Γεια σου, πώς είσαι;
geia sou, pos eisai?
Hi, how are you? In Greek is Γεια σου, πώς είσαι, the informal version for friends, family or people your own age.
What does it mean word for word?
Γεια σου literally means health to you. πώς είσαι uses the second person singular of είμαι, to be.
Which one should you use?
Use Γεια σας, πώς είστε with more than one person or with a stranger or superior. Yasou, ti kaneis is another informal way to ask and Ti ginetai is casual, meaning what is happening.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized as geia sou, pos eisai?
When do people say it?
A common reply is Καλά, ευχαριστώ, fine, thank you.
Did you know?
- In many Greek social circles, answering 'how are you?' with a long list of complaints is actually a way to show trust and closeness to the person asking.
- The greeting Γεια σου shares its roots with the English word 'hygiene', as both come from the concept of health and well-being.
- If you use the formal Γεια σας with a close friend, it might feel as though you are intentionally creating a cold, sarcastic distance between you.
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe.
- Ελένη EleniΓεια σου, πώς είσαι;Geia sou, pos eisai?Hi, how are you?
- Κώστας KostasΕίμαι καλά, εσύ πώς είσαι;Eimai kala, esy pos eisai?I am well, how are you?
- Ελένη EleniΚι εγώ είμαι πολύ καλά.Ki ego eimai poly kala.I am very well too.
- Κώστας KostasΧαίρομαι πολύ για αυτό.Charomai poly gia auto.I am very glad about that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries γεια, πώς, σου, CC BY-SA 4.0.
