150,000 Greek Words in English: Full List with Meanings

Influence of the Greek(Hellenic) language in today’s word

English words of Greek origin

The Guinness Book of Records ranks the Hellenic language as the richest in the world with 5 million words and 70 million word types!

Hellenic roots are often used to coin new words for other languages, especially in the sciences and medicine.

Mathematics, physics, astronomy, democracy, philosophy, athletics, theatre, rhetoric, baptism, and hundreds of other words are Hellenic(Greek), I bet that you all know that!

Greek words and word elements continue to be productive as a basis for coinages: anthropology, photography, telephony, isomer, biomechanics, cinematography, etc…

In a typical everyday 80,000-word English dictionary, about 5% of the words are directly borrowed from Greek; (for example, “phenomenon” is a Hellenic word and even obeys Hellenic grammar rules as the plural is “phenomena”), and another 25% are borrowed indirectly.

So, about 150,000 words in modern English have direct or indirect origins in the ancient Greek language.

This is because there were many Hellenic words borrowed from Latin originally, which then filtered down into English. After all, English borrowed so many words from Latin (for example, “elaiwa” in Greek evolved into the Latin “oliva”, which in turn became “olive” in English).

So, 30% of English words are…Greek!

Hellenic and Latin are the predominant sources of the international scientific vocabulary, however, the percentage of words borrowed from Greek rises much higher than Latin when considering highly scientific vocabulary (for example, “oxytetracycline” is a medical term that has three Hellenic roots).

And finally, had you ever wondered how the world was going to be if the Greek language never existed? Or, Just imagine, if you strip the English language of its Greek, Latin, and French roots what will remain? A poor Germanic dialect.

However, We must acknowledge the English language’s ability to assimilate words from other languages. This adaptability, combined with its widespread use globally, has contributed to its status as today’s international language.

Most of the ideas in this article are borrowed from eurotalk.com, so greetings belong to them.

Some samples of English texts

(Bolded and underlined words are of Greek origin, all unchanged in time and most importantly easily understood by any uneducated Greek)

Sample 1

The cosmos, an extensive expanse, is the domain of astronomers who explore the phenomena of the celestial. Using telescopes, these scientists examine the orbits and magnitudes of various planets and stars. In the microcosm, biologists study organisms, analyzing their anatomy and physiology to understand the abiogenesis, symbiosis, and metabolism within ecosystems.

In the realm of medicine, diagnosis, and therapy are paramount. Physicians use clinical methods to identify symptoms and prescribe pharmacological remedies. Pathologists investigate the etiology of diseases, often employing microscopy to observe cellular pathology via biopsy. The synthesis of antibiotics has revolutionized the prognosis of bacterial infections.

Physics, another fundamental science, delves into the dynamics of energy and matter. The study of mechanics, optics, and acoustics has led to innovations in technology. Meanwhile, chemists explore the properties and reactions of chemical elements, discovering catalysts that accelerate synthesis processes.

In geology, the stratigraphy of the Earth is examined, revealing the chronology of tectonic activities. Seismologists monitor seismic waves to predict earthquakes, safeguarding populations from potential catastrophes. Paleontologists, on the other hand, unearth fossils, contributing to the chronology of life on Earth.

Psychology, a discipline examining the psyche(soul), focuses on cognition and behavior. Psychiatrists treat mental disorders, utilizing psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. The synergy of these sciences enhances our comprehension of the natural and human world, fostering a symbiotic relationship between knowledge and application.

Sample 2

Philosophy is a profound discipline that examines the fundamental nature of existence, knowledge, and ethics. Philosophers engage in dialectics, employing logic and reason to explore metaphysical questions about reality and ontology. The dialogues of Socrates, as documented by Plato, remain seminal texts in epistemology and ethics.

Metaphysics, a branch of philosophy, delves into the essence of being and the cosmos. It addresses questions of substance, causality, and the infinite. Epistemology investigates the nature and scope of knowledge and belief, differentiating between empirical and a priori knowledge.

Ethics, or moral philosophy, explores the concepts of virtue, justice, and the good life. Aristotle‘s Nicomachean Ethics offers a systematic examination of virtue ethics, proposing that eudaimonia, or human flourishing, is achieved through the cultivation of moral and intellectual virtues.

Aesthetics, another vital branch, analyzes the nature of beauty, art, and taste. Plato‘s theory of forms posits that aesthetic qualities are reflections of ideal forms. Aristotle‘s Poetics dissects the elements of tragedy and dramatic structure, influencing literary criticism for centuries.

The Socratic method, characterized by elenchus or refutation, is a form of dialectical inquiry that seeks to expose contradictions in an interlocutor’s arguments, promoting philosophical clarity and self-examination. Heraclitus and Parmenides contributed significantly to the ontology and cosmology debates, with their doctrines on change and permanence.

