τσάι
tsái/ˈt͡sa.i/neuter
τσάι (tsái) is the Greek word for tea.
The word refers to the drink made from the leaves of the tea plant.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
τσάι is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
It has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
When do people say it?
When discussing specific herbal infusions, Greeks use specialized terms: τσάι του βουνού refers to mountain tea, while ρίγανη is used for oregano tea.
Did you know?
- Greek culture treats ρίγανη (oregano) not just as a culinary herb for food, but as a common tea that is brewed and drunk as a beverage.
- The Greek word τσάι is a loanword from Ottoman Turkish çay, reflecting the long historical influence of the Ottoman Empire on the Greek language.
- In Greece, herbal infusions like τσάι του βουνού are typically served with a generous amount of honey, which is a deeply rooted cultural tradition.
Examples in context
- Πρέπει να πιω τσάι.I should drink tea.This sentence shows how to express a need to drink τσάι.Tatoeba #2654823 by Zeus, translation #2654822 by shekitten
- Μου αρέσει το τσάι.I like tea.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for τσάι.Tatoeba #2726301 by Zeus, translation #253293 by CK
- Θέλετε τσάι ή καφέ;Do you want tea or coffee?This sentence is useful for offering a choice between τσάι and coffee.Tatoeba #5524361 by Zeus, translation #3766649 by Wuzzy
- Μπορώ να πάρω ένα φλιτζάνι τσάι, παρακαλώ;Can I have a cup of tea, please?
- Έλα, πάμε να πιούμε ένα τσιπουράκι και μετά ένα φλιτζάνι τσάι.Come, let's have a small glass of tsipouro and then a cup of tea.
- Μάγκα, σερβίρεις μια τσιπουρίτσα. Στ' αλήθεια όμως, θέλω και ένα φλιτζάνι τσάι.Hey, buddy, can you pour me a little tsipouro? Actually, I also want a cup of tea.
- Για μένα ένα χαμομηλάκι, παρακαλώ.For me, a chamomile tea, please.
- 60 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kostas and Anastasia are in a kitchen.
- Κώστας KostasΘέλεις ένα τσάι, Αναστασία;Thélis éna tsái, Anastasía?Do you want a tea, Anastasia?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΝαι, παρακαλώ, Κώστα.Nai, parakaló, Kósta.Yes, please, Kostas.
- Κώστας KostasΘέλεις ζάχαρη στο τσάι σου;Thélis zákhari sto tsái sou?Do you want sugar in your tea?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΌχι, το προτιμώ σκέτο.Ókhi, to protimó skéto.No, I prefer it plain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations and entries τσάι, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries τσάι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
