Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Pronouncing-the-Greek-Alphabet

Pronouncing the Greek Alphabet

Greek Letter	Letter Name	Pronunciation in Greek and sound syllable	Modern Pronunciation
Α α	Alpha		A like in fAther
Β β	Vita		V like in Vet
Γ γ	Gamma		Y like in Yes
Δ δ	Delta		Th like in Those
Ε ε	Epsilon		E like in Excellent
Ζ ζ	Zita		Z like in Zoo
Η η	Ita		I like in taxI
Θ ο	Thita		Th like in THem
Ι ι	Iota		Y like in Yodel
Κ κ	Kappa		K like in marK
Λ λ	Lamda		L like in Large
Μ μ	Mi		M like in Modern
Ν ν	Ni		N like in Never
Ξ ξ	Xi		X like in neXt
Ο ο	Omicron		O like in sOft
Π π	Pi		P like in Pop
Ρ ρ	Ro		Ro like in metRopolis
Σ σ, ς (final)	Sigma		S like in muSic
Τ τ	Taf		T like in Teach
Υ υ	Upsilon		I like in machIne
Φ φ	Phi		F like in Fan
Χ χ	Chi		Ch like in loCHness
Ψ ψ	Psi		Ps like in laPSe
Ωω	Omega		O like in sOft

One of the best things about learning the Greek language is that words are pronounced the way they are written. There are no silent "e" type letters.

If a letter is in the word, it is pronounced. And letters are always pronounced the same way, with the exception of a few diphthongs.

• The vowels are α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω. The remaining letters are consonants.

Diphthongs (two-vowel sound syllable)

Diphthongs	Pronunciation	Notes
αι	e	Pronounced ‘‘e” as in Shelf παιδί – pedi – child
ει	i	Pronounced ‘ee’ as in Tree ξενοδοχείο – xenothohio – hotel
αυ	af or av	Pronounced af as in Afford or ow as in Hour
οι	i	Pronounced ‘ee’ as in Tree οικογένεια – ikoyenia – family
ου	ou	Pronounced oo as in Soup ούτε – oute – nor
ευ	ef or ev	Pronounced  ef or ev ευφυΐα –effiîa – wit, intelligence ζευγάρια - zevgaria- couples

• The accent is on a diphthong in the second vowel of the diphthong. Examples: ακούω (listen), είδα (I saw).
• The diaeresis is placed on the second vowel and indicates that the diphthong must be pronounced separately.
• Eg. : χαϊδεμένος : chaidemènos = caressed

Σ , σ , ς

• Sigma (Σ, σ, ς):There are three forms for the letter Sigma. At the beginning of the sentence or for proper nouns it is capitalized: Σ. 
• When written at the end of a word, it is written like this: ς. If it occurs anywhere else, it is written like this: σ.

• Upsilon (Υ,υ):In the above table, we suggest that you pronounce this letter like "u" in "put".

The preferred pronunciation is actually more like the German "ü" as in "Brücke", or like the French "u" as in "tu".

If you do not speak German or French, don't worry about it, just pronounce it the way the table suggests.

• Ch (Χ,χ): This is the same sound as "ch" in "Bach", which does not sound like "ch" in "chair".
• The same sound occurs in the Scottish "Loch", as in "Loch Lomond", or the German "ach!".

Accents

• Greek words are all accented, which means that in each word, with the exception of monosyllables, a syllable is distinguished by a higher tone: one word = one accent.

This tonic accent is an essential component of the melodic rhythm of the Greek phrase.

It is subject to complex rules and always concerns a vowel among the last three syllables of the word. ie:

The accent can never go back beyond three syllables, from the end of the word.

Therefore, an acute accent can strike a vowel present in one of the last three syllables of a word.

Presents the three syllables we have words:

- oxyton: αγαθός: agathôs = good, of good quality

- paroxyton: λυμένος: lymenos = resolved, loosened

- proparoxyton: παράθυρο: paràthyro = the window

Graphic conventions regarding accent

The emphasis is on a diphthong in the second vowel of the diphthong.

• Examples: ακούω (listen), είδα (I saw).

The diaeresis is placed on the second vowel and indicates that the diphthong must be pronounced separately.

• Examples: χαϊδεμένος : chaidemènos = caressed

Author

➡ Marianthi

• Ευγενική χορηγία που στοχεύει να βοηθήσει μαθητές ή μη, απανταχού της Γης, που επιδίδονται στην εκμάθηση της ελληνικής γλώσσας!
• Contribution bénévole visant à aider les personnes, partout dans le monde, qui sont engagées dans l'apprentissage de la langue grecque !
• Voluntary contribution aimed at helping people, all over the world, who are committed to learning the Greek language!