Greek2Me staff · Phrases
How to Say Bye in Greek
Γεια
(ya)
bye (casual)
The most common way to say bye in Greek is γεια (ya) with friends, or γεια σας (ya sas) to a group or someone you're being polite with. For 'see you soon' say τα λέμε (ta léme), and save αντίο (adío) for goodbyes that feel final.
Common variations
| Γεια | Bye (very casual)friends only | |
| Γεια σου | Bye (to one person you know)informal, warm | |
| Γεια σας | Bye (to a group or one person politely)formal or plural | |
| Τα λέμε | See you (lit. 'we'll talk')expecting to meet again | |
| Αντίο | Goodbye (final)long farewells, dramatic partings | |
| Καλή σου μέρα | Have a good dayleaving during the day | |
| Καλό βράδυ | Have a good eveningleaving in the evening | |
| Τα λέμε αύριο | See you tomorrowwhen you'll meet again the next day |
In context
Γεια σου, Καρίμ! Τα λέμε αύριο.
ya sou, Karim! ta leme avrio
Bye, Karim! See you tomorrow.
Γεια σας, ευχαριστώ πολύ.
ya sas, efcharisto poli
Bye, thank you very much.
Καλή σου μέρα, τα λέμε!
kali sou mera, ta leme!
Have a good day, see you!
Αντίο, φεύγω για Θεσσαλονίκη.
adio, fevgo ya Thessaloniki
Goodbye, I'm off to Thessaloniki.
Καλό βράδυ, Αϊσά.
kalo vradi, Aisha
Have a good evening, Aisha.
Γεια works arriving and leaving
Γεια is the same word Greeks use for both hello and goodbye. It comes from *υγεία* (health), so it's a wish for wellbeing rather than a directional 'hi' or 'bye'. That's why it works in both directions.
The pronoun changes based on who you're talking to:
- Γεια on its own is very casual, friends only
- Γεια σου is informal, to one person
- Γεια σας is formal or plural, to a group or someone you're being polite with
If you learn one goodbye, learn γεια σου. It's warm, personal, and works with almost anyone you're on first-name terms with.
When to say αντίο (and when not to)
Αντίο (adío) is a proper 'goodbye', and Greeks don't use it much. It carries a weight of finality. It's the word you'd say if you're moving to another country, ending a relationship, or leaving somewhere you might never come back to.
For everyday leaving (a friend's house, the office, a cafe), γεια or γεια σου is warmer and more natural. Reserve αντίο for when you really mean 'goodbye for good'.
A useful contrast: if you're leaving a Greek friend for the weekend, say *τα λέμε τη Δευτέρα* (see you Monday). If you're moving abroad, then *αντίο* fits.
The 'see you' family
Greek has a nice set of casual 'see you' phrases:
- Τα λέμε (ta léme), literally 'we'll talk', the everyday 'see you'
- Τα λέμε αύριο (ta léme ávrio), see you tomorrow
- Τα λέμε μετά (ta léme metá), see you later
- Τα ξαναλέμε (ta xanaléme), we'll talk again, softer than a firm plan
- Θα τα πούμε (tha ta poúme), we'll talk (future), often after a call
Any of these paired with γεια σου makes a warm, natural goodbye: *γεια σου, τα λέμε αύριο*.
Time-of-day farewells
Greeks often add a time-of-day wish when leaving.
- Καλή σου μέρα (kalí sou méra) or καλημέρα σας, have a good day, when leaving in the morning or early afternoon
- Καλό απόγευμα (kaló apóyevma), have a good afternoon
- Καλό βράδυ (kaló vrádi), have a good evening
- Καληνύχτα (kalinýchta), good night, only when parting at night or before bed
Combine one with γεια and you sound completely natural: *γεια σας, καλό βράδυ*.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce γεια in Greek?+
Like 'ya' as a quick single syllable. The Γ at the start is a soft sound, closer to English 'y' than a hard 'g', and there's no strong stress.
Is γεια informal?+
Γεια on its own is casual, used with friends. Γεια σου is informal but polite, fine with anyone your own age. Γεια σας is formal or plural, used with strangers, older people, or a group.
Should I say αντίο when leaving a cafe?+
No, αντίο feels too final for everyday leaving. Γεια σας or γεια σου is warmer and natural. Save αντίο for goodbyes that really do feel final, like moving abroad.
What does τα λέμε mean literally?+
Literally 'we'll talk them / we'll say them', used to mean 'see you' or 'talk soon'. It's the everyday casual goodbye when you expect to meet again fairly soon.
Can I say καληνύχτα as a general goodbye?+
Only at night or when parting before bed. Καληνύχτα is a farewell, not a general goodbye. Use καλό βράδυ (have a good evening) if you're leaving in the evening but not going to sleep.
Practise this in the app
Get hello and bye drilled together
The A1 Greetings lesson walks through γεια, τα λέμε, αντίο, and all the time-of-day farewells with audio and mini-quizzes.
Try the Greetings lesson