Yes, Cyprus speaks Greek.
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Yes, Cyprus speaks Greek. Greek is the official language of Cyprus and is spoken by the majority of the population. According to the 2011 Census, 78% of the population speaks Greek as their first language. This can be attributed to the island’s history, as Cyprus was ruled by the Greeks for centuries before being invaded by other nations and eventually gaining independence.
A quote from travel writer Rick Steves highlights the importance of the Greek language in Cyprus: “Cyprus is a Greek island with a blend of Greek and Turkish cultures. Greek is the first language, and while many Cypriots speak English, they appreciate attempts to speak Greek — even if just a simple kalimera (good morning) or efharisto (thank you).”
Here are some interesting facts about the Greek language in Cyprus:
- The Cypriot dialect of Greek has unique features that distinguish it from other varieties of Greek.
- Greek has been spoken in Cyprus for over 3,000 years.
- The Greek language was an important factor in the country’s struggle for independence in the mid-20th century.
- The Greek Orthodox Church has had a strong influence on the development of the language in Cyprus.
- Many of Cyprus’ most famous poets, writers, and scholars have written in Greek.
Here is a table comparing the Greek language in Cyprus to other varieties of Greek:
Standard Modern Greek | Cypriot Greek | |
---|---|---|
Pronunciation | Differences in vowel sounds and accent | Unique vowel sounds and intonation |
Vocabulary | Similar, but with some unique words | Unique words and expressions |
Grammar | Similar, but with some differences in syntax | Unique grammatical structures and word order |
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Cyprus has two official languages: Greek and Turkish. The island is divided into two, and the Cypriot Turks live to the north, the Greek Cypriots to the south. Around 2.7% of each also speak the minority languages Armenian and Arabic, and most of these also speak Greek.
Though many islanders speak English, a few phrases of the local language can go a long way in Cyprus. The official language is modern Greek, yet the locals have a heavy Cypriot dialect that’s spoken daily. This dialect is an amalgamation of Ancient Greek and modern Greek that also includes words from Latin and Turkish.
The official languages of the Republic of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. : art. 3, § 1 The everyday spoken language (vernacular) of Greek Cypriots is Cypriot Greek, and that of Turkish Cypriots is Cypriot Turkish. For official purposes, the standard languages (Standard Modern Greek and Standard Turkish) are used.
Cypriot Greek (Greek: κυπριακή ελληνική locally [cipriaˈci elːiniˈci] or κυπριακά [cipriaˈka]) is the variety of Modern Greek that is spoken by the majority of the Cypriot populace and Greek Cypriot diaspora.
Greek, in its modern form, is the official language of Greece, where it is spoken by almost the entire population. It is also the official language of Cyprus (nominally alongside Turkish). Because of the membership of Greece and Cyprus in the European Union, Greek is one of the organization’s 24 official languages.
The main language of the Republic of Cyprus (Southern Cyprus) is Greek, with a mixture of the Cypriot dialect.
Around 13 million people around the world speak Greek. Most of them live in Greece and Cyprus, where Greek is the official language.
Greek and Turkish are the official languages according to Article 3 of the Constitution of Cyprus. In Northern Cyprus, the official language is Turkish (Article 2 of the 1983 Constitution of Northern Cyprus). English is widely spoken on the island.
Greek Cypriots are generally educated in Standard Modern Greek, though they tend to speak it with an accent and preserve some Cypriot Greek grammar.
Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6%; note – data represent only the Republic of Cyprus (2011 est.) major-language sample (s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
See the answer to your question in this video
This video teaches viewers five useful Cypriot Greek expressions: “How are you?”, “What time is it?”, “Where are you from?”, “What is your name?”, and “Where do you live?”, and also provides their Modern Greek equivalent. The video also includes common responses to these questions.
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