Table of Contents
The Greek language is one of the oldest continuously spoken languages in the world, with a written tradition stretching back more than 3,500 years. Learning to say hello in Greek in the full complexity of that context is a lifetime project. Learning to greet people correctly as a visitor takes about ten minutes.
This guide covers everything you need for Greece — the different ways to say hello in Greek, the pronunciation, the formal and informal distinction, the time-of-day greetings, a few useful phrases beyond hello, and the hello-goodbye dual function that Greek shares with Italian.
For other practical Greek language phrases useful on a trip, see the Greek phrases guide. For planning context, the how to plan a trip to Greece guide covers the full trip framework.
The Core Greek Hello
Γεια (Ya) — The All-Purpose Hello
Greek | Pronunciation | Meaning
Γεια | YA | Hi / Hello / Bye / Cheers
Γεια σου | YA-su | Hello (informal, one person)
Γεια σας | YA-sas | Hello (formal, or any group)
The most common way to say hello in Greek is simply γεια (ya) — a four-letter word where only two sounds are pronounced. It works as hello, hi, goodbye, and also as a toast (short for yamas — to our health).
In practice, you will almost always hear or use it in one of its two extended forms:
Γεια σου (ya su) — Informal. Said to one person you know, someone your own age, a friend, or anyone in a relaxed casual setting. This is how to say hi in Greek among people who are comfortable with each other. You can also say ya su followed by the person's name: ya su, Maria.
Γεια σας (ya sas) — Formal or plural. Said to strangers, older people, anyone you want to address with respect, or to a group of any size. This is the safe default if you are unsure. The difference between ya su and ya sas is the same as the French tu/vous or Spanish tú/usted distinction.
Pronunciation note: Both are stressed on the first syllable. YA-su, YA-sas. The YA sounds like the beginning of "yard" — not "yaw." Practice it as a short, bright sound.
The hello-goodbye function: Ya, ya su, and ya sas all work in both directions. The same word that greets someone on arrival sends them off on departure. This is exactly like Italian ciao — efficient, warm, and one less thing to memorise.
Time-of-Day Greetings
Greek hello culture, like many European languages, uses different greetings depending on the time of day. These are the most commonly heard and the ones most appreciated when used correctly.
Καλημέρα (Kalimera) — Good Morning
Greek | Pronunciation | When to use
Καλημέρα | ka-lee-ME-ra | Morning until approximately noon
The word combines καλή (good) and μέρα (day) — literally "good day." In practice it means good morning and is used from early morning until around noon (or as late as 2pm in informal settings).
This is the greeting you will use most in Greece. Walking into a bakery, arriving at your hotel, entering a shop, sitting at a café table — kalimera covers all of these situations before lunchtime. It is warm, universally appropriate, and immediately distinguishes you from visitors who just say "hello."
Καλησπέρα (Kalispera) — Good Afternoon / Good Evening
Greek | Pronunciation | When to use
Καλησπέρα | ka-lee-SPE-ra | Afternoon and evening (after noon)
Good afternoon and good evening use the same word in Greek. Καλή (good) + εσπέρα (evening) — literally "good evening," but used throughout the afternoon from around noon onwards. If kalimera is the morning version, kalispera covers everything from lunch to midnight.
Common mistake: Using kalimera in the evening. If you walk into a restaurant at 9pm and say kalimera, the waiter will smile politely — you have just wished them good morning at dinnertime.
Καληνύχτα (Kalinychta) — Good Night
Greek | Pronunciation | When to use
Καληνύχτα | ka-lee-NEEKH-ta | Saying goodbye at the end of the evening
Good night — καλή (good) + νύχτα (night). Used only when saying goodbye at the end of the evening, not as a greeting. Do not say kalinychta when arriving somewhere late at night — that would be kalispera. Kalinychta is exclusively a farewell.
Formal vs Informal: The Full Picture
Greek makes a clear formal/informal distinction that operates throughout the greeting system:
Situation | Greek | Pronunciation
Hello (casual, one person) | Γεια σου | ya-SU
Hello (formal, or any group) | Γεια σας | ya-SAS
Good morning (any) | Καλημέρα | ka-lee-ME-ra
Good afternoon/evening (any) | Καλησπέρα | ka-lee-SPE-ra
Good night (farewell) | Καληνύχτα | ka-lee-NEEKH-ta
Very formal hello | Χαίρετε | HE-re-te
Χαίρετε (Herete) — A more formal hello, used with people of significant authority (clergy, doctors, officials) or in very formal settings. Not commonly heard in everyday situations, but worth knowing. It sounds slightly old-fashioned to younger Greeks.
The formal/informal decision in practice: When in doubt — particularly with anyone significantly older than you, or anyone in a service or professional role — use the formal γεια σας, not γεια σου. Greeks will sometimes invite you to use the informal form by saying "μπορείς να μου μιλάς στον ενικό" (you can speak to me casually), which is a warm gesture meaning they consider the formality unnecessary.
