Παρακαλώ and τίποτα: two answers to "thank you"
A Greek answers ευχαριστώ with two different words, and both are right. The difference is not politeness but how level the answer sounds. For example: “— Ευχαριστώ πολύ. — Παρακαλώ.” — — Thank you very much. — You are welcome.. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
A Greek answers ευχαριστώ (efkharistó) with two different words, and both are right. The difference is not politeness but how level the answer sounds.
παρακαλώ (parakaló) does three jobs at once: "please" in a request, "you're welcome" after thanks, and "hello" when picking up the phone. On the phone it is still "I ask you" — that is, "please, go ahead". It is neutral with anybody, so it is the safe default.
τίποτα (típota) means "nothing" — the same word that stands in a negation. As an answer to thanks it is "don't mention it": warmer, shorter, more everyday.
With a stranger, or at an office, παρακαλώ is the better one. And in a request τίποτα does not work at all.
Table
| the case | παρακαλώ | τίποτα |
|---|---|---|
| a request: "please" | Ένα νερό, παρακαλώ | not used |
| an answer to thanks | Παρακαλώ — level | Τίποτα — warmer |
| picking up the phone | Παρακαλώ; | not used |
By example
- — Ευχαριστώ πολύ. — Παρακαλώ.— efkharistó polí. — parakaló.— Thank you very much. — You are welcome.
- — Ευχαριστώ! — Τίποτα!— efkharistó! — típota!— Thanks! — It was nothing!
- Ένα νερό, παρακαλώéna neró, parakalóA water, please
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Παρακαλώ or τίποτα: what to answer to ευχαριστώ?
A Greek answers ευχαριστώ with two different words, and both are right. The difference is not politeness but how level the answer sounds.
How to say you are welcome in Greek?
παρακαλώ does three jobs at once: "please" in a request, "you're welcome" after thanks, and "hello" when picking up the phone. On the phone it is still "I ask you" — that is, "please, go ahead". It is neutral with anybody, so it is the safe default.
Why a Greek says παρακαλώ when picking up the phone?
τίποτα means "nothing" — the same word that stands in a negation. As an answer to thanks it is "don't mention it": warmer, shorter, more everyday.
How to say please in Greek?
With a stranger, or at an office, παρακαλώ is the better one. And in a request τίποτα does not work at all.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“— Ευχαριστώ πολύ. — Παρακαλώ.” (— efkharistó polí. — parakaló.) — — Thank you very much. — You are welcome.. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.