PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek rebetiko song "Zaira" (Ζαΐρα), which was sung by Marika Ninou, Athanasios Giannopoulos, and Yiannis Salasidis as a trio. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

"Zaira" is a woman's name in India, Arabic-speaking regions, and Greece.

The song made its debut in 1955 in the Greek movie Piasame tin Kali (Πιάσαμε την Καλή), which means in English We Caught the Good.

For more information about the laiko and rebetiko styles of music, see Introduction to Laiko / Rebetiko Music elsewhere on this web site.

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

About Marika Ninou

Marika Ninou was an Armenian-Greek rebetiko singer. She began her musical training as a child in school, learning to play the mandolin and becoming a chanter at the Armenian church. After she married Nikos Nikolaides in 1944, the couple became known as the Duo Nino. As others in the music industry heard her sing, she was offered additional opportunities to advance her career.

By 1949, Ninou was working with Vasilis Tsitsanis at Fat Jimmy's, a club that provided continued opportunities for both. Tragically, Ninou became ill with cancer. By the time she recorded this song with Athanasios Giannopoulis and Yiannis Salasidis in 1955, her health was already declining, and she died in 1957 at the young age of 39.

About Vasilis Tsitsanis

Vasilis Tsitsanis was the composer and lyricist for this song, and also one of the quartet of original artists that introduced the song to the world.

Tsitsanis was a versatile musician who learned to play violin, mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He collaborated with a number of singers to record the songs he had composed, with him accompanying them on bouzouki. His music helped launch several of his collaborators to fame and successful careers.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Vasilis Tsitsanis as a young man.

Lyrics: Kostas Virvos

Music: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Στίχοι: Κώστας Βίρβος

Μουσική: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Μαρίκα Νίνου, Αθανάσιος Γιαννόπουλος, & Γιάννης Σαλασίδης (Τερτσέτο)

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

• Ala Tourka Horepse Mou (Dance for Me in Turkish Style)
• Arapiko Louloudi (Arabian Flower)
• Arapines, Nihtes Magikes (Arab Women, Magical Nights)
• Gia Kita Kosme Ena Kormi (Why, Look! What a Body!)
• Gülbahar
• Kavourakia (The Little Crabs)

• Serah
• Ximeroni Ke Vradiazi (Dawn Comes and Nightfall Comes)
• Zaira

This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! Here's how Panayiota describes her background:

I always love engaging with intelligent like-minded people, especially artists. I love sharing anything and everything about my Hellenic culture and upbringing, especially music and dance. A conversation with me will bring you back to America's favorite Greek-American movie by Nia Vardalos called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I love investigating Greek culture, history, music, and dance. Speaking of investigating, I think I missed my calling, I probably should have been an investigator. Instead, I use those skills to dig and dig and dig tirelessly, often times falling asleep on my laptop... just to find the truth. But, most importantly, accurate truth. For me personally, and other respectable folklorists, my culture and accuracy are very important. Each generation of ethnic born artists has a duty to do the best it can to pass down our traditions as was taught to us. We have been given this artistic gift to be the gatekeepers of our heritage and culture.