Skip to content

Greek → English

Greek in English

From atoms to democracy, English leans on ancient Greek for the vocabulary of science, thought, and everyday life.

2,729 words · 0 Greek roots

186 words in Art & Music

Quiz me

Acropolis

Art
ἄκροςákros

“topmost city”

Alphabet

Art
ἄλφαálpha

“alpha-beta”

Amphitheater

Art
ἀμφίamphí

“theatre on both sides”

Amphitheatre

Art
ἀμφίamphí

“theatre on both sides”

Anaglyph

Art
ἀνάaná

“carved in relief”

Anagnorisis

Art
ἀνάaná

“recognising again”

Antagonist

Art
ἀντίantí

“opposing contestant”

Anthem

Art
ἀντίantí

“sounding in answer”

Anthology

Art
ἄνθοςánthos

“a gathering of flowers”

Architect

Art
ἀρχι-arkhi-

“chief builder”

Architecture

Art
ἀρχι-arkhi-

“chief builder's craft”

Aria

Art
ἀήρaḗr

“air”

Attic

Art
ἈττικόςAttikós

“Athenian”

Aulos

Art
αὐλόςaulós

“pipe”

Ballad

Art
βαλλίζεινballízein

“dancing song”

Ballerina

Art
βαλλίζεινballízein

“female dancer”

Ballet

Art
βαλλίζεινballízein

“little dance”

Baritone

Art
βαρύςbarýs

“heavy-toned”

Byzantine

Art
ΒυζάντιονByzántion

“of Byzantium”

Cacophony

Art
κακόςkakós

“bad sound”

Calligraphy

Art
κάλλοςkállos

“beautiful writing”

Camera

Art
καμάραkamára

“arched room”

Canon

Art
κανώνkanṓn

“measuring rod”

Canvas

Art
κάνναβιςkánnabis

“made of hemp”

Carol

Art
χοραύληςchoraúlēs

“chorus piper”

Cartoon

Art
χάρτηςchártēs

“big sheet of paper”

Cartouche

Art
χάρτηςkhártēs

“little paper roll”

Caryatid

Art
ΚαρυάτιδεςKaryátides

“the maidens of Karyai”

Castanet

Art
κάστανονkástanon

“little chestnut”

Chamber

Art
καμάραkamára

“vaulted room”

Chime

Art
κύμβαλονkýmbalon

“cymbal”

Chimney

Art
κάμινοςkáminos

“furnace”

Choir

Art
χορόςkhorós

“dancing band”

Choragus

Art
χορόςchorós

“chorus leader”

Chorale

Art
χορόςkhorós

“belonging to the choir”

Choreography

Art
χορείαkhoreía

“dance writing”

Chorister

Art
χορόςkhorós

“one of the dancing band”

Chorus

Art
χορόςchorós

“a dancing troupe”

Chroma

Art
χρῶμαchrōma

“skin, surface colour”

Chromatic

Art
χρῶμαchrôma

“coloured”

Cinema

Art
κίνημαkínēma

“movement-writing”

Cinematography

Art
κίνημαkínēma

“movement writing”

Cithara

Art
κιθάραkithára

“kithara”

Cittern

Art
κιθάραkithára

“kithara”

Climax

Art
κλῖμαξklîmax

“a ladder”

Comedy

Art
κῶμοςkômos

“revel-song”

Comic

Art
κῶμοςkômos

“of the revel”

Corinthian

Art
ΚόρινθοςKórinthos

“of Corinth”