How to Learn Greek: 6 Effective Ways to Learn Greek Quickly
Kelsey Wetherbee
Last updated on March 2, 2023
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Have you ever said, “It’s all Greek to me!” when you didn’t understand something? While it’s a common expression in English, Greek doesn’t have to be a difficult language to understand. With the right resources, studying Greek can be an enjoyable experience. This article puts together some of the best options out there. There’s something for everyone, no matter what your learning style is. There are more traditional ways to learn such as books and taking classes, and modern approaches such as podcasts and YouTube videos.
Best Greek App
Best Greek Course
Best Greek Tutors
More than 13.5 million people speak Greek, and it’s one of the most spoken languages in Europe. There are many English words that have Greek roots, such as marathon, democracy, and phobia. In fact, most English words that start with “ph-” are derived from Greek!
There are numerous reasons to learn Greek. Greece is a major tourist destination and is home to famous attractions like the Acropolis, Delphi, and Santorini. It’s an important language for many fields of study, such as philosophy, history, and archaeology, amongst others. Learning Greek can also help connect you with your Greek friends and family. The United States is home to the largest number of Greeks living outside of Greece, followed by Cyprus, and Australia. Wether you are learning Greek to speak with people at home or abroad, this guide will show you some of the best ways to learn Greek.
How Long Will It Take You To Learn Greek?
Table of Contents
How to Learn Greek: Follow These Steps to Become Fluent Fast!
The best way to learn Greek quickly is to use a variety of tools. No single method can cover every topic necessary to learn a language and using more than one will help to fill in any gaps. For example, you could use a language app to learn basic grammar and vocabulary, but taking an online class can help with speaking. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to learn Greek.
Use the Best Greek Apps
Language apps are one of the most common tools used to learn a language, and for good reason! They are convenient and can be used anywhere you take your phone. There’s a wide variety to choose from. Some focus on games while others build specific skills such as vocabulary. The 3 apps listed below, Pimsleur, Mondly, and Drops, are quality options for helping you learn Greek.
Commitment: Low
Price: Low-Medium
Convenience: High
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is the best overall app for learning Greek because it focuses on getting you conversational quickly. All lessons are audio-based so you can listen anywhere at any time. The lessons focus on a conversation between native Greek speakers and you learn what they say and repeat after them to practice pronunciation. You can try Pimsleur for free for 7 days or read more about it in this Pimsleur review.
Mondly
Mondly is the best app for beginner Greek learners. It teaches the most important grammar and vocabulary topics through short and interactive lessons that work on all language skills. It’s a flexible app because you can decide in what order you complete the lessons. There are also features to track your progress so you can see how much you’re learning. Mondly offers a 7-day free trial, and you can read more about it in this Mondly review.
Drops
The Drops app is specifically for learning vocabulary. There are thousands of words divided into different vocabulary lists. Each lesson is based on animations and games to help you remember long-term. It has a beautiful user design and is easy to use. You can use Drops for free for 5 minutes every day, or take advantage of the 7-day free trial. You can also read more about it in this Drops app review.
Take an Online Greek Course
If you prefer a more structured way to learn, an online Greek course might be a good option for you. They are comprehensive and since they follow a set lesson plan you’re always building on what you already learned. It takes the guesswork out of what to study next. The Greek Online School, LingoHut, and Language Transfer are easy-to-follow options that will help you learn Greek effectively.
Commitment: High
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium
The Greek Online School
The Greek Online School offers classes for both children and adults through its online platform. There are many courses available such as General Greek, Business Greek, and Creative Writing. You have the option to take private, semi-private, or group classes depending on your learning needs. You can take a free trial lesson to see if The Greek Online School is right for you.
LingoHut
LingoHut offers a self-taught Greek course that focuses on vocabulary. There are currently 125 lessons available Each lesson focuses on a vocabulary topic, such as classroom, farm animals, and beach activities. You learn with flashcards and then play interactive games to reinforce the words you just learned. Best of all, it’s completely free!
