Courtesy in Greek is not one magic word. Speakers coordinate the familiar or polite address system, the size of an imposition, tone, and a conventional response. This page expands the service and apology repertoire with στη διάθεσή σας, με χαρά, πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σας, συγγνώμη, με συγχωρείτε, and δεν κάνει τίποτα.
The core uses of “please,” “thank you,” and their warm reply ritual belong to Please and Thank You. Request strategies—from imperatives to μήπως and conditional questions—belong to Making Requests Politely.
Offering professional help: στη διάθεσή σας
Είμαι στη διάθεσή σας literally presents the speaker as “at your disposal.” In a shop, hotel, office, or professional message, it means “I am available to help.” The shorter στη διάθεσή σας can close an exchange or written message. It is (formal/polite service language), not a phrase of subservience.
Αν χρειαστείτε διευκρινίσεις για την αίτηση, είμαι στη διάθεσή σας.
an chriastíte dhiefkrinísis ya tin étisi, íme sti dhiáthesí sas.
If you need clarification about the application, I am at your disposal. (formal/polite)
Το γραφείο μας παραμένει στη διάθεσή σας για οποιαδήποτε τεχνική υποστήριξη.
to ghrafío mas paraméni sti dhiáthesí sas ya opiadhípote technikí ipostíriksi.
Our office remains available for any technical support you may need. (formal)
With one familiar person, είμαι στη διάθεσή σου is grammatical but can sound playfully formal unless the situation really concerns assistance. Greek, like English, can borrow professional language for humorous exaggeration among friends.
Για τη μετακόμιση είμαι στη διάθεσή σου, αρκεί να έχεις καφέ.
ya ti metakómisi íme sti dhiáthesí su, arkí na échis kafé.
I'm at your disposal for the move, provided you have coffee. (familiar, playfully formal)
Accepting willingly: με χαρά
Με χαρά means “gladly / with pleasure.” It accepts a request, invitation, or opportunity while presenting the response as willing. It is (neutral and warm) and works with either familiar or polite address.
—Θα μπορούσατε να μας δείξετε την αίθουσα; —Με χαρά, περάστε από εδώ.
—tha borúsate na mas dhíksete tin éthusa; —me chará, peráste apó edhó.
—Could you show us the room? —With pleasure; come this way. (polite)
Με χαρά να κρατήσω τα παιδιά όσο θα είστε στον γιατρό.
me chará na kratíso ta pedhiá óso tha íste ston yatró.
I'd be happy to look after the children while you're at the doctor's.
It is not automatically a response to thanks. It more naturally looks forward to doing something or confirms that the favor was welcome. After the action, English “my pleasure” may correspond to χαρά μου, depending on the exchange.
Acknowledging a gesture: ευγενικό εκ μέρους σου
Πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σου / σας means “very kind of you.” It evaluates the other person's gesture rather than merely naming the speaker's gratitude. Σου is familiar singular; σας is polite singular or plural. The phrase is (neutral-polite) and common when a favor was thoughtful or unexpected.
Ήταν πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σου να φέρεις φαγητό στη μητέρα μου.
ítan polí evyenikó ek mérus su na féris fayitó sti mitéra mu.
It was very kind of you to bring food to my mother. (familiar)
Πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σας που μας ενημερώσατε εγκαίρως για την αλλαγή.
polí evyenikó ek mérus sas pu mas enimerósate enkéros ya tin alayí.
It was very kind of you to inform us about the change in good time. (polite)
With exaggerated stress, the same words can be ironic after inconsiderate behavior. In writing, where tone is less recoverable, add context or choose a direct evaluation rather than relying on irony.
Apology formulas across the register ladder
Συγγνώμη is the neutral formula for a small fault or interruption. Με συγχωρείς addresses one familiar person and asks forgiveness more explicitly. Με συγχωρείτε addresses several people or one person politely; it ranges from a routine polite attention-getter to a more careful apology and is not automatically formal. For serious public responsibility, ζητώ συγγνώμη is more explicit.
| Formula | Typical relationship | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| συγγνώμη | any; surrounding grammar sets address | neutral apology or attention-getter |
| με συγχωρείς | familiar singular | more explicit personal repair |
| με συγχωρείτε | polite singular or plural | routine polite interruption or explicit apology |
| ζητώ συγγνώμη | neutral-to-formal | deliberate, accountable apology |
Συγγνώμη για την αναμονή, το σύστημα άργησε να ενημερωθεί.
sighnómi ya tin anamoní, to sístima áryise na enimerothí.
Sorry for the wait; the system was slow to update.
Με συγχωρείτε, κύριε Δημητρίου, μπορώ να σας διακόψω για ένα λεπτό;
me sinchoríte, kírie Dhimitríu, boró na sas dhiakópso ya éna leptó;
Excuse me, Mr Dimitriou; may I interrupt you for a minute? (formal/polite)
Ζητώ συγγνώμη για την αναστάτωση που προκάλεσε η λανθασμένη ανακοίνωση.
zitó sighnómi ya tin anastátosi pu prokálese i lanthazméni anakínosi.
