How To Say Hello In Greek: 8 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Say Hello in Greek PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Language Academia

Last Updated: October 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Saying Hello
    • |
  • Practicing Other Phrases
    • |
  • Video
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  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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This article was co-authored by Language Academia. Language Academia is a private, online language school founded by Kordilia Foxstone. Kordilia and her team specialize in teaching foreign languages and accent reduction. Language Academia offers courses in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Mandarin. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 610,692 times.

Greece is a popular travel destination. As in most European countries, English-speaking Greeks can be found with relative ease. However, your travel experience can be enhanced by learning a few common phrases in Greek. Something as simple as learning how to say hello in Greek may have a positive effect on the way you are treated. Use these tips to learn how to greet people in Greek.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Saying Hello

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  1. Step 1 Say "Yassou". 1 Say "Yassou". Pronounce it "YAH-soo". This phrase is best suited for informally saying hello to one person. Smile as you say it – be friendly! Bear in mind that "Yassou" is only a rough English rendition of the Greek pronunciation. The word is sometimes spelled "giasou" or "ya su". You can also shorten the phrase to "ya" in an informal setting.[1]
    • Say "Yassas" (pronounced "YAH-sas")[2] in formal situations, or when you're informally greeting two or more people at the same time. Use this formal version if you're addressing a stranger or an older person.
    • Technically, the somewhat more informal "yassou" is best suited to use with people you know and people much younger than you. However, you will hear both used interchangeably, so you don't need to worry much about getting it "right".
  2. Step 2 Use "Herete". 2 Use "Herete". Pronounce it "HE-reh-teh"; say the e's like you would in the word "egg". You can use "herete" in both formal and informal situations. It is typically used between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm.[3] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Use temporal greetings. 3 Use temporal greetings. As with many cultures, Greeks use certain time-specific greetings in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening.[4] You can use "yassou" or "yassas" during most of these times, but you may find the following phrases more appropriate.[5]
    • Kalimera (καλημέρα): "good morning". Use this when reaching or leaving a location or event. Pronounce it "kah-lee-MEH-rah".[6]
    • Kalispera (καλησπέρα): "good afternoon" or "good evening". Use this only when coming to a place or meeting someone in the evening or at night. Pronounce it "kah-lee-SPARE-a".
    • Kalinihta (καληνύχτα): "good night". Use this phrase only as a goodbye greeting in the evening or at night. Pronounce it "kah-lee-NEE-hta".
  4. Step 4 Understand how the Greeks greet each other. 4 Understand how the Greeks greet each other. Greek people tend to be open and casual in their greetings. As such, there are few strict differences between formal and informal greetings. Be open and casual with your body language.[7] Try to make eye contact and smile at strangers and friends alike.[8]
    • Do not bow or attempt to kiss the cheek. The former is too formal, and the latter may be considered too forward.
    • Do not attempt to shake hands unless a hand is offered to you. Shaking hands is not a common custom in Greece – certainly not among friends or locals.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Practicing Other Phrases

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  1. Step 1 Learn how to say Greek farewell phrases. 1 Learn how to say Greek farewell phrases. Focus on ones that are appropriate at the end of a conversation or at the end of a day.
    • Say "antio". Be sure to stress the "i" syllable. This is a standard, informal farewell.
    • Say "geia" (pronounced "gee-ah") or "ya". This can mean both "hello" and "goodbye".
  2. Step 2 Ask whether the locals speak your language. 2 Ask whether the locals speak your language. "Mila'te...?" means "do you speak...?" Add it to the Greek word for your language to make a phrase. In some cases, you might find it easier to converse in your native tongue – or to another European language that is common to both you and this particular Greek person.
    • English: "Mila'te Agglika'?"
    • French: "Mila'te Gallika'?"
    • German: "Mila'te Germanika'?"
    • Spanish: "Mila'te Ispanika'?"
    • Chinese: "Mila'te Kine'zika?"
  3. Step 3 Ask questions. 3 Ask questions. You may find it useful to know certain common question phrases. This can take your interactions below the surface "hello" level. Be aware, however, that you may find it hard to understand the responses that you get!
    • Say "Pos Ise?" to ask "How are you?" Pronounce it with the short "s" – like the "ose" in the word "dose," not the word "nose". "Pos ee-say".
    • Say "ti kaneis" (tee kah-nis) to ask "What's going on?"[9]
    • Use "Umidl pos ise vrexima?" to say "Where are you going?" Pronounce it "Um-id pos ise vere-MA".
    • Say "esi?" (pronounced "eh-see") to reflect a question with "And you?"
  4. Step 4 Talk about yourself. 4 Talk about yourself. If someone asks you how you're doing, it can be useful to respond with basic qualifiers like "good," "bad," and "okay." "I" in Greek is "egO". "You" is "esi".[10]
    • Good: kalA
    • I'm not okay: "den eimai kala".
    • Not good: Oxi (O-hi) kalA,
    • Yes: "neh"
    • No: "OH-hee"
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How do I say "You are beautiful" in Greek? Anna Vsl Anna Vsl Community Answer The phrase "You are beautiful" in Greek is "Ise omorfi" or "ise koukla". Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 39
  • Question How do I say "dear" in Greek? Magnolia Cherrie Alice Magnolia Cherrie Alice Community Answer The Greek language is a really rich one. There are many ways to say "dear", for example "agapi mu" (pronounced as wrote) is a very sweet way of saying "my love". Another way of saying "dear" is "agapiti", which means "dear". This word is often seen in a letter's beginning. As you will quickly learn, if you visit Greece or Cyprus, the Greek language is a really complex but beautiful language, full of toasts and twists. Enjoy learning a new language! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 36
  • Question How do I say "today"? Community Answer Community Answer Simera (Greek: Σήμερα) is the word. Pronounced see-me (like meh, e pronounced like it is in egg) -ra (like the Egyptian god). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 23
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Tips

  • Use your notes as little as possible. Try to use the words and phrases from memory as much as possible. It will improve the flow of your conversations if you aren't always reading from a guidebook. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Stay calm. Don't appear tense or frustrated if you have some difficulty making yourself understood. The Greeks are known for their hospitality, and the locals will probably help out once they understand your request. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • If you are struggling, try watching clips or films in Greek to understand more quickly.
  • Try to communicate with the locals as much as possible to understand the lingo.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/greek.php
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkY0IZzPI9k
  3. ↑ http://www.explorecrete.com/various/greek-language.htm
  4. ↑ Language Academia. Language Tutors. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://whyathens.com/basic-greek/
  6. ↑ http://www.ipl.org/div/hello/greek.html
  7. ↑ Language Academia. Language Tutors. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/greek-culture/greek-culture-greetings
  9. ↑ http://www.hillmanwonders.com/greece/greek_phrases.htm
More References (1)
  1. ↑ https://whyathens.com/basic-greek/

About This Article

Language Academia Co-authored by: Language Academia Language Tutors This article was co-authored by Language Academia. Language Academia is a private, online language school founded by Kordilia Foxstone. Kordilia and her team specialize in teaching foreign languages and accent reduction. Language Academia offers courses in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Mandarin. This article has been viewed 610,692 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 24 Updated: October 24, 2025 Views: 610,692 Categories: World Languages Article SummaryX

To say "Hello" to someone you know in Greek, say "Yassou" or shorten it to "ya." If you want to informally greet 2 or more people, say "Yassas" instead. You should also say "Yassas" in formal situations, like if you're addressing a stranger or older person. In between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, you can say hello to someone by saying "Herete," which works in both formal and informal situations. For more tips, like how to say good morning, good afternoon, and good night in Greek, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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