What does "hellenic" mean?

the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages

What is a synonym for "hellenic"?

Common synonyms include: greek, classical, grecian, grecian, greek, greek.

Hellenic

//həˈlɛnɪk// adj, name

adj, name ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages wordnet

Adjective

1
Of or pertaining to the Ancient Greek culture and civilization before the Hellenistic period.
2
Of or pertaining to Hellas (Greece) or the Hellenes (Greeks).
3
Of or derived from Ancient Greek. not-comparable

Adjective

1
relating to or characteristic of the classical Greek civilization wordnet
2
of or relating to or characteristic of Greece or the Greeks or the Greek language wordnet

Proper Noun

1
The Greek language and its dialects from the earliest records (Linear B inscriptions, about 1600-1300 B.C.E.) to the present Modern Greek.

Synonyms

All synonyms

greek classical grecian grecian greek greek

Example

More examples

"Modern Greek and Tsakonian are Hellenic languages."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Ἑλληνικός (Hellēnikós, “of or pertaining to Greece or Greeks”), from Ancient Greek Ἑλλάς (Hellás, “Greece”). By surface analysis, Hellen + -ic. First attested in c. 1640.

Related phrases

Hellenic Republic linear b modern greek

More for "hellenic"

Synonyms Sentences Pronunciation Translate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation Browse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.