μου λείπεις
mou leípeis
The English phrase "I miss you" is translated into Greek as μου λείπεις (mou leípeis). Wiktionary also lists σ’ επιθύμησα (s’ epithýmisa) and σε πεθύμησα (se pethýmisa).
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| μου λείπεις | mou leípeis |
| σ’ επιθύμησα | s’ epithýmisa |
| σε πεθύμησα | se pethýmisa |
The most common and standard way to express that you miss someone in everyday Greek is to use μου λείπεις.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase μου λείπεις literally translates to "you are missing to me", where the person being missed is the subject of the sentence.
Which one should you use?
While μου λείπεις describes a continuous state of missing someone, σε πεθύμησα uses the aorist (past) tense and often implies a stronger sense of longing or craving someone's presence.
How does it change in a sentence?
μου λείπεις is used when speaking to one person in an informal or familiar manner.
How do you pronounce it?
mou leípeis
Did you know?
- The phrase σε πεθύμησα shares a linguistic root with the word for 'mourning'. Using this version of 'I miss you' can convey a deeper, more heavy sense of loss than the standard μου λείπεις.
- While μου λείπεις is for people, Greeks use the same verb λείπω to describe a missing piece of a puzzle or a missing ingredient in a recipe.
- In very formal or poetic Greek, you might see σ’ επιθύμησα, but in modern daily speech, the root επιθυμία is more commonly associated with physical desire or lust than simple missing.
Examples in context
- Μου λείπεις.I miss you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase μου λείπεις.Tatoeba #1285914 by enteka, translation #1308 by brauliobezerra
- Μου λείπεις πολύ, αγάπη μου.Mou leipeis poli, agapi mou.I miss you a lot, my love.
- Ξέρεις ότι μου λείπεις;Xereis oti mou leipeis;Do you know that I miss you?
Example conversation
Kyriaki is calling Dimitris on the phone.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΓεια σου Δημήτρη, μου λείπεις πολύ.Geia sou Dimitri, mou leipeis poly.Hello Dimitris, I miss you a lot.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΚι εμένα μου λείπεις, Κυριακή.Ki emena mou leipeis, Kyriaki.I miss you too, Kyriaki.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΠότε θα επιστρέψεις στο σπίτι;Pote tha epistrepsis sto spiti?When will you return home?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΘα έρθω την επόμενη εβδομάδα.Tha ertho tin epomeni evdomada.I will come next week.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i miss you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
