Greek2Me staff · Phrases
How to Say Good Evening in Greek
Καλησπέρα
(kalispera)
good evening / good afternoon
To say good evening in Greek use καλησπέρα (kalispéra), which works from the afternoon onwards. Add σας (kalispéra sas) to sound polite with strangers or a group. For a parting good evening say καλό βράδυ (kaló vrádi).
Common variations
| Καλησπέρα | Good evening / good afternoonthe everyday default from afternoon on | |
| Καλησπέρα σας | Good evening (polite / plural)strangers, elders, groups | |
| Καλό βράδυ | Have a good eveningwhen parting in the evening | |
| Καλή σου νύχτα | Have a good nightlate evening, before bed | |
| Καληνύχτα | Good nightparting late at night | |
| Χαίρετε | Greetings (very formal)formal, official settings |
In context
Καλησπέρα σας, τι θα πάρετε;
kalispera sas, ti tha parete?
Good evening, what will you have?
Καλησπέρα, Αϊσά! Πώς πήγε η μέρα;
kalispera, Aisha! pos piye i mera?
Good evening, Aisha! How was your day?
Ευχαριστούμε, καλό βράδυ.
efcharistoume, kalo vradi
Thanks, have a good evening.
Καλησπέρα, ήρθα για το ραντεβού.
kalispera, irtha ya to rantevou
Good evening, I've come for the appointment.
Καληνύχτα, τα λέμε αύριο.
kalinichta, ta leme avrio
Good night, see you tomorrow.
When καλησπέρα kicks in
There's no strict rule, but Greeks generally switch from καλημέρα (good morning) to καλησπέρα (good evening) some time between noon and 2pm. If in doubt, listen: whichever one the shopkeeper uses is a safe follow.
A quiet note about the missing 'good afternoon': Greek doesn't really have one. Καλησπέρα covers everything from the early afternoon through to late evening. You use it at a 3pm coffee, a 6pm meeting, and an 8pm dinner, all the same word.
A few small tips:
- Four syllables: ka-li-SPE-ra, stress on the third
- Adding σας makes it polite: *καλησπέρα σας*
- Perfectly fine to use as a goodbye too, though καλό βράδυ is warmer for parting
Καλησπέρα vs καλό βράδυ
Both refer to the evening but they do different jobs.
- Καλησπέρα (kalispéra) is a greeting: 'good evening' as you arrive somewhere
- Καλό βράδυ (kaló vrádi) is a farewell: 'have a good evening' as you leave
So when you walk into a taverna, the waiter says καλησπέρα σας. When you leave, you say ευχαριστούμε, καλό βράδυ.
Getting these the right way round makes you sound instantly natural. Locals notice when someone says καλησπέρα as they're leaving, because it doesn't quite fit.
Καληνύχτα is only for parting
Καληνύχτα (kalinýchta), good night, is not a greeting. It's a farewell, used only when parting late at night or before bed. You wouldn't walk into a room at 10pm and say καληνύχτα.
A rough timeline:
- Morning: καλημέρα (greet), καλή σου μέρα (part)
- Afternoon / early evening: καλησπέρα (greet), καλό απόγευμα (part)
- Later evening: καλησπέρα (greet), καλό βράδυ (part)
- Late night / bedtime: καληνύχτα (part)
At the very late end you can also say όνειρα γλυκά (ónira glyká), sweet dreams, to family or someone you're close to.
Χαίρετε for formal evenings
In very formal or official settings (a lawyer's office, a doctor's waiting room, a formal event), you might hear or use χαίρετε (chérete), a very formal greeting closer to 'greetings' than 'hello'. It works any time of day and is quite stiff.
Χαίρετε isn't rude, but it's rare in everyday life. Καλησπέρα σας covers almost every polite evening situation without sounding overly formal. Save χαίρετε for the situations where everyone else is being formal too.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce καλησπέρα?+
Four syllables: ka-li-SPE-ra, with the stress on the third syllable. The η sounds like a long 'ee' and the vowels are clean and open.
When do I switch from καλημέρα to καλησπέρα?+
Some time between noon and 2pm. There's no strict rule. If in doubt, listen to what the shopkeeper says first. Greeks are relaxed about the crossover point.
What's the difference between καλησπέρα and καλό βράδυ?+
Καλησπέρα is a greeting used when you arrive somewhere in the evening. Καλό βράδυ is a farewell used when you're leaving. Same time of day, different jobs.
Can I say καλησπέρα in the afternoon?+
Yes. Greek doesn't have a separate 'good afternoon', so καλησπέρα covers everything from early afternoon through late evening. It's fine at 3pm, 5pm, or 8pm.
Is καληνύχτα a greeting or a farewell?+
Only a farewell, used when parting late at night or before bed. You wouldn't greet someone with καληνύχτα when arriving. Use καλησπέρα to greet, καληνύχτα to leave.
Practise this in the app
Get the time-of-day greetings drilled together
The A1 Greetings lesson walks through καλημέρα, καλησπέρα, καληνύχτα and when to use each, with audio, spaced repetition and mini-quizzes.
Try the Greetings lesson