How to say gyros like a Greek
In Greek, gyros (γύρος) sounds like “JI-ros”, with a soft j. It is not “gy-ros” with a hard g, and it is not “djai-ros”, which you hear in English.
We hear it every day at the counter on Tapperitorvet: “One gy-ros, please!” That is fine, and we understand you. If you want to order like a Greek, here is the short lesson.
How to say it
It sounds like JI-ros. In English it is often written “Yee-ros”.
Why Danes say it wrong
We read the word as it is spelled in Danish: g. Greek has its own alphabet, and when γύρος is written in Latin letters the sound gets lost. Americans have their own version, “djai-ro”.
Order your gyros in Greek
Éna jíro, parakaló — one gyros, please (Greeks drop the s when they order)
Me óla — with everything
Efcharistó — thank you
And tzatziki? It is roughly “dza-DZI-ki”. See more words in 20 Greek words for the holiday.
We look forward to you coming by Tapperitorvet 1 and ordering your first “jíro” in Greek.
