ελληνικά
elliniká/eliniˈka/neuter, plural
The English word "greek" is translated into Greek as ελληνικά (elliniká).
ελληνικά is the name of the language. When you want to refer specifically to the Greek language, you can use Ελληνική γλώσσα. To describe something of Greek origin, you would use the adjective ελληνικός. To describe a person of Greek descent or origin, the word Ελληνογενής is used.
Meaning: language of the Greek people (name)
Which one should you use?
While ελληνικά refers to the language, the adjective ελληνικός is used to describe things of Greek origin, such as ελληνικό φαγητό (Greek food). For people, you use Έλληνας or Ελληνίδα for a person from Greece or of Greek descent or Ελληνογενής for someone of Greek descent.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The name of the language, ελληνικά, is a neuter plural noun.
How do you pronounce it?
elliniká (/eliniˈka/)
Did you know?
- The Greek alphabet, used to write ελληνικά, is the ancestor of the Latin alphabet used in English and the Cyrillic alphabet used in Russian.
- The name for the language, ελληνικά, is derived from the word for 'Hellene', which refers to the ancient identity of the people rather than their geography.
- While 'Greece' is 'Ελλάδα' (Elláda), the language is not 'Ελλαδικά' but 'ελληνικά' (elliniká).
Examples in context
- Είναι δύσκολο να μάθεις Ελληνικά;Is it difficult to learn Greek?This sentence is useful for asking if learning ελληνικά is difficult.Tatoeba #5517577 by Zeus, translation #2074724 by Eldad
- Η Αιμιλία θέλει να μάθει Ελληνικά.Emily wants to learn Greek.This sentence expresses a desire to learn ελληνικά.Tatoeba #2631723 by Zeus, translation #2617218 by Prophete
- Αυτή η λέξη προέρχεται από τα Ελληνικά.This word comes from Greek.This sentence explains that a word originates from ελληνικά.Tatoeba #7766524 by amoeba, translation #59390 by CK
- Μιλάτε ελληνικά;Do you speak Greek?
- Είμαι Έλληνας/Έλληνισσα.I am Greek.
- Μαθαίνω ελληνικά.I am learning Greek.
- Θέλω να μάθω περισσότερα για την ελληνική κουλτούρα.I want to learn more about Greek culture.
- Πόσο καιρό ζεις στην Ελλάδα;How long have you been living in Greece?
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giorgos and Eleni are talking about their language classes.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΜιλάς καλά ελληνικά, Ελένη;Milás kalá elliniká, Eléni?Do you speak Greek well, Eleni?
- Ελένη EleniΌχι ακόμα, αλλά τα ελληνικά μου βελτιώνονται.Óchi akóma, allá ta elliniká mou veltiónontai.Not yet, but my Greek is improving.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΕίναι πολύ όμορφη γλώσσα.Eínai polý ómorfi glóssa.It is a very beautiful language.
- Ελένη EleniΣυμφωνώ, μου αρέσει πολύ να τα μαθαίνω.Symfonó, mou arései polý na ta mathaíno.I agree, I really like learning them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greek” translations and entries ελληνικά, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
