Cyprus Language: What Do They Speak in Cyprus?

The official languages of Cyprus are Greek / Turkish. In Greek, the country is called Κύπρος / Kıbrıs. Cyprus is officially multilingual, with 2 recognised languages reflecting its diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

🗣️ Language at a Glance

About the Greek Language

Greek has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language: about 3,400 years, from Mycenaean clay tablets in Linear B through Homer, classical Athens, the koine Greek of the New Testament and Byzantium to the modern standard. It is the official language of Greece and, alongside Turkish, of Cyprus, and an official language of the European Union. Greek forms its own branch of the Indo-European family, the Hellenic branch, with no close living relatives; like Albanian and Armenian, it is a one-language branch. Its influence, however, is everywhere: thousands of international words, from democracy and philosophy to telephone and biology, are built from Greek roots.

The Greek alphabet: How Greek is Written

Greek is written in its own 24-letter alphabet, adapted from Phoenician around the 9th century BC. It was the first alphabet to write vowels as full letters, and it is the parent of both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets, which is why letters like A, B and E look familiar. Since a 1982 reform, modern Greek uses a single accent mark to show stress. Its letters double as the symbols of mathematics and science, from pi to omega.

Is Greek a Tonal Language?

No, Modern Greek is not a tonal language; it has a simple stress accent marked in writing. Ancient Greek did have a musical pitch accent, but it disappeared many centuries ago.

🗨️ Useful Greek Phrases

A few everyday phrases in Greek, written in a simple romanized pronunciation so you can read them aloud. Tones and exact sounds vary by region, so treat these as a starting point.

How Hard is Greek to Learn?

The alphabet takes only days to learn and pronunciation is regular. The US Foreign Service Institute allots Greek around 1,100 class hours: three genders, four cases and rich verb conjugation carry the workload. One famous trap for visitors: ne means yes, while ochi means no.

Multilingual Heritage of Cyprus

Cyprus officially recognises 2 languages: Greek, Turkish. This multilingual status is a reflection of the country's history, ethnic diversity and cultural complexity. Different regions or communities may predominantly use one language over another, and all official languages are typically represented in government, education and public services. Multilingual countries often have rich cultural traditions that draw from each language community.

Language Tips for Visitors to Cyprus

The official language of Cyprus is Greek, which may be unfamiliar to many international travellers. While English speakers can often be found in larger cities and tourist-heavy areas, it is advisable to learn a few basic phrases before your trip. Locals greatly appreciate any effort to use the local language, even if imperfect. Simple greetings, thank-yous and asking for directions in Greek will go a long way. The country is officially known as Κύπρος / Kıbrıs in Greek, and the international dialling code is +357.

🌍 Other Countries Where Greek is Spoken

Greek is not exclusive to Cyprus; it is also spoken in these countries:

Greece

Greek

Frequently Asked Questions about Language in Cyprus