Με το καλό

[Theseus]

I have come across this phrase often but don’t quite know what it means and how it is used. Equivalents are given on various sites as, e.g. ‘God willing, eventually, like (that commonest of fillers!), happily, fortunately, all being well’ &c. Can colleagues illustrate, perhaps with examples its varied uses?

 

[daeman]

Wishing well for the outcome of any action, endeavour or upcoming event, i.e. -if we want to be verbose about it since translators are often paid by word count- I hope all goes well with that.

An alternative way to express that is to combine the prefix καλο- with a word form stemming from the verb which describes that action, but this way obviously requires mentioning that action, and -when expressed in full- also the object it refers to.

...
Καλόπιοτα (τα ποτά, και τα λεφτά όταν προορίζονται για τέτοιο σκοπό), καλομαγείρευτα (και καλομαγέρευτα στην Κρήτη, τα κουκιά που ψωνίσαμε), καλόβραστες (οι φακές που πήραμε μαζί με τα κουκιά, καλόβραστα τα ρεβίθια, τα φασόλια και τα χόρτα, καλόβραστη η φάβα), καλοφούρνιστα (τα κουλουράκια που πλάσατε για επιδόρπιο στη φακορεβιθοχορτοφασουλόφαβα), καλοχώνευτα (τα άρτι καταβροχθισθέντα εδέσματα με τα οποία εταρατσώθημεν), καλόσπαρτο (το χωραφάκι που ετοιμάζεται για τη νέα σοδειά, όπου φύονται τα ανωτέρω φαγώσιμα και μη), καλομάζωχτα (τα προϊόντα του χωραφιού), καλοβάδιστα (τα καινούργια πατούμενα), καλοκάμωτα (όσα θα κάμετε στο νέο εγχείρημα που ξεκινάτε), καλοτσέπωτα, καλοφάγωτα και καλοσκόρπιστα (τα μαρούλια, και σε καλή μεριά), καλοτάιστος (ο μπαμπογερομπεμπές που "τα φάγαμε μαζί") και καλοσούβλιστος (ο μούσκαρος, 2α και 2γ), καλόδεχτος (ο καλεσμένος που περιμένουμε), καλόδεχτο (το τέλος της κρίσης), καλοστεφάνωτη (η νύφη ή η προνύμφη, η κόρη, καλοκρέμαστος ο γαμπρός), με το καλό, καλή λευτεριά (λέμε στις εγκύους), καλόμοιρο (το νεογέννητο), καλόμοιρο και το καινούργιο σπιτικό. Πάντα γεια, πάντα χαρά, Θησέα!

And if a boy gets a haircut, pre-teens and teens usually congratulate him with a light (or not so light), friendly (usually) slap in the back of the neck (a clean, smooth target).

As an example (or rather several examples), we could use the simple and succint Με το καλό in all of these cases when we don't want to (or can't) be specific about it, commonly when the context conveys the rest.

 

[cougr]

It's also common that the phrase "με το καλό" is often inserted into a question when asking someone about some significant future event or endeavour in their life, such as a wedding or new beginnings etc. Thus combining a positive sentiment or an offer of well wishes together with the question being asked.

E.g.
- Πότε με το καλό θα γίνει ο γάμος;
- Πότε με το καλό θα ανοίξετε το νέο κατάστημά σας;

I don't believe there is a direct equivalent expression to the above in English, but you can think of "με το καλό" in such cases as indirectly expressing good luck or some other appropriate positive sentiment, e.g. all the best with/ I'm hoping all goes well with etc. whilst simultaneously asking the question.

 

[pontios]

What about "when will the wedding take place, all going well" or "assuming all goes well"?

It's also common that the phrase "με το καλό" is often inserted into a question when asking someone about some significant future event or endeavour in their life, such as a wedding or new beginnings etc. Thus combining a positive sentiment or an offer of well wishes together with the question being asked.

