by Hybrid
Σπανάκι είναι αυτό;
Is this spinach?
This sentence is useful for asking if a substance is σπανάκι.
Tatoeba #5413474 by Zeus, translation #2248647 by CK
Μπορείτε να μου φέρετε μια σαλάτα με σπανάκι, παρακαλώ;
Can you bring me a spinach salad, please?
Το σπανάκι είναι πολύ υγιές.
To spanakí eínai polý ygiés.
Spinach is very healthy.

Elena and Kostas are deciding what to cook for dinner.

Ελένη Eleni

Τι θα φτιάξουμε για φαγητό σήμερα;
Ti tha ftiáxoume gia fagito símera?
What shall we make for food today?
Κώστας Kostas

Έχω σπανάκι στο ψυγείο, ΚΩστα.
Écho spanáki sto psygeío, Kósta.
I have spinach in the fridge, Kostas.
Ελένη Eleni

Μου αρέσει πολύ το σπανάκι.
Mou arései polý to spanáki.
I like spinach very much.
Κώστας Kostas

Τότε θα φτιάξω μια σούπα.
Tóte tha ftiáxo mia súpa.
Then I will make a soup.

Sources

Wiktionary, “spinach” translations and entries σπανάκι, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries σπανάκι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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