αναπαύσου εν ειρήνη
anapáfsou en eiríni
αναπαύσου εν ειρήνη (anapáfsou en eiríni) is the Greek way to say rest in peace.
This phrase is used as a blessing or an expression of hope.
Meaning: blessing or expression of hope (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
anapáfsou en eiríni
When do people say it?
When offering sympathy to the bereaved, you can use the word Συλλυπητήρια to mean 'Condolences.' In more formal religious or traditional contexts, the phrase Αιωνία του η μνήμη. is used to say 'May his/her memory be eternal.'
Did you know?
- While αναπαύσου εν ειρήνη is used for the dead, the root of αναπαύσου is used in modern Greek to describe a 'break' or 'recess' during a school or work day.
- The preposition εν used in this phrase is a 'learned' form, meaning it is a formal borrowing from Ancient Greek that is almost never used in everyday spoken Greek.
- The word ειρήνη is the direct ancestor of the English name 'Irene'.
Examples in context
- Αναπαύσου εν ειρήνη, αγαπητέ μου παππού.Anapafsou en eirini, agapete mou pappou.Rest in peace, my dear grandfather.
Example conversation
Maria and Dimitris are visiting a cemetery to pay their respects.
- Μαρία MariaΔεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι έφυγε έτσι.Den boró na pistépso óti éfyge étsi.I can't believe he left like this.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΉταν ένας πολύ καλός άνθρωπος, Μαρία.Ítan énas polý kalós ánthropos, María.He was a very good man, Maria.
- Μαρία MariaΑναπαύσου εν ειρήνη, αγαπημένε μας.Anapávsou en eiríni, agapiméne mas.Rest in peace, our beloved.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΑς τον θυμόμαστε πάντα με χαρά.As ton thymómaste pánta me chará.Let's always remember him with joy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rest in peace” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ειρήνη, εν, CC BY-SA 4.0.
