Table of Contents
There is a moment that most visitors to Greece remember: saying efharisto for the first time to someone who was not expecting it, and watching their expression change. A small word, learned in five minutes, and the interaction becomes something different — a recognition that you made the effort.
This guide covers everything you need: how to say thank you in Greek, the pronunciation, the formal and informal versions, thank you very much, please, you're welcome, and a few related phrases that round out the picture.
For the companion guide on Greek greetings, see how to say hello in Greek. For the full practical language guide for visitors, see the Greek phrases guide.
Efharisto: The Core Thank You in Greek
The Greek word for thank you is ευχαριστώ, romanised as efharisto or efcharisto (both spellings are used; both are correct). In Greek script, the letters are:
ε-υ-χ-α-ρ-ι-σ-τ-ώ
Pronunciation: ef-ha-ri-STO
The stress falls on the final syllable: ef-ha-ri-STO. Say it with the emphasis landing clearly at the end.
The mnemonic: Think of the name "F Harry Stowe" said quickly. This has been passed around among travellers and language learners for a long time because it genuinely works: F-Harry-Stowe → ef-ha-ri-sto. Try it a few times and it locks in.
The ch sound: The χ in ευχαριστώ is a voiceless velar fricative — the same sound as the ch in the German word Bach or the Scottish loch. Not a hard k, not an English h, but a gentle friction at the back of the throat. If this is difficult, saying it as a plain h will still be understood immediately and clearly.
The Full Table: Thank You in Greek — All Versions
Situation | Greek | Romanisation | Pronunciation
Thanks (everyday, casual) | Ευχαριστώ | Efharisto | ef-ha-ri-STO
Thank you (informal, to one person) | Σε ευχαριστώ | Se efharisto | se ef-ha-ri-STO
Thank you (formal / respectful) | Σας ευχαριστώ | Sas efharisto | sas ef-ha-ri-STO
Thank you very much | Ευχαριστώ πολύ | Efharisto poli | ef-ha-ri-sto po-LI
Thank you very much (formal) | Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ | Sas efharisto poli | sas ef-ha-ri-sto po-LI
Thanks a lot (emphatic) | Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ | Efharisto para poli | ef-ha-ri-sto PA-ra po-LI
We thank you | Ευχαριστούμε | Efharistoume | ef-ha-ri-STOO-me
Efharisto vs se efharisto vs sas efharisto:
The bare efharisto works in almost every situation — it is the casual, universal version and is what you will use 90% of the time as a visitor. Se efharisto adds the informal "you" (se) and is slightly more personal. Sas efharisto is the formal version, used with older people, in professional settings, or whenever you want to express heightened respect.
Efharisto Poli: Thank You Very Much in Greek
The most useful escalation is adding πολύ (poli — very, much):
Ευχαριστώ πολύ — Efharisto poli — Thank you very much.
This is the phrase to use when someone has gone out of their way for you, explained something at length, given you directions, or done something beyond simple service. Clear, simple, and universally understood.
For a more emphatic version: ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ (efharisto para poli) — "thank you very, very much." Πάρα πολύ is the Greek intensifier. This level of effusiveness is in the right register for genuine acts of significant kindness — helping you when you were lost, assisting with a problem at the hotel, making something happen that did not have to.
Efharisto: The Word's Meaning and History
The Greek word ευχαριστώ breaks down into two ancient roots:
ευ (eu) — good, well
χαρίς (charis) — grace, joy, favour
Together: "to do good grace," "to give joy," "to express well-being toward someone." This is considerably more resonant than the transactional "thank you" of English.
The same root gives the Christian word Eucharist — the sacrament of thanksgiving and communion. When early Christians took the ancient Greek expression of gratitude and applied it to the ritual of giving thanks to God, they were using the same word Greeks still use to thank a waiter for bringing their coffee.
This etymology is not merely interesting. It explains the warmth that efharisto carries in Greek — it is not a transactional acknowledgement but an expression of genuine goodwill. Greeks who hear a foreign visitor say it correctly understand that the person has made an effort to meet them in their language, and they respond accordingly.
Please and You're Welcome in Greek
Παρακαλώ (Parakaló) — The Most Versatile Word
Pronunciation: pa-ra-ka-LO (stress on the last syllable)
Παρακαλώ (parakaló) is one of the most useful words in Greek precisely because it covers several functions:
As "please": Έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ — "A coffee, please." Added to the end of any request.
