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Greek · Taverna & Toasts

γεια μας

geiá mas

YAH mahss · /ˈʝa mas/

Cheers! — the standard toast.

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"health to us / (to) our health"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

The everyday clink-glasses toast: "γεια μας" (to us), "γεια σου" (to you), "γεια σας" (to you-plural/formal). Fuller and warmer: "στην υγειά μας" (to our health). Make eye contact — Greeks care about that at the toast — and don't cross arms with your neighbor. Grandma-safe, obviously. The tourist-favorite "OPA!" is not a toast; γεια μας is. Say it every single round.

Heard in the wild

Γεια μας, παιδιά! Στην υγειά όλων!

Cheers, everyone! To everyone's health!

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "γεια μας" mean?
In Greek, "γεια μας" means "Cheers! — the standard toast.". Literally it's "health to us / (to) our health". The everyday clink-glasses toast: "γεια μας" (to us), "γεια σου" (to you), "γεια σας" (to you-plural/formal). Fuller and warmer: "στην υγειά μας" (to our health). Make eye contact — Greeks care about that at the toast — and don't cross arms with your neighbor. Grandma-safe, obviously. The tourist-favorite "OPA!" is not a toast; γεια μας is. Say it every single round.
Is "γεια μας" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
How do you pronounce "γεια μας"?
Say it "YAH mahss" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈʝa mas.

Related in Greek

ώπα ópa OH-pah Oops! / Hey, watch it! / Let's go! — NOT mainly the plate-smashing tourist cheer. γαμάτο gamáto ghah-MAH-toh Awesome / badass / fucking great. τέλειο téleio TEH-lee-oh Perfect / awesome / great — the clean, all-ages enthusiasm word. πάμε páme PAH-meh Let's go! / Come on! — the rallying cry. κέφι kéfi KEH-fee The good-time feeling — soul, joy, being in the mood to celebrate. να 'σαι καλά na 'sai kalá nah seh kah-LAH Bless you / thanks so much / take care — a warm blessing.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "A rude toast".

how to say "A rude toast" →

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