Dictionary

Greek en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• grēk
• /ɡɹiːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English Grēcas (“Greeks”), variant of Crēcas, from Proto-West Germanic *Krēkō, from Latin Graecus of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from the toponym Γραῖα (Graîa) or from other Paleo-Balkanic forms from a tribal name Graii. Greek in any case has the cognate Γραικός (Graikós), the mythological ancestor of the Γραίοι (Graíoi, “Graecians”). Germanic cognates include Dutch Griek, German Grieche. The ⟨g⟩ in English and Germanic cognates was restored under influence from French grec and classical Latin Graecus. The adjective dates to 14th-century Middle English, replacing Old English Grēċisċ (“Greekish”) and earlier Middle English Gregeis. In reference to fraternities and sororities, a clipping of earlier Greek-letter in reference to their usual names being initialisms of mottos in the Greek language. In reference to terms used to analysize financial derivatives, from their usual names consisting of Greek letters.

Meanings

1. Of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture.
   • Ikey the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
   • The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates promoted wine for various purposes, including reducing fevers and dressing wounds. 2022 January 22, Jonathan Reiner, “If you think that glass of wine is good for you, it’s time to reconsider”, in CNN, archived from the original on 12 Aug 2025:
   • Sanskrit, Greek, Slavonic, Germanic, and Celtic names were all of this type, but there are also shorter names formed from the compound ones; […]. 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xii:
2. (colloquial, figuratively) Synonym of incomprehensible, used for foreign speech or text, technical jargon, or advanced subjects.
3. (US, not-comparable) Of or relating to collegiate fraternities, sororities, or (uncommon) honor societies.
   • “Every single person is going to have a different experience watching this film,” she said when I asked about possibly labeling the Greek system as “toxic”. 2023 May 24, Adrian Horton, “‘Competitive femininity’: inside the wild and secretive world of sororities”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 10 Jun 2023:

Forms

Deriveds

Greek Catholicism · Greekly · Greek chorus · Greekesque · Greek arts · Greek god · Greek love · Greek cross · Greek Christian Scriptures · Greek fire · Greek fret · Greekish · Greek yoghurt · Greek Orthodoxy · Greek alphabet · Greek life · Greek Sign Language · Greek house · Greek fries · Greek Catholic · Greek numeral · Greek system · Greek Orthodox · Greek calends · Greek number · Greek Orthodox Church · Greekize · Greek pitch · Greek People's Liberation Army · Greek salad · Greekification · Greek key · Greekness · Greek foot · Greek letter · Greeklike · Greekify · Greek Fathers · Greekery

Descendants

ግሪክ

Hypernyms

Greco-Roman · ancient · senses relating to Greece · Greeks · European

Synonyms

Greco- · or advanced subjects · Hellenic · incomprehensible · technical jargon · Grecian · Helleno- · used for foreign speech or text · Greek

Translations (128)

