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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Greek Mythology offers educational information on all Greek Gods, Greek Goddesses and Myths of Ancient Greece. Study and Learn Greek Mythology with our free online lessons and e-courses.

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The Greek language, and specifically Greek mythology has had a tremendous influence on the English language. In our everyday lives we use Greek root words and definitions all the time.

English Words from Greek Mythology

The names of the Greek gods live on through their stories and language. Many English words have Greek roots and a lot of them come straight from the names of gods and mythological figures.

Here are some English words that are firmly rooted in Greek mythology. They are presented in this order: the Greek word or name (followed by a description) > the English word derived from the Greek (followed by a definition).

Ares (god of war) > battle (to fight)

Atlas (a Titan who was condemned to carry the heavens upon his shoulders) > atlas (book of maps)

Clotho (the youngest of the Three Fates who spun the thread of life) > cloth (material made by weaving)

Chronos (god of time) > chronology (events in order of time)

Erôs (god of love and sexual desire) > erotic (sexual in nature)

Hypnos (god of sleep) > hypnosis (a sleep-like state of consciousness)

Hêlios (god of the sun) > heliotrope (plant that turns towards the sun)

Khaos (the void from which all life sprang) > chaos (confusion, disorder)

Muses (goddesses of the arts and science) > musical (of or like music)

Narcissus (a beautiful man who fell in love with his own reflection) > narcissism (extreme love of self)

Nectar (drink of the gods) > nectar, nectarine (sweet plant secretion, fruit)

Ôkeanos (God of the river Oceanus, the source of the Earth's fresh water) > ocean (large body of water)

Typhon (known as the storm giant and father of all monsters) > typhoon (huge rotating tropical storm)

Zephyrus (god of the west wind) > zephyr (gentle west wind)

Ancient Greek Words Used in English Today

Many English words are derived from other ancient Greek words. Here is a short list of some of them. The Greek word is listed first; the English word is second, followed by the definition:

Bios > bio - life

Gigas > gigantic - giant, enormous

Glossa > gloss - tongue, language

Logos > logo - thought, word

Meter > meter - measurement

Phobos > phobia - fear or dread of something

Phōnē > phone - voice

Pseudo > pseudo - false

Therapeia > therapy - curing, healing

Thermos > thermal - heat

Toxikon > toxic - poison

Zōnē > zone - belt

We may not always notice these root words and their definitions because we are so used to them being a part of our everyday language.

Common Greek Root Words

There are also a host Greek root words used in English as the base for further words. Here are some common Greek root words (and their definitions) we use in English.

Arche - ruler, ancient

Auto - referring to the self

Bibl - pertaining to a book

Cosm - order or world

Cracy - government, authority

Dec(a) - ten

Dem - pertaining people

Derm - referring to the skin

Ethn - race or nation

Gastr - pertaining to the stomach

Geo - pertaining to the earth

Hydr - pertaining to water

Hypn - pertaining to sleep

Iso - equal, alike or identical

Kilo - thousand

Lith - referring to stone

Mania - pertaining to madness

Mega - large or powerful

Mono - pertaining to one

Neuron - pertaining to the nerve

Nomo - law, arrangement

Oct - eight

Pan - pertaining to all or every

Phon - referring to sound or speaking

Psych - pertaining to the soul or the mind

Scop - to spy, watch or see

Tele - referring to something far off

Zoon - pertaining to animals

A clue to the meaning of a word can often be found by looking at the meaning of the root or base of the word. In many English words, these roots are Greek in origin.

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roots of english words in greek mythology

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what english words come from greek mythology

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Greek Language: Roots of English Words in Greek Mythology

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The Greek language, and specifically Greek mythology has had a tremendous influence on the English language. In our everyday lives we use Greek root words and definitions all the time. The names of the Greek gods live on through their stories and language.

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For a very long time, Hercules (Heracles) did not know he was half man and half god. His mother was a mortal. But his father was a king - a very special king, the king of all the gods, the mighty Zeus.

Zeus loved his little son. But Hera, Zeus' wife, hated Hercules. She was very jealous. She tried all kinds of ways to kill Hercules, including sending a couple of big snakes into his crib. Hercules crushed those snakes in a flash! Hercules was incredibly strong, even as a baby!

