ELL ISO 639-3
Greek
Νέα Ελληνικά (Néa Ellīniká), ελληνικά (Elliniká) Autonym
A language of Greece
- ISO 639
- ell
- Alternate Names
- Grec, Greco, Neo-Hellenic, Romaic
- Autonym
- Νέα Ελληνικά (Néa Ellīniká), ελληνικά (Elliniká)
- Population
- 10,700,000 in Greece (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 13,288,970 (as L1: 13,230,470; as L2: 58,500).
- Location:
- Widespread.
- Language Status
- 1 (National). De facto national language.
- Classification
- Indo-European, Greek, Attic
- Dialects
- Katharevousa, Dimotiki, Saracatsan. Katharevousa is an archaic literary dialect, Dimotiki is the spoken literary and now official dialect. The Saracatsan are nomadic shepherds of northern Greece. The Greek of Italy and that of Corsica are probably distinct languages (1992 R. Zamponi). In Cyprus, the dialect is reportedly more similar to Classical Greek [grc] in some vocabulary and grammar than that spoken in Greece, and to have Latin [lat] and Turkish [tur] loanwords. Lexical similarity: 84%–93% with Greek [ell] in Cyprus.
- Typology
- SVO; prepositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); definite and indefinite articles; case-marking (3 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives (active, medio-passive, passive); tense and aspect; comparatives; 18 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; free stress.
- Language Use
- Many also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006). A few also use French [fra] (European Commission 2006). A few also use Standard German [deu] (European Commission 2006).
- Language Development
- Fully developed. Bible: 1840–1994.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Greek
- Writing
- Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used in Ukraine. Greek script [Grek], primary usage.
- Other Comments
- The Karamanli were Orthodox Christian Turks who came from central Turkey.
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Widespread south and larger cities.
- Language Status
- 3 (Wider communication) View other languages of Albania
Language Name
Greek
User Population
15,200 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 24,200 (2012 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Argentina
Language Name
Greek
User Population
41,000 in Argentina (2018). , based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Austria
Language Name
Greek
User Population
3,100 in Austria (2003 UNSD).
- Location
- Widespread.
- Language Status
- 8a (Moribund)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. During the early 20th century, European immigration was encouraged. Large numbers of Greek speakers were among those admitted. Greek remains as a heritage language. View other languages of Australia
Language Name
Greek
User Population
238,000 in Australia (2016 census), decreasing.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,800 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014 J. Leclerc).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Belgium
Language Name
Greek
User Population
28,600 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Bulgaria
Language Name
Greek
User Population
3,220 in Bulgaria (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Brazil
Language Name
Greek
User Population
11,000 in Brazil (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Canada
Language Name
Greek
User Population
107,000 in Canada (2016 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Switzerland
Language Name
Greek
User Population
8,420 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Chile
Language Name
Greek
User Population
7,000 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project).
- Location
- Larnaka, Lefkosia, Limassol, and Pafos districts (southern Cyprus).
- Dialects
- Cypriot Greek.
- Language Status
- 1 (National)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Christian. View other languages of Cyprus
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,168,500 in Cyprus, all users. L1 users: 1,110,000 in Cyprus (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 58,500 (European Commission 2012).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Czechia
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,360 in Czechia (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Germany
Language Name
Greek
User Population
364,000 in Germany (2020 census). , based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Denmark
Language Name
Greek
User Population
3,340 in Denmark (2020 census). , based on nationality.
- Location
- Alexandria and Cairo.
- Language Status
- 8b (Nearly extinct)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Egypt
Language Name
Greek
User Population
A few elderly speakers in Cairo and Alexandria (2014).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Spain
Language Name
Greek
User Population
5,100 in Spain (2020 census). , based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Finland
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,640 in Finland (2018 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United Kingdom
Language Name
Greek
User Population
50,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Ethnic population: 200,000 (2004).
- Location
- Budapest and Fejér counties.
- Language Status
- 6b (Threatened)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Hungary
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,870 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,920 (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Israel
Language Name
Greek
User Population
3,400 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a).
- Location
- Apulia region: Bari province, Monopoli; Adriatic coast; Calabria region: east of Reggio.
- Dialects
- Salento (Griko, Katoitaliótika), Aspromonte.
- Language Status
- 8a (Moribund)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Italy
Language Name
Greek
User Population
20,000 in Italy (Vincent 1987).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Kazakhstan
Language Name
Greek
User Population
14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Lebanon
Language Name
Greek
User Population
6,520 in Lebanon (2020).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Luxembourg
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,110 in Luxembourg (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Libya
Language Name
Greek
User Population
8,220 in Libya (2020).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Malawi
Language Name
Greek
User Population
5,400 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Mexico
Language Name
Greek
User Population
10,000 in Mexico (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Mozambique
Language Name
Greek
User Population
12,700 in Mozambique (2017).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Netherlands
Language Name
Greek
User Population
5,200 in Netherlands (2019).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Norway
Language Name
Greek
User Population
3,730 in Norway (2021 census). , based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of New Zealand
Language Name
Greek
User Population
2,950 in New Zealand (2013 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Panama
Language Name
Greek
User Population
3,400 in Panama (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
- Location
- Bucharest, Constanta, Prahova, Tulcea, and other urban areas.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Karakatchan are Greek-speaking Romanian nomadic shepherds. View other languages of Romania
Language Name
Greek
User Population
2,560 in Romania (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,670 (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Russian Federation
Language Name
Greek
User Population
42,500 in Russian Federation (2010 census). Ethnic population: 85,600 (2010 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Sweden
Language Name
Greek
User Population
11,100 in Sweden (2020 census). , based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Sierra Leone
Language Name
Greek
User Population
1,200 in Sierra Leone (2019).
- Location
- Istanbul; some in Izmir province.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Nearly all Greeks emigrated from Turkey. There were 1,500,000 in Turkey in 1900. View other languages of Turkey
Language Name
Greek
User Population
4,000 in Turkey (2019).
- Location
- Donetsk region: Mariupol town, 18 villages.
- Dialects
- Mariupol Greek (Crimeo-Rumeic, Tavro-Rumeic).
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Ukraine
Language Name
Greek
User Population
5,830 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 91,500 (2001 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United States
Language Name
Greek
User Population
305,000 in United States (2015 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Uruguay
Language Name
Greek
User Population
14,300 in Uruguay (2016).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Uzbekistan
Language Name
Greek
User Population
5,300 in Uzbekistan (2019).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of South Africa
Language Name
Greek
User Population
21,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Zambia
Language Name
Greek
User Population
9,700 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Zimbabwe
Language Name
Greek
User Population
7,800 in Zimbabwe (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
Map
Location: Widespread.
Size and Vitality
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