είμαι καλά
eimai kala/ˈi.me kaˈla/word by word
είμαι καλά (eimai kala) is the Greek way to say "I am good".
This phrase is a response used to say that you are feeling well or healthy when someone asks how you are.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb είμαι (I am) and the adverb καλά (well/good).
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where "good" is an adjective, the Greek phrase uses the adverb καλά to describe one's state of being.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is eimai kala. The IPA is /ˈi.me kaˈla/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1 of 3.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective καλός (good) instead of the adverb καλά (well) when responding to "How are you?"
When do people say it?
A natural way to complete the response is to add ευχαριστώ (thank you) at the end, forming Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ!
Did you know?
- In Greek, if you answer είμαι καλός instead of είμαι καλά, you are not saying you feel well but that you are a 'good person' with high moral character.
- In a religious context, a Greek person might say καλά but add χάρις του Θεού, meaning 'by the grace of God', to attribute their well-being to divine favor.
- The verb είμαι descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁ésmi, making it a very distant relative of the English word 'am'.
Examples in context
- Καλά, ευχαριστώ! Είμαι καλά. Εσύ;Good, thank you! I am good. And you?
- Είμαι μια χαρά! Πέρασα υπέροχα το Σαββατοκύριακο.I am great! I had a wonderful weekend.
- Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ.Eímai kalá, efcharistó.I am good, thank you.
- Τώρα είμαι καλά.Tóra eímai kalá.I am good now.
Example conversation
Nikos and Anastasia meet on the street.
- Νίκος NikosΓεια σου Αναστασία, πώς είσαι;Geia sou Anastasia, pós eísai?Hello Anastasia, how are you?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΓεια σου Νίκο, είμαι καλά!Geia sou Níko, eímai kalá!Hello Nikos, I am good!
- Νίκος NikosΧαίρομαι πολύ για σένα.Chaíromai polý gia séna.I am very glad for you.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΕυχαριστώ πολύ, Νίκο.Efcharistó polý, Níko.Thank you very much, Nikos.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (είμαι, καλά) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries είμαι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
