How long does it take to learn Greek? Is Greek a difficult language to master? How can I learn Greek fast?
These questions (and many more) might pass through your mind as you set out to start learning Greek. Is there a definite answer to all of them? Well, actually no.
However, by the time you’re done reading this blog post, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what it takes to achieve the different levels of Greek fluency. You’ll also walk away with useful tips on how to learn the Greek language more effectively and speed up your progress
1. Is Greek a Difficult Language?
Rumor has it that Greek is difficult to learn. But does this statement correspond to reality?
Well, it’s not super-easy. That’s for sure.
Greek is not a Romance language, meaning it does not make use of Latin characters. Although that fact alone might intimidate new learners, the reality is more encouraging. Greek is considered a stand-alone branch of the Indo-European language family, and it has heavily influenced almost every major European language. This is mainly because modern European civilization stems from Ancient Greek civilization.
As a result, there are many words in English (and in European Romance languages) that were originally Greek. In addition, Greece has always been in touch with other European countries, creating cultural and commercial bonds. Therefore, the Greek language also contains many originally foreign words (from French, Italian, English, etc.).
The Greek alphabet shares many common characteristics with the English alphabet, though it also includes some unique features. The similarities, however, make learning Greek even easier.
Even from a phonetic perspective, many people state that Greek sounds a bit like Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese. Therefore, it doesn’t sound that extraordinary to American and European ears.
At this point, we should note that the difficulty you’ll have learning Greek highly depends on your mother tongue, as well. For example, some people from Asian, Arab, or African countries find it harder to adjust because their mother tongue is far more different from Greek than European languages are.
All in all, if you’re still looking for an accurate answer here, it is: No, Greek is not that hard to learn!
Below, we’ll take a look at how long it takes to learn Greek based on the level of knowledge you’re aiming for.
2. How Long Does it Take to Achieve a Beginner Level?
| Time to achieve | Taking as a reference the requirements of the A1 level on the CEFR scale, you will need approximately 100-120 hours of study. |
| What you will learn at this level | The learner will have the ability to communicate with native speakers at a basic level. He or she will be able to…
|
| Example lesson | Speaking Perfect Greek at a Restaurant |
How Long Does it Take to Learn Greek?
A Useful Guide for Beginners
How long does it take to learn Greek? Is Greek a difficult language to master? How can I learn Greek fast?
These questions (and many more) might pass through your mind as you set out to start learning Greek. Is there a definite answer to all of them? Well, actually no.
However, by the time you’re done reading this blog post, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what it takes to achieve the different levels of Greek fluency. You’ll also walk away with useful tips on how to learn the Greek language more effectively and speed up your progress.
Table of Contents- Is Greek a Difficult Language?
- How Long Does it Take to Achieve a Beginner Level?
- How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Intermediate Level?
- How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Advanced Level?
- How Can I Learn Greek Faster?
- Conclusion
1. Is Greek a Difficult Language?
Rumor has it that Greek is difficult to learn. But does this statement correspond to reality?
Well, it’s not super-easy. That’s for sure.
Greek is not a Romance language, meaning it does not make use of Latin characters. Although that fact alone might intimidate new learners, the reality is more encouraging. Greek is considered a stand-alone branch of the Indo-European language family, and it has heavily influenced almost every major European language. This is mainly because modern European civilization stems from Ancient Greek civilization.
As a result, there are many words in English (and in European Romance languages) that were originally Greek. In addition, Greece has always been in touch with other European countries, creating cultural and commercial bonds. Therefore, the Greek language also contains many originally foreign words (from French, Italian, English, etc.).
The Greek alphabet shares many common characteristics with the English alphabet, though it also includes some unique features. The similarities, however, make learning Greek even easier.
Even from a phonetic perspective, many people state that Greek sounds a bit like Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese. Therefore, it doesn’t sound that extraordinary to American and European ears.
At this point, we should note that the difficulty you’ll have learning Greek highly depends on your mother tongue, as well. For example, some people from Asian, Arab, or African countries find it harder to adjust because their mother tongue is far more different from Greek than European languages are.
All in all, if you’re still looking for an accurate answer here, it is: No, Greek is not that hard to learn!
Below, we’ll take a look at how long it takes to learn Greek based on the level of knowledge you’re aiming for.
