Θεσσαλονίκη
Thessaloníki/θe.sa.loˈni.ci/feminine
Thessaloniki is a modern city in Greece, known in Greek as Θεσσαλονίκη (Thessaloníki). If unsure, use Θεσσαλονίκη. Wiktionary also lists Σαλονίκη (Saloníki).
Meaning: modern city in Greece (name)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Θεσσαλονίκη | Thessaloníki | /θe.sa.loˈni.ci/ | feminine |
| Σαλονίκη | Saloníki | feminine |
The phrase refers to the major Greek city. While the full name is the standard way to identify the location, a shorter version is used in casual speech.
Which one should you use?
Θεσσαλονίκη is the standard, full name of the city. In contrast, Σαλονίκη is a shortened, colloquial form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Σαλονίκη is an informal version used in casual conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Θεσσαλονίκη is used in the accusative case, which occurs when the city is the direct object of a verb or when following certain prepositions such as σε (in/to).
How do you pronounce it?
Thessaloníki is pronounced /θe.sa.loˈni.ci/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- In Greek, the city is often referred to as Η συμπρωτεύουσα, which literally means 'the co-capital'.
- The name Θεσσαλονίκη is derived from the name of the half-sister of Alexander the Great, who was given the city as a wedding gift.
- While the city is named after a person, the word νίκη inside the name is the same root used in the English word 'Nike', the athletic brand.
Examples in context
- Πως είναι ο καιρός στη Θεσσαλονίκη;How is the weather in Thessaloniki?This sentence is useful for asking about the weather in Θεσσαλονίκη.Tatoeba #2939450 by glavkos, translation #2939561 by LanguageExpert
- Ο Ατατούρκ γεννήθηκε το 1881, στη Θεσσαλονίκη.Atatürk was born in 1881 in Thessaloniki.This sentence is useful for stating a historical fact about a person's birth in Θεσσαλονίκη.Tatoeba #4294490 by glavkos, translation #4197177 by cymanteg
- Πώς είναι ο καιρός στη Θεσσαλονίκη;How's the weather in Thessaloniki?Tatoeba #3742553 by carlosalberto, translation #6157218 by amoeba
- Θα ταξιδέψω στη Θεσαλονίκη αυτό το καλοκαίρι.I will travel to Thessaloniki this summer.
- Σήμερα περπάτησα στη Σαλονίκη και έκανα ψώνια.Today, I walked around Thessaloniki and did some shopping.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Kostas are discussing their vacation plans.
- Μαρία MariaΘέλω να πάω στη Θεσσαλονίκη το καλοκαίρι.Thélo na páo sti Thessaloníki to kalokaíri.I want to go to Thessaloniki in the summer.
- Κώστας KostasΕίναι μια υπέροχη πόλη, Μαρία.Eínai mia ypérochi póli, María.It is a wonderful city, Maria.
- Μαρία MariaΈχεις κάποιο καλό ξενοδοχείο στη Θεσσαλονίκη;Écheis kápo kaló xenodochío sti Thessaloníki?Do you have a good hotel in Thessaloniki?
- Κώστας KostasΝαι, θα σου στείλω μερικές προτάσεις.Nai, tha sou stílo merikés protáseis.Yes, I will send you some suggestions.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thessaloniki” translations and entries Θεσσαλονίκη, Σαλονίκη, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
