According to lexicographical estimates, more than 150,000 English words are derived from the Greek language. This includes a great deal of international scientific vocabulary. In fact, a decades-long Greek study found that one out of every four English words is of Greek origin. Furthermore, the Ancient Greeks are credited with developing the first true alphabet -- a word formed by its first two letters, "alpha" and "beta."
It's all Greek to me:
- Words that start with '”ph” are usually of Greek origin. For example: philosophy, physical, photography, phrase, and philanthropy.
- Greek is one of the oldest Indo-European languages, and is usually divided into Ancient Greek (often considered a dead language) and Modern Greek.
- Modern Greek is derived from Koine, a common dialect spoken in Ancient Greece. In the 19th century, Modern Greek became the official language of the Kingdom of Greece.
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