Greetings are the first Greek you will use and the words Greeks appreciate most from a visitor. They are short, but they carry two pieces of information that English does not: the time of day, and whether you are speaking formally or informally. In the transliteration below the accent marks the stressed syllable, ch sounds like the German ach, and d like the th in "this".
| Greek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Καλημέρα | kaliméra | Good morning | From waking up until around midday or early afternoon |
| Καλησπέρα | kalispéra | Good evening | From late afternoon on, when you arrive or meet someone |
| Καληνύχτα | kaliníchta | Good night | Only when leaving at night or going to bed, never as a hello |
| Γεια σου | yia su | Hello / bye (informal) | One person you know, a child, a friend |
| Γεια σας | yia sas | Hello / bye (formal or plural) | A stranger, an older person, a shop, a group |
| Χαίρετε | chérete | Hello / goodbye (formal) | Polite and slightly old-fashioned, in shops and offices |
Γεια means "health", so γεια σου is literally "health to you". It works both for hello and for goodbye, at any hour. Between friends you will also hear a simple γεια!. After καλημέρα, people often answer with the same word, or with καλημέρα σας to be more polite.
Formal or informal: γεια σου or γεια σας?
Greek has two ways of saying "you": εσύ for one person you know well, and εσείς for several people or for one person you address politely. Greetings follow the same split: γεια σου / γεια σας, τι κάνεις / τι κάνετε. Use the polite form with strangers, older people, staff in shops, hotels and offices, and anyone you would call "Mr" or "Mrs" (κύριε, κυρία). Switch to the informal form when the other person does, or when they suggest it: Να μιλάμε στον ενικό; ("shall we use εσύ?"). Among young people and friends, the informal form comes quickly.
How are you in Greek? Questions and answers
| Greek | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Τι κάνεις; | ti kánis? | How are you? (informal) |
| Τι κάνετε; | ti kánete? | How are you? (formal or plural) |
| Πώς είσαι; / Πώς είστε; | pos íse? / pos íste? | How are you? (informal / formal) |
| Τι γίνεται; | ti yínete? | What's up? How's it going? (casual) |
| Καλά, ευχαριστώ. | kalá, efcharistó. | Fine, thank you. |
| Πολύ καλά. / Μια χαρά. | polí kalá. / mia chará. | Very well. / Great. |
| Έτσι κι έτσι. | étsi ki étsi. | So-so. |
| Δεν είμαι καλά. | den íme kalá. | I'm not well. |
| Εσύ; / Εσείς; | esí? / esís? | And you? (informal / formal) |
Τι κάνεις literally means "what are you doing?", but as a greeting it always means "how are you?". A typical exchange: Γεια σου, Νίκο! Τι κάνεις; — Καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσύ; — Μια χαρά! Notice Νίκο, not Νίκος: when you speak directly to someone, many names change their ending (the vocative). The proper names grammar note explains this.
Thank you, please and sorry in Greek
- Ευχαριστώ (efcharistó) = thank you; ευχαριστώ πολύ = thank you very much.
- Παρακαλώ (parakaló) = please, but also "you're welcome", "here you are", and, said with a rising tone in a shop or on the phone, "can I help you?" or "hello?".
- Τίποτα (típota) = "it's nothing", another answer to thanks. Warmer still: να 'σαι καλά (na 'se kalá, "be well").
- Συγγνώμη (signómi) = sorry, and also "excuse me" to get attention or get past someone. More formal: με συγχωρείτε (me sinchoríte).
- Δεν πειράζει (den pirázi) = "never mind, no problem", the usual answer to an apology.
Introducing yourself in Greek
| Greek | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Πώς σε λένε; / Πώς σας λένε; | pos se léne? / pos sas léne? | What's your name? (informal / formal) |
| Με λένε Άννα. | me léne Ánna. | My name is Anna. |
| Είμαι ο Πέτρος. / Είμαι η Μαρία. | íme o Pétros. / íme i María. | I'm Petros. / I'm Maria. |
| Χαίρω πολύ. | chéro polí. | Nice to meet you. |
| Κι εγώ. / Επίσης. | ki egó. / epísis. | Me too. / Likewise. |
| Από πού είσαι; | apó pu íse? | Where are you from? |
| Είμαι από την Ελβετία. | íme apó tin Elvetía. | I'm from Switzerland. |
| Μιλάω λίγα ελληνικά. | miláo líga elliniká. | I speak a little Greek. |
Greek puts the article before names: είμαι ο Πέτρος, literally "I am the Petros". Με λένε literally means "they call me". For more about είμαι, see to be and to have.
How to say goodbye in Greek
- Γεια σου / γεια σας: the everyday goodbye.
- Τα λέμε (ta léme) = see you; τα λέμε αύριο = see you tomorrow.
- Αντίο (adío) = goodbye, a little more final or formal.
- Καλή συνέχεια (kalí sinéchia) = "enjoy the rest of your day", very common when leaving a shop or ending a call.
- Καλό βράδυ (kaló vrádi) = have a good evening; καλό σαββατοκύριακο = have a good weekend.
- Καλή εβδομάδα on Mondays and καλό μήνα on the first day of the month: Greeks wish each other a good week and a good month.
Wishes: χρόνια πολλά and name days
The most useful wish in Greek is Χρόνια πολλά! (chrónia pollá, "many years"). It is said for birthdays, name days, Christmas, Easter and New Year. The answer is ευχαριστώ, or επίσης ("you too") on a holiday everyone celebrates. Many Greeks celebrate their name day (ονομαστική γιορτή), the feast of the saint they are named after, as much as their birthday: every Νίκος on 6 December, every Μαρία on 15 August. Other wishes you will hear:
- Καλή όρεξη (kalí órexi) = enjoy your meal; Γεια μας! (yia mas) = cheers!
- Καλό ταξίδι (kaló taxídi) = have a good trip; Περαστικά (perastiká) = get well soon.
- Καλά Χριστούγεννα = Merry Christmas; Καλή χρονιά = Happy New Year.
- At Easter: Χριστός ανέστη ("Christ is risen"), answered with Αληθώς ανέστη ("truly risen").
Body language: what Greeks do with their heads and hands
Friends and family usually greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks; a handshake is normal in formal settings and at a first meeting. Watch out for yes and no: ναι (ne) means yes, even though it sounds like "nay", and όχι (óchi) means no. A quick upward tilt of the head, often with raised eyebrows and a small click of the tongue, also means no. And avoid pushing an open palm with spread fingers towards someone's face: this gesture, the μούντζα, is an insult.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "how are you" in Greek?
Τι κάνεις; (ti kánis?) to a friend, τι κάνετε; (ti kánete?) to someone you address politely or to a group. The usual answer is καλά, ευχαριστώ.
Is "γεια σου" hello or goodbye?
Both. It can be used at any time of day, on arrival and on leaving. Use γεια σας with strangers and groups.
When do you say καλησπέρα instead of καλημέρα?
Καλημέρα until around midday or early afternoon, καλησπέρα from late afternoon. Καληνύχτα is only for saying goodbye at night.
What does "χρόνια πολλά" mean?
"Many years". It is the universal wish for birthdays, name days and holidays, a little like "happy birthday" and "happy holidays" in one.
Practise these phrases with audio in greetings and politeness and listening to greetings, then learn the 100 first Greek words. Greetings open our free A1 Greek course.