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Greek · Joy & Kéfi

κέφι

kéfi

KEH-fee · /ˈce.fi/

The good-time feeling — soul, joy, being in the mood to celebrate.

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"high spirits / mood / merriment"

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

How to use it

Not a curse at all but essential to understanding Greek joy, and untranslatable in one word. Κέφι is the high, warm, unforced good spirits that make a night sing — the thing plate- smashing and dancing are trying to reach. "Έχω κέφι" = I'm in the mood, feeling great; "μου 'κοψες το κέφι" = you killed my buzz; "κέφια" (plural) = high spirits. A person "με κέφι" brings the party to life. This word, more than ώπα, is where real Greek celebration actually lives.

Heard in the wild

Απόψε έχω κέφι, πάμε για χορό!

Tonight I'm in the mood — let's go dancing!

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal); a cornerstone cultural concept

Quick answers

What does "κέφι" mean?
In Greek, "κέφι" means "The good-time feeling — soul, joy, being in the mood to celebrate.". Literally it's "high spirits / mood / merriment". Not a curse at all but essential to understanding Greek joy, and untranslatable in one word. Κέφι is the high, warm, unforced good spirits that make a night sing — the thing plate- smashing and dancing are trying to reach. "Έχω κέφι" = I'm in the mood, feeling great; "μου 'κοψες το κέφι" = you killed my buzz; "κέφια" (plural) = high spirits. A person "με κέφι" brings the party to life. This word, more than ώπα, is where real Greek celebration actually lives.
Is "κέφι" 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 "κέφι"?
Say it "KEH-fee" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈce.fi.

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. να 'σαι καλά na 'sai kalá nah seh kah-LAH Bless you / thanks so much / take care — a warm blessing. γεια μας geiá mas YAH mahss Cheers! — the standard toast.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Hell yes".

how to say "Hell yes" →

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