Small talk is where Greek starts to feel real. A confident greeting, your name, and a couple of questions are enough to start a friendly conversation with almost anyone.
Informal or formal?
Greek has two ways to say “you”. εσύ (esi) is for friends, family, children and people your age. εσείς (esis) is for older people, strangers in formal situations, and groups. The verb changes too. If you are unsure, use the formal version: nobody is offended by extra politeness.
| Informal | Formal | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Γεια σου | Γεια σας | Hello |
| Τι κάνεις; | Τι κάνετε; | How are you? |
| Από πού είσαι; | Από πού είστε; | Where are you from? |
| Πώς σε λένε; | Πώς σας λένε; | What is your name? |
Introducing yourself
| Greek | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Με λένε Άννα | me lene Ana | My name is Anna |
| Είμαι από την Αγγλία | ime apo tin Anglia | I am from England |
| Μαθαίνω ελληνικά | matheno ellinika | I am learning Greek |
| Χάρηκα πολύ | harika poli | Nice to meet you |
| Κι εγώ | ki ego | Me too, and I |
A short conversation
Γεια σου! Τι κάνεις;
Hi! How are you?
Καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσύ;
Fine, thank you. And you?
Πολύ καλά. Με λένε Νίκος.
Very well. My name is Nikos.
Χάρηκα, Νίκο! Εγώ είμαι η Σάρα.
Nice to meet you, Nikos! I am Sara.
Notice: Νίκος becomes Νίκο when you speak directly to him. This is the vocative case, and it is common with names. You will meet it quickly in real conversation.
Keep it going
Two easy follow-up questions: Πού μένεις; (pou menis, where do you live?) and Τι δουλειά κάνεις; (ti dhoulia kanis, what do you do for work?). Practise them aloud until they feel natural, and you are ready for a real conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Γεια σου and Γεια σας?
Γεια σου is informal, for friends, family and people your age. Γεια σας is formal or plural, for older people, strangers in formal settings, and groups.
How do you ask how are you in Greek?
Say Τι κάνεις; (ti kanis) informally or Τι κάνετε; (ti kanete) formally.
How do you say my name is in Greek?
Say Με λένε followed by your name, for example Με λένε Άννα (me lene Ana).