In the modern era, phenomenology, founded by Edmund Husserl, investigates the structures of consciousness and intentionality. Existentialism, with figures like Sartre and Heidegger, explores the human condition, freedom, and authenticity.

The study of philosophy remains essential for the comprehension of abstract concepts and the development of critical thinking. Through analysis, synthesis, and speculation, philosophers continue to contribute to the intellectual tradition and the quest for wisdom.

And an extreme example, understood by Academics

The philosopher and theorist utilized logic and ethics in their analysis of the cosmos. In their dialogue, they explored phenomena and ideas of metaphysics and epistemology. The dynamic synthesis of theories on psychology and aesthetics created a paradox in the paradigm of democracy and autonomy.

Their methodology included techniques of dialectics and rhetoric, aiming to achieve symmetry and harmony in their systematic hypothesis. The philosopher‘s critique of dogma emphasized the importance of rational analysis and empirical criteria. They debated the axioms of geometry and mathematics, focusing on the axiomatic principles and logic.

In ethics, the philosopher examined virtue, charisma, and hedonism, proposing a synthesis of principles for eudaimonia. The cosmopolitan ethos integrated aspects of democracy, autonomy, and sympathy. The philosopher‘s systematic approach combined hypothesis, theorem, and axiom, striving for clarity and coherence.

The scholar presented their thesis in a symposium, utilizing logic and rhetoric to convey the dynamic interplay of ideas and theories. They emphasized the synthesis of philosophical concepts, promoting dialogue and debate for the development of knowledge and wisdom.

List of Greek words in English

Only an example of a few words of Greek origin is below with their writing in the modern Greek language and their spelling with Latin characters. Practically unchanged since antiquity.

NOTE: The words on this list are not clickable,  if you click on them simply nothing will happen!

Also, almost all words that start with “PH” are of Greek origin!

For my fellow Musicians

Of course, you all know that the word ‘Music‘ is Greek, don’t tell me that you don’t!

And if you play Guitar(another Greek word) you are familiar with tones, semitones, musical scales, etc, as well as with Heptatonic and pentatonic scales made in antiquity, such as Ionian, Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Hypolydian, Hypodorian or Locrian…every single word in these terms is Greek as those scales made by Greeks. As you all know your music is based on these.

See for yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(music)

We must stop here, these are already very good samples, and is impossible to write down all the 150,000 Greek words used in English! But if you click this Wiktionary link you can discover thousands more Greek words in English than you ever imagined.

Language tips

So, If you are one of those who say “It’s all Greek to me” it’s time to reconsider it, it will help if you follow a couple of simple tips.

Most important, the Latin sound of “C” is “K” in Greek. For Greeks, the sound of “C” is written and pronounced always as “S”.

(Parenthesis: During the Byzantine era, the letter C was used in Greek to produce the sound of S)

Keep in mind that the “TH” sound is written with the letter “Θ” in Greek.

In ancient Greek the letter ‘B’ originally sounded like what ‘B’ sounds like in English today, but in modern Greek, it sounds like ‘V’. The sound of ‘B is written with two distinct letters “MΠ” (M+P), and is pronounced like the Latin ‘B’.

All ancient Greek words that had an aspiration before the first vowel, were written in Latin with an ‘H’ letter instead of the aspiration, for example, ‘Ιστορία = History’.

This aspirate remained in English as the letter ‘H’, but is abolished in modern Greek and the sound of “H” is not pronounced.

Anywhere you see an “Ω” or “Ο” both pronounced as “O”. ‘Ω’ is called Omega (big, long O) and was pronounced as double O, today both exist but sound the same as ‘O’.

There are more minor differences, but slowly you will find out that you start to make sense.

Differences in the alphabet are minor. The Latin alphabet, after all, is the natural evolution of the Greek Euboean alphabet, which in turn was a local variation of the Greek alphabet.

Before 800 BCE, the Greeks borrowed the Phoenician alphabet to replace their Linear B script. It’s worth noting that they changed many letters to fit their pronunciation and added vowels, as the Phoenician alphabet did not have any vowels.

So, while the Phoenician alphabet may be considered the common ancestor of all European alphabets today, without the modifications by the Greeks, it would not fit at all.

Finally, you will see that saying “It’s all Greek to me” is a nonsensical expression. Therefore, it’s good to abandon this expression as it can be seen as a sign of ignorance, change it instead by saying: ‘It’s all Chinese to me”.

They are all Hellenic(Greek)

According to one estimate, more than 150,000 English words, directly or indirectly, are derived from Greek words…source:www.britishcouncil.org

Now that you have seen how many Greek words you know, You shouldn’t feel stranger when you visit Greece, you are a native Greek-speaking person, but you don’t know it yet! Learn about this.
Learn 100 Greek words in 10 minutes!