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This is a list of some English words of Greek origin. Greek words make up some 25% of the English language, so this list is necessarily incomplete.
Probably the earliest Greek word to make its way into English — though admittedly indirectly — is bishop, from the Greek episkopos. Unlike later borrowings, which came from a written, learned tradition, bishop was transmitted through vernaculars, so its English spelling does not reflect its Greek form. Other words from this early period include priest from presbyter and church from kyriakos
Until the 16th century, the few Greek words that were absorbed into English came through their Latin derivatives. Most of the early borrowings are for expressions in theology for which there were no English equivalents. In the late 16th century an influx of Greek words were derived directly, in intellectual fields and the new science.
In the 19th and 20th centuries a few learned words and phrases were introduced using a more or less direct transliteration of Ancient Greek (rather than the traditional Latin-based orthography) for instance nous, hoi polloi.
Finally with the growth of tourism, some words, mainly reflecting aspects of current Greek life, have been introduced with orthography reflecting Modern Greek, for instance taverna.
Recognising words derived from Greek
It is useful to know which words are of Greek origin, since it gives a guide to likely spelling, pronunciation and inflection.
In some cases, a word's spelling clearly shows its Greek origin. If it includes ph or includes y between consonants, it is likely to be Greek. If it includes rrh, phth, or chth, or starts with hy, ps-, pn-, or chr-, or the rarer pt-, ct-, chth-, rh-, x-, sth-, or bd-, then it is with very few exceptions Greek. Exceptions include: ptarmigan, scythe.
In English, Greek prefixes and suffixes are usually attached to Greek stems, but some have become productive in English, and will combine with other stems, so we now have not only metaphor (good Greek word) and metamathematics (modern word using Greek roots), but also metalinguistic (Greek prefix, Latin stem).
In clusters such as ps- at the start of a word the usual English pronunciation drops the first consonant; initial x is pronounced z. Ch is pronounced like k rather than as in "church" (e.g. character). Consecutive vowels are often pronounced separately rather than forming a single vowel sound or one of them becoming silent (e.g. hierarchy, contrast priest).
Plurals
The plurals of learned Greek-derived words sometimes follow the Greek rules: phenomenon, phenomena; tetrahedron, tetrahedra; but often do not: colon, colons not cola (except for the very rare technical term of rhetoric); pentathlon, pentathlons not pentathla; demon, demons not demones. Usage is mixed in some cases: schema, schemas or schemata; lexicon, lexicons or lexica. And there are misleading cases: pentagon is not an -on noun in Greek.
See also
A
- abacus
- abyss
- "the depths"
- acacia
- academy
- acanthus
- "thorn plant"
- acephalous
- "headless"
- Achaean
- achondroplasia
- achromatic
- "colorless"
- acme
- acolyte
- "attendant"
- acoustic
- "pertaining to hearing"
- acrobat
- "high walker"
- acromegaly
- "big extremity"
- acronym
-
- acrophobia
- "fear of heights"
- acropolis
- "high city"
- acrostic
- "line tip"
- actinism
- "radiation"
- actinium
- adenoids
- adiabatic
- aeon
- "an age"
- aerial
- "of air"
- aerobatics
- aerobic
- "air life"
- aerodrome
- aerodynamics
- "of the power of air"
- aeronautics
- "of air-sailing"
- aesthete, aesthetic
-
- aether
- aetiology
- agape
- "(brotherly) love"
- agaric
- agate
- agave
- "noble"
- agnosia
- agnostic
- "without knowledge, unacknowledging"
- agony
- "suffering"
- agoraphobia
