How Are You in Greek: Answer Fine, Happy, Tired or Stressed

A greeting can lead to a short conversation about feelings. In this fictional exchange, Eleni first asks Nikos how he is. Nikos answers and asks her back. Eleni describes two feelings, then Nikos shares his own concern. Follow who is speaking rather than assuming every adjective describes the same person.

Read the exchange

Start with a simple answer

Πώς είσαι; means “How are you?” when addressing one person informally. Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ is “I’m well, thank you”. Εσύ; returns the question: “And you?” To address someone politely or more than one person, use Πώς είστε; Keep your first answer short if you are still learning to follow the reply.

Well and happy are different

Καλά in Είμαι καλά expresses being well or fine. Χαρούμενος or χαρούμενη expresses being happy. You do not have to choose one word for every context. Eleni is κουρασμένη, tired, but also χαρούμενη, happy. Αλλά means but and connects the two descriptions; feeling tired does not rule out feeling happy.

Match the adjective form to the speaker

Compare Είμαι κουρασμένος and Είμαι κουρασμένη, “I’m tired”, with masculine and feminine forms. Likewise, χαρούμενος / χαρούμενη means happy and αγχωμένος / αγχωμένη means anxious or stressed. Eleni uses feminine forms in the dialogue; Nikos uses αγχωμένος. Καλά stays the same in Είμαι καλά. Practise forms for different fictional speakers, not only for yourself.

Add a little detail

Λίγο means a little in Είμαι λίγο κουρασμένη and Είμαι λίγο αγχωμένος. Για το μάθημα identifies what Nikos is anxious about: the lesson. It does not tell us whether there is an exam. Eleni says she will see her sister tomorrow; the exchange does not say where. Keep these details distinct when explaining the dialogue.

Check who feels what

1. Who says she is tired but happy?
2. Which phrase means “I’m well”: Είμαι καλά or Είμαι χαρούμενη?
3. Complete the feminine form: Είμαι λίγο αγχω___.
4. Does Nikos explicitly say there is an exam?

Build your own reply

Write a two-line exchange beginning Πώς είσαι σήμερα; Answer first with Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ and then with a feeling adjective. Try the tired sentence once for Nikos and once for Eleni, changing κουρασμένος to κουρασμένη. Add Εσύ; to keep the conversation going. Use invented situations if you prefer.

Other ways to ask and answer

• Τι κάνεις; — literally “What are you doing?”, but used every day for “How are you?”; polite or plural: Τι κάνετε;
• Πώς πας; — “How’s it going?”, relaxed and informal.
• Καλά, εσύ; — the short reply; Πολύ καλά. — very well; Μια χαρά! — great, just fine.
• Έτσι κι έτσι. — so-so; Όχι και τόσο καλά. — not so well.
• Χαίρομαι. — I’m glad; Είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος. — I’m very tired.

Common mistakes

• Saying Είμαι καλός. for “I’m fine”: that means “I’m a good person”. Say Είμαι καλά.
• Using the wrong ending for yourself: a woman says Είμαι κουρασμένη, not Είμαι κουρασμένος.
• Using Πώς είσαι; with someone you address formally: say Πώς είστε; or Τι κάνετε;
• Forgetting to ask back: add Εσύ;, or Εσείς; in polite speech.

FAQ

How do you say “How are you?” in Greek? Informally, Τι κάνεις; or Πώς είσαι; To someone you address politely, or to several people, Τι κάνετε; or Πώς είστε;

How do you answer “Τι κάνεις;” in Greek? A natural reply is Καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσύ; If things are going very well, say Μια χαρά!

How do you say “I’m tired” in Greek? Είμαι κουρασμένος if you are a man, Είμαι κουρασμένη if you are a woman. Add λίγο for “a little”.

Practise introducing yourself in Greek.