26 Things To Consider In Dating Greek Men

Are you interested in dating Greek men and women? This post is for all out there who: Aspire to come to Greece and live their summer love. It is for those who me a girl/guy from Greece abroad.

It is also for those curious about how to handle their Greek significant other and to know what a Greek man looks for in a woman, which leads to attracting a Greek man.

Ladies and gentlemen, sit comfortably and read this guide. It will save you time and lots of frustration.

Let’s understand the Greeks. We assume you date someone from Greece or are getting into that situation. You may want to know how to tell if a typical Greek man likes you or how to make a Greek man fall in love with you.

Some of our ways of acting seem closer to those of Italians, but Italians are not Greeks (or maybe they are).

Wherever we travel, we stand out! People in other countries see something “different” from us. You want to know what Greek guys are known for or the ten ways to woo a Greek man!

By the way, when in Greece, check this list too.

Greek guys are into a lot of good food. You must read this post.

We are beautiful!

beautiful greek men and women
Source: SavyLeo

Greek men and Greek women want to look good. “Good looks” is radically rising in Greece (to the borders of exaggeration sometimes). Don’t forget that the Greek Gods’ literature played a significant role.

Greeks want to look fit and sharp. Well, most of them. In the old days, being “big” usually came along with lots of fat. Nowadays, the Greeks love to look good.

We love to dance

Not only syrtaki and such. We love to dance as dancing is a form of expressing our feelings. Sometimes, some Greeks dance Zeimpekiko just because it “looks good,” but that is an exception.

A trend is rising among Greeks around their 40s where they start learning traditional Greek dances again!

We slap our hands and legs but rarely faces

That is a kind of expression. We do that both when we are happy, sad, angry, or as a gesture of intimacy. Just watch our tone of voice and facial expression. Do you want to make a safe assumption?

Give us a competition where Greece is in, and we get passionate about it

26 Things To Consider In Dating Greek Men 1
Source: history.com

Greek men and women get passionate from Eurovision to a game of backgammon or multi-sports. Heck…, women can get such when cooking too. Just throw them competition on who can make the best “ntolmadakia.” In our traditional coffee shops (called “kafeneio”), you will see two people playing backgammon and another ten around them shouting and giving instructions.

We use facial expressions to answer things

Remember the slap thing? Watch close as expressions may shift rapidly! Well, our face -even a slight nose twist- will give you a good hint on how we feel about what you are saying or showing.

How do you deal with Greek men?

Be patient. The hot temperament of Mediterranean people reflects the personality of someone from Greece. That stands for women too. We carry lots of our history within us, and as such, that history was not always a peaceful one. We love good food, and we love to be loved. Both men and women are passionate and show their emotions in all manners. We are ready to express them with words and gestures, even be it fury or passion.

How do you impress a Greek man?

Many think that food is a way to impress a man from Greece. However, that is not the only deal. Men are impressed by recognizing affection from women. They understand when they get “manipulated” (well, in many cases), and they let that get through. That comes from the understanding that -more or less- people have the exact needs all over the world. Many Greeks don’t abandon their “mom” syndrome until the day they die. Impress them by caring for them. The same happens with women and their mom and dad issues.

Superstitions are part of our Greek culture

You may see us knocking wood or spitting. Fears have come a long way with Greeks (as with other nations).

They are carried over from generation to generation, getting less each time. They are what they are but also carry a bit of culture, as they are connected to our evolution through times and eras where they meant something for daily life.

Every name day and birthday is a cash-in day

Greek men and women get “rich” in those days. They give presents and money. The bigger the extended family, the better.

During those two days, Greeks tend to take you out and treat you at their expense. It is called “kerasma.”

We know everything about everything

Well, we don’t. We think we do. For some particular reason, there is a rumor that Greek taxi drivers know everything. But they don’t (maybe).

Prepare to get “nicely round around the edges”

Are you married to a Greek woman? If she is slightly traditional, prepare to consume lots and significantly cooked food.

We tend to order more than we will eat when we order food. When Greeks cook for a name day, birthday, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter Sunday, and many other holidays, they cook many different foods.

If you are invited to a Greek house for dinner, then -usually- the mother will cook a lot of things. That is our belief that nobody must leave the table feeling unfulfilled. That is another superstition, of course, but it is part of our idea for hospitality.

Our mothers read minds

Don’t. Lie. Seriously.

Maria, Giorgos, Nikos, and Yiannis exist to thousands all over the world

These are the most common names you will find in many Greek families. Some families have ten named Nikos.

It comes from the tradition to name the newborn with the name of the father’s/mother’s father/mother to “keep the name in the family.”

It makes no sense. The name is not unique. This is showing gratitude and respect for the elders and their contribution to your upraising.

Well, it also means that you can shout out Maria in a square, and 50 women will turn their heads. Try it.

We (may) have invented everything in the world

We haven’t invented all the things. We have provided terminology and knowledge for many, which is used worldwide.

Greeks have contributed (at least ancient Greeks did) with the philosophical background on Reason. However, history shows we were not the only ones.

Chinese did, too, along with more ancient civilizations like Egyptians, Persians, and more.

So, did we invent all? It seems not all, but we for sure mainly contributed.

When abroad, our best holiday place is Greece

When we live abroad, we miss Greece. We mostly seem to lose friends, sea, sun, beaches, food, wine, talking aloud, and many more. You can swim on Greek beaches without being afraid you might get eaten by any mammal.

You can walk in Greek forests without thinking that all plantations and insects may kill you.

Greeks abroad miss Greece for the “chaotic” part too. Too much “structure” and “safety” are acceptable for daily routine, but when you want to have fun, things need to be a little “rough.”

