Which language is Greek closest to?

Like a golden apple from ancient mythology, Greek is the only language on its branch of the Indo-European family tree. Its closest relations are the Indo-Iranian languages and Armenian.

Do you need to speak Greek in Greece?

Many people speak English and you rarely need to speak Greek. But if you learn just a little Greek, you'll find that the Greeks appreciate you trying to communicate in their language. Today, most officials speak English, so you have access to help in the local tax office.

Does anyone speak ancient greek?

As few as 5,000 people speak the dialect, but linguists believe it is the closest living language to ancient Greek and could provide unprecedented insight into the language of Socrates and Plato and how it developed.

Is Greek a difficult language to learn?

It may not be the most difficult language in the world to learn, but according to various studies, Greek is among the most difficult languages for an English speaker to learn. It has different letters, different intonations and a quite difficult grammar to learn.

Can you live in Greece and only speak English?

According to the latest statistics, about half of the Greek population can speak English, which is a decent number and one of the higher percentages in Europe. You will be perfectly fine using English in Athens and any of the other tourist destinations, although in more remote and rural areas some basic Greek will be useful.

How many ancient Greek words are there?

Greek is undoubtedly one of the richest languages in the world and is characterized by an extensive vocabulary. Previously, the Guinness Book of Records ranked the Greek language as the richest in the world with 5 million words and 70 million word types!

When it comes to the languages spoken in Greece, it is almost linguistically homogeneous, with around 99% of the population speaking the country's official language – Greek. There are of course a few minority languages and some other Greek dialects spoken in the country.

Is the Greek language the official language of Cyprus?

Greek in its modern form is the official language of Greece, where it is spoken by almost the entire population. It is also the official language of Cyprus (nominally along with Turkish).

Is there much English in Greece?

English is widely spoken in resorts and major cities in Greece; many Greeks have lived and worked in English-speaking countries (especially Australia), English is widely taught in schools, and many people live off the fruits of tourism. However, it is not so easy to find someone who speaks English in remote areas,…

Which language is the most spoken in Crete?

Cretan Greek is the dialect of Crete, with a population of around 500,000 people who speak the language. But they rarely use it in written forms, even though it differs less from standard Greek. Outside of Crete, Athens and Ottoman-era Cretan Greek Muslims also speak the dialect. The Maniot dialect belongs to the Mani local area.