Knowing the history of words, we know the history of humanity. Language is the main human characteristic that separates men from animals. Scientists acknowledge that man is programmed to develop speech/language.
The physical environment where people live plays a major role in the development of their language. The influence of the clear blue Greek sky, the glaring sunlight, the variety of the physical environment (mountains, meadows, ravines and canyons, rivers, seas, beaches and coasts, and the moderate climate, all shaped the gentle, flexible, polymorphous, melodic, full of vowels and variety of expression Greek language.
The ancient Greek language was lively, good sounding, polytonal to the point that often sounded musical, able to mimic all kinds of sounds, something that does not happen with other languages. The Arabs, for example, do not have the sound “p”, the Chinese do not have “r” and the Russians do not have “th.”
The Mediterranean Languages, and specifically the Greek, are considered as “triumph of vowels”. As we travel north, however, the pronunciation in other languages changes. It becomes heavier, harder. The environment there is not friendly, cheerful and joyful. One needs to struggle to tame it, in order to survive. The vowels decline, and while some sounds descent to the larynx, others ascent to the nasal cavity. They become hard to the ears. In such cold environments, where loosing even the smallest amount of heat is crucial, it is necessary to open the mouth as less as possible. So, in the northern languages, there are
fewer vowels and more consonants. These are called “the languages of the closed mouth.”
Let’s take one Greek word, for example:
ελεη∝οσυνη ελεη∝οσυνη λεη∝οσυνη
Let’s see how it progressively changed.
The Latin borrowed this word –just like they borrowed most of their vocabulary from the Greeks- and they pronounced it: Alemosina
As the word traveled north, it changed ever more:
ITALIAN - elemosina
SPANISH - limosna
FRENCH - aumone
GERMAN - almocen
ENGLISH – alms
As we see, the vowels are thrown out. This results to a Greek word that has become unpleasantly unrecognizable.
A language, besides genealogy and history, reveals the idiosyncrasy (temperament), good taste, and the soul of the people who speak it.
It is well known now that the Greek language is the oldest language of those spoken in Europe.
From prehistoric times, Greeks who spoke Greek gave names to seas, cities and places that are still used today.
It has been calculated that Greeks today use in their every day Greek language 2.500 Homeric words. While many of those words are used in other languages in a recognizable form, some are not recognizable at all.
For example, the English word coward, comes from the Greek word κοθουρος and means exactly the same as “coward”.
The English word after comes from the Greek word αυταρ=right after.
The English word kiss also comes from the Greek word κυνω, κυσω= προσκυνω την εικονα , κυσω σε την χειρα (I kiss the icon, or I kiss your hand).
The Greek word has given, and continues to give, the material for the transformation of the international scientific vocabulary. Medicine, Athletics, Physics, Astronomy, Geography, Philosophy, Chemistry, Geometry, Geology, Politics, Democracy, Theology, Linguistics, all the Arts and Sciences were born, developed and are operating with a vocabulary clearly Greek. Everyone by now agrees that the Greek language contains words of higher thoughts, and verbally dresses abstract ideas. In a few words: Greek is the Language of civilization!
Furthermore, it is not just our Greek words and roots, prefixes and suffixes that enriched the Latin language and thought it the other western languages, but also our Mythology.