- "market-fear, fear of crowds"
- agrochemical
- Alexander
- "defender of men"
- allegory
- alphabet
- ultimately from Semitic letter-names "aleph" and "beth"
- Amazon
- amnesia
- amnesty
- amphibian
- "both life"
- amphitheatre
- anachronism
- "displaced in time"
- anaerobic
- analysis
- "loosen throughout"
- anarchy
- "without rule"
- Anastasia
- "rise again, resurrection"
- anathema
- Andrew
- "manly"
- anecdote
- "not published"
- anemic
- "without blood"
- angel
- "messenger"
- anemometer
- antipodes
- "opposite-footed"
- anorexia
- anthem
- anthropology
- "study of mankind"
- antiphon
- aorta
- "(something) that lifts"
- aphasia
- "speechlessness"
- aphrodisiac
- apocalypse
- "revelation"
- apocrypha
- "hidden"
- apodictic
- apophasis
- , mentioning something by saying you're not going to mention it
- apostle
- "one sent"
- apostrophe
- "a turning away"
- apotheosis
- arachnophobia
- "fear/loathing of spiders"
- archaic
- "of the beginning"
- aristocracy
- "rule by the best"
- arithmetic
- "of numbers"
- arrhythmia
- "without rhythm"
- aroma
- asbestos
- "unquenchable"
- asparagus
- asteroid
- "small star"
- asthma
- athlete
- / athletics
- atom
- "indivisible"
- auto
- "self"
B
- bacteria
- "small stick"
- baptism
- "immersion"
- Barbara
- "savage woman"
- barbarian
- "savage (non-Greek)"
- baritone
- (barytone)
- barometer
- "heaviness measure"
- basil
- "king, regal"
- basis
- bible
- "book(s)"
- bibliography
- "writing concerning books"
- bicycle
- "two-wheeled"
- bishop
- from episkopos, "overseer"
- blasphemy
- "evil speaking"
- brachistochrone
- bulimia
- "ox hunger"
C
- cacophony
- "bad-sounding"
- calligraphy
- "beautiful writing"
- calliope
- "beautiful voice"
- calypso
- mythic sea being
- calyx
- "cup-shaped"
- carcinoma
- "cancerous tumor"
- cardiology
- "study of the heart"
- cataclysm
- "wash over" "overthrow"
- cataract
- catastrophe
- category
- catharsis
- "cleansing"
- Catholic
- "universal"
- cauterize
- "to burn"
- chaos
- "Primordial Disorder" (mythology)
- character
- charisma
- chemistry
- Chloe
- "(green) grass"
- chlorine
- "greenish"
- chlorophyll
- "green leaf"
- chord
- Christ
- "Anointed"
- Christopher
- "Christ-bearer" (saint)
- chromatic
- "colorful"
- chromosome
- "colored body"
- chronological
- "in timely order"
- chyme
- chlamydia
- cinema
- "movement"
- Cleopatra
- "glory of the father"
- climax
- "ladder"
- comedy
- cosmos
- "the heavens/universe"
- cranium
- "skull"
- criterion
- critic
- crocus
- crypt
- "hidden"
- cryptography
- "hidden writing"
- cyclops
- "circle-eyed"
- cynic
- "dog-like"
D
- delta
- from Semitic letter "daleth" a triangular shape
- democracy
- "rule of the masses"
- demon
- "supernatural being" (orig. not solely evil)
- Deuteronomy
- "Second Law"
- devil
- "slanderer"
- diarrhea
- "flowing through"
- diabolical
- "of the Devil (slanderer)"
- didymous
- "twinned"
- diegesis
- dinosaur
- "terrible lizard"
- diphthong
- "double sound"
- diploma
- "folded paper"
- dodecahedron
- "twelved-sided"
- dogma
- "teaching"
- dolphin
- "womb-shaped creature"
- doxology
- "glorifying words"
- dram
- drama
- dynamic
- "powerful"
- dynasty
- "lordship"
- dysentery
- "bad intestine"
- dystopia
- "bad place"
E
- eccentric
- "out of center"
- echo
- eclectic
- "chosen, elected"
- ecology
- economy
- ecstasy
- edema
- "a swelling"
- electron
- elephant
- empirical
- encyclopedia
- "all-encompassing instruction"
- enema
- "(something) sent in"
- enthalpy
- enthusiasm
- entomology
- entropy
- epic
- "word, song"
- epidemic
- "en masse, upon the masses"
- epidermis
- "above skin"
- epiphany
- "manifestation"
- epistle
- "thing sent"
- epithet
- "(something) added"
- epoch
- eponymous
- "named after"
- ergonomic
- "useful for work"
- erotic
- "of (lustful) love"
- esophagus
- ethnic
