Ethniko

Ethniko is a term rooted in Greek that functions as both an adjective and a noun meaning national or ethnic. It derives from the Greek ethnos, meaning people or nation, and the suffix -iko, which forms descriptors and related nouns. In modern usage, ethniko can describe national identity, ethnic characteristics, or cultural heritage, and it appears in various compound forms as well as in proper names.

In Greek, ethniko appears in everyday language and in institutional titles. A well-known example is Ethniko Theatro, the National Theatre of Greece in Athens, where ethniko conveys the sense of national status. Beyond theatre, the word appears in contexts involving culture, heritage, and discussions of national or ethnic groups. In English-language texts, Ethniko may be encountered as a transliterated Greek term or as part of a proper name, rather than as a common English word.

Relation to related concepts: ethniko is connected to ethnos (the people or nation) and ethnicity (the cultural identity of a group) but operates as a broader descriptor of national or ethnic attributes. It is distinct from terms that denote political status or academic disciplines, such as nationality or ethnology.

See also: Ethnicity; Ethnos; Nationalism; National identity; Greece.