Translation guide
How to refer to the Greek language, people, culture, and things related to Greece in Japanese.
Referring to the Greek language (ancient or modern).
Standard word for the Greek language. Use this in most contexts.
I'm studying Greek.
How do you say this in Greek?
Ancient Greek, often used in academic contexts.
I studied Ancient Greek at university.
Referring to a person or people from Greece.
Describing something as being from Greece or related to Greece.
Use ギリシャの before a noun to mean 'Greek (something)'. This is the most common pattern.
I like Greek food.
I read Greek mythology.
I want to go to a Greek island.
Greek-style. Often used for food, architecture, etc.
I ordered a Greek-style salad.
Referring to the country itself. Included because learners often confuse the word for the country with the adjective.
The country Greece. Note: 'Greek' as an adjective is ギリシャの, not just ギリシャ.
Have you ever been to Greece?
ギリシャ alone means the country Greece. To say 'Greek' as an adjective, you usually need ギリシャの before a noun. Saying ギリシャ料理 without の is possible in compound words, but ギリシャの料理 is safer and more common.