gl grego (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · cy Groegaidd (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · fa یونانی (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ja ギリシアの (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · he יְוָנִי (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ru гре́цкий (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ang Crēċisċ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · lb griichesch (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · be грэ́часкі (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rsk гречески (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · vi Hy Lạp (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · kmr yewnanî (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · jv Yunani (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup grec (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ro grecesc (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · bn গ্রিক (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · jv Grikenlan (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · lo ເກຣັກ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · kk грек (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sl gŕški (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sw Kigiriki (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · orv грьчьскъ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · hsb grjekski (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · az yunan (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup gãrtseascã (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · am የግሪክ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ka ბერძნული (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ur یونانی (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · nb gresk (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ms Yunani (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sq elin (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · hy հունական (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ia grec (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · tr Yunanca (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sh gȑčkī (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sq grek (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sq greshit (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · xmf ბერძენული ნინა (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sk grécky (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · la Graecus (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rue ґре́цькый (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ca grec (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup grache (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · nn gresk (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · be грэ́цкі (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · lv grieķu (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · is grískur (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · mk грчки (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · mn грек (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · uz grek (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · fi kreikankielinen (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · hu görög (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · lo ຍວນ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup gãrtsescu (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · cs řecký (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ko 그리스의 (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · km ក្រិក (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · et kreeka (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · bn গ্রীক (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · mn ᠭᠷᠧᠻ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ja ギリシャの (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · fr grec (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · lv grieķisks (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · tg юнонӣ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · pl grecki (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ky грек (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · cmn 希臘的 /希腊的 (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ta கிரேக்க (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · grc Ἑλληνικός (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ru гре́ческий (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · el ελληνικός (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · or ଗ୍ରୀକ୍ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup grãtseascã (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · th กรีก (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sq grish (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · es griego (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ro greacă (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · hi यूनानी (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ast griegu (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ia greco (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ar إِغْرِيقِيّ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · cu грьчьскъ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · eo greka (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · bar Griachische (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ug يۇنان (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · yi גריכיש (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · tk grek (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · bn ইউনানি (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · cop ⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲓⲛ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sh гр̏чкӣ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · hsb grichiski (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup greacã (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sq eline (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · uz yunon (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · de griechisch (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · id Yunani (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · scn grecu (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · tr Yunan (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sv grekisk (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · af Grieks (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ug گرېك (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · fo grikskur (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ckb یۆنانی (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · bn যবন (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · pt grego (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ps يوناني (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · rup grãtsescu (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · am ግሪክኛ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ro grec (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · haw Helene (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · xcl յունական (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · nl Grieks (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · uk гре́цький (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ar يُونَانِيّ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · lt grai̇̃kiškas (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · oc grèc (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · fi kreikkalainen (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · th กรีซ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · bg гръ́цки (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ca hel·lè (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · it greco (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ga Gréagach (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · my ဂရိ (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · he יווני (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · da græsk (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · ka საბერძნეთის (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · nl Griekse (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture) · sq greke (of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture)

Greek en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• grēk
• /ɡɹiːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English Grēcas (“Greeks”), variant of Crēcas, from Proto-West Germanic *Krēkō, from Latin Graecus of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from the toponym Γραῖα (Graîa) or from other Paleo-Balkanic forms from a tribal name Graii. Greek in any case has the cognate Γραικός (Graikós), the mythological ancestor of the Γραίοι (Graíoi, “Graecians”). Germanic cognates include Dutch Griek, German Grieche. The ⟨g⟩ in English and Germanic cognates was restored under influence from French grec and classical Latin Graecus. The adjective dates to 14th-century Middle English, replacing Old English Grēċisċ (“Greekish”) and earlier Middle English Gregeis. In reference to fraternities and sororities, a clipping of earlier Greek-letter in reference to their usual names being initialisms of mottos in the Greek language. In reference to terms used to analysize financial derivatives, from their usual names consisting of Greek letters.

Meanings

1. (countable) A person from Greece or of Greek descent.
   • The Greeks believed the sun went round the earth.
2. (uncountable) Greek cuisine, traditional or representative Greek food.
3. (colloquial, figuratively, uncountable) Synonym of gibberish, used for foreign speech or text, technical jargon, or advanced subjects.
   • "It's all Greek to me," said my companion at the outset, but as the warrior continued, his fears arose within him; it might be sentence of death—what did he know what it might not be? 1859, Kinahan Cornwallis, Two Journeys to Japan, 1856–7, volume 2, page 246:
   • preferred risk... family maintenance... 20-pay life. That's a bare sampling of the merchandise you're asked to pick and choose from. If it sounds like Greek to you, don't worry. It sounds like Greek to most people. 1951 December, “Which Kind of Life Insurance Policy?”, in Changing Times – The Kiplinger Magazine, volume 5, number 12, page 28:
   • "I don't hear one word in ten that they say," continued Mrs. Abingdon; "it's Greek to me. However, ..." 1821, Mary Jane Mackenzie, Geraldine, page 8:
4. (colloquial, figuratively, metonymically, uncountable) Synonym of lorem ipsum, dummy placeholder text used in greeking.
5. (US, colloquial, countable, metonymically) A member of a collegiate fraternity or sorority.
   • Was Joe a Greek in college?
6. (archaic, countable, slang) A cunning rogue.
   • The wind-up is, that the father becomes bankrupt; the wife and daughters town-traders; the sons Greeks, Fancy-swells, Conveyancers (pickpockets), or Cracksmen (house breakers), and the New Drop is the last drop they ever take. 1822, A Morning in Cork-Street: or, Raising the wind, page 102:
   • When Greek meets Greek neither is wont to get much satisfaction. 1897, Stanley John Weyman, “The Deanery Ball”, in For the Cause:
7. (archaic, countable, slang) A merry fellow.
8. (slang, uncountable) Anal sex.
   • She is absolutely a total GFE, no limits, except no Greek. (Well...I say “no Greek” - - if she is really hot for you, and if she is really turned on in a long session, she might beg for a finger in her anus while you suck her clit, but she is just too tiny and tight for any “real meat” in the backdoor.) 2001, "ASP: 'Julie' of Oral-Land-Oh", alt.sex.prostitution, Usenet
   • “What's within reason?” “Hand-job, blow-job, full sex — straight, full service. Greek, maybe, if you're not too big. Golden shower, if you like, but not reverse. No hardsports. And absolutely nothing without.” 2012, Maxim Jakubowski, The Best British Crime Omnibus:
9. (countable, in-plural, uncountable) One of the Greeks, measures of derivative price sensitivity.

