καλαμάκι
kalamáki
The Greek word for straw is καλαμάκι (kalamáki).
The term καλαμάκι refers to a thin tube used for sucking liquid from a container, covering both modern materials like plastic or paper and traditional small reed tubes.
What does it mean word for word?
The word καλαμάκι is a diminutive form of καλάμι (kalamí), which means reed or cane, literally translating to "little reed/pen".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of καλαμάκι is καλαμάκια.
How do you pronounce it?
kalamáki
Did you know?
- While καλαμάκι is the standard word for a drinking straw, you will often see the plural καλαμάκια on menus to refer to small grilled meat skewers.
- The word καλάμι also refers to a fishing rod in Greek, as early rods were made from the same reeds used for straws.
- The word καλάμι is a cognate of the English word 'calamus', which refers to a reed pen or the plant itself in botanical and historical texts.
Examples in context
- Παρακαλώ, μπορείτε να μου φέρετε ένα καλαμάκι;Please, can you bring me a straw?
- Σας ευχαριστώ για το καλαμάκι που μου δώσατε.Thank you for the straw you gave me.
- Θέλω ένα καλαμάκι για το αναψυκτικό μου.Thelo ena kalamaki gia to anapsykiko mou.I want a straw for my soft drink.
- Το καλαμάκι είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι.To kalamaki einai pano sto trapezi.The straw is on the table.
- Μπορείς να μου δώσεις ένα καλαμάκι;Mporis na mou dosis ena kalamaki;Can you give me a straw?
Example conversation
Kyriaki and Nikos are at a cafe.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΝίκο, πού είναι το καλαμάκι μου;Níko, poú eínai to kalamáki mou?Nikos, where is my straw?
- Νίκος NikosΔεν υπάρχει καλαμάκι στο τραπέζι.Den ypárchei kalamáki sto trapézi.There is no straw on the table.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΘα πάω να πάρω ένα από το μπαρ.Tha páo na páro éna apó to bar.I will go get one from the bar.
- Νίκος NikosΠερίμενε, θα πάω εγώ για σένα.Periméne, tha páo egó gia séna.Wait, I will go for you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry καλαμάκι, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries καλαμάκι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
