Thank You in Greek: Please, Sorry and Polite Phrases

Thank you in Greek is ευχαριστώ (efcharistó), with the stress on the last syllable. It is the one word you will use most on a trip to Greece, and Greeks always notice when a visitor says it. In the transliteration below the accent marks the stressed syllable, ch sounds like the German ach, d like the th in "this", and th like the th in "think".

Ευχαριστώ is a verb: it literally means "I thank". That is why you can put a pronoun in front of it: σ' ευχαριστώ ("I thank you") is short for σε ευχαριστώ, and the vowel drops in speech and in writing. To say what you are thankful for, use για + accusative: ευχαριστώ για τον καφέ (thanks for the coffee), ευχαριστώ για την πρόσκληση (thanks for the invitation). The note on dropped sounds explains forms like σ' ευχαριστώ and σ' αγαπώ.

Να 'σαι καλά is the warmest thanks of all. Greeks say it to a friend who helped them, to a waiter who brought something extra, or to a neighbour. To someone you address politely, or to several people, it becomes να 'στε καλά (na 'ste kalá).

How to pronounce ευχαριστώ

• ευ sounds like ef here, because it comes before χ. Before a vowel or a soft consonant it sounds like ev, as in Ευρώπη (Evrópi).
• χ is the throaty sound of the German ach or the Scottish loch, not a k. You will often see it written "efharisto" in English.
• The stress is on the end: ef-cha-ri-STO. If you stress the first syllable, people will still understand you, but it sounds foreign.

The small accent mark (ώ) always shows the stressed syllable. See the stress mark and syllables and the Greek alphabet guide if the letters are still new.

You're welcome in Greek: how to answer thanks

In a shop, the cashier will often answer your ευχαριστώ with παρακαλώ or with να 'στε καλά, καλή συνέχεια ("be well, have a nice day"). Between friends, τίποτα! or να 'σαι καλά! is more natural than παρακαλώ.

Please in Greek: παρακαλώ and σε παρακαλώ

The same word, παρακαλώ (parakaló, "I ask, I request"), also means please. Put it at the end or the start of a request: Ένα νερό, παρακαλώ. (A water, please.) Παρακαλώ, πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Excuse me, where is the toilet?) It has other uses too: "here you are" when you hand something over, "go ahead" when you let someone pass, and, with a rising tone, "can I help you?" in a shop or "hello?" on the phone. The greetings guide covers these everyday uses.

• Σε παρακαλώ / σας παρακαλώ (se parakaló / sas parakaló) = please, with more insistence, "I'm asking you": σε παρακαλώ, έλα νωρίς (please come early).
• Αν έχεις την καλοσύνη / αν έχετε την καλοσύνη (an échis tin kalosíni / an échete tin kalosíni) = if you would be so kind. Polite and a little formal.
• Αν μπορείτε (an boríte) = if you can; αν είναι δυνατόν (an íne dinatón) = if possible.

Sorry and excuse me in Greek

The γγ in συγγνώμη is pronounced ng, but in normal speech it sounds almost like signómi. Use λυπάμαι when you are sad about something: λυπάμαι, δεν έχουμε άλλο (sorry, we have no more), or λυπάμαι πολύ when someone tells you bad news. For a small accident, like stepping on a foot, say συγγνώμη.

No thanks and yes please

• Όχι, ευχαριστώ. (óchi, efcharistó.) = No, thank you.
• Ναι, παρακαλώ. (ne, parakaló.) = Yes, please. Remember that ναι means yes, even if it sounds like "nay".
• Φτάνει, ευχαριστώ. (ftáni, efcharistó.) = That's enough, thanks (when someone keeps filling your plate).
• Είμαι εντάξει, ευχαριστώ. (íme endáxi, efcharistó.) = I'm fine, thanks.
• Μόνο κοιτάζω, ευχαριστώ. (móno kitázo, efcharistó.) = I'm just looking, thanks (in a shop).

Greek hosts often insist. Saying no once is normal politeness, so expect a second offer: Σίγουρα; Πάρε λίγο ακόμα! (Are you sure? Have a bit more!).

Polite requests in a café or a shop

The most useful polite form is θα ήθελα (tha íthela), "I would like". It is built from θα and the past of θέλω, and it is softer than θέλω (I want).

A typical exchange in a café: the waiter says Παρακαλώ; (What can I get you?). You answer Θα ήθελα έναν φρέντο εσπρέσο, παρακαλώ. When it arrives: Ευχαριστώ πολύ! The waiter: Να 'στε καλά. Notice that a question in Greek ends with ;, which looks like an English semicolon. For more phrases like these, see the Greek travel phrases and the food and drink vocabulary.

Informal or polite: the σου / σας pattern

As with greetings, every polite phrase has an informal version for one person you know, and a polite version for strangers, older people and groups. The polite form uses the plural.

The little words σε and σας are object pronouns ("you"), placed before the verb. They are explained in me, you, him: με, σε, τον. For a fuller picture of Greek politeness, including when Greeks drop "please" without being rude, read politeness in practice.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say thank you in Greek?

Ευχαριστώ (efcharistó). Thank you very much is ευχαριστώ πολύ, and to a friend you can also say να 'σαι καλά.

How do you say you're welcome in Greek?

Παρακαλώ (parakaló). More casual answers are τίποτα (it's nothing) and να 'σαι καλά.

Is παρακαλώ please or you're welcome?

Both, and more. It means please in a request, you're welcome after thanks, here you are when handing something over, and can I help you? in a shop.

What is the difference between συγγνώμη and λυπάμαι?

Συγγνώμη is an apology or an "excuse me". Λυπάμαι means "I'm sorry" in the sense of regret or sympathy, for example when someone has bad news.

Learn these words with audio together with Greek greetings and the 100 first Greek words. Polite phrases are taught in the first units of our free A1 Greek course.