Greek Greetings: 30 Essential Phrases for Hello & Goodbye

 Walk into a bakery in Athens and say kaliméra, and something small but pleasant tends to happen. The person behind the counter smiles, and the exchange feels warmer than if you had launched straight into English.

That is the value of learning Greek greetings. They cost almost nothing to learn, and they show respect the moment you speak.

This guide gives you 30 essential phrases, grouped by situation. Some are true greetings, such as the words for hello, good morning, and goodbye. Others are the short conversational phrases that naturally follow a greeting, like asking how someone is, saying you're glad to meet them, or saying thank you. Each one comes with simple pronunciation, a meaning, and a note on when to use it. You'll also see how Greek handles informal and formal speech, which is the biggest thing to get right.

How to Greet in Greek: Three Things to Know First

A few ideas will make every phrase in this article easier to use.

Informal, formal, and plural

Greek distinguishes between informal singular forms and formal or plural forms of "you." With friends and people you know well, you commonly use the informal singular forms (sou, esý). With strangers, in formal situations, or when addressing more than one person, the plural or formal forms are used (sas, esís).

This split appears in "hello" and in "how are you." If you're unsure, the formal or plural form is generally a safer choice when speaking to someone you don't know.

Time of day matters

Unlike English, Greek uses separate greetings for morning, afternoon or evening, and night. Exact cut-off times vary from person to person and region to region, so treat them as guidelines rather than rules.

Hello and goodbye can be the same word

The most common Greek word for "hello" also means "goodbye." Context tells the listener which you mean, much like Italian ciao.

Greek Greetings Pronunciation: A Quick Guide

Greek greetings pronunciation is friendlier than the alphabet suggests. Greek has 24 letters, and its spelling is more consistent than English spelling, though several letters and letter pairs share the same ee sound. A single accent mark shows which syllable is stressed, so that syllable is capitalized in the pronunciation guides below.

A few sounds are new to English speakers:

Greek	Sounds like	Example
γ (before e or i)	y in "yes"	Γεια (ya)
χ	a breathy kh, like ch in Scottish "loch"	Χαίρετε (KHEH-reh-teh)
δ	th in "this"	Δεν (then)
θ	th in "think"	Θεσσαλονίκη (the-sa-lo-NEE-kee)
ευ	ev or ef, depending on the next sound	Ευχαριστώ (ef-kha-ree-STO)
ει, οι, η, ι	all sound like ee	Καλημέρα (ka-lee-MEH-ra)

. You will also see several English spellings of the same words, such as yia sou, ya sou, or yassou. They are different attempts to write one sound, so don't worry if you spot variations online.

Basic Greek Greetings: Words for Hello

These are the Greek words for hello you'll hear most often. If you only learn four phrases from this article, start here.

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
1	Γεια σου	ya SOO	Hi / bye (informal, one person)
2	Γεια σας	ya SAS	Hello / goodbye (formal or plural)
3	Χαίρετε	KHEH-reh-teh	Greetings (formal)
4	Έλα	EH-la	Hey! (very casual)

Γεια σου is the everyday choice among friends, classmates, and people your own age. Γεια σας is what you say to a shop owner, a taxi driver, a hotel receptionist, or a group of people. It's a safe default for travelers.

Χαίρετε is formal and generally less common in relaxed, everyday conversation. You are more likely to hear it in speeches or read it in writing than in a café. It's still worth recognizing.

Έλα literally means "come," but between friends it works as an informal "hey!" when someone arrives or picks up the phone.

Greek Greetings by Time of Day

This is where basic Greek greetings are easiest to learn, because you can attach them to your daily routine.

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
5	Καλημέρα	ka-lee-MEH-ra	Good morning / good day
6	Καλησπέρα	ka-lee-SPEH-ra	Good afternoon / good evening
7	Καληνύχτα	ka-lee-NEEKH-ta	Good night
8	Καλό απόγευμα	ka-LO a-PO-yev-ma	Have a good afternoon
9	Καλό βράδυ	ka-LO VRA-dee	Have a good evening

Καλημέρα is used from early morning until around midday, and many people keep using it into the early afternoon. Καλησπέρα takes over later, and speakers differ on exactly when. From mid-afternoon onward is common.

Καληνύχτα is a farewell only. You say it when going to bed or leaving late at night, never when you arrive somewhere.

Καλό απόγευμα and Καλό βράδυ are wishes, meaning "have a good afternoon/evening." They are typically used when parting or ending a conversation, whereas kalispéra is what you say on arriving. Usage varies a little between speakers, so listen to how people around you use them.

Small Talk After Hello: Asking and Answering

Greetings rarely stop at "hello." These phrases aren't greetings in the strict sense, but you'll hear them in almost every conversation right after one.

Asking how someone is

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
10	Τι κάνεις;	ti KA-nees	How are you? (informal)
11	Τι κάνετε;	ti KA-neh-teh	How are you? (formal or plural)
12	Πώς είσαι;	pos EE-seh	How are you doing? (informal)
13	Τι νέα;	ti NEH-a	What's new?

Ti káneis? Literally means "What are you doing?", but everyone uses it as "How are you?" It's the one you'll hear most.

Answering

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
14	Καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσύ;	ka-LA, ef-kha-ree-STO. eh-SEE	Fine, thank you. And you?
15	Μια χαρά	mee-a kha-RA	Great / doing very well
16	Έτσι κι έτσι	EH-tsi kee EH-tsi	So-so

Mia chará literally means "one joy," and it's a cheerful everyday reply. To return the question politely, use εσύ (eh-SEE) with friends and εσείς (eh-SEES) with people you address formally.

