adj
Common
Greek
greek
Greek (adj) means relating to Greece, its people, language, or culture. Example: “We tried a lovely Greek restaurant near the harbour.”
adj
1
Relating to Greece, its people, language, or culture.
"We tried a lovely Greek restaurant near the harbour."
name
1
The language spoken in Greece, in either its ancient or modern form.
"She studied Ancient Greek at university."
noun
1
A person from Greece or of Greek descent.
"His grandfather was a Greek who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s."
2
(informal) Something completely incomprehensible, especially unfamiliar language or jargon.
"The tax form might as well have been written in Greek."
How to use Greek
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Greece and its people or language, or informally used to mean "totally unintelligible."
Common mistake
"It's all Greek to me" is a fixed idiom meaning "I don't understand any of this" — it has nothing to do with the actual Greek language.
Common pairings
Greek to me
Greek yogurt
ancient Greek
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Word forms
- Plural
- Greeks
- Third person singular
- greeks
- Past tense
- greeked
- Comparative
- Greeker
- Superlative
- Greekest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We tried a lovely _____ restaurant near the harbour.
Etymology
From Old English Grēcas ("Greeks"), ultimately from Latin Graecus — the name the Romans used, distinct from the Greeks' own name for themselves, Hellenes.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for Greek
See all rhymes for Greek →Frequently asked questions
What does “Greek” mean?
The word “Greek” means relating to Greece, its people, language, or culture. In plain terms, relating to Greece and its people or language, or informally used to mean "totally unintelligible.".
How do you pronounce “Greek”?
“Greek” is pronounced greek (/ɡɹiːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Greek” in a sentence?
Here is “Greek” used in a sentence: “We tried a lovely Greek restaurant near the harbour.”
What is another word for “Greek”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Greek” include Grecian, Greeke and Hellene.
What part of speech is “Greek”?
Depending on how it is used, “Greek” can be an adjective, a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Greek” come from?
The word “Greek” comes from Latin. From Old English Grēcas ("Greeks"), ultimately from Latin Graecus — the name the Romans used, distinct from the Greeks' own name for themselves, Hellenes.
Is “Greek” a common word?
“Greek” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Greek” have?
“Greek” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Greece, its people, language, or culture.
What is the difference between 'Greek' and 'Grecian'?
'Greek' is the everyday, all-purpose word for anything to do with Greece: Greek food, the Greek language, Greek people. 'Grecian' is older and more poetic, and today it mostly describes style or appearance in the classical mould, like a Grecian urn, a Grecian nose, or Grecian columns. For nationality and language, always use 'Greek.'
What does 'it's all Greek to me' mean?
It is a common English idiom meaning 'I can't understand this at all.' The phrase treats Greek, with its unfamiliar alphabet, as a stand-in for anything baffling, whether dense jargon, technical writing, or a confusing explanation. It is light-hearted and says nothing negative about the Greek language itself.
Does 'Greek' describe a language, a people, or a culture?
All three, and more. As an adjective it links anything to Greece: the Greek language and its distinctive alphabet, Greek people and their history, and Greek culture from ancient mythology and philosophy to modern food like Greek salad and Greek yogurt. The single word stretches across nationality, tongue, and heritage.
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