Greetings in Greek.

🇬🇷 Essential Modern Greek Greetings & Responses
With Pronunciation Audio + Grammar Notes

Γειά σας. (ya sas)

Hello. (formal/plural)

Use with strangers, elders, or groups. The final -ς makes it plural/formal.

Γειά σου. (ya su)

Hello. (informal/singular)

For friends, family, children. Drops the final -ς for singular.

Τί κάνετε; (tee KAH-neh-teh?)

How are you? (formal/plural)

Τί κάνεις; (tee KAH-nees?)

How are you? (informal)

Καλημέρα (kah-lee-MEH-rah)

Good morning / Good day (until ~noon)

Καλησπέρα (kah-lee-SPEH-rah)

Good afternoon / Good evening (from ~3pm)

Καληνύχτα (kah-lee-NEEKH-tah)

Good night (when parting at night)

Only used when saying goodbye at night, not as a greeting.

Πώς πάει; (pohs PYE?)

How's it going?

Τί έγινε; (tee EH-yee-neh?)

What's up? / What happened?

• Καλά. (Kah-LAH) — Good. / Fine.
• Πολύ καλά. (po-LEE kah-LAH) — Very good.
• Τέλεια! (TEH-lee-ah) — Perfect!
• Μια χαρά. (mee-ah khah-RAH) — Great! / Just fine.
• Χάλια. (KHAH-lee-ah) — Terrible.
• Όχι και πολύ καλά. (OH-khee keh po-LEE kah-LAH) — Not so good.
• Δεν είμαι καλά. (then EE-me kah-LAH) — I'm not well.

Αντίο (an-DEE-oh)

Goodbye (formal, less common)

Γειά σου/σας (ya su/sas)

Bye (informal/formal)

Τα λέμε (tah LEH-meh)

See you / We'll talk

Θα τα πούμε (thah tah POO-meh)

We'll talk later

💡 Pro Tip: Greeks often combine greetings: "Γειά σου, τί κάνεις; Καλησπέρα!"

Practice daily — even saying Καλημέρα to your barista builds confidence!