“…The Classical Greek language is one of the most important sources that influenced our every day language… When you refer to the alphabet, you pronounce exactly the first two Greek letters,
Alpha and Beta… When you talk about arithmetic, You almost say the Greek word arithmos…
The New Webster Dictionary of the English Language Edition GROULIER, N. York
ENGLISH GREEK
Academy…………………………………. Ακαδη∝ια Acanthus…………………………………….ακανθος Accord (to be in agreement or harmony…….χορδη Acoustics…………………………………….ακουστικη Agony (great pain in the body or mind)……..αγωνια Agoraphobia (fear of public places)………….αγοραφοβια Air……………………………………………αηρ Alabaster (a smooth white stone)……………αλαβαστρος Allegory……………………………………..αλληγορια Allergy………………………………………αλλεργια Amnesia……………………………………..α∝νησια Amphitheater………………………………...α∝φιθεατρον Analogy……………………………………..αναλογια Analyze……………………………………...αναλυσις Anarchy……………………………………..αναρχια Anecdote……………………………………ανεκδοτο Anemone……………………………………ανε∝ωνη Angel………………………………………..αγγελος Anonymous…………………………………ανωνυ∝ος
“…Our alphabet {English} came from Greece. Our language is full of Greek words. Our science created an international language through Greek terms. Our Grammar and our oratory, even the punctuation and the division in paragraphs are Greek discoveries. W. Durant
Baptism……………………………………...βαπτισ∝α Bibliography………………………………...βιβλιο−γραφια Blame, blaspheme…………………………..βλασφη∝ω Bowl , Ball …………………………………..βωλος/βολος Botanic………………………………………βοτανικη
Bulimia……………………………………...βουλι∝ια Bulb…………………………………………βολβος Catholic……………………………………..καθολικος Caustic………………………………………καυστικος Center, Central………………………………κεντρον Sarcophagus…………………………………σαρκοφαγος Chaos………………………………………..χαος Chlorophyll………………………….χλωρος, χλωροφυλλη Chromatic…………………………………..χρω∝α Comic………………………………………κω∝ικος Comet………………………………………κο∝ητης Cosmic……………………………………...κοσ∝ικος Crisis………………………………………..κρισις Critique……………………………………...κριτικος Cube…………………………………………κυβος Cycle………………………………………...κυκλος
“The Greeks understood the mysterious power of the hidden side of things. They gave us one of the most beautiful words of our language, the word Enthusiasm (Ενθουσιασ∝ος), from the Greek words ενας θεος ∝εσα ∝ας, (a god inside us)…”
Arthur Kisler
Dolphin………………………………………δελφινι December……………………………………∆εκε∝βριος Demon……………………………………….δαι∝ων Democracy…………………………………..∆η∝οκρατια Dermatology………………………………...δερ∝ατολογια Disk………………………………………….δισκος Dollar………………………………………..ταλαρος διδω=I give, Donor……………………………………….δοτηρ=donor
Double………………………………………διπλους Dragon………………………………………δρακων Echo…………………………………………ηχω
School……………………………………….σχολη Economy…………………………………….oικονο∝ια Ecology………………………………………οικολογια Egoism………………………………………εγω/εγωισ∝ος Elastic……………………………………….ελαστικος Electric………………………………………ηλεκτρικος Emphasis…………………………………….ε∝φασις Enigma……………………………………….αινιγ∝α
“Any other language is nothing else but a hypo dialect of the Greek language.”
A. Jacobs “THE NEW PENGUINNDICTIONARY OF MUSIC”
English Latin Greek
Famed/fame…………….…………….φη∝η, φη∝ισ∝ενος Infamous/infamy………………......αν(ευ)=without+φη∝η Fantasy………………………………...φαντασια Phantom………………………………..φαντασ∝α Fault(y)/fake………….fallo…...σφαλλω=I make a mistake Female/feminine………feo……………...φυω Fire/focus/fusil………………………φως, πυρ,φυρ Fierce……………………………….φηρ,θηρ,θηριο=wild Fig…………………….ficus………..…..συκον Flower…………………………………φλοος=λουλουδι Flora/floral/florist
To float/fleet……………fluo……….…..φλυω=πλεω
Fort/force………….fortis=strong..…φορτιον=heavy load Effort
Frenzy/frantic…………………………φρενιτις I fry/frying……………………….φρυγω/φρυγανια=toast Frigid/refrigerator/frost…………..φριγος=cold
“Alexander, after choosing three thousand Persian youths, gave the order the Greek language to be taught.” Plutarch
English Latin Greek
Gaiety=cheerfulness…………………….γαιω=I am happy Galactic……………………………..……γαλα Galaxy……………………………………γαλαξιας Gargle…………………………………….γαργαρα Gastric=has to do with the stomach………γαστρικος Gastritis
Gastronomy=the art of good eating………γαστρονο∝ια Giant………………………………………γιγας(γιγαντας) Genealogy=family tree/study of families….γενεαλογια Gender…………………………………….. γενος Genesis=beginning, origin……………….γενεσις, γενηση Genetic
Γη=Earth Geocentric………………………………..γεωκεντρικος Geography=the study of the earth………..γεωγραφια Geology…………………………………...γεωλογια Geometry………………………………….γεω∝ετρια
Gloss/glossary…………………………….γλωσσα Glue/gluten……………………γλοιος=sticky substance Glucose=a kind of sugar………………γλυκο=sweet Govern=to rule/………..guberno……….κυβερνω Government……………………………..κυβερνηση Governor………………………………...κυβερνητης Grammar…………………………………γρα∝∝ατικη Gram……………………………………..γρα∝∝αριον Graphic…………………………………..γραφη=writing Grass……………………………………..γρασιδι Gymnasium………………………………γυ∝νασιον Gymnast………………………………….γυ∝ναστης Gymnastics……………………………….γυ∝ναστικη
Hero=ηρωας
Plato (Kratylos 398) says that “the name ηρως states a birth out of love…don’t you know that the heroes are demigods? All of them came to being when gods loved mortals.”
