Meaning
To begin the journey home.
Cultural Background
The 'Return of the Vacationers' (Η επιστροφή των εκδρομέων) is a staple of Greek news every August. It highlights the mass urban-to-rural migration that defines Greek summers. Many Greek songs use the 'road of return' as a metaphor for lost love or the pain of migration (ξενιτιά). The phrase is a modern echo of the Homeric 'Nostos'. For Greeks, returning home is a heroic act, even if it's just from a weekend trip. For the millions of Greeks living abroad, 'taking the road of return' is a common theme in social media groups and community discussions about moving back to Greece.
Use it for closure
Use this phrase at the end of a story or a long day to signal to your listener that the 'action' is over.
Don't forget the 's'
Make sure to say 'επιστροφής' (with the 's') and not 'επιστροφή'. It's a common error for English speakers.
Meaning
To begin the journey home.
Use it for closure
Use this phrase at the end of a story or a long day to signal to your listener that the 'action' is over.
Don't forget the 's'
Make sure to say 'επιστροφής' (with the 's') and not 'επιστροφή'. It's a common error for English speakers.
The 'Gyrismos' variant
If you want to sound more like a local in a village, use 'δρόμο του γυρισμού'. It sounds warmer.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words to complete the phrase.
Μετά από ένα μήνα στο νησί, ήρθε η ώρα να ________ το δρόμο της ________.
The correct verb is 'παίρνω' (here in the 'we' form 'πάρουμε') and the noun must be in the genitive 'επιστροφής'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a metaphorical sense?
Select the correct sentence:
Option B correctly uses the phrase to describe a return to a previous state (growth).
Complete the dialogue between two friends leaving a party.
Γιώργος: Είναι ήδη 2 το πρωί. Ελένη: Έχεις δίκιο. Ας ________________________.
The standard idiom is 'παίρνω το δρόμο της επιστροφής'.
Match the phrase variation to the correct context.
1. Παίρνω τον δρόμο του γυρισμού 2. Οι εκδρομείς παίρνουν το δρόμο της επιστροφής 3. Παίρνω το δρόμο της επιστροφής στις ρίζες μου
'Γυρισμός' is poetic, 'εκδρομείς' is news-style, and 'ρίζες' is metaphorical.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesΜετά από ένα μήνα στο νησί, ήρθε η ώρα να ________ το δρόμο της ________.
The correct verb is 'παίρνω' (here in the 'we' form 'πάρουμε') and the noun must be in the genitive 'επιστροφής'.
Select the correct sentence:
Option B correctly uses the phrase to describe a return to a previous state (growth).
Γιώργος: Είναι ήδη 2 το πρωί. Ελένη: Έχεις δίκιο. Ας ________________________.
The standard idiom is 'παίρνω το δρόμο της επιστροφής'.
1. Παίρνω τον δρόμο του γυρισμού 2. Οι εκδρομείς παίρνουν το δρόμο της επιστροφής 3. Παίρνω το δρόμο της επιστροφής στις ρίζες μου
'Γυρισμός' is poetic, 'εκδρομείς' is news-style, and 'ρίζες' is metaphorical.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNot at all. It's neutral. It sounds slightly more 'educated' than just 'φεύγουμε', but it's very common among friends.
No, it specifically implies you are going back to where you started.
'Επιστροφή' is more standard/formal, while 'γυρισμός' is more emotional/folk.
No, 'γυρισμός' is masculine, so it would be 'του γυρισμού'.
Related Phrases
παίρνω των ομματιών μου
similarTo leave quickly/blindly
γυρίζω πίσω
synonymTo turn back / return
παίρνω τον κακό το δρόμο
contrastTo go down a bad path (morally)
καλό δρόμο
builds onHave a good journey
