The Greek You Speak — Surprising Hellenic Origins of English Words
- English is more deeply connected to ancient Greek than most of us realize, with a surprisingly large share of everyday vocabulary tracing back to that single language.
- The backstories of common words are often rich with mythology, cultural history and shifts in meaning that unfolded over centuries.
- Exploring where words come from — their etymology — is a rewarding intellectual adventure that can change the way you look at the language you use every day.
It probably won’t come as a great surprise that much of English is derived from Classical languages — particularly Greek and Latin. It’s estimated that about 60% of all English words are derived from those two sources alone.
Celebrating Greece as our Campus of the Year led us into all kinds of interesting explorations of Greek culture. One was taking a look at the Greek we speak in English today, and some of the more unusual origins of those words. Take a look at this list!
Music
“Music” is derived from the Greek word “mousikḗ,” which originally referred to the entirety of the output of the Muses, the nine goddesses who were the source of knowledge for all literature, science and the arts, including poetry, history, astronomy and dance — in addition to music. By the 13th century, English had shortened the word to “music” and narrowed its definition to the melodic arts. “Museum” has the same roots, by the way, as a shrine for the work of the Muses.
School
“School” comes from the Ancient Greek “scholē,” meaning free time or leisure. The Greeks saw free time as a welcome opportunity for intellectual pursuits, and eventually “scholē” came to represent a place for doing such things. Try telling today’s children that school is really just vacation, if you’d like a lesson of your own. And speaking of sarcasm …
Sarcasm
Did you know the word has somewhat frightening roots in the Greek verb “sarkazein,” meaning “tearing of the flesh”? It gradually evolved to mean “sneer” in reference to the expression on a wild animal’s face during the process, then ultimately became “sarcasm” — to speak cuttingly. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of sarcasm from a master can appreciate the metaphor. (Groucho Marx: “I’ve had a wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” “If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you.”)
Tantalize
More than a few words can be traced back to Greek gods and myths — “hypnosis” from Hypnos, the god of sleep, and “chronology” from Chronos the Titan (also the source of “titanic,” for that matter). “Tantalize,” meaning to tease with something desirable but unattainable, is derived from Tantalus, a mythical Greek king who was condemned by the gods to stand in a pool of water that would recede whenever he tried to drink from it, with fruit hanging overhead too high for him to reach.
Panic
We think of Pan as an impish half-man, half-goat flute player, god of fertility and wild things. But he was also the god of darker forces below the surface of nature, and he had the nasty “superpower” of being able to instill fear, particularly among those alone in the wilderness. “Panic” describes the debilitating reaction we have when we sense a malevolent presence.
Ostracize
When we shun people or exclude them from society, we’re said to ostracize them, from the Greek “ostrakon,” meaning “tile” or “potsherd.” So, what could pottery possibly have to do with social stigma? Well, in ancient Greece, men who were deemed dangerous or embarrassing to society were subject to a period of exile, as decided through a vote of their peers, who would write the offender’s name on a fragment of pottery. If enough votes were received, the individual would be banished.
Idiot
In ancient Greece, if you weren’t a public figure, you were an idiot. (Today, many people would argue the reverse.) “Idiotes” just meant a private citizen who did not participate in public life or politics. Even though the Greeks placed high value on public engagement, the term was not derogatory. It was only centuries later that it came to refer to a rude or ignorant person.
Marmalade
“Melimelon” means “sweet apple” in Greek, historically referring to quinces. The Portuguese word “marmelada” derives from it, because marmalade was originally (in the 1500s) made there using that fruit. Quince marmalade later made its way up to England, where it still figures in many recipes. The English first used oranges to make a smooth marmalade in the 1700s (as opposed to today’s chunky version), and it was the Scots who turned it into a breakfast item later that century.
Zoo
Menageries of various kinds have been assembled for thousands of years, but the idea of studying animals in a controlled environment began with Berlin’s Tiergarten Schönbrunn in 1752. “Zoo,” the ubiquitous shorthand for “zoological gardens,” began in 19th-century England as slang. The term has its roots in the Greek “zoon,” meaning “living being” or “animal.” The first facility in England for displaying a collection of animals opened in London in 1828 as “The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society of London,” which certainly deserved to be abbreviated.
And One Final Word …
Clue
“Clue” isn’t derived from a Greek word; rather it is inspired by a Greek myth. “Clue” comes from “clew,” which is Old English for “a ball of twine or yarn.” The connection? When Theseus sought to confront and slay the Minotaur confined in the labyrinth on Crete, he faced a dilemma. The labyrinth was so complicated that the Minotaur — and presumably Theseus — could not escape. But Theseus was given a ball of thread by the goddess Ariadne, which he unspooled as he entered, and followed out as he exited. The thread — and the word “clew” — eventually came to represent any aid in the solution of a riddle or mystery.
“Exploring the etymology of words can lead to many delightful surprises, whether it’s the colorful origins of Italian pasta names (orrechiette means “little ears” and “strozzapreti” means “priest stranglers”) or the fact that “a skosh” of something derives from the Japanese “sukoshi,” for a little bit, or that “sinister” derives from the Latin for left-handedness, because omens seen on the left hand were considered unfavorable.
“Next time you’re curious about a word you’re using, look it up — you may be richly rewarded! Meanwhile, if you’re interested in hearing some Greek in its original form, we’d love to have you join us on a learning adventure to our Campus of the Year.
John Watters is an aficionado of the eclectic — quirks of history, unusual places and
whimsical pursuits. When he’s not crafting more mainstream pieces for Road Scholar, he sometimes reports on things off the beaten path — or just offbeat. His professional
expertise is derived from a long career as an advertising writer and creative director, while his personal expertise with vacuum cleaners and lint rollers is derived from a long association with Bernese Mountain Dogs.