The word “hero” exists in all languages and comes from the Greek word ηρωας. No other language has the equivalent. Heroism is internationally stated in Greek. Originally, the word ηρωας was a kind of a title, like “ser”=κυριος.
The German word for “ser” is HERR from the word “hero”. The Russians pronounce the same word gerroi, and the Japanese, hirosi.
The word ηρωας traveled long, long ago to Polynisia as well: In the Maori Dialect, “whiro” means the god of traveling. In the Hawaiian Dialect, “hilo” is the name for navigator. In the Tuamotus Dialect, “hiro” is the god of education. In the Rarotonga Dialect, “iro” means famous ancestor.
In the Taitian Dialect, “hiro” is the god of thieves. In the Mangain Dialect, “iro” is the protector of thieves. (The Greek god Hermes was also protector of thieves.)
It is evident that within all these meanings, the indigenous people keep memories from ancient times, of far away visitors, by whom they were impressed and never forgot them.
English Greek
Harmony/harmonious…………………….……αρ∝ονια Harmonica/philharmonic
Harpoon=a spear to catch whales……………...αρπαγη Hemisphere=half globe………………………η∝ι(συ)=half Herculean=strong, brave like Hercules……….Ηρακλης Hour…………………………………………...ωρα Horoscope……………………………………..ωροσκοπιο Hexagon………………………………………..εξαγωνο Heptagon……………………………………….επταγωνο Chasm=deep crack in the earth…………………χασ∝α Hierarchy=rank…………………………………ιεραρχια Hieroglyphic…………….………………… ιερογλυφικος Hilarious………………………………………..ιλαρος Hippocampus………………………………..ιπποκα∝πος Hippodrome=horse race track………………ιπποδρο∝ος Hippopotamus……………………………….ιπποποτα∝ος History, story…..………………………….….ιστορια Historian/historic/historiography/prehistory
Holocaust=great destruction of life by fire….ολοκαυτω∝α Home…………………………………………κω∝η=σπιτι Horizon…………………………………………οριζων
Horizontal…………………………………….οριζοντια Oil……………………(Latin: olium)………..ελαιον=λαδι Eight…………(German: acht)…(Latin:octo)..…οκτω Oyster……………….…………………….οστρεον=shell Humble……………………………χα∝ηλος= small, low Humiliation/humiliate
Hybrid…….………………………………..υβριδιον Hydrate/hydraulic…………………..υδωρ/υδρο...=water Hydra………………………………………υδρα
Hydra is a tiny water animal. Any part of it that is cut off will grow to a whole new animal. In Greek myths, the Hydra was a serpent with nine heads. When a head was cut off, two others grew in its place. Hercules killed the Hydra by burning each neck after its head was cut off.
Hydrogen………………………………….υδρογονο Hydrophobia…………………………….υδροφοβια Hydrotherapy……………………………υδροθεραπεια Hyena……………………………………….υαινα Hygiene/hygienic……………………………υγιεινη Hymn…………………………………………υ∝νος Hyperbole=exaggeration……υπερβολη=throwing over, or beyond Hypnosis…………………………………….υπνωσις υπο... Hypochondria………………………………υποχονδρια worry or anxiety about one’s health
Hypocrite…………………………………..υποκριτης Hypotenuse…………………………………υποτεινουσα Hypothesis/hypothetical……………………..υποθεσις Hysteria/hysterical…………………υστερια/υστερικος
“Many the languages of the mortals, however, only one of those languages is immortal.”
