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Glite Dictionary
koine

koine

9.9
A common language used by people who speak different native languages to communicate
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔɪneɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : koiné
  • In ancient times, the use of a koine helped traders from different regions communicate effectively.

Examples

  • Don't forget about koine!

  • Some sociolinguists compare modern global English to the role of the koine in the ancient Mediterranean.

  • Classical scholars often study the koine to better understand early Christian texts.

  • The term koine refers to a common dialect.

  • Many ancient texts were written in koine, which allowed people from different regions to communicate effectively.

  • The koine spoken in the eastern Mediterranean facilitated trade and cultural exchange among diverse populations.

  • Scholars study koine Greek to better understand historical documents from Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Synonyms

lingua franca
vskoine
1 6.4

A language people use to talk when they speak different first languages

is a specific historical form originally the shared Greek dialect in the region

How Common

koine
  • Specialized
9.9
dialect
63 4.8

Surface Forms

koine singular
koines plural

Etymology

Koine comes from the Greek word koinē, which means 'common' or 'shared'. It was the everyday Greek people across many regions used so traders, writers and visitors could understand each other, so a koine today is any common language that helps speakers of different native tongues communicate.