Greek2Me staff · Phrases
How to Say Thank You in Greek
Ευχαριστώ
(efcharistó)
thank you
The everyday word for thank you in Greek is ευχαριστώ (efcharistó), pronounced like 'ef-hah-ree-STOH'. Add πολύ (polí) to say thank you very much, and reply with παρακαλώ (parakaló), which means 'you're welcome'.
Common variations
| Ευχαριστώ | Thank youthe everyday default | |
| Ευχαριστώ πολύ | Thank you very muchwarmer, more grateful | |
| Σας ευχαριστώ | Thank you (formal or plural)to strangers, elders, or a group | |
| Σε ευχαριστώ | Thank you (to one person you know)informal, personal | |
| Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ | Thank you so muchwhen someone really went out of their way | |
| Παρακαλώ | You're welcomethe standard reply | |
| Μερσί | Thanks (borrowed from French)casual, urban, playful |
In context
Ευχαριστώ πολύ, Φατιμά!
efcharistó polí, Fatima!
Thanks a lot, Fatima!
Σας ευχαριστώ για τη βοήθεια.
sas efcharistó ya ti voíthia
Thank you for your help.
Ευχαριστώ, ήταν πεντανόστιμο.
efcharistó, ítan pentanóstimo
Thank you, it was delicious.
«Ορίστε τον καφέ σας.» «Ευχαριστώ!»
«oríste ton kafé sas» «efcharistó!»
'Here's your coffee.' 'Thank you!'
Σε ευχαριστώ που ήρθες.
se efcharistó pou írthes
Thank you for coming.
How to pronounce ευχαριστώ
Break it into four beats: ef-hah-ree-STOH, with the stress landing hard on the final syllable. The χ in the middle is the soft raspy sound you also hear in Scottish 'loch', not a hard English 'ch' or 'k'.
A few small tips:
- The ευ at the start is pronounced 'ef' before a voiceless letter like χ, so you don't say 'ev-charistó'
- The final ώ carries the stress, so don't let your voice trail off
- If it feels like a mouthful at first, mersí (from the French *merci*) is a friendly shortcut that Greeks use all the time in cafes and shops
Formal, informal, and plural
Ευχαριστώ on its own is safe in almost any situation. When you want to add the person you're thanking, you have three options:
- Σε ευχαριστώ (se efcharistó), to one person you know
- Σας ευχαριστώ (sas efcharistó), to a group, or to one person politely
- Σε / Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ, adding *polí* to warm it up
With shopkeepers, waiters, older people, or anyone you've just met, σας is the polite default. With friends, σε feels closer. Adding πολύ or πάρα πολύ turns a routine thanks into something that sounds genuinely grateful, which matters when someone has gone out of their way for you.
How to reply to thank you
The standard reply is παρακαλώ (parakaló), literally 'I ask / please', but used in this context to mean 'you're welcome'. It's the same word you use to say please, which trips up a lot of learners at first.
Other natural replies:
- Τίποτα (típota), meaning 'nothing / it was nothing'
- Να 'σαι καλά (na 'se kalá), meaning 'may you be well', warm and common between friends
- Κι εγώ (ki egó), meaning 'me too', when you're both thanking each other
A quick smile and παρακαλώ covers you in almost every situation.
Cultural notes
Greeks lean warm rather than formal, so a small ευχαριστώ with eye contact goes further than a stiff, over-polite phrase. In tavernas, cafes, and small shops you'll hear ευχαριστώ constantly, often shortened to a quick nod and a soft *efcharistó* under the breath.
If someone has really helped you out, upgrading to *ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ* or *σ' ευχαριστώ πολύ, να 'σαι καλά* feels much more personal than repeating the plain form twice. Locals notice the difference.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce ευχαριστώ?+
Ef-hah-ree-STOH, with the stress on the last syllable. The χ is the soft raspy sound from Scottish 'loch', not a hard 'k' or English 'ch'.
What's the difference between σε ευχαριστώ and σας ευχαριστώ?+
Σε ευχαριστώ is informal, used with one person you know. Σας ευχαριστώ is formal or plural, used with strangers, older people, or a group. If you're not sure which fits, σας is the safe default.
How do you say 'thank you very much' in Greek?+
Ευχαριστώ πολύ (efcharistó polí) is 'thank you very much'. For extra warmth, ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ (efcharistó pára polí) means 'thank you so much', used when someone has really gone out of their way.
How do you reply to ευχαριστώ?+
The standard reply is παρακαλώ (parakaló), 'you're welcome'. You'll also hear τίποτα ('it was nothing') and να 'σαι καλά ('may you be well'), which is warm and common between friends.
Is it rude to say μερσί instead of ευχαριστώ?+
Not at all. Μερσί is borrowed from French and used casually in cafes, shops, and among friends. It's playful rather than rude, though ευχαριστώ is still the phrase to reach for in formal or unfamiliar settings.
Practise this in the app
Learn the greetings pack properly
The A1 Greetings lesson drills ευχαριστώ, παρακαλώ, and the whole hello / goodbye set with audio, spaced repetition, and mini-quizzes.
Try the Greetings lesson