thumbnail

English Words of Greek Origin

Below are 25 Greek words with their English definitions. Can you name some English words that derive from these Greek origins?
Given English's extensive reliance on Greek, there are a great many words that derive from these Greek roots. If your initial guesses aren't registering, try more words.
Some of the Greek words below will have varying English definitions based on their cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative or vocative).
Quiz by elijahwade
Rate:
Last updated: December 6, 2022
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
First submittedJuly 25, 2018
Times taken703
Average score72.0%
Rating4.50
Report this quizReport
5:00
Enter answer here
0
 / 25 guessed
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Greek word & definition
English word(s)
δήμος (dēmos), meaning 'people'
democracy, demography
ζῷον (zōon), meaning 'living creature'
zoo, zoology, zodiac
ψυχή (psychē), meaning 'soul'
psychology, psychiatry, psychic
φῶς (phōs), meaning 'light'
photograph, phosphorus
δύναμις (dynamis), meaning 'power'
dynamite, dynasty, dynamic
γράμμα (gramma), meaning 'writing'
grammar, monogram
βίβλος (biblos), meaning 'book'
Bible, bibliography
χρόνος (chronos), meaning 'time'
chronic, chronology, chronological
πῦρ (pyr), meaning 'fire'
pyrotechnic, pyromania
σοφία (sophia), meaning 'wisdom'
philosophy, sophisticated
ὑπό (hypo), meaning 'by' or 'under'
hypocrite, hypodermic
γράφω (graphō), meaning 'to write'
graph, graphic, photograph
ἐπί (epi), meaning 'on'
epidermis, epitaph
ὕδωρ (hydōr), meaning 'water'
hydration, hydraulic, hydroelectric
θέρμη (thermē), meaning 'heat'
thermal, thermometer
γῆ (), meaning 'earth/world'
geography, geology
φύσις (physis), meaning 'nature'
physical, physics
σύν (syn), meaning 'with'
synthesis, synthetic, synonym
κρυπτός (kruptós), meaning 'hidden'
crypt, cryptic, cryptocurrency
ἔθνος (ethnos), meaning 'race/nation'
ethnic, ethnicity
κύκλῳ (kyklō), meaning 'circle/wheel'
cycle, bicycle
αὐτός (autos), meaning 'self'
autograph, automatic
δέκα (deka), meaning 'ten'
decade, decathalon, decagon
πνεῦμα (pneuma), meaning 'breath'
pneumatic, pneumonia
κόσμος (kosmos), meaning 'world/universe'
cosmic, cosmos
3 Comments
+1
Level 36
Jul 26, 2018
Why didn't you accept cryptic?
+1
Level 96
Jul 27, 2018
Thank you for your comment. I'm not sure why it didn't work for you, but 'cryptic' is a valid answer.
+1
Level 84
Dec 6, 2022
Automobile.