- "of a nation, people"
- ethos
- eucalyptus
- "well-covered"
- eucharist
- "thanksging"
- eugenics
- "good birth"
- eulogy
- "good words, words of thanks"
- euphemism
- euphonium
- "(place of) good sound"
- euphoria
- euthenasia
- "good death"
- evangelism
- "of good news"
- exegesis
- "to draw out"
- exodus
- "out-way, exit"
F
fantasy
G
- gaea
- "earth" (godess)
- galaxy
- "milky"
- genesis
- "beginning"
- George
- from gê, and ergoi, "earthworker" (farmer)
- geranium
- giant
- gigantic
- gloss
- "tongue"
- glucose
- "sweet"
- gnostic
- "of knowledge"
- gorilla
- mythic race of hairy women
- gram
- graph
- "writing"
- gymnasium
- "place of nakedness"
- gymnastics
- gynecology
- "study of women"
H
- halitosis
- harmony
- hectare
- hegemony
- "overlordship"
- helicopter
- heliocentric
- "sun-centered"
- heliotrope
- helix
- hemisphere
- "half-round"
- hemorrhage
- "blood-flowing"
- heresy
- hero
- hierarchy
- "rule of a high priest"
- hilarious
- "cheerful"
- hippocampus
- "seahorse"
- hippopotamus
- "horse of the river"
- history
- "inquiry"
- histrionic
- holocaust
- "wholly burnt"
- homily
- homo-
- "same"
- hyacinth
- hydrochloric
-
- hydrodynamic
- "of the power of water"
- hydrogen
- "water-forming"
- hydrology
- hygiene
- "the art of health"
- hygroscope
- hymen
- hymn
- hyper
- "upon, over, above, excessive, super"
- hypnotic
- hypochondriac
- hypocrisy
- "acting"
- hypothermia
- "under-heated"
- hypodermic
- "below the skin"
- hypothesis
- hypothetical
- hysterectomy
- hysteria
- hysterical
I
- iambic
- ichthyosaurus
- "fish-lizard"
- iconoclast
- "image-breaking"
- idea
- idiom
- idiosyncrasy
- Irene
- "Peace" (godess)
- isometric
- "equally-measured"
- isthmus
J
- Jason
- "healer" from iasthai "to heal",
- jot
- from iota :, ultimately from Semitic, yod :.
K
- kaleidoscope
- "beautiful form to see"
- kilo
- "thousand"
- kilogram
- kudos
- "praise"
L
- lamp
- "(something) that shines"
- larynx
- lemma
- leprosy
- logos
- "word"
- lycanthropy
- "wolf-man condition"
- lymphoma
- lynx
- lyre
- lyric
M
- macron
- magic
- "of wise arts"
- magma
- mania
- marathon
- Margarita
- "pearl"
- martyr
- "witness"
- masticate
- "to chew"
- mathematics
- "of science, learning"
- mechanic
- melanoma
- "black tumor"
- melancholy
- Melanie
- "black, dark"
- melisma
- melody
- "song"
- melon
- meme
- mentor
- "wise consellor" (mythic figure)
- metamorphosis
- "transformation"
- metaphor
- metaphysics
- meter
- / metric : "measure"
- method
- Mia
- "first"
- miasma
- microbe
- "small body"
- micron
- mimesis
- "imitation"
- mnemonic
- monarchy
- "rule by one"
- monody
- morph
- "form"
- music
- "of the Muses :"
- myopia
- "closed eyes"
- myriad
- "10,000"
- mystery
- "secret rite"
N
- narcissus
- narcolepsy
- narcotic
- "something that numbs"
- necrophilia
- "love of the dead"
- necrosis
- "condition of death"
- nemesis
- "Retribution" (godess)
- neologism
- "of new words"
- neorology
- "study of nerves"
- neuron
- Nicholas
- "victorious people"
- Nike
- "Victory" (godess)
- nymph
O
- oasis
- ocean
- octagon
- "eight-sided"
- octopus
- "eight-footed"
- odyssey
- from epic journey of Odysseus
- oligarchy
- "rule of the few"
- olive
- Olympic
- "of (Mt.) Olympus"
- omega
- "large (i.e., long) 'O'"
- onomatopoeia
- "name-making"
- ophthalmology
- "study of the eyes"
- orchestra
- orchid
- "testicle"
- organ
- orgasm
- orgy
- orthodox
- "right teaching"
- orthodontic
- "correct teeth"
- orthopedic
- "correct feet"
- orthography
- "correct writing (spelling)"
- osteoporosis
- "porous, brittle bone condition"
- ostracism
- oxygen
- "acid-forming"
- oxymoron
- "sharp-dull"
P
- pachyderm
- "thick-skinned"
- paleontology
- "study of ancient times"
- panic
- "of Pan"
- pangaea
- "all the earth"
- panorama
- "all sight"
- parable