Language Transfer
Language Transfer is another audio course that’s completely free. It’s part of a non-profit language project designed to share languages with the world. The lessons are taught in English and you learn important Greek vocabulary and grammar. You can listen on the Language Transfer website or on SoundCloud.
Find an Online Greek Tutor
One of the most effective ways to become fluent in Greek is to talk with a native speaker. But if you don’t know anyone who speaks Greek, this can be difficult. Online language learning has greatly increased in the past few years, and now it’s possible to learn Greek from anywhere in the world. Italki, Preply, and The Online Greek Tutor are three safe and secure platforms that can easily connect you with an online Greek teacher.
Commitment: Medium
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium
italki
Italki is a platform that connect language learners and teachers. You find a teacher and then take classes with them through the italki site. Currently, there are over 100 Greek teachers available for lessons. You can review the teacher’s profiles and choose one based on their availability, the languages they speak, and price. Most teachers offer a discounted trial class so you can see if they are a good fit for you. You can read more about the platform in this italki review.
Preply
Preply is another platform that can help you find an experienced Greek tutor. There are almost 200 Greek teachers currently available on Preply. Each teacher creates their own curriculum so it will be tailored to your needs and you can study what you want. Teachers also set their own prices so you can find one that fits your budget. If interested, you can try a free trial class or read more about it in this Preply review.
The Online Greek Tutor
The Online Greek tutor is specifically for connecting Greek learners and teachers. You have the option to take group classes, semi-private, or private lessons. There are live video lessons with a teacher, and you’ll have additional homework to keep you practicing between lessons. You can get a free trial lesson and evaluation to see if you like The Online Greek Tutor method.
Study with High-Quality Greek Books
Books are always a good option for learning a new subject, Greek included. They are often very detailed and are practical options for visual learners. Books are a flexible way to learn because you can easily skip to the parts that interest you. Complete Greek, Master the Greek Alphabet, and Greek Frequency Dictionary are 3 popular choices. They focus on different skills and can be used alone or in combination with another book or resource.
Commitment: Low
Price: Medium
Convenience: Medium
Complete Greek
Complete Greek is designed for the Greek self-learner. There are 24 chapters that break down different grammar topics and present conversational Greek through dialogues. Each chapter contains practice exercises to reinforce what you have learned. There are also important cultural notes about Greek society. Reviewers liked that the book could be used by absolute beginners and that the audio is available through an app on your phone. You can check out what other reviewers had to say here.
Master the Greek Alphabet
Master the Greek Alphabet is a book dedicated solely to teaching you how to write the Greek alphabet. It teaches the stroke order and uses the “trace and learn” method which helps develop muscle memory to recall the letters. It includes practice pages that can be photocopied if you want more practice. Best of all, it’s inexpensive and thin so it’s easy to take anywhere. See what reviewers thought about the book here.
Greek Frequency Dictionary
Greek Frequency Dictionary will teach you 2,500 of the most commonly used words in written and spoken Greek. Each word has an English translation, as well as example sentences to help you understand the word. This book is best for beginners (A1 level) to intermediate (B1 level). Reviewers liked that this book made it easy to learn a lot of vocabulary quickly. See what other reviewers had to say here.
Watch Greek YouTube Videos
Watching YouTube videos is entertaining, but it can also be educational. YouTube is a great way to learn Greek because you can hear how people really speak the language. Some YouTube channels focus on teaching Greek in a “traditional” way, while others focus on showing what daily life is like in Greece.
Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High
Easy Greek
Easy Greek is part of the Easy Languages project, designed to bring languages to everyone in the world. The hosts of the videos interview people on the streets of Athens about different cultural topics. It’s an excellent way to hear how people actually speak Greek. All videos have Greek and English subtitles. They post new videos every week, and there are already 138 videos for you to check out.
