Many people ask if Greek is a difficult language. How easy is it to learn Greek?
Do you understand what “bibliography” means? Have you ever heard of “psychology”, “biology”, and “philology”? If I were to ask you to write the Greek letter delta (ฮดฮญฮปฯฮฑ) on a piece of paper, would you be able to complete the task? If you answered positively to most of the above questions, then you already speak some Greek. Kind of.
The modern Greek language, which is not very different from the ancient Greek language, is spoken by more than 13 million people across the globe. However, if we take the various international words and phrases that derive from Greek, then almost everyone is a Greek speaker.
Is It Easy to Learn Greek?
Learning Greek is not a walk in the park – but it is not as difficult as many people think. The average English speaker needs approximately 44 weeks to master the language, according to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). That places Greek in the 4th category of language difficulty. That makes the language easier than Japanese, more difficult than Italian, and as difficult as Hebrew.
Your mother tongue, the other languages you speak, and the level you want to reach, along with other factors, will determine how difficult it is for you to master the Greek language.
Many people are discouraged due to the fact that Greek has no “sister languages” and the Greek alphabet is unique and used only in Greek. However, Greek has influenced all European languages via Latin, while enriching the global medical and scientific vocabulary. Moreover, the Greek alphabet is very similar to the Latin alphabet, with the latter being based on the former.
Easiest Way to Learn Greek
There are many ways to learn the Greek language. The easiest, quickest, and most affordable way is perhaps by using an e-learning platform. For example, Helinika has a complete course for absolute beginners that can help kickstart your language learning journey. All you need is an electronic device and Internet connection. With Helinika’s Udemy course, Greek becomes a piece of cake.
Claim your discount and start learning Greek at home with Helinika:
What’s Easier: Modern Greek or Ancient Greek?
It is important to note that modern Greek grammar and vocabulary are also much easier than the ones of ancient Greek. Greeks don’t use the polytonic system anymore, nor do they use the dative case. Sentences are generally smaller and the syntax is much clearer. If you are considering learning Greek, opt for Modern Greek. Not only will it be easier to study ancient Greek in the future, but you will be able to converse with the living descendants of the Greeks!
Marialena Perpiraki is a journalist and writer from Athens, Greece. In 2020, she founded Helinika as a cross-media platform.
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