As "you're welcome": When someone says efharisto and you respond with parakaló, the meaning is "you're welcome" or "don't mention it." This is the most common response to being thanked.
As "go ahead" / "please proceed": Waving someone through a door, indicating they should speak, or signalling readiness to help.
As a professional greeting on the phone: When answering a call in a business context, Greeks often answer with parakaló — "how may I help?"
Understanding this multi-function word prevents a common visitor confusion: when you thank a Greek and they say parakaló back, they are not asking you for something — they are saying "you're welcome."
Na Ise Kala: The Heartfelt Alternative
Να είσαι καλά (na ise kala) — "May you be well."
Literally: "may you be well" — a wish for the other person's wellbeing rather than a simple acknowledgement. This is the expression that feels most genuinely Greek in its gratitude — expansive, warm, slightly theatrical in the way Greek expression tends to be.
Greeks use na ise kala in situations where efharisto alone feels insufficient: when a stranger helped them significantly, when a friend did something genuinely thoughtful, when a service went beyond what was required. It is not formal — it is sincere.
The formal version: Να είστε καλά (na iste kala) — the same wish in the plural/formal form.
Na sai kala — The informal transliteration you will see written. Same phrase.
Complete Reference: Please and Thank You in Greek for Visitors
You need to say | Greek | Romanisation | Sounds like
Thank you | Ευχαριστώ | Efharisto | ef-ha-ri-STO
Thank you (formal) | Σας ευχαριστώ | Sas efharisto | sas ef-ha-ri-STO
Thank you very much | Ευχαριστώ πολύ | Efharisto poli | ef-ha-ri-sto po-LI
You're welcome | Παρακαλώ | Parakaló | pa-ra-ka-LO
Please | Παρακαλώ | Parakaló | pa-ra-ka-LO
May you be well | Να είσαι καλά | Na ise kala | na EE-se ka-LA
That's kind of you | Είσαι πολύ ευγενικός/ή | Ise poli evyenikos/i | —
The three most important: efharisto (thank you), efharisto poli (thank you very much), parakaló (please / you're welcome).
FAQs
How do you say thank you in Greek?
Thank you in Greek is ευχαριστώ — romanised as efharisto or efcharisto, pronounced ef-ha-ri-STO with stress on the last syllable. The informal mnemonic: say "F Harry Stowe" quickly. For a formal or more respectful version, say σας ευχαριστώ (sas efharisto).
How do you pronounce efharisto?
Efharisto is pronounced ef-ha-ri-STO — four syllables, stress on the last. The χ sound is a soft friction at the back of the throat (like German Bach or Scottish loch), not a hard k. Saying it with a plain English h is fine and will be immediately understood.
What is the meaning of efharisto?
Efharisto (ευχαριστώ) derives from the ancient Greek words eu (good/well) and charis (grace/joy) — literally meaning "to do good grace" or "to express goodwill." It is the same root as the English word "Eucharist." The word carries warmth beyond simple transactional acknowledgement.
How do you say thank you very much in Greek?
Thank you very much in Greek is ευχαριστώ πολύ (efharisto poli). For a more emphatic version, say ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ (efharisto para poli) — "thank you very, very much."
How do you say please and thank you in Greek?
Please in Greek is παρακαλώ (parakaló — pa-ra-ka-LO). It is added to the end of requests: έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ (a coffee, please). Parakaló also means "you're welcome" — so when you say efharisto and a Greek responds parakaló, they are saying "you're welcome," not asking you for something.
What does efharisto ne demek mean?
This is a mixed Greek-Turkish phrase. Efharisto is the Greek word for "thank you"; ne demek is Turkish for "what does it mean?" — so "efharisto ne demek" means "what does efharisto mean?" in Turkish. The answer: thank you.
Plan Your Greece Trip
- Hello in Greek — γεια σου, γεια σας, kalimera and all Greek greetings
- Greek Phrases Guide — the full practical language guide for visitors
- How to Eat at a Greek Taverna — where efharisto gets used most
- Athens Travel Guide — the city where you will use these phrases 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. Ευχαριστώ!