Merry Christmas in Greek
Καλά Χριστούγεννα
Kalá Christoúgenna
Say it like this: kah-LAH hree-STOO-yeh-nah
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Greek, Merry Christmas is Καλά Χριστούγεννα (Kalá Christoúgenna), said like kah-LAH hree-STOO-yeh-nah.
- Happy New Year is Καλή χρονιά (Kalí chroniá).
- People say it in Greece, Cyprus.
What Kalá Christoúgenna means
'Καλά' (kalá) means good and 'Χριστούγεννα' (Christoúgenna) means Christmas. Χριστούγεννα comes from Χριστού (Christoú, of Christ) and γέννα (génna, birth). So it is 'Good Christmas'.
Greek is written in the Greek alphabet, which has 24 letters.
Other ways to say it in Greek
Καλές γιορτές
Kalés giortés
Say it like this: kah-LESS yor-TESS
Means "happy holidays". A friendly wish for the whole festive season.
Χρόνια πολλά
Chrónia pollá
Say it like this: HROH-nyah poh-LAH
Means "many years". An all-purpose wish, also used at Christmas, on name days and on birthdays.
Happy New Year
Καλή χρονιά
Kalí chroniá
Say it like this: kah-LEE hroh-NYAH
Happy New Year (literally "good year")
To write in a Christmas card
Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Χρονιά
Kalá Christoúgenna kai Kalí Chroniá
Say it like this: kah-LAH hree-STOO-yeh-nah keh kah-LEE hroh-NYAH
Where people speak Greek
GreeceCyprus
Greek (Ελληνικά) belongs to the Hellenic (Indo-European) language family.
Hear it from Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train around the world. He reaches Athens at about 12:17 AM local time, and kids learn to say Καλά Χριστούγεννα as he lands.
Watch Rally arrive in Athens →Christmas traditions where people speak Greek
- Decorated boats: In Greece, decorating a boat is an old Christmas tradition, from the days when small ships were put up in homes when sailors returned. Today, many towns also put up a boat beside the tree, and Thessaloniki has a big ship.[3]
- Singing the kalanda: On Christmas Eve, Greek children go out singing carols called kalanda in the streets, often playing triangles and drums. If they sing well, they might be given treats such as nuts, sweets or dried figs, or some money.[3]
- Christopsomo and sweet treats: A round loaf called Christopsomo, or Christ's Bread, flavored with cinnamon, orange and cloves and marked with a cross, is made on Christmas Eve. Popular treats are melomakarona honey cookies and butter cookies called kourabiedes.[3]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Greek
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- RussianС Рождеством!
- RomanianCrăciun fericit
- SlovenianVesel božič
- DutchVrolijk kerstfeest
- SwedishGod jul
- LatvianPriecīgus Ziemassvētkus
- LuxembourgishSchéine Chrëschtdag
- SerbianСрећан Божић
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Greek?
The most common way is Καλά Χριστούγεννα, said "Kalá Christoúgenna" (kah-LAH hree-STOO-yeh-nah). A friendly all-season wish is Καλές γιορτές (Kalés giortés), meaning happy holidays. You may also hear Χρόνια πολλά (Chrónia pollá), which means many years.[1][2]
How do you pronounce Kalá Christoúgenna?
Say "kah-LAH hree-STOO-yeh-nah". The χ in Χριστούγεννα sounds like a soft h, like the ch in the Scottish word loch. The stress falls on the accented syllables: kaLÁ and ChristOÚgenna. The γ before ε sounds like y, so the middle of the word comes out like yeh.[1]
What does Καλά Χριστούγεννα mean?
Καλά (kalá) means good and Χριστούγεννα (Christoúgenna) means Christmas, so the phrase means Good Christmas. The word Christoúgenna comes from Christoú (of Christ) and génna (birth), so it means the birth of Christ. It points straight to the Christmas story.[1]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Greek?
Write it in the Greek alphabet as Καλά Χριστούγεννα. The little marks above vowels are stress accents, and they show which syllable is loud. In all capital letters the accents are dropped, so on a banner it looks like ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ. Romanized, it becomes Kalá Christoúgenna or Kala Christougenna.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Greek?
Say Καλή χρονιά (Kalí chroniá, kah-LEE hroh-NYAH), which means good year. Cards often say Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Χρονιά. On January 1, Greeks celebrate Saint Basil's Day, when children traditionally receive gifts from Agios Vasilis, Saint Basil, who is the Greek gift bringer.[2][3]
Is there a formal way to say Merry Christmas in Greek?
Καλά Χριστούγεννα is polite for everyone. For a more formal card, you can write Σας εύχομαι Καλά Χριστούγεννα (Sas éfchomai kalá Christoúgenna), I wish you a Merry Christmas, using the polite form sas. With friends and children, the short greeting or Καλές γιορτές works well.[1]
When do people say Kalá Christoúgenna in Greece?
People say it from the start of the Christmas season in December until Epiphany on January 6. It is most common on Christmas Eve, December 24, and Christmas Day, December 25. Greek Orthodox Christians in Greece celebrate on the same date as Western churches, December 25.[3]
Is Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the main celebration in Greece?
Both matter. Children sing the kalanda on Christmas Eve, and many families go to a midnight service. Christmas Day, December 25, is when families share the big meal, often with roast pork. Presents are often given on January 1, Saint Basil's Day, rather than on Christmas.[3]
What is a popular Christmas tradition in Greece?
Decorated boats are an old Greek Christmas tradition, older than the Christmas tree. Children also sing carols called kalanda with triangles, and families bake a special Christopsomo bread. Folklore about kallikantzaroi goblins, which appear for twelve days, is a favorite story for kids.[3][4]
How can I teach kids to say Kalá Christoúgenna?
Break it into kah-LAH, hree-STOO, yeh-nah and clap along. Practice the soft h sound for χ. Make a small paper boat, since boats are a Greek Christmas decoration. Tell the goblin story, then write Καλά Χριστούγεννα on a card for family and friends.[3][4]
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- merry Christmas (translations), Wiktionary
- happy New Year (translations), Wiktionary
- Christmas in Greece, WhyChristmas.com
- Kallikantzaros, Wikipedia