LONDINI SUMPTIBUS SAMUELIS BAGSTER Publishing Company
Icon……………………………………………..εικονα Iconography……………………………….εικονογραφια Idea………………………….…………………ιδεα Ideal/idealize/idealism/ideology/ideography
Idiom…………………………………………ιδιω∝α Idiot/idiocy…ιδιωτης=one who no longer is involved with politics… with underrated meaning= foolish or stupid person Idol/idolatry/doll……………………….………..ειδωλον Igneous/ignition/ignite…………………….ικνυς=ash, dust Impetuous/impetus……………………….πετω, πιπτω Impulse/impulsive………………………..παλσις=pulse Incline/inclination…………………….εν+κλινω=γερνω Indigenous…………………………….ενδογενης=native Indication/indicative/indicate….…………ενδεικτης Industry………….…εντος+στορνυ∝ι=απλωνω, στρωνω Inflation……………………………φλεω=ει∝αι γε∝ατος Install……………εν+στελλω=στηνω=βαζω κατι ορθιο Installation/stable
Instinct/instinctive…………………………….ενστικτον Iodine………………………………………….ιωδιον Iota…………………………………………..ιωτα (ι) Iris………………………………………..ιρις=rainbow Irony/ironic…… …………………………..ειρωνεια Ethos/ethics…………………………………..ηθος Juice/juicy………………………………..ζω∝ος, ζου∝ι
Kaleidoscope…καλειδοσκοπιον= καλον ειδος σκοπω Kerosene………Κηροζινη (κηρος= κερι)
Kilogram………… χιλιογρα∝∝ον
Kilometer………………χιλιο∝ετρο
Cinema Κινησις
Kinetic
Klaxon………………..κλαγη (sharp sound)
Kleptomania(c)……………….κλεπτο∝ανης, κλεπτο∝ανια Cyst……………………………κυστις
L
Labyrinth…………………..λαβυρινθος
Lake………………………..λακκος=pool-lake Lagoon…….Latin=lacuna….λακκος
Laconic=using few words……..λακωνικος
Laic………………………….λαικος
Lay, layman, laity
Language λαυχανη=tongue Linguist (ics)
Lard…………………………λαρδος=the fat of pigs Large………………………..λαρινος= well fed fat cow Largeness
Largely
Larynx…………………………λαρυνξ
Laryngeal
Laryngitis
Latitude……………Latin=latus………πλατυς
Lavatory………….Latin=lavo and luo…..λουω Lick (I)………………………………λειχω Lunch
Leech
Lection………………………..λεγω
Lector
Lecture
Legend
Lepidoptera…………………λεπιδοπτερα
Lethal………………………..ληθη
Lethargy…………………..ληθαργος
Lexicon…………………….λεξικον
Lexicography……………… -γραφια
Lexicology……………………-λογια
Liberal………………Latin=liber….ελευθερος Liberty
Liberate
Locality…………………………λοχος=place of ambush Location
Local
Localize
Line……λινεος, λινον=a string made from the flax plant Lineage
Linear
Lion (ness)……………………………λεων Lipoma…………………………………λιπος=fat Lipograph
Liquor………………………..γλυκοριζα
λιθος=stone
Lithology
Lithosphere
Lithograph (y)
Liturgy…………………….λειτουργια(λαος=εργον) Logarithm (ic)……………λογαριθ∝ος(λογος=αριθ∝ος) Logic (al)………………..λογικη
Look………………….λυκη(φως, λευκος) Lucid (ity)
Luminous
Light (ing)
Lyre……… …λυρα=instrument similar to guitar, founded by Hermes) Lyric (al)
Lyricism
M
Masticate (I) ……………….∝αστιχαω (∝ασω=Ι chew) Machine…………………….∝ηχανη
Mechanical
Machinery
∝ακρο......