To keep his small son safe from attack, Zeus sent him to live with a mortal family on earth in the ancient Greek city-state of Argos. Hercules grew up noble and loved. He married and had a couple of kids. He was happy, but he did not fit in on earth. He was too big and too strong. He was hard to miss. Hera soon discovered his location.

The rest of the story of Hercules is a bunch of little stories that together tell the tale of how Hercules used clever tricks and great courage to stay alive and earn his way into the heavens, to take his place with the gods.
As the story goes .....
One day, while thinking up ways to kill Hercules, Hera came up with an idea. It might not kill him, but it would certainly devastate him. Using an evil magic spell, she made Hercules fall into a fit of madness. While under this spell, he butchered his wife and children. As the spell passed and his vision cleared, Hercules saw what he had done. He knew it was a mistake. He knew he had been bewitched, but he was filled with guilt. He wanted to find some way to atone for his terrible mistake, only he had no idea what to do. In desperation, he visited the most powerful wizard of his day, the Oracle at Delphi, and asked for her help.

The trouble with Oracles was that their advice was often misunderstood. This time, the Oracle was clear. She believed Hercules would never have butchered his family unless he had been in the grip of an evil spell. She had no doubt that the evil spell was probably cast by Hera. She also knew that Hercules would never forgive himself unless first he was punished. She told Hercules exactly what he needed to do to atone. She whispered that he had to visit his cousin, King Eurystheus, who would give him 12 labors (tasks) that Hercules must successfully complete. Once all 12 tasks were accomplished, Hercules would be forgiven.

"Are you sure that such a simple thing will atone for my mistake?" Hercules asked her.

The oracle answered: "If you complete 12 Labors, immortality will be yours." Being an oracle, she never explained what she meant by "immortality" - would he live forever in legend or for real? Hercules never asked. (She would not have told him anyway.) Hercules could barely hear her, her whisper was that soft, yet somehow, and just as the Oracle had predicted to herself, Hera's spies discovered what the Oracle had told him.

Before Hercules could arrive at his cousin's palace, Hera got there first. Eurystheus (Eury for short) was the king of a little village in the city-state of Argos. Hera convinced Eury that Hercules was coming to steal his crown! It was not enough that Hercules had killed his family, she told Eury. Now he wanted to be king! Eury believed her. Hera suggested that Eury challenge Hercules to 12 labors (missions or tasks.) If he failed, Hercules had to defend Eury from anyone who tried to take Eury's crown. Eury loved that idea. Hera and Eury designed 12 impossible tasks. They were certain that one of the 12 labors they designed would surely kill Hercules, probably the very first one. Hercules was not interested in Eury's crown, but he accepted the challenge as Hera knew he would.

Hercules not only lived, he had great adventures, discovered true friends, and rid the world of some really nasty critters. Here are the famous 12 Labors of Hercules, each told in the form of a little short story.

1. The Nemean Lion

2. The Lernaean Hydra

3. The Wild Boar of Erymanthus

4. The Stag of Artemis

5. The Stymphalian Birds

6. The Augean Stables

7. The Cretan Bull

8. The Girdle of Hippolyta

9. The Cattle of Geryon

10. The Mares of King Diomedes

11. The Golden Apples of the Hesperides

12. The Capture of Cerberus

See Also: The Labors of Hercules - stories for kids

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Ancient Greek Myths for Kids: The 12 Labors of Hercules - Ancient Greek Myths for Kids

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For a very long time, Hercules (Heracles) did not know he was half man and half god. His mother was a mortal. But his father was a king - a very special king, the king of all the gods, the mighty Zeus. Zeus loved his little son. But Hera, Zeus' wife, hated Hercules.

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Ancient Greek Myth for Kids: Persephone & Demeter - Ancient Greek Myth for Kids

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Zeus, the king of all the gods, had two brothers and three sisters. All the gods had jobs, but his sister Demeter had one of the most important jobs - she was in charge of the harvest. There were many temples in ancient Greece dedicated to Demeter. Nearly everyone,…

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Ancient Greek Gods for Kids, Athena (Minerva) - Ancient Greek & Roman Gods for Kids

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As the story goes .... Every town in ancient Greece hoped a god would choose to look after the townspeople. Towns rarely had more than one god to keep an eye on their best interests because most gods did not share well. At this time in history, not every village had a god…