Γραικός

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Uncertain origin. Aristotle wrote that it was an Illyrian word used to describe the Dorian tribes in Epirus, from Graii, an indigenous name of peoples in the coastal region.

However, some modern scholars, such as Busolt, trace it to Γραῖα ‎(Graîa), a city on the coast of Boeotia, a name given to the Greeks by the Romans, where they first met. The city's name itself means "grey," from Proto-Indo-European *ǵerh₂- ‎(“to grow old”).

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /ɡra͜ɪkós/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /ɣrɛːkós/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /ɣrekós/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /ɣrekós/

• (15th AD Constantinopolitan): IPA: /ɣɾekós/

Adjective

Γραικός (Graikos)

1. Greek

Proper noun

Γραικός (Graikos) m

1. Graecus, a character in Greek mythology, said to be a son of Thessalos, the king of Phthia; or else a son of Pandora and Zeus.
2. Graecian, name of an ancient Boeotian tribe that migrated to Italy.

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Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Γραικός ‎(Graikós)

Noun

Γραικός • ‎(Graikós) m ‎(plural Γραικοί)

1. (obsolete) Greek

Usage notes

• Used in Byzantium and during Ottoman rule.

Declension

Γραικός ‎(Graikós)

	singular	plural
nominative	Γραικός	Γραικοί
genitive	Γραικού	Γραικών
accusative	Γραικό	Γραικούς
vocative	Γραικέ	Γραικοί

Synonyms

• Έλληνας m ‎(Éllinas)
• Ρωμιός m ‎(Romiós) (familiar, emotive term)

Related terms

• γραικικός ‎(graikikós, “Greek”)