How to Say Hello in Greek Language: Common Greek Words & Phrases

If you want to know how to say hello in Greek language, the most useful expressions are γεια (geia), γεια σου (geia sou), and γεια σας (geia sas).

Γεια! (Geia!) — Hi / Hello
Γεια σου! (Geia sou!) — Hello / Hi, informal
Γεια σας! (Geia sas!) — Hello, polite or plural
Καλημέρα! (Kaliméra!) — Good morning
Καλησπέρα! (Kalispéra!) — Good evening

The right choice depends mainly on who you are speaking to and the situation. Once you know these greetings, you can quickly add useful expressions such as “thank you,” “how are you?”, “what is your name?”, and “where are you from?”

How to Say Hello in Greek

The most common everyday greeting is γεια (geia), which can mean “hi” or “hello.”

For a single person you know well, you can say:

Γεια σου!
Geia sou!
Hello! / Hi!

For someone you do not know well, someone older, or in a more polite situation, use:

Γεια σας!
Geia sas!
Hello!

You can also use γεια σας when speaking to more than one person.

The distinction between σου (sou) and σας (sas) is useful for beginners because Greek distinguishes between familiar and polite/plural forms of “you.”

What is the difference between γεια, γεια σου, and γεια σας?

GreekPronunciationMeaningUseΓεια!geiaHi / HelloVery casualΓεια σου!geia souHello / HiOne person, informalΓεια σας!geia sasHelloPolite or more than one person

If you are unsure which one to use with one person, γεια σας is a safe polite choice.

Another useful point: γεια σου and γεια σας can also be used when saying goodbye.

How Do You Say Hi in Greek?

If you want to say “hi” in Greek, the simplest option is:

Γεια!
Geia!
Hi!

You can also say:

Γεια σου!
Geia sou!
Hi! / Hello!

With friends, family members, or people you know well, γεια σου is a natural everyday greeting.

For a group or a polite greeting, use:

Γεια σας!
Geia sas!
Hello!

So, as a beginner, these three forms are enough to handle most everyday greetings.

How to Say Good Morning in Greek

One of the most useful Greek greetings is:

Καλημέρα!
Kaliméra!
Good morning!

You will hear καλημέρα in everyday situations such as shops, cafés, hotels, workplaces, and casual conversations.

For a more polite greeting, you can say:

Καλημέρα σας!
Kaliméra sas!
Good morning!

Καλημέρα is a particularly useful phrase because it works across different levels of formality.

Later in the day, you can use:

Καλησπέρα!
Kalispéra!
Good evening!

And when saying good night before leaving or going to sleep:

Καληνύχτα!
Kaliníhta!
Good night!

How Are You in Greek?

Once you know how to say hello, the next phrase you will probably want is “how are you?”

There are several common ways to ask this in Greek.

Informal

Πώς είσαι;
Pós íse?
How are you?

You can also say:

Τι κάνεις;
Ti kánis?
Literally, “What are you doing?”, but commonly used as “How are you?”

Formal or plural

Πώς είστε;
Pós íste?
How are you?

Or:

Τι κάνετε;
Ti kánete?
How are you?

The informal versions are used with one person you know well, while the formal/plural forms use -ετε / -στε forms.

A very simple beginner exchange is:

Γεια σου! Τι κάνεις;
Geia sou! Ti kánis?
Hi! How are you?

A natural answer is:

Καλά, ευχαριστώ.
Kalá, efharistó.
Good, thank you.

You can then ask:

Κι εσύ;
Ki esí?
And you?

How to Say Thank You in Greek

The standard Greek word for “thank you” is:

Ευχαριστώ
Efharistó
Thank you

It is one of the most useful Greek words to learn because it works in everyday situations, from restaurants and shops to conversations with friends.

You can also say:

Ευχαριστώ πολύ.
Efharistó polí.
Thank you very much.

For a more personal informal form:

Σε ευχαριστώ.
Se efharistó.
Thank you.

For a polite or plural form:

Σας ευχαριστώ.
Sas efharistó.
Thank you.

If you are just starting to learn Greek, ευχαριστώ is the essential form to memorize first.

And when someone thanks you, you can reply:

Παρακαλώ.
Parakaló.
You're welcome.

How to Say Cheers in Greek

If you are having a drink with Greek friends, one phrase you will definitely want to know is:

Γεια μας!
Geia mas!
Cheers!

It literally relates to wishing health to everyone sharing the toast.

You may also hear:

Στην υγειά μας!
Stin iyía mas!
To our health! / Cheers!

Both are useful expressions, with γεια μας being a short, familiar toast.

How to Say “I Love You” in Greek

“I love you” in Greek is:

Σε αγαπώ.
Se agapó.
I love you.

A common shortened form is:

Σ' αγαπώ.
S' agapó.

The second form is a contraction of σε αγαπώ and is very common in spoken Greek.

This is a phrase to use when you actually want to express strong affection, rather than as a general friendly expression.

