Date Compiled: 2026-04-12
Romanian-Greek Bilingualism¶
Type: Linguistic concept
Historical bilingualism
Definition¶
The condition of Greek-Romanian bilingualism in the Romanian Principalities, particularly during the Phanariot period. Greek was the language of administration, court, commerce, and high culture. Romanian was the vernacular.
Significance¶
Greek-Romanian bilingualism explains how Greek vocabulary entered Romanian — not just through formal borrowing but through everyday contact between Greek-speaking officials and Romanian-speaking populations.