I apologize for the disruption caused by the incorrect announcement. (formal)
The full difference between apology συγγνώμη and sympathy λυπάμαι is treated on Apologizing and Excuse-Me. In a service exchange, these formulas often introduce a repair: explanation, correction, replacement, or next step.
Accepting a minor apology
Standalone δεν κάνει τίποτα means “it's all right / don't mention it” after a minor inconvenience. It is (neutral conversational). Δεν πειράζει and κανένα πρόβλημα are common alternatives, but response rituals are flexible rather than fixed pairs.
—Με συγχωρείτε που σας κράτησα. —Δεν κάνει τίποτα, είχα χρόνο.
—me sinchoríte pu sas krátisa. —dhen káni típota, ícha chróno.
—I'm sorry I kept you waiting. —That's all right; I had time. (polite exchange)
—Συγγνώμη, μπέρδεψα τις αποδείξεις. —Κανένα πρόβλημα, θα τις ξαναβάλουμε στη σειρά.
—sighnómi, bérdhepsa tis apodhíksis. —kanéna próvlima, tha tis ksanaválume sti sirá.
—Sorry, I mixed up the receipts. —No problem; we'll put them back in order.
These replies waive a small problem. After material harm or a serious breach, a quick δεν κάνει τίποτα may minimize what happened before repair has been agreed.
A complete service encounter
—Συγγνώμη για την καθυστέρηση, το δωμάτιό σας είναι τώρα έτοιμο. —Δεν κάνει τίποτα. —Αν χρειαστείτε επιπλέον πετσέτες, είμαστε στη διάθεσή σας. —Πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σας.
—sighnómi ya tin kathistérisi, to dhomátió sas íne tóra étimo. —dhen káni típota. —an chriastíte epipléon petsétes, ímaste sti dhiáthesí sas. —polí evyenikó ek mérus sas.
—Sorry for the delay; your room is now ready. —That's all right. —If you need extra towels, we are at your disposal. —That's very kind of you. (polite hotel exchange)
The exchange is natural, not compulsory choreography. The guest might instead ask about breakfast, and the employee might offer help with με χαρά. Courtesy succeeds when each move responds to the actual situation.
Common Mistakes
Mixing familiar and polite possessives
Keep σου with a familiar addressee and σας with polite or plural address.
Ήταν ευγενικό εκ μέρους σας να περιμένετε μέχρι να τελειώσουμε.
ítan evyenikó ek mérus sas na periménete méchri na teliósume.
It was kind of you to wait until we finished. (polite or plural)
Treating στη διάθεσή σας as unlimited consent
The phrase offers assistance within a role; state limits clearly when necessary.
Είμαι στη διάθεσή σας για τις τεχνικές λεπτομέρειες, όχι όμως για την τελική απόφαση.
íme sti dhiáthesí sas ya tis technikés leptoméries, óchi ómos ya tin telikí apófasi.
I am available for the technical details, but not for the final decision. (formal)
Using δεν κάνει τίποτα after serious harm
For a material problem, acknowledge it and discuss repair instead of erasing it.
Καταλαβαίνω τη ζημιά που προκλήθηκε· ας δούμε πώς θα αποκατασταθεί.
katalavéno ti zimiá pu proklíthike; as dhúme pos tha apokatastathí.
I understand the damage that was caused; let's see how it can be repaired.
Assuming με χαρά always means “you're welcome”
It most clearly accepts or anticipates an action.
Με χαρά να σας στείλω αντίγραφο της απόδειξης σήμερα.
me chará na sas stílo andíghrafo tis apódhiksis símera.
I would be happy to send you a copy of the receipt today. (polite)
Key Takeaways
- Στη διάθεσή σας is professional availability, not unconditional agreement.
- Με χαρά willingly accepts or anticipates an action; πολύ ευγενικό εκ μέρους σου/σας appreciates a thoughtful gesture.
- Συγγνώμη, με συγχωρείς/συγχωρείτε, and ζητώ συγγνώμη form a flexible register ladder.
- Δεν κάνει τίποτα graciously waives a minor inconvenience but can minimize serious harm.
- Courtesy depends on matching formula, address form, tone, and response to the actual encounter.
Related Topics
- Please and Thank YouA1 — Use παρακαλώ, ευχαριστώ, and να είστε καλά naturally in requests, thanks, responses, service encounters, and polite turn-taking.
- Making Requests PolitelyB1 — Scale Greek requests from familiar imperatives to questions, μήπως, and conditional forms without confusing directness, politeness, and formality.
- Common Fixed PhrasesA2 — Understand high-frequency Greek phrases whose conversational meanings go beyond their literal words, from εντάξει and δεν πειράζει to έλα ντε and στο περίπου.