Hellene

Hellene, or Hellene(s) in English, is the ethnonym used for the Greek people. It designates those who identify with the Greek cultural and linguistic tradition, from ancient times to the present. The term derives from Hellas (Hellas), the name of the Greek homeland, and from the mythic progenitor Hellen. In classical Greek, the term Hellenes referred to the Greek-speaking peoples, and the land was called Hellas.

Historically, Hellenes identified themselves as a single people despite regional and political differences among city-states. The spread of Hellenic culture occurred through colonization, trade, and, later, the Hellenistic era after Alexander the Great. The word Hellene was used by Greeks themselves and by others; the Latin Graecus and the English Greek reflect later external designations. In the modern era, Greece is sometimes described as Hellas in reference to national identity, and the term Hellenes appears in certain scholarly or formal contexts. In English, Hellene is common in academic usage, while Greek is used in everyday language.

Language and usage: the adjective Hellenic is used in academic and cultural contexts to describe Greek language, literature, and civilization (for example, Hellenic studies, Hellenic Republic). The modern Greek self-designation remains Ellines, and the country’s name in Greek is Hellas (Ellada). In contemporary discourse, both Greek and Hellene are encountered, with Greek prevailing in common speech and Hellene appearing in historical, cultural, or ethnographic contexts.