Greece Language: What Do They Speak in Greece?
The official language of Greece is Greek. In Greek, the country is called Ελλάδα. Greek is used in government, education, media and everyday life across the country.
🗣️ 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.
Language Tips for Visitors to Greece
The official language of Greece 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 Ελλάδα in Greek, and the international dialling code is +30.
🌍 Other Countries Where Greek is Spoken
Greek is not exclusive to Greece; it is also spoken in these countries:
Frequently Asked Questions about Language in Greece
What language do they speak in Greece?
The official language of Greece is Greek.
Is English spoken in Greece?
English is not an official language in Greece. The main language is Greek. English may be spoken in tourist areas.
What is Greece called in its own language?
Greece is called "Ελλάδα" in Greek.
What writing system does Greek use?
Greek is written in the Greek alphabet. 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.
How do you say hello in Greek?
"Hello" in Greek is "yassas (formal) / yassou".
Is Greek hard 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.
How many official languages does Greece have?
Greece has one official language: Greek.
Do I need to speak Greek to visit Greece?
It is not required but learning basic phrases in Greek is strongly recommended and appreciated.
What is the calling code for Greece?
The international dialling code for Greece is +30.
What is the population of Greece?
Greece has a population of approximately 10.6M, all of whom use Greek as the official language.