How to Say Welcome in Greek

One person or a group

Greek splits 'welcome' by number and formality, just like most greetings.

• Καλωσόρισες or καλώς ήρθες, one person you know, informal
• Καλωσορίσατε or καλώς ήρθατε, a group, or one person politely

The difference between καλωσόρισες and καλώς ήρθες is small. Both mean welcome to one person. Καλωσόρισες feels a touch warmer, καλώς ήρθες is slightly more standard. Either works.

For politeness with a stranger or in a shop, hotel, or restaurant, always use the -ατε form (καλωσορίσατε or καλώς ήρθατε). It's the safe default when you don't know someone.

The reply nobody teaches you

This is the one that surprises visitors. When a Greek welcomes you, the standard reply isn't 'thank you'. It's:

• Καλώς σας βρήκα (kalós sas vríka), literally 'well I found you', to a group or formally
• Καλώς σε βρήκα (kalós se vríka), the informal version to one person

The pattern is a set exchange: the host says 'well you came', the guest says 'well I found you'. Once you've said it once, you'll never forget it. Greeks light up when a foreigner replies with καλώς σας βρήκα, because it's an insider move.

A simple *ευχαριστώ* also works if the reply escapes you. But καλώς σας βρήκα is the traditional answer.

The playful 'welcome the...' pattern

There's a warm, informal pattern Greeks use when someone arrives, especially if they're late or long-awaited:

• Καλώς τον (kalós ton), welcome the [him]
• Καλώς την (kalós tin), welcome the [her]
• Καλώς τους (kalós tous), welcome the [them]

You often hear a name after it: *καλώς τον Γιώργο!* or *καλώς την Ελένη!*. It's a warm shout across the room when a friend walks in. Slightly playful, always affectionate.

Welcome, not 'you're welcome'

Quick note that trips up beginners: in English, 'welcome' does two jobs. It's a greeting for arrivals, and it's the reply to 'thank you'.

In Greek these are two completely different words:

• Welcome (arriving) = καλωσόρισες / καλωσορίσατε
• You're welcome (after thanks) = παρακαλώ

Don't say καλωσόρισες when someone thanks you. It would be like saying 'welcome' in English after someone says 'thank you'... which sort of works, but Greek doesn't use it that way. Παρακαλώ is the reply to ευχαριστώ.