griego

/gríe-go/

Greek

When used as an adjective, griego describes something of Greek origin or culture, like this classic column.

griego(adjective)

mA1

Greek

describing origin, culture, or quality

📝 In Action

La comida griega es muy saludable.

Greek food is very healthy.

Estudiamos la historia griega clásica.

We are studying classical Greek history.

Word Connections

Synonyms

helénico (Hellenic (more formal))

Common Collocations

mitología griega – Greek mythology
filosofía griega – Greek philosophy

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Like all descriptive words in Spanish, 'griego' must match the thing it describes. Use 'griego' for masculine singular things (el templo griego), 'griega' for feminine singular (la letra griega), 'griegos' for masculine plural, and 'griegas' for feminine plural.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting Gender

Mistake: "Me gusta la cultura griego."

Correction: Me gusta la cultura griega. (Culture is feminine, so the adjective must be feminine.)

A rolled-up ancient parchment scroll tied with a red string, resting next to a small green olive branch.

As a noun, griego refers to the Greek language, often associated with ancient texts and communication.

griego(noun)

mA2

Greek (language)

the language spoken in Greece

Greek (person)

a male person from Greece

📝 In Action

El griego es uno de los idiomas más antiguos.

Greek is one of the oldest languages.

Hay un griego en mi clase de historia.

There is a Greek man in my history class.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

hablar griego – to speak Greek
aprender griego – to learn Greek

💡 Grammar Points

Referring to Languages

When talking about the Greek language, you always use the definite article 'el' before 'griego' (e.g., 'El griego es difícil').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Article

Mistake: "Quiero estudiar griego."

Correction: Quiero estudiar el griego. (Unless the verb is 'hablar' or 'estudiar' used generally, it usually needs the article when referring to the subject 'Greek.')

⭐ Usage Tips

Referring to Women

To refer to a woman from Greece, you must use the feminine form: 'una griega'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: griego

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'griego' as a noun referring to the language?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

Grecia(Greece) - noun

griega(Greek woman/feminine adjective) - noun/adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'a Greek woman'?

You must use the feminine form: 'una griega'. The word 'griego' only refers to a male person or the language.

Is 'griego' capitalized in Spanish?

No. In Spanish, names of languages, nationalities, and peoples are generally not capitalized, unlike in English. You write 'el idioma griego' (the Greek language).