if I learn modern greek could I undestand ancient greek and viceversa?

Answer 1

Basically no. You will be able to read it and understand a few words here and there. Grammar is different. But if your modern Greek is very good then with not too much effort you could understand the Old stuff.

Answer 2

Hmm... you know that Modern Greek come from the Ancient Greek. There are some ancient greek words or phrases that are similar to some modern ones. Of course you have a chance to understand, I think, Ancinet Greek, if you learn very well the routes of Modern Greek. For example, naytikos(=sailor,in modern Greek) comes from nay(=ship in ancient greek)....
If you try you can..... ;)

Answer 3

All languages are living things and as such they evolve. Even though you could not readily switch from ancient to modern Greek (2500 years more or less have passed since) what remains formidable is that even the illiterate Greek today ( very few left) still speaks using 60% of some form of the words in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey

Answer 4

Unfortunately not. As a native greek, having had 3 years of ancient greek at school and one year at university, I cannot understand ancient greek, unless it is something extremely easy. Modern Greek - except of course a lot of words - has nothing to do with classic ancient greek, let alone ancient greek from the times of Homer. Even the syntax is different, nowadays the language is more simple. It is like learning latin and expecting to understand italian. It does not work.

Answer 5

If you know modern Greek fluently, you can understand ancient Greek written in the 1st-2nd century BC and after that. You can understand for example the original gospels, written in the first century AD, the language is very close to modern greek. You can definitely understand most words form older texts too, because the language is the same, modern greek is not another language from ancient greek. (French for example comes from latin, but is not latin. Ancient and modern Greek are the same language). However, the usage of the language in the 5th century BC (syntax and grammar) and mostly in the poems of Homer is very complicated and it is not enough to know the words' meaning, so you will probably not be able to understand, especially since modern Greek will already be a foreign language to you. But if you know modern Greek, if you follow a course of ancient Greek you can easily learn - and vice versa.

Answer 6

not really... the modern greek originated from ancient greek but many changes have occurred since then... u might recognize words but the grammar is slightly different so is syntax (given the fact that modern greek became a lot simpler).. u might understand that the language spoken is greek though and when it comes to reading, u might have a better chance!

Answer 7

All the modern greek words come from ancient greek words but they are quite altered.There have been made many simplifies,grammar and spelling,to ancient greek to become modern greek.
Thus,the answer is that you can understand many words but it will be rather difficult to understand ancient greek if you'll learn modern greek and viseversa.If you ask me it is crucial for greeks to learn ancient greek if they want to speak modern greek effective.

Answer 8

No, sweety, sorry!!!
It's a complete different to know ancient and modern!!!
I am greek and I have lessons of ancient greek!
Kisses from Greece!!!

Answer 9

No. Ancient Greek bears little resemblance to modern Greek. It is mainly the language of scholars these days. Yasou!

Answer 10

No way! I don't understand anythin' in ancient greek! Only a few words because of the cypriot accent... (They're quite similar)