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What role did the Greek language have in the development of English?
The famous saying “It’s all Greek to me” might be the most wrongfully chosen expression there is. Because each of us speaks a little Greek every day. There are over 150.000 English words that originate from the Ancient Greek language. Architect, base, and chaos are just a few examples. How has the Greek language influenced…
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Beyond crosswords : Greek gods
Ancient Greek mythology influences modern life around the world. Video games, comic books, movies, and modern brands refer to the stories that where told over 2.000 years ago. Did you know that the name cereals, for example, comes from Ceres, the god of grain? Or that the Olympic games started as a way to honor…
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Beyond crosswords: Greek vacation islands
The Greek islands are not just a popular holiday destination, but also often used in crosswords all over the world. Did you ever wonder what the difference is between the 5 letter words Corfu and Crete? Or if Kos is really as small as the mere 3 letters its name counts? Here is an overview…
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Greeting in Greek, kaliméra, kalispéra and kaliníchta
Are you traveling through Greece and wondering how to greet the locals in this beautiful country? Or maybe you already learned about Kaliméra before, but notice that the Greeks reply to you saying something different? Unfortunately, there are many ways of greeting in Greek. Here is an overview of the most important ones. Combined with…
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Greeks rarely make a deal for the future
Last night I overheard a conversation between a Dutch guy and a Greek girl. She was from Crete, inviting him to visit her hometown of Iraklion. He got excited, started planning his visit, and when the date was set he asked. What is “deal” in Greek?, turns out many Greeks don’t know. The Greek girl…
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10 useful Greek words you should know
Greeks love it when a foreigner tries to speak some Greek words. This is what get’s you invited into the real Greek culture. And although the Greek language is far from easy and even confusing, don’t be afraid to try to speak some words. Here are 10 simple but useful Greek words and sayings that…
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Siga, Siga
During your stay in Greece, while sipping coffee in front of the sea, you will hear the phrase, “siga siga” all around you. But what does it mean? Is it an exotic island like Bora Bora, or the scientific name of an animal like Vulpes Vulpes? Why would all the Greeks keep talking about this…
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8 Confusing Greek words
Every one of us speaks a little Greek. In English, it is even impossible to spend one day without using at least one word of Greek origin. Architect, astronaut, acrobat. Base, bible, biology. Centre, chaos, comedy. There are over 150.000 English words that originate from the Ancient Greek language. But don’t trust too much on…
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Everyone is a child in Greece
The meaning of the word child in Greek is unlike its translation into any other language. While for most of us, a child is a young human being. Either below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority. In Greece, everyone can be called a child. Let’s do a quiz! Question nr.…
