гре́ческий
gréčeskijmasculine
The Russian word for the Greek language is гре́ческий (gréčeskij).
When you want to specifically name the Greek language, you use the phrase гре́ческий язык.
Meaning: language of the Greek people (name)
Which one should you use?
The related form гре́цкий can also be used to mean of or relating to Greece, its people, its language or its culture. For people, use the noun грек for a man or греча́нка for a woman.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the masculine and neuter genitive case, such as when saying 'of the Greek language', the adjective гре́ческий changes to гре́ческого. Note that the form гре́цкого is also a masculine genitive form.
How do you pronounce it?
gréčeskij
Did you know?
- The Russian word for 'walnut' is грецкий орех, which literally translates to 'Greek nut'. This reflects a historical belief that walnuts were first imported to Russia from Greece.
- The word for 'buckwheat' in Russian is гре́чка, which shares a root with the word for 'Greek'.
- While гре́ческий and гре́цкий both relate to Greece, the form гре́цкий is now almost exclusively used to refer to walnuts.
Examples in context
- Сегодня я познакомился с новым коллегой. Он грек.Today, I met my new colleague. He is Greek.
- Он изучает гре́ческий язык.On izuchayet grecheskiy yazyk.He studies the Greek language.
- Это был гре́ческий философ.Eto byl grecheskiy filosof.He was a Greek philosopher.
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are discussing their favorite languages.
- Ольга OlgaСергей, какой язык ты учишь?Sergey, kakoy yazyk ty uchish'?Sergey, what language are you learning?
- Сергей SergeyЯ сейчас учу гре́ческий.Ya seychas uchu grécheskiy.I am learning Greek right now.
- Ольга OlgaЭто очень красивый язык.Eto ochen' krasivyy yazyk.That is a very beautiful language.
- Сергей SergeyДа, но он довольно сложный.Da, no on dovol'no slozhnyy.Yes, but it is quite difficult.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greek” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