- "to place beside" "comparison, example"
- paradigm
- "example"
- paradox
- "beyond opinion"
- paragon
- parallel
- "beside one another"
- paralysis, paralyze
- "to loosen on one side"
- paranoia
- "madness", "beyond mind"
- parasite
- "person who eats at someone else's table", "beside food"
- pathos, pathetic
- "of suffering" "passion"
- patriot
- pause
- "a stop"
- pedagogy
- "leading boys"
- pediatrician
- "childrens' doctor"
- Pentateuch
- "five scrolls"
- perimeter
- "surrounding measure"
- Peter
- "Rock"
- phalanx
- phantasm
- "(something) made visible"
- phantom
- pharynx
- phenomenon
- philanthropy
- "love of fellow man"
- Philadelphia
- "brotherly love"
- Phillip
- "lover of horses"
- philosophy
- "love of wisdom"
- phloem
- "bark"
- phobia
- "fear" "loathing" "hatred"
- phoenix
- phonics
- "of sound"
- phonograph
- "sound-recording"
- phosphorous
- "light-bringer"
- photography
- "light-writing"
- phylum
- "class"
- physics
- "of nature"
- place
- "broad"
- plane
- (tree)
- planet
- "wanderer"
- plasma
- "form/shape"
- plastic
- "able to be formed"
- plethora
- "full of"
- pneumatic
- "concerning air/spirit"
- poem
- poetry : "a creation"
- polemic
- "warlike"
- poly-
- "many"
- pornography
- "writing of prostitutes"
- practice
- "to act"
- praxis
- "act"
- presbyopia
- "elderly vision"
- presbyter
- "elder"
- problem
- "(something) put forward, thrown before"
- prophet
- "one who brings before"
- prophylaxis
- "before-protection"
- proton
- "first"
- proxy
- psalm
- "song accompanied by plucking (of strings)"
- pseudonym
- "false name"
- psyche
- "the soul/mind"
- psychology
- "study of the mind"
- pterodactyl
- "winged finger"
- pyre
- "fire"
Q
R
- rhapsody
- "a stitched-together song"
- rhetoric
- rhinoceros
- "nose-horn"
- rhododendron
- "red tree"
- rhythm
- "measured motion"
S
- sai
- via Japanese : fork-shaped hand weapon shaped like and based on Greek letter psi
- sarcasm
- sarcoma
- "flesh-tumor"
- sarcophagus
- "flesh-eating" "flesh-consuming"
- satire
- satyr
- schema
- scheme
- schism
- "split/tearing"
- school
- "leisure"
- seismology
- "study of earthquakes"
- semaphore
- siren
- mythical, enchanting sea creature
- smegma
- "soap"
- soma
- "body"
- Sophia
- / Sophie : "Wisdom"
- spasm
- sperm
- "seed"
- sphygmomanometer
- stasis
- statistic
- Stephen
- /Steven : "Crown"
- stereotype
- "unchanging form"
- stethoscope
- "chest viewer"
- stigma
- stochastic
- stoic
- from Stoa "porch", school of Stoic philosophers
- stoma
- "mouth"
- strategy
- from "generals"
- stygian
- from Styx
- sycophant
- "fig-shower" "informer"
- symbiosis
- "living together"
- sympathy
- "same suffering"
- symphony
- "sounding together"
- syncopation
- synagogue
- "an assembly"
- syntax
- "ordering together"
- synthesis
T
- talent
- measure of weight/money later applied to mean abilities through Jesus' parable
- tautology
- "study of everything"
- taxidermy
- "ordering of the skin"
- technology
- telegraph
- "to write from afar"
- telekinesis
- "to move from afar"
- telepathy
- "to suffer, feel from afar"
- telephone
- "to utter from afar"
- theme
- Theodore
- "given by God"
- theology
- "study of God"
- theory
- therapy
- "healing, treatment"
- thermometer
- "heat-measurer"
- thesaurus
- "treasury"
- thesis
- thyme
- tone
- "string"
- tragedy
- trapeze
- "table"
- trauma
- "wound/injury"
- tripod
- "three-footed"
- type
- typhon
- tyranny
U
- Uranus
- sky god
- utopia
- "nowhere"
V
W
X
- xanthous
- "yellow"
- xenophobia
- "fear/hatred of foreigners"
- xiphoid
- xylophone
- "wood-sounding"
Y
Z
- zealot
- "one who burns/ is fervent"
- zephyr
- zodiac
- Zoe
- "life"
- zoo
- "of (animal) life"
- zoology
- "study of animal life
- zone
- zygote
- "(newly) joined"
- zymurgy
- "yeast fermenting"
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