2. How Long Does it Take to Achieve a Beginner Level?
| Time to achieve | Taking as a reference the requirements of the A1 level on the CEFR scale, you will need approximately 100-120 hours of study. |
| What you will learn at this level | The learner will have the ability to communicate with native speakers at a basic level. He or she will be able to…
|
| Example lesson | Speaking Perfect Greek at a Restaurant |
3. How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Intermediate Level?
| Time to achieve | Taking as a reference the requirements of the B1 level, you will need approximately 180-250 hours of study. |
| What you will learn at this level | The learner will be able to communicate at an intermediate level, on the following subjects: Daily transactions
|
| Example lesson | Making an Appointment in Greek |
4. How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Advanced Level?
| Time to achieve | Taking as a reference the requirements of the C1 level, you will need approximately 400-520 hours of study. |
| What you will learn at this level | The learner will be able to communicate at an advanced level. This simply means that the student should be able to express his/her views on a wide variety of subjects, speaking without long disruptions and communicating effectively with public and private services for a wide variety of transactions. In addition, at this level, the learner has gained some knowledge of the Greek culture. |
| Example lesson | Top 10 Greek Holidays and Festivals |
5. How Can I Learn Greek Faster?
In the modern world, our daily routines are getting faster and faster as we try to serve many different roles throughout the day. That being said, our daily tasks often leave limited time (if any) for our hobbies, let alone learning a new language.
Learning a new language, however, doesn’t have to take up much time within your daily schedule. The key is to find smart ways to practice—and why not even entertain yourself at the same time?
Here are a few ways to learn Greek fast:
- Watch Greek-Related Netflix Shows
Although Netflix does not include much Greek-language content, there are many series and movies that are related to Greek history, mythology, or general lifestyle. These shows provide the perfect opportunity to take a step closer to the Greek culture, even if you don’t know a single word of Greek.
- Watch Greek Movies
Even if you’re not sure whether you want to pick up a new language, watching some Greek movies is the perfect way to test the waters. Greek cinematography includes movies of many genres and themes, so you’re sure to find a Greek movie that interests you.
Tip: If you’re a complete beginner, watch the movie with English subtitles. This will familiarize you with how Greek sounds and may help you pick up some phrases. Later on, as you start learning Greek and making progress, you may switch to Greek subtitles (or no subtitles at all!).
- Watch Greek YouTube Channels
Another great way to speed up your Greek learning is to watch Greek YouTube videos. These videos don’t have to be exclusively educational. There are many Greek channels covering a range of topics, from infotainment to travel and from Greek songs to famous Greek YouTubers commenting on a wide variety of subjects. One thing is for sure: You’ll be able to get yourself involved in the Greek language and culture much easier this way!
- Read Greek Books
If you’re a bookworm and an intermediate Greek learner, it might be a good idea to start reading Greek books. Your options are literally endless, and you’ll be able to enhance your vocabulary quickly and easily.
Tip: If you’re a beginner, then children’s books might be just perfect, since they use basic vocabulary and simple sentences.
- Place Post-It Notes Around the House
Wondering how to learn Greek vocabulary when you’re short on time? Write some Greek words and phrases on Post-It notes and place them strategically around the house—you’ll be surprised how much faster you can learn Greek this way. We tend to learn faster when we’re actively involved with the language, so what could be better than reviewing the Greek names of basic objects again and again without even noticing?
➜ Tip: Change the Post-It notes regularly in order to learn even more words and phrases.
- Switch Your Smartphone’s Menu to Greek
If you have an understanding of the basics of the Greek language, then the key to speeding up your learning progress might be as simple as switching your smartphone’s menu to Greek. This might seem annoying at first, but you’ll soon realize the benefits of reading Greek on a daily basis.
- Invest in a Greek Language Learning App
One of the best ways to learn a new language on the go is to utilize a language learning app like the one offered by GreekPod101.com.
Conclusion
Learning Greek is not as hard as you might have thought after all, right?
As long as you find ways to incorporate Greek language learning into your everyday routine, you’ll be able to understand Greek in no time.
What’s your favorite way to learn a new language? Let us know in the comments below!
Did you know you could begin learning Greek right now in an easy and fun way? Well, now you do! Create your free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com today!
GreekPod101 offers you high-quality, practical materials and lessons covering everything about the Greek language and culture. We aim to provide you with valuable lessons that will keep you interested and engaged from day one. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos—all this and more are waiting for you to discover them!