Learn Greek with Lina
Lina is a teacher from Greece that has useful videos for learning about the Greek language. She has a very organized channel, and you can study an ordered list of lessons for beginners. Her other videos are divided into categories like vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. You can find all the videos on the Learn Greek with Lina channel.
Do You Speak Greek?
Alexandra is a Greek language teacher that focuses on teaching important vocabulary and grammar topics. She has different video series, such as Greek for Beginners and Greek Grammar. There’s a new video posted every Monday.
Listen to Greek Podcasts
Podcasts are another excellent way to hear how Greek is really spoken. The focus is on audio, so you can hear correct pronunciation. You can also go hands-free and listen at any time. Some podcasts focus on teaching specifics of the language, while others present content completely in Greek, but geared toward language learners. GreekPod101, WeeGreek, and Learn Greek with LinguaBoost are all podcasts that have hundreds of episodes available.
Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High
GreekPod101
GreekPod101 is both an app and online platform that features hundreds of Greek podcast lessons that teach the Greek language and culture. Each lesson has extensive lesson notes with a transcript of the audio. There are 5 levels that go from absolute beginner to advanced, so you can find something for you no matter what your level is. You can try GreekPod101 for free for 7 days, or read more about the parent company, Innovative Language, in this review.
WeeGreek
The WeeGreek podcast has news and short stories in slow Greek. There are two levels so you can choose if you are a beginner or more advanced. The podcasts are around 15 minutes long and are in Greek with English translations. You can listen to all of the episodes for free, or support Alcibiades (the podcast creator) on Patreon and receive transcripts, audio files, vocabulary lists, quizzes, and more.
Learn Greek with LinguaBoost
Learn Greek with LinguaBoost is a comprehensive audio course that helps you learn the basics of conversational Greek. It focuses on speaking, not learning isolated words and phrases. There are two courses for beginners, each with 30 lessons and several review lessons. They also come with downloadable audio and transcripts. You can listen to the first lesson in the series for free to see if this course is right for you. Or you can download the course for an inexpensive price.
How to Learn Greek: Final Thoughts
Learning Greek doesn’t have to be a herculean effort. In this article, I hope we left no stone unturned, and helped you navigate the labyrinth of choices out there (did you catch all those references to Greek mythology?). Using the right tool(s) to study can make learning an enjoyable journey. With dedication and motivation, you’ll be speaking Greek before you know it!
Want to learn more? Check out our Greek resource page.
How to Learn Greek: FAQ
According to the US Department of State, it takes 1100 class hours (or 44 weeks) to learn Greek to a proficient level. But this number can vary depending on certain factors such as your natural ability to learn a language, or if you already speak a language similar to Greek, such as Armenian or another Indo-Iranian language.
To see how long it will take you to learn Greek, check out this fluency calculator.
To learn Greek quickly, you can use a variety of study tools and resources. Each one develops certain language skills like reading, writing, listening, and speaking, more than others, so using a variety will help you to develop all areas of language learning quickly.
There are many ways to learn Greek at home, such as taking an online course or using a book. One of the most popular ways is to use a language app. There are many choices available, but Pimsleur, Mondly, or Drops are some of the best options available for learning Greek.
Greek is considered a hard language for native English speakers to learn. This is because there are significant linguistic differences between the two languages, including the alphabet used. But with dedication and persistence, you should be able to learn conversational Greek.
The best way to become fluent in Greek is by taking classes with a teacher. Using language apps or a book are great ways to start learning, but once you reach a certain point, you might need an experienced tutor to get you to a higher level, especially when it comes to conversation.
Another way to learn Greek fluently is to use authentic Greek materials. You can read Greek newspapers, watch the news, or listen to podcasts in Greek to hear how the language is truly spoken.
There are many ways to learn Greek for free. One of the most popular ways is by using a language app. Duolingo offers its Greek course entirely for free, whereas other apps like Drops and GreekPod101 offer a limited amount of content for free. You can also watch YouTube videos or listen to podcasts in Greek.