Greek Greetings and Wishes: A Glossary

Greek has a set phrase for almost every occasion: a different blessing for a wedding than for a baptism, one wish for Monday and another for the first of the month, a phrase for before a meal and a different one for after it. Many of these expressions have no direct English equivalent, which is why "kali orexi" (good appetite) so often gets replaced with the borrowed French "bon appetit" on tourist menus. The glossary below covers the wishes and greetings Greeks actually use, organized by situation.

Phrase list and translations: Greece Is (greece-is.com).

General wishes and the religious calendar

Most of these cover everyday pleasantries, the days of the week, and the Orthodox calendar. Hronia polla is the one to memorize first since it works for almost any celebration.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Hronia polla	χρόνια πολλά	"many years" / "and many more" / "many happy returns"	The go-to Greek wish. Works at birthdays, name days, and holiday gatherings alike.
Kai tou hronou	και του χρόνου	"and next year"	Follows hronia polla at celebrations. Add "me igeia" ("with health") for a wish about the year ahead.
Kali dunami	καλή δύναμη	"good strength"	For someone about to tackle something tough or draining.
Kali epitihia	καλή επιτυχία	"good luck"	Wished before an exam, an interview, or the launch of a business.
Kali tihi	καλή τύχη	also "good luck"	Reserved for pure chance, such as buying a lottery ticket.
Kali evdomada	καλή εβδομάδα	"good week"	The Monday greeting.
Kalo mina	καλό μήνα	"good month"	The first-of-the-month greeting.
Kalo Savvatokiriako	καλό Σαββατοκύριακο	"good weekend"	The Friday greeting.
Me to kalo	με το καλό	"all being well"	Greek's version of "God willing."
Na pas sto kalo	να πας στο καλό	means farewell	Said when someone leaves, roughly "go well."
Christos anesti	Χριστός ανέστη	"Christ has risen"	Heard at the Anastasi service for Christ's resurrection, on Holy Saturday night.
Alithos o kirios	αληθώς ο Κύριος	"truly, the lord"	The scripted answer to "Christos anesti."
Kales giortes	καλές γιορτές	"happy holidays"	A general wish for a good religious holiday.
Kala hristougenna	καλά Χριστούγεννα	means "Merry Christmas"	Greek for Merry Christmas.
Kala koulouma	καλά κούλουμα	"a good Clean Monday"	Marks the first day of Lent.
Kali anastasi	καλή ανάσταση	"good resurrection"	Used during Holy Week, before the resurrection is celebrated.
Kali hronia	καλή χρονιά	means "Happy New Year"	One of two common New Year greetings.
Kali protohronia	καλή πρωτοχρονιά	also means "Happy New Year"	The other common New Year greeting.
Kali sarakosti	καλή σαρακοστή	"good 40-day lent"	Marks the start of the 40-day Lenten fast.
Kalo pasha	καλο πασχα	means "Happy Easter"	The direct wish for Happy Easter.

Weddings

Greek weddings have separate phrases for the couple, their parents, and the wedding party.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Kai sta dika sou	και στα δικά σου	"and to yours"	Said to single guests, hinting they will be next to marry.
Kala stefana	καλά στέφανα	"good wreaths"	References the stefana, the wedding crowns placed on the couple's heads. Shorthand for "Have a wonderful wedding."
Na sas zisoun	να σας ζήσουν	"May they live"	Directed at the two sets of parents.
Na zisete	να ζήσετε	"May you live"	Directed at the bride and groom themselves.
I ora i kali	η ώρα η καλή	"The time is good"	A wedding-day wish for the couple.
Kalous apogonous	καλούς απογόνους	"good offspring"	A fertility blessing for the newlyweds.
Panta axia	Πάντα άξια	"always worthy" (to a woman)	Reserved for the maid of honor.
Panta axios	Πάντα άξιος	"always worthy" (to a man)	Reserved for the best man.
Vion Anthosparton	βίον ανθόσπαρτον	"a life full of flowers"	An Ancient Greek line, offered to the couple right after the ceremony.

Baptisms and a new baby

Two of the wedding phrases above, panta axia and panta axios, get reused at a baptism for a different pair of people.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Kali lefteria	καλή λευτεριά	"good freedom"	Directed at a pregnant woman, wishing her an easy delivery.
Me ena pono	με ένα πόνο	"with one pain"	A second easy-delivery wish for pregnant women.
Na sas zisei	να σας ζήσει	"May he/she live (a happy life)"	Offered to a newborn's family, whether meeting the baby for the first time or at the baptism itself.
Panta axia	Πάντα άξια	"always worthy" (to a woman)	This time for the godmother, during the baptism.
Panta axios	Πάντα άξιος	"always worthy" (to a man)	This time for the godfather, during the baptism.

