Research on the dialect
A 2024 study in the Lexicographic Bulletin examines the dialect of Leros. The article is in Greek and offers a more formal starting point alongside this personal word list.
Words · Expressions · Everyday memories
The Dialect of Leros
A word can bring back a voice, a kitchen, a fishing boat or an evening visit. Here are some of the Lerian words I wanted to keep, and an invitation to help the collection grow.
Keeping a few familiar words alive
This list began with the expressions I remembered and heard around me. All twenty original entries are here, with a clearer layout and a search by word or meaning. It remains a personal collection that we can improve together.
Home · Work · Conversation
Words I wanted to remember
The spellings below are my informal Latin-letter transcriptions, with the meanings I wrote down for the original site. They are recollections rather than a complete or scholarly dictionary, and pronunciation can be difficult to capture this way.
Showing all 20 entries.
| Lerian word or expression | Meaning in my notes | A little context |
|---|---|---|
| Roumpanezo | Idiot | A rude insult. Use with care. |
| Malastroupa | Torch | An everyday object. |
| Kounoupas | Mosquito | An unwelcome summer visitor. |
| Oxo Kouli | Get out of here | An expression whose tone depends on the situation. |
| Anagiase | Mother of God! | An exclamation. |
| Gia’mose! | Are you serious? | A surprised question. |
| Mprostomouna | Apron | From the words of everyday life. |
| Mpokolia | Little garden | A place around the home. |
| Petzoula | Low wall | A feature of the island landscape. |
| Krevatos | Traditional Lerian bed | A word connected with the home. |
| Sykelos | Very dirty | A description in my original notes. |
| Kamoutzela | A dressed-up Carnival goer | A word from Carnival time. |
| Hnta | What | A short question. |
| Epses | Yesterday | Talking about time. |
| Askeri | Family | People close to us. |
| Me Ksenoise | Excited me | The meaning as I recorded it; context is welcome. |
| Ksespasa | I got scared | The meaning as I recorded it; context is welcome. |
| Kalaro | I pull my nets | A word from fishing. |
| Mpetsa | Carry someone on your back | An action I noted in the old list. |
| Posperizo | Visit friends and exchange gossip | The pleasure of a little company. |
No matching entries. Try a shorter word or clear the search.
Sounds · Expressions · Generations
A dialect belongs to the people who speak it
Older Lerians could speak in ways that younger people sometimes struggled to follow. To my ear, certain turns of speech sounded close to Crete or Cyprus. Those are personal impressions; the island’s language deserves more careful study than a few comparisons can offer.
The Austrian Academy of Sciences places Lerian speech among the Dodecanese varieties of Greek, while recognising differences between the islands. Its overview is a useful introduction to the wider language family.
I have long worried that familiar words might disappear from everyday conversation. This page began as an attempt to keep some of them, together with the people and occasions that gave them meaning.
Help me add the next entry
Reach out through the Leros Greece Facebook group with a word or expression you remember. You do not need to be a language specialist. A clear example is often the most helpful gift.
- Write the word as you remember hearing or seeing it.
- Explain what it means, ideally with a short sentence.
- Tell us who used it, or in which village or situation you heard it.
- If you share someone else’s voice recording or family material, check that they are happy for it to be shared.
A word from a grandparent, a fishing boat, a kitchen or an evening visit may open up a whole story. That is the kind of memory I hoped this guide would preserve.
Personal memories & published research
For a more detailed look
Language in island life
Words are part of a wider culture. Continue with the people of Leros, its songs and its celebrations.
The Leros Historical Society is another starting point for the island’s history and local publications.
A personal favourite
A favourite table on Leros
After exploring the island’s stories, make time for one of my favourite parts of Leros: its food. My favourite taverna is Karaflas Dimitris & Son.
From Dimitris Ouzeri to Karaflas Taverna, and now Karaflas Dimitris & Son, it is the same family story continuing into another generation.
Read the family story or discover more flavours of Leros.
Share your Leros discoveries
Have a memory, a photograph or something to add to this guide? You can reach out to me through the Leros Greece Facebook group and share it with our island community.