Hellenisch

Hellenisch is the term used in German and in some other languages to denote things related to Greece, especially its language and culture. In English-language scholarship, the cognate term Hellenic serves a similar purpose. The word derives from Hellas, the ancient Greek name for Greece, and Hellenes, the self-designation of the Greek people.

In linguistic contexts, Hellenic refers to the Greek language family, encompassing Ancient Greek, Koine, Medieval Greek, and Modern Greek. Ancient Greek consisted of a variety of dialects such as Attic, Ionic, Doric, and Aeolic, which contributed to a rich literary and philological tradition. The Greek alphabet, one of the earliest writing systems still in use, has undergone reforms over time, including the shift from polytonic to monotonic orthography in 1982 for standard writing.

Modern Greek, the direct descendant of Medieval Greek, is the official language of Greece and Cyprus and is spoken by Greek communities worldwide. Standard Modern Greek provides a widely taught and formalized form for education, media, and government, while regional dialects and vernacular speech persist alongside it. The term Hellenic also appears in cultural and academic contexts, such as Hellenic studies, archaeology, and classical philology, and in institutional names like the Hellenic Republic (the official English designation for Greece) and various Greek cultural organizations.

Geographically, the Hellenic sphere extends from the Greek mainland and its islands to historical regions in Asia Minor, and today includes a global diaspora in Europe, the Americas, and beyond. The descriptor thus covers language, culture, history, and identity associated with Greece across different periods.