Wikijunior:Languages/Greek

What writing system(s) does this language use?
Greece has used the Greek alphabet since the 9th century B.C. The Greek alphabet was the first alphabet to introduce the concept of a vowel. It contains 24 letters, as shown here.


 * Α, Β, Γ, Δ, Ε, Ζ, Η, Θ, Ι, Κ, Λ, Μ, Ν, Ξ, Ο, Π, Ρ, Σ, Τ, Υ, Φ, Χ, Ψ, Ω

How many people speak this language?
About 12 million people speak Greek, making it the 52nd most common language.

Where is this language spoken?
Greek is an official language in Greece, Cyprus, and the European Union, but some people speak Greek in Bulgaria, Albania, Italy, and Turkey. Greek is also spoken by millions of immigrants who live in the United States, Canada, Australia, and various European and African countries, among other places.

What is the history of this language?
Ancient Greek was the language of the Ancient Greek civilization. It was similar to Modern Greek to read, but was pronounced very differently. It gradually evolved into Modern Greek over time — it is one of the only languages to have a continuous history for more than 3000 years!

Some famous authors or poets who speak this language
Greek literature has had a continuous history for about 3000 years.

Homer - wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey. (Ancient Greek)

Vitsentzos Kornaros - wrote Erotokritos. (Modern Greek)

Dionysios Solomos - wrote Ύμνος Στην Ελευθερία (Hymn to Freedom) the poem that became modern Greece's National Anthem: "Απ' τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη, των Ελλήνων τα ιερά, και σαν πρώτα ανδριωμένη, χαίρε, ω χαίρε λευτεριά"

Andreas Kalvos - Greek poet.

Kostis Palamas - Greek poet.

Constantine Cavafy - famous Greek poet.

Nikos Kazantzakis - Greek writer and philosopher.

Giorgos Seferis - winner of the 1963 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Odysseus Elytis - winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize for Literature.

What is a simple song/poem/story that I can learn in this language?
A children' song: