How to Say Good Evening and Goodnight in Greek

Written by Greek Boston in Learn How to Speak Basic Greek Comments Off on How to Say Good Evening and Goodnight in Greek

In the Greek language, there are certain phrases that are considered to be essential. At the top of your list of Greek vocabulary to learn should be the various ways for greeting somebody in Greek. As is the case in the English language, there are many different ways to express this idea.

There are certain etiquette rules in Greece that should be followed when greeting someone. You can simply use these words of greeting to say hello to someone you know. You can also use these words to greet someone you don’t know, or to say hello to someone as you enter a building, such as shop, museum, restaurant, or cafe.

You can simply use the Greek word for “hello” (γεια σας – ya sas) to greet someone. However, if it is the late afternoon or the evening, you may choose to use different words. Here’s more information about this:

Saying Good Evening and Goodnight in the Greek Language

The words for “good evening” and “goodnight” in the language are completely different because they express different ideas and are used in completely different situations.

Good Evening

Here’s a look at how to say “Good Evening” in Greek:

• Good Evening – Καλό απόγευμα – kalo apoyevma

This phrase is primarily used as both a greeting as a way to take your leave of someone. It is used anytime in the evening and some people even use it in the late afternoon.

Goodnight

Here’s a look at how to say “Goodnight” in Greek:

• Goodnight – καληνυχτα – kali nichta

This phrase is almost never used as a greeting. It only seemed to be used at the end of the night and you are taking your leave of someone. For example, as a restaurant or store closes and you are leaving, it is customary to say “goodnight”. If the intent is to leave at the end of the day and go home, this is the phrase to use. It is also what is usually said to someone as they are about to go to sleep for the evening.

Both of these phrases are used in the same way as they are in the English language. For the most part, they are used interchangeably.

When trading to Greece, the words for Good Evening (Καλό απόγευμα) and Goodnight (καληνυχτα) are ones that you need to know and understand. If you need more information and explanation about this, please consult with a qualified Greek teacher.

The Learn Greek section on GreekBoston.com was written by Greeks to help people understand the conversational basics of the Greek language. This article is not a substitute for a professional Greek learning program, but a helpful resource for people wanting to learn simple communication in Greek.

Categorized in: Learn How to Speak Basic Greek

This post was written by Greek Boston