Greek is not exactly a popular choice when it comes to learning a new language. Basic language apps tend to omit Greek completely, and even the more in-depth programs usually have meager offerings.
As you may know if you have read my other blogs and guides, Greek was my first foreign language, so I come from a place of experience. I can’t tell you how many times I found what I thought was the perfect app, only to realize it didn’t have much—or any—Greek.
So, with all that considered, what are the best ways to learn Greek? What are the ways that worked for me, someone who struggled with French at school and always thought that languages just “weren’t for me”?
What Are the Best Ways to Learn Greek?
There is no “best way” for everyone. It depends on how you learn, how much time you have, and what your interests are. Your goals and current level of understanding are also key.
Are you hoping to learn a few basic phrases as a complete beginner or beat the plateau that often hits intermediate learners? Just as importantly, what’s your budget and schedule?
To make sure I cover all types of Greek learners, I’ll try to address these things separately.
What Are the Best Ways to Learn the Greek Language as a Beginner?
As a beginner, you can learn quickly but often struggle the most. It’s also very easy to lose motivation, and if that happens, you can forget about learning Greek and may give up on language learning entirely.
It’s important, therefore, to find a method that works for you. Some of the best options include:
- Pimsleur: Although there are only two levels to the Pimsleur Greek course, they cover basic pronunciation, phrases, and more. You won’t learn grammar and it’s not a complete solution, but it will improve your listening skills and is a fun and relatively passive way to learn Greek.
- Duolingo: If you want to become fluent in Greek, Duolingo is not a viable option. But the same could be said for most other methods. There is no complete, one-size-fits-all solution. However, Duolingo is free and it will teach you some new Greek words in an entertaining way. Just make sure you pay attention (turn the sound on, speak the words aloud) and don’t just go through the motions.
- Preply: If you can afford a tutor, hire one. You don’t need to spend a lot, as 1 or 2 hours a week will suffice. It’s a key step in improving your conversational skills and means you can ask questions that arise during your studies. It helps to plug the gaps. There are dozens of Greek tutors on Preply and they usually charge anywhere from $8 to $30 an hour.
- Linq: If the above methods aren’t working for you and you need something else, check out the Linq app. It’s a guided reading and listening app that introduces a unique and effective learning style. It doesn’t have the best or widest selection for Greek, and you really need a premium account to get the full experience, but it’s a solid app.
Quick Ways to Learn the Greek Alphabet for Absolute Beginners
One of the first things I did in my language-learning journey was to learn the Greek alphabet. I studied it, remembered it, and within a couple of days I had it nailed down. I even knew how to write all of the letters.
After a few months, I had completely forgotten and even now, as an advanced learner, I can’t recite it.
Don’t worry too much about reciting or writing the Greek alphabet in order. Just make sure you know what the letters look like and can pronounce them. I have included a table with the full Greek alphabet and pronunciations below:
| Name | Letter | Pronunciation Equivalent |
| Alpha | Α α | Apple |
| Beta | Β β | Various |
| Gamma | Γ γ | Long |
| Delta | Δ δ | The |
| Epsilon | Ε ε | Pen |
| Zeta | Ζ ζ | Zip |
| Eta | Η η | Me |
| Theta | Θ θ | Theory |
| Iota | Ι ι | Bee |
| Kappa | Κ κ | Kick |
| Lambda | Λ λ | Love |
| Mu | Μ μ | Mother |
| Nu | Ν ν | Nephew |
| Xi | Ξ ξ | Fox |
| Omicron | Ο ο | Orange |
| Pi | Π π | People |
| Rho | Ρ ρ | Right |
| Sigma | Σ σ/ς | Seat |
| Tau | Τ τ | Ten |
| Upsilon | Υ υ | Key |
| Phi | Φ φ | Father |
| Chi | Χ χ | Hit |
| Psi | Ψ ψ | Absent |
| Omega | Ω ω | Toe |
The Best Ways to Learn Greek for Free
There are lots of free language learning resources online. However, many of them are just free trials or limited offerings, and eventually, you’ll be asked to pay a subscription fee.
So, what are the genuinely free options?
- Duolingo: There is a premium version, but you can get a lot out of the free one. At the time of writing, the desktop site has far fewer ads than the app and is therefore the better option. That might change in the future though.
- YouTube: There is a lot of great content on YouTube, including language lessons by creators like LinguaTree (see below) and a wealth of Greek podcasts. It’s all completely free and very helpful.
- Free Sites and Apps: A number of sites (like this one) will give you pointers on learning Greek online. Some have a hidden agenda and many simply direct you to premium accounts, but there are still great options available. Cooljugator is one of my favorites as it gives you a simple list of all conjugations for your chosen verb and it’s free.
The Best Ways to Become Fluent in Greek
A tutor can tell you all about Greek grammar and Greek culture. Duolingo can teach you new Greek words. Pimsleur can give you some confidence when speaking. But making the step up to fluency requires stepping out of the learning mindset and trying to immerse yourself in the language.