Forms

Deriveds

Greek active · Greekling · Greekdom · Greek it · Greek fire · Greek passive · Greekland · Greek gift · Greekess · Greek Empire

Hypernyms

person · European

Hyponyms

Minoan · Attican · Euboean · Ionian · Lesbian · Cretan · Cypriot · Athenian · Thessalonican · Macedonian · Peloponnesian · Rhodian · Lacedaemonian · Thessalonian · Corfiot · Delphian · Arcadian · Lesviot · Corinthian · Epirot · Coan · Naxiot · Olympian · Thessalian · Griko · Constantinopolitan · Theban · Megarian · Thracian · Spartan · Plataean · Eleusinian

Relateds

Griko

Synonyms

lorem ipsum · or advanced subjects · gibberish · Greeke · used for foreign speech or text · anal sex (anal sex) · Grecian · Hellene · dummy placeholder text used in greeking · technical jargon · Greek

Translations (160)

ee Helatɔ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · eo greko (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sl Gŕkinja (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · be грача́нка (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sv grekiska (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · he יווניה (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · tr Yunanistanlı (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ga Gréagach (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ast griegu (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sq greke (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · mk Грк (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ug گرېك (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · eu greko (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sw Mgiriki (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ckb یۆنانی (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fo grikki (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ko 그리스 사람 (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · cs Řek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · kmr yûnanî (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rm grecca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · grc Ἑλληνίς (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · hy հույն (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lt grai̇̃kė (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lb Griichin (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sv grek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sh Gȑkinja (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rm grec (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ia greco (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fr grecque (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · scn grecu (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · it greco (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fi kreikkalainen (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · vec greca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · tum muGriki (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · mt Grieg (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sq gërk (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · gl grega (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · vi người Hy Lạp (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ro greacă (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ms Yunani (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sk Grék (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · xmf ბერზენი (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · tr Rum (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · vec greco (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · pl Greczynka (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · or ଗ୍ରୀକ୍ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · chr ᎠᎪᎢ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ca grec (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · et kreeklane (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ta கிரேக்கர் (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ka ბერძენი (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sh Гр̏к (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ja ギリシャ人 (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ru грек (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ca grega (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · mk Гркинка (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ar يُونَانِيَّة (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · cs Řekyně (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · kmr grekî (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · haw Helene (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fa یونانی (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · xcl յոյն (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · da græker (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · eo grekino (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ar يُونَانِيّ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ro grec (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sq grek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · grc Ἕλλην (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · th กรีก (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · es griega (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · nn grekar (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · tg юнонӣ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sl Gŕk (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · bn গ্রিক (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · de Griechin (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · la Graecus (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · grc Γραικός (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sh Гр̏киња (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rup greacã (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · grc Γραικίτις (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · hi ग्रीक (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · kk грек (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ko 그리스인 (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · oc grèga (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sva ბერზენ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ca hel·lè (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ur یُوْنانی (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ru греча́нка (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · tr Yunan (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · eu greziar (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fur greghe (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · de Grieche (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · he יְוָנִי (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sc greca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ug يۇنان (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fr grecques (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fur greche (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sq gërqinjë (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · uk греки́ня (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · el Ελληνίδα (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rup grache (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fr grec (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · got 𐌺𐍂𐌴𐌺𐍃 (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ro grecoaică (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rup grec (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · is Grikki (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ia greca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sc grecu (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · mt Griegi (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · nb greker (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · gl grego (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · pt grego (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · scn greca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rsk Грекиня (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · la Graeca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fur grêc (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ky грек (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · be грэк (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · hu görög (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · yi גריך (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · id orang yunani (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ps يوناني (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · tk grek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · eo helenino (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · it greca (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · eo heleno (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · uz grek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · uk грек (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · es griego (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · af Griek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ast griega (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · oc grèc (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · egx-dem wynn (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · fy Gryk (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · uz yunon (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · uk греча́нка (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · pl Grek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · hi यूनानी (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · el Έλληνας (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lv grieķiete (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ja ギリシア人 (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · mt Griega (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sk Grékyňa (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lzz ურუმი (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lt grai̇̃kas (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · cmn 希臘人 /希腊人 (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sh Gȑk (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · cop ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲓⲛ (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ab абырзе́н (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · bg грък (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · sv grekinna (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lb Griich (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · rsk Грек (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · nl Griek (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · mi Kariki (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · lv grieķis (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · bg гърки́ня (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · ab аелы́н (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · nl Griekse (person from Greece or of Greek descent) · az yunan (person from Greece or of Greek descent)