Music

greek music
Source: scroll.in

As in all countries, we have our music deeply rooted in tradition. Maybe it is a combination of ethnic and jazz, but not exactly there. As in all nations, our music expresses emotions of the moment or the past.

Depending on where you come from in Greece, local music produces feelings of heroism, sadness, festivity, humor, or even seduction.

In the past, it was our way for opposite sexes to come closer when society’s customs were strict.

Our dad is our hero

A hero for girls and the first heroic model for boys. The bond between a father and his children never breaks but only with death.

Even when they argue, disagree, and “fight,” that relationship remains. This is something still alive in Greece, along with the family concept.

Our mum is A SAINT!

Enough said. For Greek men, that is true. Respect it, even if it is not like that. It will save you lots of trouble.

Our families are huge

greek families
Source: thestar.com

They are due to the concept of family that still exists in Greece. Even with their flaws, extended families live.

In many countries, families break after kids reach adulthood. When abroad, the family concept is -deliberately- cultivated as a way to protect kids.

This has a good and a wrong side, though. Many times kids are over-pampered.

So, you, who are interested in a relationship with a Greek woman/man, try to figure it out.

What are Greek characteristics? We are in for any adventure (wink wink)

So many songs were written about broken hearts in Greece. Yet love affairs are not the only adventures we are into.

We tend to think out of the box. We are inventive, which may be why we thrive in environments where thinking like that is necessary. Maybe that answers the question, “are greek men, good lovers”?

We break the rules. Sometimes with good, while others with bad results. We don’t go “by the book.” Many times we neglect safety and Reason.

Yet, “somehow” seems to work in the long run.

We love our past. We also have near-mythical origins. Do we need an article for that? No. Our history is taught all over the world.

We feel proud when we help

We have a weird mixture of altruism, volunteerism, and “cruelty” simultaneously. Sometimes, “our enemy” will get our help when they don’t expect it.

We seem to bring up our best to help when we are pressed down. When we are living well, we tend to forget that.

We are spoiled

That relates to how our mum and dad were raised. They wanted their kids to have lots of food, more than one house, continuous safety (i.e., working for public service), and more. Generations that were introduced in World War II were exaggerated in almost everything.

Many kids didn’t survive during the wars due to a lack of food and other necessities. Many parents became overprotective.

So, all these created issues and also got many kids spoiled. You may date one of them. Don’t worry; they will -logically- come to Reason if they love you.

Our Mediterranean diet kicks ass!

We ate Greek yogurt, chobani, or whatever you like to call it far before it was a trend. Foods like “gemista” are part of our diet, while the famous Greek salad is considered a complete meal.

Paleo? We ate “Paleo” before that was invented, yet we cook our meat a little more. Try “Souvlaki” and let me know if you don’t get addicted.

No-Carbs-Diet? We didn’t invent that since we consume a lot of potatoes and spaghetti (macaroni).

“Eating organic,”? Just visit a Greek village where many things are homegrown and get invited to a table. Is there more organic than that?

We knew how to eat (even when eating lots) correctly, and we still -try to resist fast-food culture.

There is a reason why most come to Greece for vacations; they take a “few extra pounds.”

Greek summer sun and sea also kickass

greek summer

Please read the posts in our travel blog here. See the light, color of the day, and photos. Summer in Greece is unparalleled.

You can access great beaches, spectacular cultural events, terrific forests, and mountains depending on where you stay. All in a short distance!

Our life philosophy hovers around well being

Working is needed to live life after work. Mark our words Living the Greek way is the right way. The future will prove that.

People need more free time, less work, and more resting time. This is how ideas come forth.

We are “last minute” thinking, but it works!

We do it at the very last minute, from hosting the Olympics to submitting our tax returns or even ordering the “thing” we must have today.

In some weird and twisted way, this works most of the time. Why? It remains a mystery. Perhaps we work better under pressure.

Test this with a Greek mother. Tell her that 15 of your friends will come for lunch tomorrow, and the next thing is you find a ton of food cooked by morning time, enough for 30 people.

But are Greeks all “that nice”?

Well no. We are moody because we are so passionate.

There is a fire in us. This may not come out nicely all the time. We tend to be jealous a lot too.

But again, who is excellent all the time, right? After all, tragedy and comedy are Greek words!

Have you ever dated a Greek man or woman? We would like to know your opinion.

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1 thought on “26 Things To Consider In Dating Greek Men”

  1. Greeks certainly have a lifestyle focused on wellbeing, which is something I love about my Greek boyfriend. He works hard, but knows he needs to enjoy rest and things that are meaningful and bring pleasure. He has a really lovely sense of occasion that is part of well-being – for example, he always takes time to light a candle, put relaxing music on in the background and a flower on the table before we eat something he’s taken time to prepare for dinner.

    The downside is that Greeks aren’t conventionally ‘nice’ as we in the UK and North America know and love it. My boyfriend is passionate, confident in his beliefs, gets angry (which involves gesticulating, loud shouting, banging his hand on tables, taking the moral high-ground, lecturing me, sulking and withdrawal for a while then carrying on as if a storm’s just passed overhead) and very direct/blunt in stating what he feels. I am from a family of opinionated people, unafraid of an argument but, even so, I find this difficult.

    I would be interested to hear the opinion of other Greeks on this: do you think that, behind this ‘darker’ manifestation of Mediterranean passion, lies a sensitivity and desire to connect deeply with other people, so that when they feel misunderstood they are fearful that connection will be lost and become fiery, angry, passionate, as a defence? Perhaps I’m talking rubbish, of course, and they are just spoilt and selfish….

    Whatever, there are many upsides to this passion, even if it means Greeks aren’t always nice, sweet, and docile! OPA!

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