How to Say Hi in Greek: Casual Alternatives
Beyond γεια σου and γεια σας, Greeks use several informal greetings in casual contexts that you will hear constantly:
Τι κάνεις; (Ti kanis?) — "How are you?" (informal, to one person). Not exactly hello, but used constantly as a greeting among friends in place of ya su. The standard response is καλά, εσύ; (kala, esy?) — "Fine, and you?"
Τι κάνετε; (Ti kanete?) — The formal or plural version of ti kanis.
Τι λες; (Ti les?) — "What's up?" / "What do you say?" Very casual, among close friends.
Έλα (Ela) — Technically means "come" but used constantly as a casual hi, a phone-answering greeting, an expression of surprise, and much more. Young Greeks use ela as a reflexive social lubricant in dozens of situations. Hearing it used constantly will be one of the more memorable linguistic experiences of a Greece trip.
Πώς πάει; (Pos pai?) — "How's it going?" Casual, friendly.
Greek Hello and Goodbye: The Dual-Purpose Words
Several Greek greetings work in both directions, which simplifies things considerably:
Word | As hello | As goodbye
Γεια σου | Hi (informal) | Bye (informal)
Γεια σας | Hello (formal) | Goodbye (formal)
Γεια | Hi / Hey | Bye
The most common Greek goodbye beyond these is αντίο (andio) — goodbye, used when parting for a longer period. For shorter separations, ya su and ya sas work for both arrival and departure.
Τα λέμε (ta leme) — "We'll talk" / "See you" / "Talk later." Very commonly used casual farewell.
Εις το επανιδείν (is to epanidein) — "Until we meet again." Formal, slightly old-fashioned, but occasionally heard in more traditional settings.
Physical Greetings: What to Expect in Greece
Knowing how to say hello in Greek is one thing; knowing what happens physically alongside the words is equally useful.
Meeting a stranger: Handshake for both men and women. Maintain eye contact. A firm handshake and direct eye contact signal respect in Greek culture.
Meeting someone you know: One kiss on each cheek is standard for women greeting women, and for women greeting men. Men greet each other with a handshake, or with a hug and back-pat among close friends. Younger generations are more physically demonstrative than older Greeks.
In a shop or café: No physical contact — just the verbal greeting and a nod. Walking into any establishment in Greece without greeting the staff is considered slightly impolite. Ya sas or kalimera when you walk in; efharisto and ya sas when you leave.
On the phone: Greeks answer phone calls with εμπρός (embros) — literally "forward" but functioning exactly like "hello?" in English. In professional contexts, you may hear παρακαλώ (parakalo) — "please," which signals that the person is ready to help.
Quick Reference: Hello in Greek for Travellers
You need to say | Greek | Sounds like
Hello (to staff, strangers, elders) | Γεια σας | YA-sas
Hello (to friends, peers) | Γεια σου | YA-su
Good morning | Καλημέρα | ka-lee-ME-ra
Good afternoon/evening | Καλησπέρα | ka-lee-SPE-ra
Good night (farewell) | Καληνύχτα | ka-lee-NEEKH-ta
How are you? (casual) | Τι κάνεις; | ti KA-nis
Fine, thanks | Καλά, ευχαριστώ | ka-LA, ef-ha-ri-STO
Bye (casual) | Γεια σου | YA-su
FAQs
What is hello in Greek?
Hello in Greek is γεια (ya), or in its fuller forms γεια σου (ya su, informal) and γεια σας (ya sas, formal). The informal version is used with friends and people your own age; the formal version is used with strangers, older people, and anyone you want to address respectfully. Both words also mean goodbye.
How do you say hello in the Greek language?
The most common greeting in the Greek language is γεια σας (ya sas) for formal situations or γεια σου (ya su) for informal ones. For time-specific greetings: καλημέρα (kalimera) in the morning, καλησπέρα (kalispera) in the afternoon and evening.
What does yassas mean in Greek?
Yassas (written as γεια σας in Greek) is the formal or plural form of the Greek hello. It means "hello" when arriving and "goodbye" when leaving. It is the polite default for addressing strangers, older people, or any group.
How do you say hi in Greek informally?
The casual, informal way to say hi in Greek is γεια σου (ya su) or simply γεια (ya). Among close friends, τι λες; (ti les? — "what's up?") and έλα (ela — an all-purpose casual greeting) are also extremely common.
What is greek hello and goodbye?
The same word covers both — γεια σου (ya su) means both hello and goodbye to one person informally, and γεια σας (ya sas) means both formally or to groups. This is exactly like the Italian ciao. For time-of-day farewell, καληνύχτα (kalinychta) is used at the end of an evening, and αντίο (andio) for longer goodbyes.
Plan Your Greece Trip
- Thank You in Greek — efharisto and the essential gratitude phrases
- Greek Phrases Guide — the full practical language guide for visitors
- How to Eat at a Greek Taverna — culture and ordering guide
- Athens Travel Guide — where to use your new greetings first
- How to Plan a Trip to Greece — the full planning framework
🇬🇷 Planning a trip to Greece? Use our AI Trip Planner to build your itinerary — or take our quiz to find the right Greek destination for your travel style. Γεια σας!