Greek social wishes are highly occasion-specific. English often relies on a broad “best wishes” or says nothing; Greek commonly names the good thing desired: καλό ταξίδι before a journey, καλή όρεξη before eating, περαστικά during illness. The challenge is therefore not forming a sentence but recognizing the occasion and selecting the expected formula.
This page maps occasions to wishes and explains the reply ritual. For a larger phrase inventory, see wishes, toasts, and celebrations; for wishes about uncertain outcomes, see μακάρι, να, and ας.
The productive pattern: καλός + occasion
Many wishes consist of καλός “good” plus a noun, with normal gender and number agreement. The article is normally absent because this is a compact wish, not a description of one particular trip or meal: καλό ταξίδι (neuter), καλή όρεξη (feminine), καλή επιτυχία (feminine), καλά Χριστούγεννα (neuter plural).
Καλή όρεξη, παιδιά· το φαγητό είναι έτοιμο!
kalí óreksi, pedhiá; to fayitó íne étimo!
Enjoy your meal, everyone—the food is ready!
Καλό ταξίδι και στείλε μου μήνυμα όταν θα φτάνεις στην Πάτρα.
kaló taksídhi ke stíle mu mínima ótan tha ftánis stin Pátra
Have a good trip, and message me when you're approaching Patras.
Καλή επιτυχία στην παρουσίαση αύριο· είσαι πολύ καλά προετοιμασμένη.
kalí epitichía stin parusíasi ávrio; íse polí kalá proetimazméni
Good luck with tomorrow's presentation—you are very well prepared.
Occasion → wish
| Occasion | Usual wish | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| birthday, name day, major holiday | χρόνια πολλά | many happy returns |
| achievement already attained | συγχαρητήρια | congratulations |
| exam, performance, planned challenge | καλή επιτυχία | may it go successfully |
| uncertain outcome | καλή τύχη | good luck |
| illness or recovery | περαστικά | may it pass quickly |
| journey | καλό ταξίδι | have a good/safe trip |
| meal about to begin | καλή όρεξη | enjoy your meal |
| toast | στην υγειά μας / γεια μας | to our health / cheers |
| annual celebration ending | και του χρόνου | may we celebrate it next year too |
The mapping is strong but not mechanical. Καλή τύχη stresses chance; καλή επιτυχία focuses on success in something the person will attempt. Both can be appropriate before an interview, with a slightly different perspective.
Αύριο δίνεις εξετάσεις; Καλή τύχη, λοιπόν!
ávrio dhínis eksetásis; kalí tíchi, lipón!
Are you taking exams tomorrow? Good luck, then!
Συγχαρητήρια για την προαγωγή· σου άξιζε πραγματικά.
sincharitíria ya tin proaghoyí; su áksize praghmatiká
Congratulations on the promotion—you truly deserved it.
Χρόνια πολλά: more than a birthday formula
Χρόνια πολλά, literally “many years,” is used for birthdays, name days, and important holidays. On a name day it is directed to the person whose name is celebrated; during a holiday it can be exchanged more broadly. Context supplies what the “many years” refer to.
Χρόνια πολλά, Ελένη! Να χαίρεσαι το όνομά σου.
chrónia polá, Eléni! na chérese to ónomá su
Many happy returns, Eleni! Happy name day.
Τα γενέθλιά σου είναι αύριο, αλλά σου εύχομαι από τώρα χρόνια πολλά.
ta yenéthliá su íne ávrio, alá su éfchome apó tóra chrónia polá
Your birthday is tomorrow, but I'm wishing you many happy returns now.
For a completed personal achievement, however, συγχαρητήρια is clearer. A graduation can attract both: congratulations for graduating and warm wishes for the person's future.
Συγχαρητήρια για το πτυχίο σου και καλή αρχή στη νέα δουλειά!
sincharitíria ya to ptichío su ke kalí archí sti néa dhuliá!
Congratulations on your degree, and all the best as you start the new job!
Care, hospitality, and shared celebration
Περαστικά is addressed to someone who is ill or injured. Its neuter plural form presents the trouble as something that should pass. It is warm and conventional, not a medical prediction.
Έμαθα ότι είσαι άρρωστος· περαστικά και γρήγορα κοντά μας!
ématha óti íse árostos; perastiká ke ghríghora kondá mas!