Birthdays

Birthday wishes often get personalized with a second phrase added on top of the standard one.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Hronia polla	χρόνια πολλά	"many years", "and many more"	The default birthday greeting.
Na hairese…	να χαίρεσαι…	"May you cherish…"	Left deliberately open. Finish it with whatever the celebrant values, for example "tin ikogenia sou" for "your family."
Na ta ekatostiseis	να τα εκατοστίσεις	"May you live to be a hundred years old"	A wish for a full century of life.
Na ton/tin hairese	να τον/την χαίρεσαι	"Cherish him/her"	Aimed at the celebrant's relatives, not the celebrant.
Oti epithimeis	ότι επιθυμείς	"May your wishes come true"	A wish that every hope comes true.
Polihronos/polihroni	πολύχρονος/πολύχρονη	"long-lived"	A separate way to wish the celebrant longevity.

Name days

A name day is celebrated much like a second birthday in Greece, so the list overlaps, plus two variants used only on a name day.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Hronia polla	χρόνια πολλά	"many years", "and many more"	Doubles as the name-day greeting.
Na hairese to onoma sou	να χαίρεσαι το όνομά σου	"cCherish your name"	The name-day version of the birthday wish, aimed at the person themselves.
Na ton/tin hairese	να τον/την χαίρεσαι	"Cherish him/her"	Aimed at the relatives, not the person celebrating.
Oti epithimeis	ότι επιθυμείς	"May your wishes come true"	Carried over unchanged from the birthday list.

Note on the entry above: the source glossary renders the meaning as "cCherish your name," with a doubled first letter. That looks like a typo in the original text, so it is reproduced here rather than silently corrected. See the audit notes for a suggested clean version.

Funerals

These four phrases cover a wake or funeral. Which one fits depends on whether you are family or a guest.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Zoi se mas	ζωή σε μας	"life to us"	Family members say this to each other.
Zoi se sas	ζωή σε σας	"life to you"	Outsiders say this to the grieving family.
Silipitiria	συλλυπητήρια	means "condolences"	The plain word for condolences.
Eonia i mnimi	αιωνία η μνήμη	"eternal memory"	Shorthand for "May he/she be remembered forever."

When someone gets something new

Three short phrases for a big purchase, a new vehicle, or a fresh haircut.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Kaloriziko	καλορίζικο	built from the words for "good" and "roots"	Marks a big purchase, such as a new home.
Kalotaxido	καλοτάξιδο	"May it travel well"	Specifically for a new vehicle.
Me geia	με γεια	"with health"	Works for a purchase or a fresh haircut alike.

During a meal

Table etiquette in Greek runs from the first bite to the final toast.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Geia sta heria sou	Γεια στα χέρια σου	"health to your hands"	A compliment to the cook, literally a blessing on their hands.
Kali honepsi	καλή χώνεψη	"good digestion"	The post-meal counterpart to kali orexi.
Kali orexi	καλή όρεξη	"good appetite"	Said right before eating starts.
Stin igia mas / Yiamas	στην υγειά μας / γειά μας	"to our health"	For a group toast.
Stin igia sou / Yiasou	στην υγειά σου / γειά σου	"to your health"	For toasting one person specifically.

For health

From a sneeze to a serious illness, there is a specific Greek wish for each stage of getting well.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Yiasou	γεια σου	"your health"	Greek's version of "Bless you" after a sneeze.
Geitses	γείτσες	shares the root "γεια" (health) with yiasou	An alternative sneeze response, built from that same root.
Kali anarosi	καλή ανάρρωση	means "good recovery"	A general get-well wish.
Perastika	περαστικά	"passing"	Short for "Get well soon."
Siderenios	σιδερένιος	from "sidero" (iron)	A wish for strength during illness, built from the word for iron.

Travel and fun

Four short send-offs for anyone about to travel or have a good time.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Kales diakopes	καλές διακοπές	means "Have a good vacation"	A plain vacation wish.
Kali antamosi	καλή αντάμωση	"so long" / "until we meet again"	Implies you expect to meet again.
Kali diaskedasi	καλή διασκέδαση	means "Have fun"	Said before a night out.
Kalo taxidi	καλό ταξίδι	means "Have a good trip"	Said to anyone about to travel.

Work, school, and military service

Congratulations and encouragement for school, career, and military milestones.

Greek phrase	In Greek	Meaning	When to use it
Kales doulies	καλές δουλειές	"good business"	Marks a new business, or the start of a busy season.
Kali arhi	καλή αρχή	"good start"	For a first day, whether at a job or a school.
Kali proodo	καλή πρόοδο	"good progress"	For a graduating student.
Kali stadiodromia	καλή σταδιοδρομία	"good career"	For a university graduate, or a step up in someone's career.
Kali thiteia	καλή θητεία	"good service"	For someone reporting for military duty.
Kalos fantaros	καλός φαντάρος	"good soldier"	A second option for the same send-off.
Kalos politis	καλός πολίτης	"good citizen"	Said both to those finishing military service and to prisoners finishing a sentence.

Using these phrases on a Crete road trip

These wishes work just as well outside a formal occasion. A shopkeeper in a village square, a taverna owner refilling your glass, or a fellow driver at a junction will recognize kali orexi, stin igia sou, or kalo taxidi even from a visitor who is still working on the accent.

Kalo taxidi, "have a good trip," is the natural send-off for a self-drive holiday. Travelers who rent a car in Crete for a road trip around the island tend to hear some version of it at the pickup desk, and it works just as well as a farewell at a village kafenio before the next leg of the drive.