Ways to say it
| Koine Greek | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| χαῖρε | chaire | to one person |
| χαίρετε | chairete | to more than one |
| εἰρήνη ὑμῖν | eirene hymin | peace to you, formal |
Speaking to more than one person, use χαίρετε (chairete). εἰρήνη ὑμῖν (eirene hymin), 'peace to you', is the more formal, ceremonial greeting found in religious and solemn contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
χαῖρε comes from the verb χαίρω, 'to rejoice', so the greeting literally tells someone to 'rejoice' or 'be well'. εἰρήνη means 'peace', the same root behind the modern Greek word for peace.
Which one should you use?
χαῖρε and χαίρετε are the ordinary greetings used in daily life and letters, differing only by number. εἰρήνη ὑμῖν carries more weight and solemnity, often used in religious greetings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
χαῖρε is used broadly and is not markedly informal, though εἰρήνη ὑμῖν feels more elevated and ceremonial by comparison.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Koine Greek was the common language across the eastern Mediterranean after Alexander's conquests, so χαῖρε would have been understood from Egypt to Asia Minor.
How does it change in a sentence?
χαῖρε is a verb form, an imperative, literally commanding the listener to rejoice, rather than a fixed interjection the way 'hello' is in English.
How do you pronounce it?
In the Koine period, χαῖρε was pronounced roughly 'KHAI-re', with the χ as a rough h sound from the throat.
What mistakes should you avoid?
χαῖρε is attested as a greeting, including in the New Testament, but it is not the word for a formal farewell, which uses different phrasing entirely.
When do people say it?
χαῖρε appears in the New Testament as the angel's greeting to Mary, Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, showing how the everyday greeting also carried theological weight in early Christian texts.
Did you know?
- The same word, χαῖρε, appears as the angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary in the Gospel of Luke, giving an everyday hello theological significance in Christian tradition.
- Koine Greek, meaning 'common' Greek, spread as a shared language across the eastern Mediterranean after the conquests of Alexander the Great, long before it became the language of the New Testament.
Examples in context
- χαῖρε, ἀδελφέ.chaire, adelphe.Hello, brother.
- χαίρετε πάντες.chairete pantes.Hello, everyone.
- εἰρήνη ὑμῖν πᾶσιν.eirene hymin pasin.Peace to you all.
Example conversation
Markos greets his friend Loukas on a street in Koine-speaking Antioch.
- Markosχαῖρε, Λουκᾶ.chaire, Louka.Hello, Loukas.
- Loukasχαῖρε καὶ σύ, Μᾶρκε.chaire kai sy, Marke.Hello to you too, Markos.
- Markosπῶς ἔχεις;pos echeis?How are you?
- Loukasκαλῶς, εὐχαριστῶ.kalos, eucharisto.Well, thank you.