How to Say Happy Birthday in Greek

The most common birthday wish is:

Χρόνια πολλά!
Hrónia pollá!
Happy birthday!

Literally, the expression means something closer to “many years” and is used to wish someone a long life.

You will also hear Χρόνια πολλά for other celebrations and holidays, not just birthdays.

For example:

Χρόνια πολλά, Μαρία!
Hrónia pollá, María!
Happy birthday, Maria!

How to Say Merry Christmas in Greek

To say “Merry Christmas” in Greek, say:

Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
Kalá Christoúgenna!
Merry Christmas!

This is the standard Christmas greeting in Greek.

You can also combine it with a New Year greeting:

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Χρονιά!
Kalá Christoúgenna kai Kalí Chroniá!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

How to Say “What Is Your Name?” in Greek

When meeting someone, one of the most useful questions is:

Πώς σε λένε;
Pós se léne?
What is your name?

This is the informal version.

A polite version is:

Πώς σας λένε;
Pós sas léne?
What is your name?

You can answer:

Με λένε Nikolay.
Me léne Nikolay.
My name is Nikolay.

The distinction between σε and σας follows the same familiar versus polite/plural pattern used in greetings.

How to Say “I” in Greek

The Greek word for “I” is:

Εγώ
Egó
I

For example:

Εγώ είμαι ο Νίκος.
Egó íme o Níkos.
I am Nikos.

However, Greek often leaves personal pronouns out when the verb already makes the subject clear. That means you will frequently hear the verb without explicitly saying εγώ.

For a beginner, though, εγώ = I is an important word to recognize.

Basic Greek Question Words

A few simple question words can help you start building your own Greek sentences.

EnglishGreekPronunciationWhat?Τι;tiWhere?Πού;poúWhen?Πότε;póteWhy?Γιατί;giatíWho?Ποιος; / Ποια; / Ποιο;pios / pia / pioHow?Πώς;pós

For example:

Πού είσαι;
Poú íse?
Where are you?

Γιατί;
Giatí?
Why?

Πότε;
Póte?
When?

These question words are among the most useful building blocks for everyday Greek conversation.

What Is “Language” in Greek?

The Greek word for “language” is:

γλώσσα
glóssa
language

For example:

Η ελληνική γλώσσα
I ellinikí glóssa
the Greek language

This is useful vocabulary if you are learning Greek because you will often encounter ελληνικά (elliniká), meaning Greek, particularly when referring to the language.

What Is Greece in Greek?

Greece is called:

Ελλάδα
Elláda
Greece

This is the standard modern Greek name for the country.

For example:

Είμαι στην Ελλάδα.
Íme stin Elláda.
I am in Greece.

You will also encounter Ελλάς (Ellás) in historical, literary, or more formal contexts, but Ελλάδα is the everyday modern form.

A Simple Greek Conversation for Beginners

Once you combine the phrases above, you can already have a very short conversation.

A: Γεια σου! Τι κάνεις;
Geia sou! Ti kánis?
Hi! How are you?

B: Καλά, ευχαριστώ. Κι εσύ;
Kalá, efharistó. Ki esí?
Good, thank you. And you?

A: Καλά. Πώς σε λένε;
Kalá. Pós se léne?
Good. What's your name?

B: Με λένε Maria. Εσένα;
Me léne Maria. Eséna?
My name is Maria. And you?

A: Με λένε Nikos. Χάρηκα!
Me léne Nikos. Hárika!
My name is Nikos. Nice to meet you!

This is much more useful than memorizing isolated vocabulary because you are learning the words inside a real conversational pattern.

The Most Useful Greek Words and Phrases to Learn First

If you are completely new to Greek, start with these:

EnglishGreekPronunciationHello / HiΓεια σουgeia souHello, politeΓεια σαςgeia sasGood morningΚαλημέραkaliméraGood eveningΚαλησπέραkalispéraGood nightΚαληνύχταkaliníhtaHow are you?Τι κάνεις;ti kánis?GoodΚαλάkaláThank youΕυχαριστώefharistóYou're welcomeΠαρακαλώparakalóPleaseΠαρακαλώparakalóCheersΓεια μαςgeia masWhat is your name?Πώς σε λένε;pós se léne?My name is...Με λένε...me léne...IΕγώegóWhere?Πού;poú?Why?Γιατί;giatí?When?Πότε;póte?GreeceΕλλάδαElládaGreek languageελληνικάellinikáI love youΣε αγαπώse agapó

You do not need to memorize all of them at once. Start with γεια σου, ευχαριστώ, παρακαλώ, καλημέρα, and τι κάνεις; Then add new phrases as you encounter them.

How to Learn Greek Words More Easily

Learning individual Greek words is useful, but learning them inside phrases is usually more practical.

Instead of memorizing only:

ευχαριστώ = thank you

learn:

Ευχαριστώ πολύ.
Efharistó polí.
Thank you very much.