Macrocosm……………………….κοσ∝ος
Master……Latin= magister….∝εγιστος−∝εγας
Mastery majestic
Mister major
Mistress
Magi…………………………….∝αγος
Magic, magical, magician
Magma………………………….∝αγ∝α
Magnet magnetic………………∝αγνητης
Magnetism
Magnetize
May From the mother of Hermes, Μαια Mal, malady…….Latin malus......∝ελεος=αθλιος, κακος Μα∝∝αω=ζητω τον ∝αστον Mamma, mammy……………….∝α∝∝α, ∝α∝∝η Mania, maniac…………………….∝ανια
March…………….Latin- Ars, Mars………..Αρης Marsupial………………………∝ασιπος=σακκος Mass…………………………..Μαζα
Massive………………………
Amass
Mathematics………………….Μαθη∝ατικα Mausoleum……………………∝αυσωλειον Meander………………………..∝αιανδρος Megaphone……………………∝εγα+φωνη Melancholy……………………∝ελαγχολια Melancholic
Melody…………………………∝ελωδια
Melodious
Melodrama……………………..∝ελοδρα∝α
Mother……………Latin=mater……….∝ατηρ−∝ητηρ Maternal
Matriarch
Matrimony
Metal………………………………..∝εταλλον Metallic
Metaphor…………………………..∝εταφορα Meteor……………………………..∝ετεωρος Meteoric
Meteorite .....................................∝ετεωριτης Meteorology…………………∝ετεωρολογια Meter………………………….∝ετρον
Metrical
Metropolis…………………∝ητροπολις=∝ητηρ πολις Metropolitan
∝ικρος
Microcosm………………………….κοσ∝ος Micrograph………………………...γραφια Microorganism……………………..οργανισ∝ος Microphone…………………………φωνο
Microscope…………………………..σκοπικος Microbe…………………………∝ικροβιον Misery……………………………∝ισος
Miserable…………Lat. Miser
Mnemonic………………………..∝νη∝η=memory Monarch…………………….∝οναρχης (∝ονος αρχων) Monarchy……………………∝οναρχια
Monitor…Lat. Monitor ............∝ηνυτω
one who gives information
Monochrome………………..∝ονοχρω∝ος Monogram…………………...∝ονογρα∝∝α Monologue……………………∝ονολογος Monopoly……………………..∝ονοπωλιον Monotheism……………………∝ονοθεισ∝ος Monotone………………………∝ονοτονος Myopia……………….∝υωπια (∝υω=κλειω+ωψ=∝ατι) Myopic
Mystery………………………..∝υστηριον Mystic…………………………..∝υστικον Myth……………………..∝υθος
Mythology
Mythical
Nausea………………………..ναυτια
Nebulous, nebula, nimbus…………..νεφελη−νεφος νεος
Neolithic………………………………λιθικη Nerve………………………………νευρον Nervous
Nostalgia……………………………νοσταλγια
Oasis………………………………..οασις Obelisk………………………………οβελισκος Orchestra…………………………….ορχηστρα Organ…………………………………οργανον Organize
Organization
Organist
Orphan…………………………………ορφανος Oxygen…………………………………οξυγονον
Paleolithic…………………………….παλαιολιθικος Paleontology………………………….Παλαιοντολογια Palm…………………………………..παλα∝η Panacea…………………………………πανακεια Panic…………………………………….πανικος Paradise…………………………………παραδεισος Paradox………………………………….παραδοξο Paragraph……………………………….παραγραφος Parallel…………………………………παραλληλος Parallelogram…………………….παραλληλογρα∝∝ον Paralysis…………………………………….παραλυσις Parenthesis………………………………….παρενθεσις Pause………………………………………….παυσις Pharmacy……………………………………φαρ∝ακειο Phenomenon…………………………………φαινο∝ενον Philosophy……………………………………..φιλοσοφια Phonograph………………………………….φωνη+γραφω Photo…………………………………………….φως Phrase……………………………………………..φρασις Pistachio……………………………………….πιστακιον Planet, planetarium……………………………..πλανητης
Plastic…………………………………………πλαστικος Poetry, poem………….………………….ποιηση, ποιη∝α Pole………………………………………………….πολος Polar, polarity, polarize, polarization
Pepper ……………………………………..………πιπερι Police ……………………………………………..πολις Politics…………………………………………..πολιτικη Pork………………….………………………πορκος(pig) Prism………………………………………….πρισ∝α Problem……………………………………….προβλη∝α Prophet…………………………………………προφητης Prophecy, prophetic
Psyche…………………………..………………….ψυχη Psychic, psychology
Psychotherapy…………………………….ψυχοθεραπεια Pyramid………………………………………….πυρα∝ιδα