Greek en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• grēk
• /ɡɹiːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English Grēcas (“Greeks”), variant of Crēcas, from Proto-West Germanic *Krēkō, from Latin Graecus of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from the toponym Γραῖα (Graîa) or from other Paleo-Balkanic forms from a tribal name Graii. Greek in any case has the cognate Γραικός (Graikós), the mythological ancestor of the Γραίοι (Graíoi, “Graecians”). Germanic cognates include Dutch Griek, German Grieche. The ⟨g⟩ in English and Germanic cognates was restored under influence from French grec and classical Latin Graecus. The adjective dates to 14th-century Middle English, replacing Old English Grēċisċ (“Greekish”) and earlier Middle English Gregeis. In reference to fraternities and sororities, a clipping of earlier Greek-letter in reference to their usual names being initialisms of mottos in the Greek language. In reference to terms used to analysize financial derivatives, from their usual names consisting of Greek letters.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The language spoken by people of Greece, particularly, depending on context, Ancient Greek or Modern Greek.
   • For it is vain and foolish to talk of knowing Greek, since in our ignorance we should be at the bottom of any class of schoolboys, since we do not know how the words sounded, or where precisely we ought to laugh, or how the actors acted, and between this foreign people and ourselves there is not only difference of race and tongue but a tremendous breach of tradition. All the more strange, then, is it that we should wish to know Greek, try to know Greek, feel for ever drawn back to Greek, and be for ever making up some notion of the meaning of Greek, though from what incongruous odds and ends, with what slight resemblance to the real meaning of Greek, who shall say? 1925, Virginia Woolf, “On Not Knowing Greek”, in [Leonard Woolf], editor, Collected Essays, volume I, London: Hogarth Press, published 1966, →OCLC, page 1:
   • It’s one that I would personally endorse: My individual circumstances were such that, by the age of 12, I could speak German, Greek and English, so languages became my passion and my hobby. 2021 April 25, John Malathronas, “Which languages are easiest – and most difficult – for native English speakers to learn?”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2022:
2. (countable, uncountable) The written form of these languages.
3. (countable, uncountable) A surname.

