How to Say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Greek
Christmas and the New Year are special times to share warm wishes and festive greetings with friends and family. In Greek, these occasions are celebrated with unique phrases that add a touch of authenticity and depth to your greetings. Here, you will learn how to express joy, happiness, and well-wishes in Greek, enhancing your holiday spirit and connection with native speakers.
Festive Expressions in Greek
Understanding and using Greek phrases can make your holiday greetings more meaningful. Let’s explore how to say some popular holiday wishes in Greek:
Merry Christmas
The traditional way to say "Merry Christmas" in Greek is:
Καλ? Χριστο?γεννα (Kalá Christoúgenna)
When you say this, it is pronounced as follows:
Kah-lah khree-sto-oo-gah-nah
Happy New Year
To wish someone a Happy New Year in Greek, you can say:
Καλ?? Χρονι? (Kalés Chroniá)
This phrase translates to 'Happy Holidays' as well, though 'Kale Giortés' is more commonly used for festive occasions.
Other Useful Phrases
Here are some additional Greek phrases that you can use to enhance your holiday greetings:
Happy Holidays
Καλ?? Τκορ?δι (Kalé? Trodéi)
This phrase means similar to "Happy Holidays" and can be used for general festive celebrations.
Wishing you Joy and Happiness
Σου Υπ?ρχει Χαρ? και Ευτυχ?α (Sou Upárgi cha-ra kai eftychía)
This translates to "Wishing you joy and happiness." The pronunciation is:
Soh uh-pah-rhee khah-rah kai eh-fthi-kee-ah
Peace on Earth
Ειρ?νη στην Γη (éiríni sten Gi)
This phrase means "Peace on Earth." It is pronounced as:
ei-ree-neh sten chee
May Your Days Be Merry and Bright
Να ε?ναι οι μ?ρε? σου χαρο?μενε και φωτειν?? (Na eíne oi méres sou charoúmenes kai fotineés)
This translates to "May your days be merry and bright." The pronunciation is:
Nah eeh-neh oh meh-rehs saw oh char-oo-may-neh kai foe-cheen-ehs
Additional Phrases
For those special occasions like Easter and birthdays, you can also express your wishes in the following ways:
Merry Easter
Καλ?? Π?σχα (Kalés Psách)
Happy Birthday
Χρ?νια Πολλ? (Chronia Polla)
When you say this, it is pronounced as:
khro-nee-ah pol-lah
Conclusion and Quick Reference
Combining these phrases into your holiday greetings can make them more personal and meaningful. Here’s a quick reference for your convenience:
English Greek Pronunciation Merry Christmas Καλ? Χριστο?γεννα Kah-lah khree-sto-oo-gah-nah Happy New Year Καλ?? Χρονι? Kah-lah khnee-ah Happy Holidays Καλ?? Τκορ?δι Kah-lah tro-dey Wishing you Joy and Happiness Σου Υπ?ρχει Χαρ? και Ευτυχ?α Soh up-ah-rhee khah-rah kai eh-fthi-kee-ah Peace on Earth Ειρ?νη στην Γη ei-ree-neh sten chee May Your Days Be Merry and Bright Να ε?ναι οι μ?ρε? σου χαρο?μενε και φωτειν?? Nah eeh-neh oh meh-rehs saw oh char-oo-may-neh kai foe-cheen-ehs Merry Easter Καλ?? Π?σχα Kah-lah pas-ah Happy Birthday Χρ?νια Πολλ? khro-nee-ah pol-lahNow, you can express your holiday greetings in Greek with confidence and warmth, making your interactions more heartfelt and culturally rich.