Talk as Often as You Can
Most language learners struggle to talk in their target language. I was in the same boat. Not only did I lack confidence, but I’m a quiet, introverted person by nature. It meant that my reading skills were nearing B2 while my speaking skills were still hovering around A2.
Pimsleur helps, but only to an extent. I find that the biggest difference comes when you start speaking aloud. It doesn’t matter if you’re reading, doing a spot of Duolingo, or just reciting Facebook posts from your partner’s racist uncle, just speak up.
Consume as Much Media as You Can
Greece has produced some amazing filmmakers and authors over the years, but it’s fair to say that the selection is scant when compared to other languages.
I personally love horror films, and Greece has produced very few classics. Still, there’s a film called Ετερος Εγω that I enjoyed and it was also made into a series.
Try to watch the content in Greek with Greek subtitles, as there will be words that you’ve only seen written down and don’t immediately recognize when spoken. The reverse is true as well. If you’re struggling, switch to English subtitles, but don’t get into the habit of reading them constantly, as you won’t learn anything that way.
YouTube videos are great as well. I watched a lot of content from a tutor called Γιούλη. She conducts her lessons in Greek but speaks very slowly. You can find her YouTube videos here. I also watch gaming content and true crime podcasts in Greek. Obviously, they don’t accommodate language learners like Γιούλη does, but you can slow the videos down to 0.5 or 0.75x.
Music is another great way to learn, so find some Greek songs, listen to the lyrics, and see if you can decipher what’s being said.
Make Greek Friends
My in-laws are either Greek or Cypriot, and all of the ones over 50 don’t speak a word of English. I don’t get much chance to visit Greece or Cyprus these days, but I see their posts on Facebook every day. I often find myself scrolling through, reading the posts, and then checking the auto-translate to see how far off I was.
Make some Greek friends, whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or elsewhere. Check Reddit, Discord, and online Greek communities. You don’t have to engage if you don’t want to. You’re there to learn, so just read, digest, and practice your Greek.
My only suggestion is that you make sure the content you’re reading is well-written. Imagine my disarray when I first began reading Facebook posts and couldn’t understand any of it. I had been doing so well in my lessons, but in the real world, I was lost. Then I discovered that my partner’s second cousin treated the Greek language like my cat treats the arm of the sofa. It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to read, it was that he didn’t know how to write.
Read
Many of the books targeting Greek learners on Amazon are for ancient Greek. It’s baffling, and it’s an issue you won’t find in any other language (imagine if all of the “learn English” books taught Old English or Middle English). There are also a number of books aimed at children that can help if you’re learning the language.
I went through the usual process of finding these books, buying them, and then proceeding to ignore them. I’m not 6 and I don’t care what kind of hat the sun is wearing today.
Instead, I took solace in Arkas, a famed comic book artist. I discovered one of his creations through his Facebook page and checked back every day. I eventually bought all the books and learned a lot from them.
There’s a lot of slang and there can be other challenges too. For instance, my favorite character is Θανασάκης, a young boy with a speech impediment whose unfortunate lisp is present in the text. It’s also in capital letters, which I struggled with in the beginning.
But it’s funny. It’s different. It’s entertaining. And there is a lot of it out there. I also read a lot of Greek mythology, as well as classic books translated into Greek.
If you’re fortunate enough to visit Greece, take an empty suitcase and stock up on books there. If not, you can find some on Amazon and eBay.
What about the Rosetta Stone Greek Course?
As noted in my Rosetta Stone review, it was one of the first apps that I used and I even paid for the premium version. It’s a good tool for getting to grips with the Greek languages and, in theory, it should help visual learners.
However, I am a visual learner. I don’t talk much. I’m not great at listening. And I often use memory palace tricks to remember tough words. Despite that, Rosetta Stone didn’t work for me.
It can help with a little Greek vocabulary. There are still some Greek words that conjure images of Rosetta Stone photographs when I hear them. But I learned much more with a tutor and Pimsleur and think they are better options.
Why Should You Learn Greek?
There are generally four types of people who learn Greek.
- People with a strong Greek connection, such as parents/grandparents or a partner.
- People who want to learn Greek for vacations.
- People with a passion for history
- Polyglots
If you’re in the second group, you’ll probably give up after learning ευχαριστώ and γεια σας, assuming that’s enough to impress the locals. If you’re in the third group, you’ll likely call it quits when you realize modern Greek is not the same as ancient Greek, and the latter is even harder than the former.
History, culture, and vacations are great reasons to learn Greek, but unless you have a true passion for the language, they’re not enough. It’s a very tough language to learn, and you need that passion to serve as your motivation.
Like most English speakers learning Greek, I am in the first category. My partner is Greek, so my in-laws (and many of my friends) are also Greek. Being able to talk with your father-in-law without using hand signals and awkward finger-pointing is a great incentive. It’s also great practice. Without that, there’s no way I would know what I know today.
I love history. I love the culture. But without that familial connection, I wouldn’t have made it beyond που ειναι η τουλεττα;