Forms

Deriveds

Greeklish · Cappadocian Greek · Indo-Greek · Koine Greek · Homeric Greek · Mycenaean Greek · Ionic Greek · Attic Greek · medical Greek · Greekless · Old Greek · St. Giles's Greek · Hellenistic Greek · Protogreek · Modern Greek · Late Greek · Classical Greek · Medieval Greek · Epic Greek · it's all Greek to me · Archaic Greek · Ancient Greek · Pre-Greek · New Greek · Doric Greek · Middle Greek · Mariupol Greek · Arcadocypriot Greek · Neo-Greek · Demotic Greek · Aeolic Greek · Byzantine Greek

Relateds

Griko

Translations (141)

hi ग्रीक (language of the Greek people) · rup gãrtseashti (language of the Greek people) · vi tiếng Hy-lạp (language of the Greek people) · rup limba greacã (language of the Greek people) · ttj Orugiriiki class 11 (language of the Greek people) · tl Griyego (language of the Greek people) · ee Helagbe (language of the Greek people) · ve Tshigiriki class 7 (language of the Greek people) · nv Gwíík bizaad (language of the Greek people) · az yunanca (language of the Greek people) · lv grieķu valoda (language of the Greek people) · sq gjuha greke (language of the Greek people) · cop ⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲓⲛ (language of the Greek people) · pt grego (language of the Greek people) · tt грек (language of the Greek people) · ast griegu (language of the Greek people) · sk gréčtina (language of the Greek people) · br gresianeg (language of the Greek people) · chr ᎬᎵᎧ (language of the Greek people) · yue 希臘文 /希腊文 (language of the Greek people) · mt Grieg (language of the Greek people) · eu greko (language of the Greek people) · hy հունարեն (language of the Greek people) · az Јунан (language of the Greek people) · pl greka (language of the Greek people) · ha Yunananci (language of the Greek people) · nse Cigiliki class 7 (language of the Greek people) · be грэ́цкая мо́ва (language of the Greek people) · mk гр́чки (language of the Greek people) · ar اللُّغَة اليُونَانِيَّة (language of the Greek people) · ca grec (language of the Greek people) · ti ግሪከኛ (language of the Greek people) · ta கிரேக்கம் (language of the Greek people) · gl grego (language of the Greek people) · ko 그리스어 (language of the Greek people) · de griechische Sprache (language of the Greek people) · mn грек (language of the Greek people) · ms bahasa Yunani (language of the Greek people) · hsb grjekšćina (language of the Greek people) · cy Groeg (language of the Greek people) · la graecē (language of the Greek people) · co grecu (language of the Greek people) · no hellenesk (language of the Greek people) · af Grieks (language of the Greek people) · vi tiếng Hy Lạp (language of the Greek people) · bg гръ́цки (language of the Greek people) · be грэ́цкая (language of the Greek people) · cmn 希臘語 /希腊语 (language of the Greek people) · ro greceşte (language of the Greek people) · ur یونانی (language of the Greek people) · rup limba grache (language of the Greek people) · tg юнонӣ (language of the Greek people) · kmr Yonanî (language of the Greek people) · grc Ἑλληνική (language of the Greek people) · fa یونانی (language of the Greek people) · fo grikskt (language of the Greek people) · eo greka (language of the Greek people) · th ภาษากรีก (language of the Greek people) · ang Crēċisċ (language of the Greek people) · de Griechisch (language of the Greek people) · bn গ্রিক (language of the Greek people) · zu Isigrikhi (language of the Greek people) · fi kreikka (language of the Greek people) · nds-de Greeksch (language of the Greek people) · ga Gréigis (language of the Greek people) · la lingua graeca (language of the Greek people) · sq greqisht (language of the Greek people) · la Graecum (language of the Greek people) · ja ギリシャ語 (language of the Greek people) · si ග්රීක භාෂාව (language of the Greek people) · uk гре́цька (language of the Greek people) · kmr Yewnanî (language of the Greek people) · grc Ἑλληνιστί (language of the Greek people) · fr grec (language of the Greek people) · nrf Grec (language of the Greek people) · no gresk (language of the Greek people) · ug گرېكچە (language of the Greek people) · da græsk (language of the Greek people) · xcl յունարէն (language of the Greek people) · dsb grichišćina (language of the Greek people) · fi kreikan kieli (language of the Greek people) · sh грчки (language of the Greek people) · lv grieķu (language of the Greek people) · mdf грекань (language of the Greek people) · ka ბერძნული ენა (language of the Greek people) · lt grai̇̃kų (language of the Greek people) · id bahasa Yunani (language of the Greek people) · pl (język) grecki (language of the Greek people) · ka ბერძნული (language of the Greek people) · rup gãrtseashte (language of the Greek people) · eu greziera (language of the Greek people) · el ελληνικά (language of the Greek people) · am የግሪክ ቋንቋ (language of the Greek people) · vls Grieks (language of the Greek people) · lij grêgo (language of the Greek people) · he יוונית (language of the Greek people) · li Greeksj (language of the Greek people) · uz yunon (language of the Greek people) · lb Griichesch (language of the Greek people) · oc grèc (language of the Greek people) · fy Gryksk (language of the Greek people) · xag 𐔴𐔾𐔾𐔰𐕒𐕡𐔿𐔰 (language of the Greek people) · sw Kigiriki (language of the Greek people) · sl gŕščina (language of the Greek people) · si ග්රීක (language of the Greek people) · ro greacă (language of the Greek people) · sq greqishte (language of the Greek people) · rup limba gãrtseascã (language of the Greek people) · ru гре́ческий (language of the Greek people) · is gríska (language of the Greek people) · lt Grai̇̃kiškai (language of the Greek people) · yi גריכיש (language of the Greek people) · tr Yunanca (language of the Greek people) · ckb یۆنانی (language of the Greek people) · be грэ́чаская (language of the Greek people) · it greco (language of the Greek people) · et kreeka (language of the Greek people) · ia greco (language of the Greek people) · be грэ́чаская мо́ва (language of the Greek people) · or ଗ୍ରୀକ୍ (language of the Greek people) · iu ᒡᕇᓯᑐᑦ (language of the Greek people) · ar اليُونَانِيَّة (language of the Greek people) · es griego (language of the Greek people) · cs řečtina (language of the Greek people) · chr ᎪᎢ (language of the Greek people) · ja ギリシア語 (language of the Greek people) · sv grekiska (language of the Greek people) · tum Cigriki (language of the Greek people) · ms Yunani (language of the Greek people) · ro limba greacă f limba grecească (language of the Greek people) · kw Greka (language of the Greek people) · scn grecu (language of the Greek people) · kl grækerisut (language of the Greek people) · mi reo Kariki (language of the Greek people) · hi यूनानी (language of the Greek people) · ar يُونَانِيّ (language of the Greek people) · sh grčki (language of the Greek people) · hu görög (language of the Greek people) · am ግሪክኛ (language of the Greek people) · wa Grek (language of the Greek people) · nl Grieks (language of the Greek people)

