Learn About Greek
Ελληνικά • 13.5 million speakers worldwide
"Γεια σας! Πώς είστε σήμερα;"
Pronunciation: Ya sas! Pos iste simera?
Translation: Hello! How are you today?
Speakers
13.5 million
Language Family
Indo-European (Hellenic)
Writing System
Greek alphabet
Official Status
Official in Greece and Cyprus
Regions (4 countries)
Greek has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. From ancient Greek literature to modern usage, it has evolved through several distinct periods including Classical, Koine, Byzantine, and Modern Greek.
Uses the Greek alphabet with 24 letters
Rich inflectional system with complex verb conjugations
Three grammatical genders (masculine, feminine, neuter)
Four cases (nominative, genitive, accusative, vocative)
Extensive vocabulary borrowed into other languages
Distinctive phonological features including aspirated consonants
Standard Modern Greek (Demotic)
Katharevousa (archaic formal variety)
Cypriot Greek
Pontic Greek
Cappadocian Greek
Griko (Southern Italian Greek)
Start with the Greek alphabet - it's essential for reading and writing
Focus on common verb patterns and conjugations
Practice with Greek music and films to improve pronunciation
Learn the case system gradually, starting with nominative and accusative
Use flashcards for vocabulary with both Greek script and pronunciation
Join Greek language exchange groups or online communities
Greek culture places high value on hospitality (philoxenia)
Family gatherings and food are central to Greek social life
Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization and democracy
Orthodox Christianity plays an important role in Greek culture
Greek coffee culture involves slow, social drinking
Traditional Greek music includes rebetiko and folk dances like syrtaki
The Greek alphabet gave rise to the Latin, Cyrillic, and many other alphabets
Many English words derive from Greek, especially in science and medicine
Greek has been spoken in the same region for over 3,400 years
The word 'alphabet' comes from the first two Greek letters: alpha and beta
Ancient Greek had pitch accent, while Modern Greek has stress accent
Greek is the official language of the European Union