Greek for English speakers School · Lesson 1

Formal greetings

Formal greetings in Greek — Γεια Bob, τι κάνεις; (Hi Bob, how are you?) — and Είμαι καλά, κύριε.

Conversation

  1. Lindo Lindo

    Γειά Bob, τι κάνεις;

    Ya Bob, ti kanis?

    Hi Bob, how are you?

  2. Bob Bob

    Είμαι καλά, κύριε, εσείς;

    Ime kala, kirie, esis?

    Doing well, sir, how about you?

  3. Lindo Lindo

    Πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. Θα έρθεις στο μάθημα;

    Poli kala, efharisto. Tha erthis sto mathima?

    Very well, thank you. Are you coming to class?

  4. Bob Bob

    Ναι, κύριε, θα σας δω εκεί!

    Ne, kirie, tha sas dho eki!

    Yes, sir, I'll see you there!

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you greet formally in Greek?

Γεια σας (formal hello), καλημέρα/καλησπέρα (good morning/evening), Τι κάνετε; (how are you, formal).

Greek formal address?

Κύριε + name (Mr.), κυρία + name (Mrs./Ms.). Use formal verb form (Vous-form equivalent).

What does εσείς mean?

'You' (formal singular / plural). Greek uses εσείς for formal address — like vous in French.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Greek lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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