χρόνια πολλά

Greek

Etymology

Expression with χρόνια (chrónia), a neuter plural for the masculine χρόνος (chrónos, “year”) & πολλά (pollá, “many”), neuter plural of πολύς (polýs, “much, a lot”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxɾoɲa poˈla/

Interjection

χρόνια πολλά! • (chrónia pollá!)

1. many happy returns: happy birthday, happy name day
2. Happy New Year (is also used in the Greek-speaking world to wish someone a happy Christmas)

Synonyms

For birthdays

• να τα εκατοστίσεις (na ta ekatostíseis, “literally: may you make them (the years of your life) a hundred”)

  plural and polite plural: να τα εκατοστίσετε (na ta ekatostísete)

• να τα χιλιάσεις (na ta chiliáseis, “literally: may you make them (the years of your life) a thousand”)