Agree with the first Greek man on polite words. I lived in Greece and noticed many Greeks were a bit put off by my using please and Thank you too much. As I learned the language I also used those words sparingly as Greek can imply polite requests by other means. Δώσε μου can come across as abrupt but μου δίνεισ; can imply a polite form.
Yes, we Greeks are really straightforward, which is why we are considered rude to some other non-Greek people. Your behaviour and the way you represent yourself will be immediately noted. When you walk into the store, a "Hello / Hi " ( ya sas, herete : Γεια σας, Χαίρετε ) would be efficient to say by both worker and customer. And when you make your order most used ways is to say "I want ( to have ) . . ." or "Can I have . . ." You don't say "please" at the end because it will make you look impatient. "Please" ( Parakalo, Παρακαλώ ) in Greek also mean "I beg" and "You're welcome" after a thanks. If you want to "moutzosis" ( the thing the sir did with his hands like pushing someone ) is kind of wrong, bit the meaning is right. The more correct way to do it is like plastering a sticker to the wall with your palm. All your fingers are a little parted, and when someone does something wrong and idiotic, you do that with specifically aimed at the face. Be careful not to get to close to the face though, because then that won't be considered neutral nor playful, but downright spiteful and aggressive. You can do it with one hand or both hands! We *do* say "Excuse me..." when we want to catch someone's attention. It can be either said in informal but kind way "Signomi / Συγνώμη" ( which also means "Sorry" ) or in formal way "Me sighorite / Με συγχωρείτε" ( maybe that's a bit difficult to pronounce ). We do say "thank you" 👁️👄👁️ thank you very much. I don't know to what kind of people this man has stumbled upon, but we do have manners even though we are blunt. Another thing, you can get away with almost anything if you're calm and also the *tone* of your voice is kind. If your tone isn't well behaved, or too sarcastic, or too "arrogant" ( there are many instances with that ) you're immediately titled as a stuck up with a pole shoved far up to your ass. If you need more knowledge about Greek culture, it's etiquette and lifestyle, specifically about North Greece / Macedonia, then don't hesitate to ask me!
The dude is exaggerating. Yes, there are people who are a bit direct but in a kind way, and this is to show some friendliness. This guy is not making much sense. Generally speaking you will notice Greeks being very polite. This is my experience.
I don't know who the gentleman is, but his basically wrong. Of course "please" and "thank you" is used by polite people in polite conversation. As for the hand gesture, it is really offensive.
This is very exaggerated. Of course say thanks and sorry. It all depends on the level of intimacy. We don't say thanks mom, but we say thanks boss or thanks mister. If someone is a stranger or higher socially we are polite, but we're not polite with family and friends. For example you see a customer in a supermarket being very cosy and straightforward with the cashier, but that's probably because he goes shopping there every week and they've engaged in small talk before, so they behave kind of like friends. But if a Greek guy walks into a shop for the first time, he's very polite and discreet. Maybe we get carried away with stereotypes or we misunderstand Greek social interactions because we don't know their history or context.
DO NOT do the two-handed gesture - that is really offensive, especially to someone you do not know. Even one, spread-fingered open hand pointing at someone (two hands are an emphasis) is offensive. The Greeks gesture the number five with the palm pointing at themselves, NOT the other person. Left over from Byzantium, where they pushed ash or excrement in the face of a convict with an open hand.
Agree with the first Greek man on polite words. I lived in Greece and noticed many Greeks were a bit put off by my using please and Thank you too much. As I learned the language I also used those words sparingly as Greek can imply polite requests by other means. Δώσε μου can come across as abrupt but μου δίνεισ; can imply a polite form.
I'm British-Greek, I use "please" and "thank you" all the time. I also use them when I'm in Greece and I haven't gotten any strange looks yet...
Yes, we Greeks are really straightforward, which is why we are considered rude to some other non-Greek people.
Your behaviour and the way you represent yourself will be immediately noted. When you walk into the store, a "Hello / Hi " ( ya sas, herete : Γεια σας, Χαίρετε ) would be efficient to say by both worker and customer. And when you make your order most used ways is to say "I want ( to have ) . . ." or "Can I have . . ."
You don't say "please" at the end because it will make you look impatient.
"Please" ( Parakalo, Παρακαλώ ) in Greek also mean "I beg" and "You're welcome" after a thanks.
If you want to "moutzosis" ( the thing the sir did with his hands like pushing someone ) is kind of wrong, bit the meaning is right. The more correct way to do it is like plastering a sticker to the wall with your palm. All your fingers are a little parted, and when someone does something wrong and idiotic, you do that with specifically aimed at the face. Be careful not to get to close to the face though, because then that won't be considered neutral nor playful, but downright spiteful and aggressive. You can do it with one hand or both hands!
We *do* say "Excuse me..." when we want to catch someone's attention. It can be either said in informal but kind way "Signomi / Συγνώμη" ( which also means "Sorry" ) or in formal way "Me sighorite / Με συγχωρείτε" ( maybe that's a bit difficult to pronounce ).
We do say "thank you" 👁️👄👁️ thank you very much. I don't know to what kind of people this man has stumbled upon, but we do have manners even though we are blunt.
Another thing, you can get away with almost anything if you're calm and also the *tone* of your voice is kind. If your tone isn't well behaved, or too sarcastic, or too "arrogant" ( there are many instances with that ) you're immediately titled as a stuck up with a pole shoved far up to your ass.
If you need more knowledge about Greek culture, it's etiquette and lifestyle, specifically about North Greece / Macedonia, then don't hesitate to ask me!
And the mountza does NOT mean “you’re an idiot”, it’s much more offensive even than that.
yes maybe in comperison to othe cultures we are quite straight foward... but i always remember my parent mentioning to say please and thank you,
Greeks don’t say please and thank you? Simply not true. Maybe they don’t say it as MUCH, but it’s DEFINITELY used.
The dude is exaggerating. Yes, there are people who are a bit direct but in a kind way, and this is to show some friendliness. This guy is not making much sense. Generally speaking you will notice Greeks being very polite. This is my experience.
if the slap sound on the back of the hand is not heard, have you even thrown a moutza?
I don't know who the gentleman is, but his basically wrong. Of course "please" and "thank you" is used by polite people in polite conversation. As for the hand gesture, it is really offensive.
This is very exaggerated. Of course say thanks and sorry. It all depends on the level of intimacy. We don't say thanks mom, but we say thanks boss or thanks mister. If someone is a stranger or higher socially we are polite, but we're not polite with family and friends. For example you see a customer in a supermarket being very cosy and straightforward with the cashier, but that's probably because he goes shopping there every week and they've engaged in small talk before, so they behave kind of like friends. But if a Greek guy walks into a shop for the first time, he's very polite and discreet. Maybe we get carried away with stereotypes or we misunderstand Greek social interactions because we don't know their history or context.
DO NOT do the two-handed gesture - that is really offensive, especially to someone you do not know. Even one, spread-fingered open hand pointing at someone (two hands are an emphasis) is offensive. The Greeks gesture the number five with the palm pointing at themselves, NOT the other person. Left over from Byzantium, where they pushed ash or excrement in the face of a convict with an open hand.