Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Greek-Letters-and-Pronunciation
As a Modern Greek (1453-) language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce students to the Greek alphabet and pronunciation. This lesson is a vital foundation for your journey towards becoming proficient in Modern Greek.
The Greek alphabet has played a significant role in shaping the world with its contributions to literature, science, mathematics, and more. It comprises 24 letters, including both consonants and vowels, each with its sound and unique pronunciation. In this lesson, we will cover all the 24 Greek letters and their corresponding pronunciation in Modern Greek.
Greek Alphabet and Pronunciation
The Greek alphabet is the ancestor of the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets and is still widely used today. As a complete beginner in Modern Greek, learning the Greek alphabet is crucial before anything else. Knowing the Greek letters and pronunciation is fundamental to learning to read, speak, and write the language properly.
Below is a table of the Greek alphabet showing each letter, its uppercase and lowercase forms, pronunciation, and an example of an English word that has that sound.
| Greek Letter | Uppercase | Lowercase | Pronunciation | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Α | α | ah | father |
| Beta | Β | β | vee | love |
| Gamma | Γ | γ | gh | goat |
| Delta | Δ | δ | dh | this |
| Epsilon | Ε | ε | eh | pen |
| Zeta | Ζ | ζ | zee | zoo |
| Eta | Η | η | ee | feet |
| Theta | Θ | θ | th | think |
| Iota | Ι | ι | ee-oh-tah | ski |
| Kappa | Κ | κ | kah | keep |
| Lambda | Λ | λ | lah | love |
| Mu | Μ | μ | mee | man |
| Nu | Ν | ν | nee | now |
| Xi | Ξ | ξ | xee | six |
| Omicron | Ο | ο | oh | go |
| Pi | Π | π | pee | peace |
| Rho | Ρ | ρ | ree | roll |
| Sigma | Σ | σ/ς | see | sign (σ) or dessert (ς) |
| Tau | Τ | τ | tah | time |
| Upsilon | Υ | υ | ee-oo | blue |
| Phi | Φ | φ | fee | phone |
| Chi | Χ | χ | hee | hat |
| Psi | Ψ | ψ | psee | lips |
| Omega | Ω | ω | oh-meh-gah | so |
Note that Sigma has three forms: uppercase (Σ), lowercase (σ), and final form (ς). The final form appears only at the end of a word.
Please practice pronouncing the Greek letters correctly. It is vital to get comfortable with the Greek alphabet and pronunciation to progress in Modern Greek.
As we move forward in this course, you will realize how significant the Greek alphabet is to the language's rules and structures. It is the key to understanding not just the spoken Greek language, but also the written language.
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the Greek alphabet and pronunciation, you are ready to proceed to the next lesson. I hope you continue on this amazing journey and be proud of each step you take towards learning Modern Greek.