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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 as 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…
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Stereotypes & Culture. My Big Fat Greek Family
Twenty years ago, in 2002, the Greek-Canadian actress, Nia Vardalos, became famous with her movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. As both actress and writer, Vardalos won many awards for this romantic comedy, which she based on her own experience of being Greek. Although the movie is full of extravagant Greek stereotypes as an expression…
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The 12 most common Greek names and their meaning
The traditions regarding the naming of newborns in Greece are still in practice today. Sons get the name of their grandfathers and daughters are named after their grandmothers. As a result, not only cousins share the same name, but many unrelated Greeks do as well. Here is an overview of the twelve most common Greek…
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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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How to cook like a Greek yiayia, grandmother?
I finally attended cooking classes with yiayia, my boyfriend’s grandmother. Her generation of Greek women cooks the most delicious meals. Tasty and seasonal, with local products gathered from friends and family who live close by. And one of the goals I had set for this year was to learn how to cook like her. Entering…
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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…