Instead of learning only:

πού = where

learn:

Πού είσαι;
Poú íse?
Where are you?

And instead of memorizing only:

γεια = hi

learn the difference between:

Γεια σου! — informal
Γεια σας! — polite or plural

This gives you vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and context at the same time.

How to Speak Greek More Naturally

Knowing the translation of a word is only the beginning. To speak Greek naturally, pay attention to context and formality.

For example, don't learn only “hello = γεια.” Learn:

Γεια! for a very casual “hi”
Γεια σου! for one person you know
Γεια σας! for a polite greeting or a group
Καλημέρα! in the morning
Καλησπέρα! in the evening

The same principle applies to many other expressions.

Listen to native speakers, repeat complete phrases aloud, and notice how words sound when they are spoken together. Pronunciation guides written in English letters are useful at first, but listening to Greek is the better way to develop accurate pronunciation.

Greek Words Are Easier to Remember in Situations

A good beginner vocabulary list should be organized around situations rather than random words.

Meeting someone

Γεια σου! — Hi!
Πώς σε λένε; — What's your name?
Με λένε... — My name is...
Χάρηκα! — Nice to meet you!

Being polite

Παρακαλώ — Please / You're welcome
Ευχαριστώ — Thank you
Ευχαριστώ πολύ — Thank you very much
Συγγνώμη — Excuse me / Sorry

Starting a conversation

Τι κάνεις; — How are you?
Καλά, ευχαριστώ. — Good, thank you.
Κι εσύ; — And you?
Πού είσαι; — Where are you?

Celebrating

Γεια μας! — Cheers!
Χρόνια πολλά! — Happy birthday / Best wishes!
Καλά Χριστούγεννα! — Merry Christmas!
Καλή Χρονιά! — Happy New Year!

This approach gives each word a real situation in which you can use it, making it easier to remember.

FAQ: Common Questions About Greek Words and Phrases

How do you say hello in Greek?

The most common options are γεια (geia), γεια σου (geia sou), and γεια σας (geia sas). Use γεια σου informally with one person and γεια σας politely or when addressing multiple people.

How do you say hi in Greek?

You can simply say Γεια! (Geia!) or Γεια σου! (Geia sou!). The first is a short casual greeting, while the second is a familiar greeting to one person.

How do you say thank you in Greek?

Ευχαριστώ (Efharistó) means “thank you.” For “thank you very much,” say Ευχαριστώ πολύ (Efharistó polí).

How do you say how are you in Greek?

Common options include Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?) and Πώς είσαι; (Pós íse?) for informal situations. Polite or plural forms include Τι κάνετε; and Πώς είστε;

How do you say good morning in Greek?

Καλημέρα (Kaliméra) means “good morning.” You can say Καλημέρα σας (Kaliméra sas) when you want to sound more polite.

How do you say cheers in Greek?

A common short toast is Γεια μας! (Geia mas!), meaning “Cheers!” You may also hear Στην υγειά μας! (Stin iyía mas!), meaning “To our health!”

How do you say I love you in Greek?

Σε αγαπώ (Se agapó) means “I love you.” The shortened spoken form Σ' αγαπώ (S' agapó) is also very common.

How do you say happy birthday in Greek?

The most common birthday greeting is Χρόνια πολλά! (Hrónia pollá!), literally wishing someone “many years.”

How do you say Merry Christmas in Greek?

Καλά Χριστούγεννα! (Kalá Christoúgenna!) means “Merry Christmas.”

What is Greece called in Greek?

Greece is Ελλάδα (Elláda) in modern Greek.

What is “I” in Greek?

“I” is εγώ (egó). Greek often omits the pronoun when the verb already makes the subject clear, but εγώ is still an important word for beginners to recognize.

Start With These Five Greek Phrases

If you only want to learn five Greek expressions today, make them:

Γεια σου! — Hi / Hello
Καλημέρα! — Good morning
Τι κάνεις; — How are you?
Ευχαριστώ! — Thank you
Παρακαλώ! — Please / You're welcome

Once these become familiar, add γεια σας, καλησπέρα, πώς σε λένε;, με λένε..., and γεια μας.

The goal is not to memorize hundreds of Greek words at once. It is to build a small vocabulary of phrases you can actually use, hear, recognize, and repeat.

Conclusion

Learning how to say hello in Greek language is a simple first step toward speaking Greek.

Start with γεια, γεια σου, and γεια σας, then build around them with practical phrases such as καλημέρα, τι κάνεις;, ευχαριστώ, and παρακαλώ.

From there, learning Greek becomes much easier when you connect new vocabulary to real situations: meeting people, ordering food, asking questions, celebrating, traveling, and having everyday conversations.

The most useful Greek words are not necessarily the most complicated ones. They are the words and phrases you can start using immediately.

Greek Words & Common Phrases

How to Say Hello in Greek Language: Common Greek Words & Phrases