wikidata: Q9129

Greek en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• grēk
• /ɡɹiːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English Grēcas (“Greeks”), variant of Crēcas, from Proto-West Germanic *Krēkō, from Latin Graecus of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from the toponym Γραῖα (Graîa) or from other Paleo-Balkanic forms from a tribal name Graii. Greek in any case has the cognate Γραικός (Graikós), the mythological ancestor of the Γραίοι (Graíoi, “Graecians”). Germanic cognates include Dutch Griek, German Grieche. The ⟨g⟩ in English and Germanic cognates was restored under influence from French grec and classical Latin Graecus. The adjective dates to 14th-century Middle English, replacing Old English Grēċisċ (“Greekish”) and earlier Middle English Gregeis. In reference to fraternities and sororities, a clipping of earlier Greek-letter in reference to their usual names being initialisms of mottos in the Greek language. In reference to terms used to analysize financial derivatives, from their usual names consisting of Greek letters.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) To cheat at cards.
   • A discovery of Greeking at Brighton, has made considerable noise this month in the sporting world. 1817, Sporting Magazine, number 50, page 284:
2. (alt-of, uncommon) Alternative letter-case form of greek.
   alt of greek

Forms

Relateds

Dimotiki (Other headwords of interest) · Hellenize (Other headwords of interest) · Hellenism (Other headwords of interest) · ell ⁠ · Greek–English Dictionary: from Webster’s Dictionary · ell · Hellenistic (Other headwords of interest) · Dhimotiki (Other headwords of interest) · Wiktionary’s coverage of Greek terms · el · Hellenic (Other headwords of interest) · Koine (Other headwords of interest) · Katharevousa (Other headwords of interest)