Hellenic
/həˈlɛn.ɪk/noun
Relating to Greece, the Greek people, or Greek culture, especially in classical antiquity.
Did you know?Hellenic ultimately traces back to Hellen, the mythic ancestor of the Greeks, which is why Greek identity and Greek language are tied to a legendary founding figure rather than just a place.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Greek
PGk
*Hellā́s / *Hellḗn
“An early Greek ethnic and regional name, later associated with the Greek people and their land”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἕλλην (Hellēn)
“A Greek person; the eponymous ancestor of the Greeks in myth”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἑλληνικός (Hellēnikós)
“Greek; pertaining to the Greeks or Greek-style”
Late Latin
Latin
Hellenicus
“Greek; of Greek origin or character”
Old French
Old French
hellenique
“Greek, Hellenic”
Modern English
English
Hellenic
“Relating to Greece, Greek people, or Greek culture”