I heard you're ill—get well soon, and come back to us quickly!
At the table, καλή όρεξη can come from the host, another diner, or someone passing people who are eating. During a toast, στην υγειά μας is the full neutral formula; γεια μας is its shorter (informal) counterpart.
Στην υγειά μας και στις όμορφες στιγμές που έρχονται!
stin iyiá mas ke stis ómorfes stighmés pu érchonde!
To our health and to the lovely moments ahead!
Γεια μας, φίλοι μου· να βρισκόμαστε συχνότερα!
ya mas, fíli mu; na vriskómaste sichnótera!
Cheers, my friends—may we get together more often! (informal)
Replying and returning the wish
A bare ευχαριστώ always works when the wish concerns only you. If the same wish applies to the speaker, return it with και σε σένα to one familiar person, και σ’ εσάς to one polite person or a group, or neutral επίσης “likewise.” After a recurring festival or holiday, και του χρόνου looks forward to celebrating again.
Καλό σαββατοκύριακο! — Ευχαριστώ, και σε σένα!
kaló savatokíriako! — efcharistó, ke se séna!
Have a good weekend! — Thanks, you too! (familiar singular)
Καλή χρονιά! — Επίσης, με υγεία και χαρές!
kalí chroniá! — epísis, me iyía ke charés!
Happy New Year! — Likewise, with health and happiness!
Περάσαμε υπέροχα στο πανηγύρι· και του χρόνου να είμαστε όλοι εδώ!
perásame ipérocha sto paniyíri; ke tu chrónu na ímaste óli edhó!
We had a wonderful time at the festival; may we all be here again next year!
Common Mistakes
Congratulating before the result
Συγχαρητήρια normally responds to something achieved. Before an exam, competition, or interview, wish for the coming outcome instead.
✅ Καλή επιτυχία στη συνέντευξη· θα περιμένω νέα σου.
kalí epitichía sti sinéndefksi; tha periméno néa su
Good luck with the interview—I'll wait to hear from you.
Using χρόνια πολλά for every happy event
Birthdays and name days invite χρόνια πολλά; a new baby, publication, or award normally invites συγχαρητήρια.
✅ Συγχαρητήρια για τη γέννηση της κόρης σας!
sincharitíria ya ti yénisi tis kóris sas!
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!
Forgetting adjective agreement
Do not memorize every καλ- wish with one ending. The noun controls the form.
✅ Καλό ταξίδι, καλή διαμονή και καλή επιστροφή!
kaló taksídhi, kalí dhiamoní ke kalí epistrofí!
Have a good trip, a pleasant stay, and a safe return!
Returning a personal wish mechanically
Και σε σένα makes sense only when the same wish applies to the other person. Someone wishing you recovery does not need to be wished recovery in return.
✅ Περαστικά! — Σ’ ευχαριστώ πολύ, να ’σαι καλά.
perastiká! — s’ efcharistó polí, na ’se kalá
Get well soon! — Thank you very much; that's kind of you. (informal)
Key Takeaways
- Match the wish to the event: χρόνια πολλά, συγχαρητήρια, περαστικά, καλό ταξίδι, and καλή όρεξη do different social jobs.
- In καλός + noun formulas, gender and number agreement remain active.
- Use συγχαρητήρια after an achievement, καλή επιτυχία before an attempt, and καλή τύχη when chance is prominent.
- Reply with thanks; add και σε σένα / σ’ εσάς, επίσης, or και του χρόνου only when the occasion supports reciprocation.
Now practice Greek
Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.
Start learning Greek →Related Topics
- Greetings and Everyday WishesA1 — Use a compact phrasebook of Greek greetings, welcome formulas, check-ins, and everyday good wishes with literal glosses and register labels.
- Wishes: μακάρι, να, αςB2 — How Greek says 'I hope' and 'I wish': μακάρι να + a non-past verb for a wish you still think can come true, μακάρι να + a past verb for one you know cannot, the bare να-blessing and the wistful ας ερχόταν, and where εύχομαι, ελπίζω and the literary είθε fit around them.
- Wishes, Toasts, and CelebrationsA2 — A practical phrasebook of Greek birthday, holiday, journey, recovery, condolence, encouragement, and drinking formulas with literal structure and register.