Long Live the Ancient Greek Language

At 12 years old I fell in love with the Greek language.  Despite being the child of Greek immigrant parents hearing the language spoken daily in my house, the real mystery was not the intuitive aspect, it was and remains much deeper. 

The alphabet, accents, sounds, coupled with the multiple life concepts built into the prefixes and entire words, fascinate me.   

The oldest living language reminds me of a math equation when it begins as one single grouping and by adding to it becomes another sum or answer. 

According to this week’s Kefi Life podcast guest, Eugenia Manolidou, Director of the Elliniki Agogi in Athens, Greece: 

“The power of the Greek language is plastic; one word makes another allowing a person to combine and create all sorts of ideas.” 

One word in particular that resonates with me is Εύγε!  Evge!  It means well done or great job or way to go! 

The first two letters epsilon and upsilon together at the front of any word connotates something good or beautiful.  There are many words beginning with these two letters and give the reader a hint of what the word will mean.   

The entire Greek language has been reported to have between 5- and 70-million-word types with the Guiness Book of Records reporting Greek as the richest language in the world.  When my husband’s relatives living in Greece took us to visit the archeological site of Mycenae, we firsthand witnessed the profound impact of a sustaining and dynamic form of etymology.   

Greek penetrates our world in medicine, math, politics, philosophy, politics and so much more.  Learn more about the Hellenic contribution to modern day living when you tune into this week’s episode 204 of Kefi Life the Podcast with Eugenia Manolidou.   

I hope my conversation with this lovely educator will inspire you to explore Greek or even another second language, which will broaden your horizons and boost mental well-being.  

Ola kala- all is well, 

Kiki