It is estimated that 15% of modern English words
have Ancient Greek origins. Many of these words
are almost direct translations of the original
Ancient Greek, whereas many more are made
from combining two or more Ancient Greek
words.
Classic examples of this are words like
“Telescope” & “Telephone” – very modern you
may believe but taken from the Ancient Greek
“tele” (meaning “distant”), “skopos” (meaning
“observer”) & “phone” (meaning “voice”).
Therefore “telescope” literally means “distant
observer” and “telephone” means “distant voice”.
Here are just a few examples of the many English
words that have originated from Ancient Greek:
English Word
Greek Origin
Angel
Agony
Anchor
Athlete
Angelos
Agonia
Ankyra
Athletes
Academy
Akademia
Greek Meaning
Messenger
Pain
Anchor
Contestant (in
games)
School
Acoustics
Amnesia
Amphi……..
Anatomy
Anthology
Anthropod
Anonymous
Anti…..
Akouein
Amnesia
Amphi
Anotomia
Anthos
Anthropos
Anonumos
Anti
Arachnid
Architect
Asthma
Arakhne
Arkhitekton
Asthma
Asylum
Asterisk
Astrology
Authentic
Auto……
Barbarian
Biology
Demo……..
Graphics
Therm……..
Theology
Asulon
Aster
Astron
Authentikos
Auto
Barbaros
Bios
Demos
Graphein
Thermos
Theos
To hear
Oblivion
On both sides
Dissection
Flower
Human being
Nameless
Opposite,
against
Spider
Chief builder
Breathing
condition
Sanctuary
Star
Constellation
Original
Self
Non-Greek
Life
People
To write
Hot
A God
Hepta…….
Zoo & Zoo…..
Clone
Cosmos
…..cracy
Mono………
Micro……
Museum
Nautical
Pathology
Hepta
Zoon
Klonos
Kosmos
Kratos
Monos
Mikros
Mousa
Nautikos
Pathos
Poly……..
(Dino)saur
…..Scope…..
Tele……..
Toxin
Hydro…….
Hypno….
……Phobia
……Phone…..
Chrono……
Psycho…..
Polus
Sauros
Skopos
Tele
Toxon
Hydro
Hypno
Phobos
Phone
Khrono
Psykhe
Seven
Animal
Branch, twig
Universe
Power, rule
Alone
Small
Goddess of Art
Sailor, ship
Suffering,
desease
Many
Lizard
Observer
Distant
Poison
Water
Sleep
Fear
Voice
Time
Spirit, mind,
soul
ANCIENT GREEK
WORDS
used in
MODERN ENGLISH
Educational Aid – produced by: The Hoplite Association
www.hoplites.org