Saying Goodbye in the Greek Language

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There are a few phrases in any language that you will absolutely need to memorize if you plan to visit the country or communicate with those who speak the Greek language. Being able to say good bye to someone is a natural part of any conversation. In the Greek language, however, this isn’t a simple matter of using the Greek word for “goodbye”. There are various ways to express the idea of “saying goodbye”. Here’s a look at a few of your options:

Informal vs. Formal Usage

In the Greek language, there is a distinction between informal and formal situations. Generally speaking, formal words are restricted for situations where you need to be extra polite or if you are addressing an authority figure. Usually, it is a good idea to take your cue from the person with whom you’re speaking. If they want you to use informal words, they will use the informal words on you. If you are unsure of how to speak with someone, you should use the formal phrases.

Informal Ways to Say Goodbye

Γεια σου, Ya Soo, Goodbye

As mentioned in a previous article, Γεια σου (Ya Soo) is a common way to say hello in Greek. To make things a bit more confusing with this word, you will also hear this used as a way to say, “goodbye”.

Τα λέμε, Ta Leme, We Will Speak Again

In Greece, it is common to end a conversation not by literally saying goodbye, but by expressing the idea of seeing the person again. Τα λέμε (Ta Leme) is a common way to express this. In English, the equivalent phrase would be, “Until next time.”

Formal Ways to Say Goodbye

Αντίο, Adio, Farewell

Although this is listed as a formal way to say goodbye in Greek, it is actually pretty common. While in Greece, you will hear this quite often. If you only memorize on way to say goodbye, this should be it!

εις το επανιδείν, is to epanideín, until we met again

εις το επανιδείν is very similar to the phrase, Τα λέμε that we listed above. However, it tends to be used a little less formerly.

While in Greece, you should really listen to the people around you to see how people express certain things. While memorizing this list is a good start, you will be much better off if you mimic what the people around you are saying.

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