🇬🇷 GreekA1–A2

Greek Introductions: Essential Phrases

This phrasebook gives you the safest, most useful phrases for first-time introductions in Greek. You’ll learn how to greet someone politely, say your name, ask and answer simple personal questions, and end the conversation in a natural way. The focus is on everyday Greek you can use with someone you do not know well, especially in Greece.

Useful in real conversations

Essential Greek phrases

Greetings and openers

Use these to start a conversation politely and naturally.

Γεια σας.
Romanization: Geia sas.
Hello./Hi.
Καλημέρα.
Romanization: Kalimera.
Good morning.
Τι κάνετε;
Romanization: Ti kanete?
How are you? / How do you do?
Χαίρετε.
Romanization: Chairete.
Hello.

Introducing yourself

Use these to say who you are and respond when someone introduces themselves.

Με λένε [name].
Romanization: Me lene [name].
My name is [name].
Είμαι ο/η [name].
Romanization: Eimai o/i [name].
I'm [name].
Χαίρω πολύ.
Romanization: Chairo poly.
Nice to meet you.
Και εσείς;
Romanization: Kai esis?
And you?

Basic personal information

Use these to exchange simple details and keep the first conversation going.

Από πού είστε;
Romanization: Apo pou iste?
Where are you from?
Είμαι από [place].
Romanization: Eimai apo [place].
I'm from [place].
Ζω στην [place].
Romanization: Zo stin [place].
I live in [place].
Τι δουλειά κάνετε;
Romanization: Ti douleia kanete?
What do you do?
Μιλάτε αγγλικά;
Romanization: Milate anglika?
Do you speak English?

Keeping the conversation going and closing

Use these when you need a little help speaking Greek and when you want to end the conversation politely.

Δεν μιλάω πολύ καλά ελληνικά.
Romanization: Den milao poli kala ellinika.
I don't speak Greek very well.
Χάρηκα που σας γνώρισα.
Romanization: Charika pou sas gnorisa.
Nice meeting you.
Τα λέμε.
Romanization: Ta leme.
See you.
Καλό σας βράδυ.
Romanization: Kalo sas vradi.
Have a good evening.

Example conversations

Meeting someone new at a class

A polite first introduction before a conversation in Greek.

You
Γεια σας. Με λένε [name]. Χαίρω πολύ.
Geia sas. Me lene [name]. Chairo poly.
Hello. My name is [name]. Nice to meet you.
Other person
Χαίρω πολύ. Από πού είστε;
Chairo poly. Apo pou iste?
Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
You
Είμαι από [place]. Ζω στην [place].
Eimai apo [place]. Zo stin [place].
I'm from [place]. I live in [place].
Other person
Μιλάτε ελληνικά;
Milate ellinika?
Do you speak Greek?
You
Δεν μιλάω πολύ καλά ελληνικά.
Den milao poli kala ellinika.
I don't speak Greek very well.
Other person
Μιλάτε αγγλικά;
Milate anglika?
Do you speak English?
You
Ναι, λίγο.
Ne, ligo.
Yes, a little.
Other person
Χάρηκα που σας γνώρισα. Τα λέμε.
Charika pou sas gnorisa. Ta leme.
Nice meeting you. See you.

Introducing yourself at an event

A polite introduction that moves from names to what each person does.

You
Χαίρετε. Είμαι ο/η [name].
Chairete. Eimai o/i [name].
Hello. I'm [name].
Other person
Χαίρω πολύ. Με λένε [name].
Chairo poly. Me lene [name].
Nice to meet you. My name is [name].
You
Χαίρω πολύ. Τι δουλειά κάνετε;
Chairo poly. Ti douleia kanete?
Nice to meet you. What do you do?
Other person
Είμαι δασκάλα. Εσείς;
Eimai daskala. Esis?
I'm a teacher. And you?
You
Δουλεύω σε μια εταιρεία.
Doulevo se mia etaireia.
I work for a company.
Other person
Χάρηκα που σας γνώρισα. Καλό σας βράδυ.
Charika pou sas gnorisa. Kalo sas vrady.
Nice meeting you. Have a good evening.

A few things to know

polite by default

Use polite forms with unfamiliar people. Γεια σας and Χαίρετε are safe first-meeting greetings, and σας is the polite form you should keep until the other person invites a more casual tone.

grammar

Two common ways to introduce yourself

Με λένε [name] is the most common everyday introduction. Είμαι ο/η [name] is also natural and simply means 'I'm [name]'; choose ο for masculine and η for feminine.

Try it yourself

Choose the right phrase

Pick what you would say in each situation.

Question 1 of 3

Question 1
Question 2
Question 3

You are introducing yourself to someone for the first time. Which phrase gives them your name?

Γεια σας.Με λένε [name].Χάρηκα που σας γνώρισα.

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Put the phrases in context