Greek2Me staff · Phrases
How to Say Hello in Greek
Γεια σου
(ya sou)
hello (informal)
The everyday word for hello in Greek is γεια σου (ya sou), pronounced like 'yah soo'. Use it with friends, use γεια σας (ya sas) with strangers or groups, and use καλημέρα (kaliméra) any time before noon.
Common variations
| Γεια σου | Hello / hi (to one person you know)informal, one person | |
| Γεια σας | Hello (to a group, or to one person politely)formal or plural | |
| Γεια | Hi (very casual)friends only | |
| Καλημέρα | Good morningbefore noon | |
| Καλησπέρα | Good eveningafternoon and evening | |
| Καληνύχτα | Good nightleaving at night, or before bed |
In context
Γεια σου, Ραβί! Τι κάνεις;
ya sou, Ravi! ti kanis?
Hi Ravi! How are you?
Γεια σας, κύριε Καραμάνο.
ya sas, kýrie Karamano
Hello, Mr Karamanos.
Καλημέρα σας, τι θα θέλατε;
kaliméra sas, ti tha thélate?
Good morning, what would you like? (waiter / shopkeeper)
Καλησπέρα, ήρθα λίγο νωρίς.
kalispéra, írtha lígo norís
Good evening, I came a bit early.
When to use σου vs σας
Γεια σου (ya sou) is for one person you already know, or someone your own age. Γεια σας (ya sas) is for a group, or a single person you're being polite with (a shopkeeper, someone older, someone you've just met).
If you're not sure which fits, use γεια σας, because erring on the polite side is rarely wrong. Greeks will often invite you to switch: *Μπορούμε να μιλάμε στον ενικό* ('we can use the singular') is their way of saying please use σου.
A few notes:
- Just γεια on its own is fine with friends but sounds abrupt with strangers
- Γεια σας can also be a goodbye, since Greek greetings tend to work in both directions (hello and goodbye share the same word)
- Χαίρετε (chérete) is a very formal hello, used in official settings, and rare in daily life
Time-of-day greetings
Greeks often skip γεια entirely and greet with the time of day instead.
- Καλημέρα (kaliméra), good morning, used until roughly noon
- Καλησπέρα (kalispéra), good evening, used from afternoon onwards (there's no exact 'good afternoon' equivalent)
- Καληνύχτα (kalinýchta), good night, used only when parting at night or before bed. It's a farewell, not a greeting
Adding σας at the end makes it polite: *καλημέρα σας*, *καλησπέρα σας*.
The reply
When someone says γεια σου to you, you can reply with:
- Γεια σου, mirroring them back
- Γεια, very casual
- Καλά, εσύ; (kalá, esí?), meaning 'good, you?', if they follow with *τι κάνεις;*
- A time-of-day greeting, if that fits
A returned γεια is enough on its own; you don't need a long response.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce γεια σου?+
Like 'yah soo'. The Γ at the start is a soft sound, closer to a soft English 'y' than a hard 'g', and the stress falls on the first syllable of γεια.
Is γεια informal?+
Just γεια on its own is casual, used between 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 groups.
Can I say γεια at any time of day?+
Yes. Γεια works morning, noon, and night. Time-of-day greetings like καλημέρα and καλησπέρα are also common, but defaulting to γεια is never wrong.
Why does γεια mean both hello and goodbye?+
Greek greetings tend to work in both directions. Γεια comes from *υγεία* meaning 'health', so it's a wish rather than a specific hello or goodbye. Same word arriving and leaving.
Practise this in the app
Get greetings drilled in properly
The A1 Greetings lesson walks through γεια, καλημέρα, καλησπέρα with audio, spaced repetition, and mini-quizzes.
Try the Greetings lesson