Καλημέρα, τι κάνεις;
Kalimera, ti kaneis?
Good morning, how are you? In Greek is Καλημέρα, τι κάνεις, the informal greeting for friends, family or people your own age.
What does it mean word for word?
Καλημέρα means good morning and τι κάνεις is the everyday how are you.
Which one should you use?
Καλημέρα, πώς είστε is another formal way to ask, with a different verb.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use τι κάνετε instead of τι κάνεις when speaking to a stranger, an elder or a group of people to be polite, so the full greeting becomes Καλημέρα, τι κάνετε.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized as Kalimera, ti kaneis?
When do people say it?
A common reply is Καλά, ευχαριστώ, fine, thank you.
Did you know?
- The phrase τι κάνεις literally translates to 'what are you doing', yet it is used as the standard way to ask 'how are you'.
- In Greece, a common non-verbal accompaniment to a morning greeting is a light kiss on both cheeks, starting with the left.
- While Καλημέρα means 'good morning', it is often used as a general greeting throughout the entire day until about 2 PM or 3 PM.
Example conversation
Maria and George meet at a coffee shop in the morning.
- Μαρία MariaΚαλημέρα, τι κάνεις;Kaliméra, ti káneis;Good morning, how are you?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΚαλημέρα, Μαρία! Είμαι πολύ καλά.Kaliméra, María! Eímai polý kalá.Good morning, Maria! I am very well.
- Μαρία MariaΧαίρομαι. Θέλεις έναν καφέ;Chaíromai. Thélis énan kafé;I'm glad. Do you want a coffee?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΝαι, θα ήθελα πολύ.Nai, tha íthela polý.Yes, I would love one.
