You probably don’t realise it, but you’re speaking Ancient Greek every day. No, seriously. English is packed with words borrowed or derived from Greek, often hiding in plain sight. Here’s how it works.
Politics: The Original Greek Drama
Political terms are a goldmine for Greek roots. The Greeks literally invented democracy, so it’s no surprise the word itself comes from demos (people) and kratos (power).
Demos
/ˈdɛmɒs/“People”
- A tyrant? From Greek tyrannos, meaning an absolute ruler (usually a bad one).
- An aristocrat? That’s from aristokratia – rule by the best (or at least, the richest).
Science & Tech: Greek Was the Original Nerd Language
Science loves Greek prefixes and suffixes. Ever wondered why so many disciplines end in -ology? That’s from logos, meaning 'study of'.
| Modern Word | Greek Root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone | Tele + phone | Far + sound |
| Biology | Bios + logos | Life + study |
| Geography | Ge + graphia | Earth + writing |
Everyday Words You Didn’t Know Were Greek
Some words are so common we forget their origins. For example:
- Chaos – From khaos, meaning 'void' or 'abyss'.
- Echo – Named after the nymph Ēkhō from Greek mythology.
- Titanic – Refers to the Titanes, the giant gods before the Olympians.
If you're into Homeric Greek, check out our guide on 10 lesser-known words from Homer.
Why This Matters
Knowing Greek roots isn’t just trivia – it helps you decode unfamiliar words. See a word ending in -phobia? Now you know it means 'fear of' (phobos).
