Όχι, ευχαριστώ, αλλά θέλω τσάι.

No, thank you, but I want tea.

Breakdown of Όχι, ευχαριστώ, αλλά θέλω τσάι.

• όχι: no
• θέλω: to want
• το τσάι: the tea
• ευχαριστώ: thank you
• αλλά: but

Questions & Answers about Όχι, ευχαριστώ, αλλά θέλω τσάι.

How do I pronounce each word and where is the stress?

• Όχι: OH-hee. The χ here is a soft, hissy sound (like German ich). Stress on the first syllable.
• ευχαριστώ: ef-ha-ree-STÓ. Stress on the last syllable. ευ sounds like ev before voiced sounds, but here before χ it becomes ef.
• αλλά: a-LÁ. Stress on the second syllable.
• θέλω: THÉ-lo. θ is like English th in “thin.” Stress on the first syllable.
• τσάι: TSAH-ee. Two syllables: τσά-ι, not “tsei.” Stress on τσά.

Why is there no article before τσάι?

Greek often omits the article with mass or generic nouns. θέλω τσάι means “I want tea (in general).” Use:

• ένα τσάι for “a tea/one tea (one cup)” when ordering.
• το τσάι for “the tea” when you mean a specific tea already known in context.

Is θέλω too direct? How can I be more polite?

θέλω is fine among friends, but in service situations a softer form is common:

• Θα ήθελα τσάι. (I’d like tea.)
• Μήπως θα μπορούσα να έχω τσάι; (Could I possibly have tea?)
• Θα προτιμούσα τσάι. (I’d prefer tea.)

Why is there a comma before αλλά?

Greek normally places a comma before αλλά (“but”) to mark the contrast. So …, αλλά … is standard punctuation.

Why are there commas around ευχαριστώ?

Όχι, ευχαριστώ, αλλά… treats ευχαριστώ (“thank you”) as a parenthetical interjection. You pause before and after it, hence the commas.

Can I drop αλλά and just say Όχι, ευχαριστώ, θέλω τσάι?

Yes. It’s still clear. Including αλλά explicitly highlights the contrast (“…but I want tea”).

What’s the difference between αλλά, μα, and όμως?

• αλλά: the neutral, standard “but.”
• μα: also “but,” a bit more colloquial/emphatic.
• όμως: “however/nevertheless,” often starts a clause: Όμως θέλω τσάι.

What does ευχαριστώ literally mean? Is it a verb?

Yes, it’s the verb “I thank” (1st person singular, present). Literally from ευ- (“good/well”) + a root related to “grace/thanks.” Used alone, ευχαριστώ = “thank you.”

Should Όχι have an accent even though it’s capitalized?

Yes. In modern Greek, uppercase words keep the accent mark: Όχι, not Οχι.

Does τσάι ever take a diaeresis (ϊ) like τσαΐ?

Standard spelling is τσάι (no diaeresis). The accent on ά already shows the vowels are separate (ά-ι). Diaeresis is used in other words when needed (e.g., Μαΐου).

What gender is τσάι and what’s the plural?

It’s neuter: το τσάι. The plural is τα τσάγια (“teas,” as in types or servings): διαφορετικά τσάγια = different teas.

When do I use θέλω vs θέλω να?

• θέλω + noun: θέλω τσάι (I want tea).
• θέλω να + verb: θέλω να πιω τσάι (I want to drink tea).

Is there a more natural way to refuse and then specify tea?

Common options:

• Όχι, ευχαριστώ. Θα ήθελα τσάι.
• Όχι, ευχαριστώ, προτιμώ τσάι.
• Ευχαριστώ, αλλά θα πιω τσάι.

Can I say Ευχαριστώ, όχι instead of starting with Όχι?

Yes: Ευχαριστώ, όχι (Thank you, no) is a natural, slightly softer refusal. You can then add: …αλλά θέλω τσάι.

What’s the difference between όχι and δεν?

• όχι = “no” (the standalone negation or to negate nouns/adjectives: όχι καφές = not coffee).
• δεν = verbal negator used before verbs: δεν θέλω καφέ = I don’t want coffee.

How do I say “No, thank you, I’d prefer tea” with a bit more politeness?

Όχι, ευχαριστώ, θα προτιμούσα τσάι. You could add παρακαλώ for extra politeness: Όχι, ευχαριστώ, θα ήθελα τσάι, παρακαλώ.

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky consonants here?

• χ in όχι is a soft fricative (like German ich), not “k.”
• θ in θέλω is like English th in “thin,” not like “this.”
• τσ in τσάι is “ts” as in “cats.”