Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα
Kalos irthate stin Ellada
The English phrase "welcome to greece" is translated into Greek as Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα (Kalos irthate stin Ellada).
This phrase is a greeting used to welcome someone who has arrived in Greece.
What does it mean word for word?
The component Καλώς ήρθατε literally translates to "well come" (well + you came).
Which one should you use?
Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα is the plural or polite form used when welcoming a group of people or a single person with formal politeness. If you are welcoming only one person and wish to be informal, you can use Καλώς ήρθες στην Ελλάδα instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a single person informally, you should use the singular form Καλώς ήρθες στην Ελλάδα rather than the plural/polite Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα.
How do you pronounce it?
Kalos irthate stin Ellada
Did you know?
- The Greek concept of hospitality, philoxenia, literally means 'love of strangers' rather than just being friendly to guests.
- In certain parts of Greece, such as the Peloponnese, you might find the Tsakonian dialect which uses the word καούρ instead of the standard καλώς to express similar concepts.
- The word Ελλάδα (Ellada) is the endonym, meaning it is the name Greeks use for their own country, whereas 'Greece' is the exonym used by English speakers.
Examples in context
- Καλώς ήρθατε στην ΕλλάδαWelcome to Greece
- Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα!Kalós írthate stin Elláda!Welcome to Greece!
- Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα, αγαπητοί μου φίλοι.Kalós írthate stin Elláda, agapitoí mou fíloi.Welcome to Greece, my dear friends.
- Καλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα και καλή διαμονή.Kalós írthate stin Elláda kai kalí diamoní.Welcome to Greece and have a nice stay.
Example conversation
A man greets a woman at the airport in Athens.
- Κώστας KostasΚαλώς ήρθατε στην Ελλάδα, Μαρία!Kalós írthate stin Elláda, María!Welcome to Greece, Maria!
- Μαρία MariaΕυχαριστώ πολύ, Κώστα.Efcharistó polý, Kósta.Thank you very much, Kostas.
- Κώστας KostasΠώς ήταν η πτήση σου;Pós ítan i ptísi sou;How was your flight?
- Μαρία MariaΉταν πολύ καλή.Ítan polý kalí.It was very good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ελλάδα, καλώς, στην, CC BY-SA 4.0.
