Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω
Chairomai pou se vlepo
The English phrase "nice to see you" is translated into Greek as Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω (Chairomai pou se vlepo).
Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω is a friendly greeting used when meeting someone you already know. If you want to express a stronger feeling of being delighted to see someone, you can use Χαίρομαι που σας βλέπω. To express a more casual sentiment like "Great to see you again," you might say Ωραία που σε ξαναβλέπω.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω literally translates to "I rejoice that I see you".
Which one should you use?
Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω is used in the present tense when meeting someone. If you are saying goodbye after a meeting has finished, you should use the past tense Χαίρηκα που σε είδα, which means "I was glad to see you" or "It was nice to see you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression Χάρηκα που σε είδα, ρε συ is a casual phrase used mainly in urban areas like Athens or Thessaloniki.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the phrase politely or when addressing more than one person, you change the pronoun σε (you, singular) to σας (you, plural/polite) in the phrase Χαίρομαι που σας βλέπω.
How do you pronounce it?
Chairomai pou se vlepo
Did you know?
- The verb χαίρομαι in this phrase shares the same root as 'charity', as both stem from the concept of being filled with joy or grace.
- The phrase Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω uses the verb χαίρομαι, which is a 'deponent' verb, meaning it has a passive form but an active meaning.
- Using the past tense Χαίρηκα που σε είδα instead of the present tense is a crucial social rule to signal that the social interaction has reached its natural conclusion.
Examples in context
- Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω εδώ.Chæromi pou se vlépo edó.Nice to see you here.
Example conversation
Two friends bump into each other at a cafe.
- Κώστας KostasΓεια σου, Μαρία! Χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω.Yia sou, María! Chéromai pou se vlépo.Hello, Maria! Nice to see you.
- Μαρία MariaΚώστα, και εγώ χαίρομαι που σε βλέπω!Kósta, ke egó chéromai pou se vlépo!Kostas, I'm glad to see you too!
- Κώστας KostasΠώς είσαι. Όλα καλά;Pós eísai? Óla kalá?How are you? Everything good?
- Μαρία MariaΌλα τέλεια, ευχαριστώ.Óla téleia, efcharistó.Everything is great, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries βλέπω, που, σε, χαίρομαι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
