Basic Vocabulary in Ancient Greek

Forms of Greek used from around the 9th century BC to the 6th century AD.

Learning a new language begins with understanding its basic vocabulary. In this unit, we will explore some of the most common nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions in Ancient Greek.

Common Greek Nouns and Verbs

In Ancient Greek, nouns and verbs are the building blocks of the language. They are used to express actions, states, and objects. Here are some common Greek nouns and verbs:

• άνθρωπος (anthropos) - man
• γυνή (gyne) - woman
• παιδί (paidi) - child
• λέγω (lego) - I say
• βλέπω (blepo) - I see
• ακούω (akouo) - I hear

Introduction to Greek Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs add detail to our sentences. They describe qualities, quantities, and manners of action. Here are some examples:

• καλός (kalos) - good
• μεγάλος (megalos) - big
• γρήγορα (grigora) - quickly
• πολύ (poly) - very

Basic Greek Prepositions and Conjunctions

Prepositions and conjunctions are used to connect words and phrases. They help to express relationships between different parts of a sentence. Here are some common Greek prepositions and conjunctions:

• εν (en) - in
• εκ (ek) - out of
• και (kai) - and
• αλλά (alla) - but

Practice with Vocabulary: Reading and Translation Exercises

To help you practice and reinforce your understanding of these new words, we have prepared a series of reading and translation exercises. These exercises will give you the opportunity to see these words in context and to practice using them in sentences.

Remember, learning a new language is a gradual process. Don't be discouraged if you don't understand everything at once. Keep practicing, and you'll see progress over time.

In the next unit, we will build on this foundation by learning how to form simple phrases in Ancient Greek.