E.g.
- Πότε με το καλό θα γίνει ο γάμος;
- Πότε με το καλό θα ανοίξετε το νέο κατάστημά σας;

I don't believe there is a direct equivalent expression to the above in English, but you can think of "με το καλό" in such cases as indirectly expressing good luck or some other appropriate positive sentiment, e.g. all the best with/ I'm hoping all goes well with etc. whilst simultaneously asking the question.

What about ...
When will the wedding take place "all going well"? ... or "assuming all goes well"?

 

[cougr]

What about "when will the wedding take place, all going well" or "assuming all goes well"?

I've never taken it to mean that, but it also appears that I could've been mistaken all along with what I've written above (#3). It appears I was reading too much into it.

According to the dictionary entry below, "πότε με το καλό" is simply an expression used to show interest in the specific date/ time of a future event taking place, consequent to the announcement of that event.

Online Λεξικά Κ.Ε.Γ.

Λεξικά

dictionaries.greeklanguage.gr

 

[cougr]

I now look at it as adding a touch of nicety to that specific type of question.

 

[pontios]

I guess it's almost like (but not quite) ... "when is the big day, hope it all goes smoothly ... all the best for the day?
If you want to capture a similar sentiment?

(My earlier attempt sounded conditional on things going well)?

 

[m_a_a_]

It appears I was reading too much into it.

Nah, don't be too harsh on yourself now…

After all, one would never use Πότε με το καλό … ; if inquiring about something undesirable –or just tedious even– that's about to happen (unless it is within the context of black humour)…

Πότε με το καλό is kinda like asking 'when is the fortunate event in question taking place' (when is the big day, as pontios put it)…

On a different note, με το καλό can also mean in a kind manner, as also indicated in cougr's dictionary reference:

 

[Theseus]

I feel swamped by so many answers with examples! Thank you so much to all colleagues. What could I do to learn Greek without so much quality information as colleagues provide? Can cougr translate the dictiony examples he quotes? All I can get when I try to get a translation is ‘screenshot’. Not very helpful…..

 

[cougr]

Can cougr translate the dictiony examples he quotes? All I can get when I try to get a translation is ‘screenshot’. Not very helpful…..

I'm presuming you mean the examples quoted by m_a_a (#8). Correct?

 

[Theseus]

Sorry, cougr! Yes, those at #8. Mea culpa..

 

[cougr]

Ok. This is a rush job because I've got a lot going on today (including going to the footy Grand Final), so if anyone wants to offer any improvements/corrections, I'd be more than happy if they did.

- δεν παίρνει με το καλό, it requires an aggressive approach with words or deeds: you need to throw in a swear word or two because being nice doesn't work with him || you have to give him a hit, being nice doesn't work with him.

- με το καλό, in a gentle manner, calmly. "I tried to advise him nicely because he's a highly strung kid." (Folk song: playing nice doesn't work with you, I took you (as a wife) forcefully, with your attitude, again you'll be a widow).

 

[cougr]

I took you (as a wife) forcefully,

On second thoughts, "με το κακό σε πήρα" in this case most likely means "I treated you badly/harshly".

Folk song

It's actually a song by Tsitsanis, so it's not a folk song in the strict sense of the term but rather belongs to the Laiko genre of Greek music.

 

[pontios]

Ok. This is a rush job because I've got a lot going on today (including going to the footy Grand Final) ...

Άντε, με το καλό και καλή τύχη στην ομάδα σου.

 

[Theseus]

Χαχαχα, Πόντιε! Cougr, what is the first line of Vasilis Tstsanis’ Laiko genre song, so that I can find it and read it?

 

[cougr]

There you go, Theseus.

https://www.rebet.gr/songs/oti-mou-kaneis-tha-sou-kanw

The lyrics were written by Gerasimos Tsakalos, whilst the music to the song was composed by Tsitsanis.

 

[cougr]

Άντε, με το καλό και καλή τύχη στην ομάδα σου.

Actually a Bombers fan, but I scored a free ticket so I went.

 

[Theseus]

Thanks, cougr!