Greek: Αντίο! Romanization: Adío! Translation: “Goodbye!”
yassas = hello or goodbye – γειά σας. A greeting to more people or a more formal and polite way to greet an unknown person.
ciao {interjection}
γεια {interj.}
What does ciao bella mean? Ciao bella is an informal Italian expression literally meaning “goodbye (or hello), beautiful.”
While ciao, pronounced "chow," is a casual Italian salutation that can mean both "hello" and "goodbye," most English speakers understand it as well.
It is frequently used during celebrations such as weddings or traditional dancing. In Greek culture, the expression sometimes accompanies the act of plate smashing. It can also be used to express enthusiasm, shock or surprise, or just after having made a mistake.
Limassol Marathon - To say cheers in Greek, you say " Yamas" which is short for "Stin Yeia Mas" which means to our health.
#5 Ela. As you've probably figured by now, we love those Greek words with multiple meanings, and 'ela' [e:la] is one of them too. Its basic meaning is 'come' or 'come on', but Greeks also use it 99% of the time to informally answer the phone when they know whose calling.
You would say 'kalimera' (good morning) up until 12:00pm, from here onwards 'yia sas' (hello) will be the standard greeting. You will hear 'kalispera' (good afternoon/evening) from late afternoon right through to the end of the day.
For a more informal greeting, try yasas (hello) or yasou (hi).
Greek Word: πω πω Romanization: po po. English Meaning: oh dear.
In other words, yassou is considered casual while yassas is considered to be a more respectful way to say "hello." You will often hear yassou used to address people younger than the speaker and yassas for greeting friends who are older than them, acquaintances, and family members.
Common Greek Phrases
Hello is translated as “Yasas” which is more respectful and polite than “Yasou” which is used in a more friendly way. “Yamas” or “Yasas” is also used as a toast, meaning cheers!
'Malaka' A little ruder and unlikely to be found in your average phrase book, malaka directly translated is an English swear word, but is used among Greeks as a friendly, affectionate term.
Malakas (Greek: μαλάκας [maˈlakas]) is a commonly used profane Greek slang word, with a variety of different meanings, but literally meaning "man who masturbates". While it is typically used as an insult, with its literal equivalent in English being "wanker", the meaning varies depending on the tone and context used.
a stupid or annoy person.
If you find yourself toasting in a local bar with Greek people, you'll eventually hear the word Γειά μας! (Yiamas!) , meaning Cheers, which is the commonly shortened version of the sentence above. This version is the most used all across Greece.
Of course, when you're introduced to someone, you need to know how to reply. People usually simply say piacere (nice to meet you), whether in formal or informal situations. Piacere – Piacere.
You can say buonasera any time you're greeting someone in the afternoon or evening.