Greek

How to spell greek

5 letters · 1 syllable

How to pronounce greek

What does greek mean?

1. adjectiveRelating to Greece, its people, language, or culture.
2. nounThe language spoken in Greece, ancient or modern.

Greek in a sentence

• adjective

  The museum displayed several ancient greek statues.

• noun

  He studied greek at university to read the classical texts.

• adjective

  She ordered a greek salad with extra olives.

• noun

  The menu was printed in both English and greek.

Where does greek come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This word traces back through Latin Graecus and ultimately to the ancient Greek word Graikos, which was an early name for the Hellenic people; curiously, the Greeks generally called themselves Hellenes, so the name English uses came to us through outsiders. The Romans adopted Graecus to describe the people, language, and culture of Greece, and from there it spread across Europe. Old English already had a form, Grecas, for the Greek people, showing how early the contact reached the Germanic world. The modern spelling settled with the simple 'ee' representing the long vowel, mirroring the Latin and later French forms. Because the sound is so regular, the main thing to remember is the single 'k' ending rather than a 'c' or 'ck'.

How the word is built

• Greek (from Latin Graecus, the name of the people of Greece)