Good evening in Greek
καλησπέρα
kalispera — good evening
Hear καλησπέρα
Καλησπέρα (kalispera) is built from καλή (good) and εσπέρα, an older word for evening that survives almost nowhere else. Greeks use it as a greeting from around one o'clock onwards, and the stress lands on the third syllable, ka-li-SPE-ra.
The word to keep it apart from is καληνύχτα. Καλησπέρα opens an encounter; καληνύχτα closes one, and only when people are parting for the night. Walk into a taverna at nine in the evening and you say καλησπέρα. Leave it at midnight and you say καληνύχτα. Using the second on arrival tells everyone it is new to you.
Καλό βράδυ (kalo vradi) sits between the two: it means "have a good evening" and is said on parting when the night is not over yet, to someone heading out rather than to bed.
Example sentences
Καλησπέρα, μια μπίρα παρακαλώ.
Kalispera, mia mpira parakalo.
Good evening, a beer please.
Καλησπέρα σε όλους.
Kalispera se olous.
Good evening, everyone.
Related forms
- καληνύχτα (kalinichta) — good night — only on parting
- καλό βράδυ (kalo vradi) — have a good evening
Common questions
- What is the difference between kalispera and kalinichta?
- Καλησπέρα greets someone, καληνύχτα says goodbye for the night. They are not interchangeable, and swapping them is the most common mistake learners make with Greek evenings.
Quick check
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Related words
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