Meeting People: Nice to Meet You and Good to See You

Some of the most common Greek phrases are about the meeting itself, whether it's a first introduction or a reunion.

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
17	Χαίρω πολύ	KHEH-ro po-LEE	Nice to meet you
18	Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω	KHEH-ro-meh poo seh VLEH-po	I'm glad to see you
19	Πάει καιρός	PA-ee keh-ROS	It's been a while

The second phrase uses se (informal "you"). To someone you address formally, use sas instead: Χαίρομαι που σας βλέπω.

Goodbyes and Good Wishes in Greek

You already know that Γεια σου and Γεια σας work for goodbye. These options let you be more specific.

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
20	Αντίο	an-DEE-o	Goodbye
21	Τα λέμε	ta LEH-meh	See you / talk soon
22	Τα λέμε σύντομα	ta LEH-meh SEEN-do-ma	See you soon
23	Εις το επανιδείν	ees to eh-pa-nee-DEEN	Until we meet again (formal)
24	Να προσέχεις	na pro-SEH-khees	Take care
25	Καλή συνέχεια	ka-LEE see-NEH-khee-a	All the best (for what comes next)
26	Καλό σαββατοκύριακο	ka-LO sa-va-to-KEE-ri-a-ko	Have a good weekend

Αντίο is a standard, neutral "goodbye." Some speakers use it more for definite farewells, and among friends, Τα λέμε ("we'll talk/see each other") is often the warmer, more relaxed choice.

Εις το επανιδείν is formal and somewhat old-fashioned. It's good to recognize, but you'll rarely need it in casual conversation.

Καλή συνέχεια is a general well-wish for someone heading off to keep working, studying, or traveling. It wishes them well for whatever comes next.

Thank You in Greek (and How to Reply)

If you memorize one phrase before a trip, make it this one.

#	Greek	Say it like	Meaning
27	Ευχαριστώ	ef-kha-ree-STO	Thank you
28	Ευχαριστώ πολύ	ef-kha-ree-STO po-LEE	Thank you very much
29	Παρακαλώ	pa-ra-ka-LO	You're welcome / please
30	Δεν κάνει τίποτα	then KA-nee TEE-po-ta	It's nothing / no problem

The good news about thank you in Greek is that Ευχαριστώ works for everyone, formal or informal. Break it into four beats, ef-kha-ree-STO, and put the stress at the end.

Παρακαλώ is flexible. It means "you're welcome," but it also means "please," and shop staff often use it to mean "How can I help you?" or "Go ahead."

Which Phrase Should You Use? A Quick Situation Guide

If you're not sure which phrase fits, this table matches common situations with a safe choice.

Situation	A safe choice
Entering a shop or café in the morning	Καλημέρα
Entering a shop later in the day	Καλησπέρα or Γεια σας
Meeting a friend's parents	Χαίρω πολύ, then Τι κάνετε;
Greeting a friend	Γεια σου! Τι κάνεις;
Leaving a shop	Ευχαριστώ, γεια σας
Saying goodbye late at night	Καληνύχτα
Parting from a friend until next time	Τα λέμε!

When in doubt, the formal or plural form is generally a safer choice with people you don't know, and the informal form suits people you know well. Listening to how Greek speakers around you greet each other is the best way to fine-tune your choices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few slips are easy to make and easy to fix:

• Using kaliníchta as a hello. It's only for saying goodnight.
• Using Γεια σου with everyone. For strangers and older people, prefer Γεια σας.
• Stressing the wrong syllable. Greek stress matters. Kaliméra should not sound like KA-li-me-ra.
• Swallowing the kh sound. The Greek χ is not a hard k. Let a little breath escape.

Putting It All Together: Two Mini Dialogues

Seeing these Greek phrases in action makes them stick.

At a café in the morning (formal):

• Καλημέρα! Τι κάνετε;
• Καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσείς;
• Μια χαρά. Καλή συνέχεια!
• Ευχαριστώ, γεια σας!

Between friends (informal):

• Γεια σου, Μαρία! Τι κάνεις;
• Έλα, Νίκο! Καλά, εσύ;
• Μια χαρά. Τα λέμε αύριο!
• Τα λέμε! Καληνύχτα!

Try reading them aloud. Even a slow, imperfect attempt helps your mouth get used to the sounds.

Conclusion

Greek greetings are one of the most rewarding places to begin with the language. Start small: Γεια σου or Γεια σας, Καλημέρα, and Ευχαριστώ. Once those feel comfortable, add the time-of-day phrases and a couple of "how are you" replies.

You don't need perfect pronunciation, and you don't need to memorize all 30 phrases at once. A warm tone, a smile, and the right level of politeness will take you a long way.

About This Guide

Learnora Books creates practical language-learning resources for beginners. This guide covers everyday Modern Greek greetings and related phrases, written for English speakers who are just starting out.

FAQ

What is the most common way to say hello in Greek?
Γεια σου (ya SOO) is the standard informal hello, and Γεια σας (ya SAS) is its formal and plural version. Both also mean "goodbye."

When should I stop saying kaliméra?
Around midday, though many people keep using it into the early afternoon. After that, kalispéra is the safer choice.

What is the difference between Γεια σου and Γεια σας?
Sou is the informal singular "you," used with one friend or someone you know well. Sas is formal, or used when speaking to more than one person.

How do you say thank you in Greek?
Ευχαριστώ (ef-kha-ree-STO). It suits every situation, and you can add πολύ (po-LEE) for "very much."

Is Greek pronunciation hard for English speakers?
It's manageable. Greek has 24 letters and fairly consistent spelling, though the kh sound and the stress patterns take some practice.