dimotikí

Dimotikí (Greek: δημοτική, meaning “demotic” or “vernacular”) refers to the form of Modern Greek that developed from the everyday speech of the Greek population. It is the basis of Standard Modern Greek, the language used in education, media, government, and formal writing, and is distinguished from Katharevousa, a purist, archaizing form that was once used in official contexts.

Historically, Katharevousa was developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a stylized version of Greek modeled on Classical and Renaissance norms. Dimotikí coexisted with it, and a reform movement favored Dimotikí in the 19th and 20th centuries. Over the course of the 20th century, Dimotikí supplanted Katharevousa in most official and public spheres, becoming the standard language of instruction and communication in Greece. Demotic Greek thus refers to modern spoken varieties, including standard forms and regional dialects; Standard Modern Greek is largely based on the urban vernacular, with influences from various regional varieties.

Today, Dimotikí is the form taught in schools in Greece and used in most media and government communications. It remains differentiated from Katharevousa, which survives mainly in historical or literary contexts. The term is also used to describe the living Greek language as used by contemporary speakers.