How do you say hello in Greek?

'Yia sou' (YAH-soo) to one person you know, or 'yia sas' (YAH-sass) for someone older, a stranger, or a group. Literally it means 'your health'. 'Kalimera' is good morning and 'kalispera' is good evening.

How do you say thank you in Greek?

'Efharisto' (ef-hah-rees-TOH). 'Efharisto poli' means thank you very much, and the reply is 'parakalo', which doubles as 'please' and 'you're welcome'.

What does opa mean in Greek?

Opa is an exclamation of joy, surprise or encouragement — shouted while dancing, when a glass breaks, or when something goes slightly wrong. It is closer to 'whoops!' or 'let's go!' than to any single English word.

Filotimo (fee-LO-tee-mo) literally means 'love of honour'. It describes doing the right thing generously and without being asked, out of self-respect and duty to others. Greeks often call it untranslatable and treat it as the core national virtue.

How do you say cheers in Greek?

'Yamas!' (YAH-mass), short for 'stin ygeia mas' — to our health. For one person you can say 'yasou' and for a formal toast, 'stin ygeia sas'.

Is Greek hard to learn?

Greek has its own alphabet, three grammatical genders and a case system, so it takes more effort than Spanish or Italian for English speakers. But pronunciation is highly consistent, and thousands of English words come from Greek roots, which makes vocabulary easier than expected.

Common Greek Phrases and How to Say Them

The short answer

A handful of phrases covers most everyday Greek: yia sou for hello, efharisto for thank you, parakalo for please, signomi for sorry and yamas for cheers. Beyond those sit words like filotimo, kefi and meraki, which describe values rather than actions and have no clean English translation.

Phrases you'll use every day

Yia sou / Yia sas
YAH-soo / YAH-sass
Hello or goodbye. Use yia sou with friends and yia sas to be polite or address a group.
Kalimera
kah-lee-MEH-rah
Good morning, used until about midday. Kalispera is good evening and kalinihta is good night.
Efharisto
ef-hah-rees-TOH
Thank you. Add 'poli' for thank you very much.
Parakalo
pah-rah-kah-LOH
Please, you're welcome, and 'how can I help you?' — one word doing three jobs.
Signomi
see-GNO-mee
Sorry or excuse me, whether you're apologising or squeezing past someone.
Ne / Ohi
neh / OH-hee
Yes and no. 'Ne' sounding like 'nay' confuses almost every visitor at first.
Poso kani?
PO-so KAH-nee
How much does it cost? Essential in any market or taxi.
Milate anglika?
mee-LAH-teh ang-lee-KAH
Do you speak English? Asking in Greek first goes a long way.
Ti kaneis?
tee KAH-nees
How are you? The standard reply is 'kala' (fine) or 'mia hara' (great).
Yamas!
YAH-mass
Cheers — raised at every table, from a taverna carafe to a wedding.

Words that don't translate

These carry cultural weight that no English equivalent quite captures.

Filotimo
Love of honour: an instinctive, unrepayable generosity and sense of duty. Often described as the defining Greek virtue.
Kefi
The high spirits that make a night worth having — the joy that gets people onto the dance floor. You can have kefi or lose it.
Meraki
Doing something with your whole soul, leaving a piece of yourself in the work. Used for cooking, craft and anything made with care.
Parea
Your group of friends, and the act of being together without any purpose beyond the company itself.
Xenia
The ancient duty of hospitality towards strangers, considered sacred to Zeus and still visible in how guests are fed.
Siga siga
Slowly, slowly — an instruction, a reassurance and a whole philosophy about pace of life.

Common questions

How do you say hello in Greek?: 'Yia sou' (YAH-soo) to one person you know, or 'yia sas' (YAH-sass) for someone older, a stranger, or a group. Literally it means 'your health'. 'Kalimera' is good morning and 'kalispera' is good evening.
How do you say thank you in Greek?: 'Efharisto' (ef-hah-rees-TOH). 'Efharisto poli' means thank you very much, and the reply is 'parakalo', which doubles as 'please' and 'you're welcome'.
What does opa mean in Greek?: Opa is an exclamation of joy, surprise or encouragement — shouted while dancing, when a glass breaks, or when something goes slightly wrong. It is closer to 'whoops!' or 'let's go!' than to any single English word.
What is filotimo?: Filotimo (fee-LO-tee-mo) literally means 'love of honour'. It describes doing the right thing generously and without being asked, out of self-respect and duty to others. Greeks often call it untranslatable and treat it as the core national virtue.
How do you say cheers in Greek?: 'Yamas!' (YAH-mass), short for 'stin ygeia mas' — to our health. For one person you can say 'yasou' and for a formal toast, 'stin ygeia sas'.
Is Greek hard to learn?: Greek has its own alphabet, three grammatical genders and a case system, so it takes more effort than Spanish or Italian for English speakers. But pronunciation is highly consistent, and thousands of English words come from Greek roots, which makes vocabulary easier than expected.

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