Dialect comparison

Griko vs Standard Modern Greek

Compare two dialects of Greek side by side — where they're spoken, what they're called, and how they relate.

Italiot Greek · Salentino Greek

The Greek of southern Italy, spoken in two enclaves in Salento and Calabria. A direct descendant of the Magna Graecia varieties; one of the oldest continuously-spoken Greek varieties outside Greece.

Spoken in: Italy
Approximate centre: 40.35°, 18.17°

Standard Modern Greek

Demotic Greek

The Athens-based standard of modern Greek, derived from the Demotic vernacular and codified in the late 20th century.

Spoken in: Greece
Approximate centre: 37.98°, 23.73°

How to read this comparison

Which one to learn

Start with Griko or Standard Modern Greek based on the community, country, or media you expect to use most.

Mutual understanding

Shared language labels do not guarantee identical speech. Compare country coverage, aliases, and audio where available.

Where to go next

Open each dialect page for sources, nearby varieties, atlas context, and app availability.

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DialectGrikoThe Greek of southern Italy, spoken in two enclaves in Salento and Calabria. A direct descendant of the Magna Graecia varieties; one of the oldest continuously-spoken Greek varieties outside Greece.DialectStandard Modern GreekThe Athens-based standard of modern Greek, derived from the Demotic vernacular and codified in the late 20th century.CompareCappadocian Greek vs Griko AtlasExplore the atlasRead the full picture of Greek and the dialects within it.