Arvanites

Arvanites are a Greek ethnolinguistic group of Albanian origin who have lived in Greece for centuries. Traditionally they spoke Arvanitika, an Albanian dialect, but today most identify as Greek and speak Greek, with Arvanitika primarily surviving among older generations and in some rural communities.

Origins trace to Albanian-speaking populations that migrated to the Greek peninsula during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. These groups settled in areas such as Attica and central Greece, Boeotia, Euboea, the Peloponnese, and parts of Thessaly and Epirus. They maintained Orthodox Christianity and distinctive folk customs, while gradually integrating into wider Greek society. Arvanites contributed to Greek state‑building and participated in the Greek War of Independence, often intermarrying with other Greek communities and forming a cohesive part of modern Greek society.

Language and identity have shifted over time. Arvanitika belongs to the Albanian language family (Tosk branch). The 19th and 20th centuries saw a steady language shift toward Greek, accelerating in the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Arvanitika is endangered, with limited use among younger generations, though revival and preservation efforts exist through cultural associations and local initiatives in some areas.

Geographically, Arvanites are most closely associated with central Greece and the Attica region, but historically they were found in multiple regions across the country. Demographically, the Arvanite population is not enumerated separately in modern censuses, and individuals typically identify as Greek, while recognizing a historical and cultural heritage tied to Arvanite origins.