Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Syllabification

🇬🇷 Syllabification in Greek

Syllabification in Greek refers to the process of dividing words into syllables. In the Greek language, syllables are made up of a vowel sound or a combination of vowel and consonant sounds. The process of syllabification helps with pronunciation and also plays a role in Greek metrics and prosody, which are aspects of Greek poetry and literature. In Greek, syllables can have different structures and can be classified into different types, such as open syllables (ending with a vowel), closed syllables (ending with a consonant), and diphthongs (a combination of two vowel sounds). The syllabification rules in Greek are somewhat complex and are influenced by factors such as the type of vowel, the position of the accent, and the position of the syllable in the word. It is important to note that syllabification can vary slightly between different dialects of Greek and also between Ancient Greek and Modern Greek.

• Example of syllabification of the word "πατέρας" (the father): πα–τέ-ρας

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As you put this lesson behind you, consider investigating these associated subjects to further your growth: Verb To Be, The predicate, Greek Deponent Verbs & Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions.

Syllabification Rules

A vowel is a syllable

A vowel may be just a syllable in a word:

• ά-νε- μος (wind) 
• γρα-φεί-ο (office)

Two consecutive vowels

Two consecutive vowels are separated:

• α-ε-τός (eagle)  
• ή-ρω-ας (heros)

A consonant between two vowels

A consonant being between two vowels goes with the second vowel:

• α-γά-πη (love)
• έ-χω (to have )

Two identical consonants

Two identical consonants are separated:

• κόκ-κι-νο (red)
• μέ-λισ-σα (bee)

Two consonants are not separated if...

Two consonants are not separated if they begin with a Greek word:

• έ-πι-πλο (furniture)
• ά-στε-ρι (star)

Two consonants are separated if...

If two consonants do not begin with a Greek word then they are separated:

• πόρ- τα, (door)
• στιγ-μή (dot)

3 consonants in a sequence

The same happens when we have 3 consonants in a sequence. They are not separated when a Greek word begins from the first two.

• α- στρα-πή (thunder)
• ε-χθρός (enemy)

• στρα-τός (army)    
• χθε-σι-νός (previous)   

No Greek word starts from the first two consonants

But if no Greek word starts from the first two consonants, they are separated

• άν-θρω-πος
• Νο-έμ-βρι-ος

Diphthong, conjonctions, double consonants...

The diphthongs (αι, ει, οι, ου, υι), the conjonctions (αυ και ευ), the double consonants (μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ), the double vowels (αη, οη, άι, όι) and the abused diphthongs (ια, ιο, ιου, ειος, εια, ειο, οιος, οια, οιο, υα, υου) are not separated.

• παι-δεί-α, ναυ-τι-κό,  τα-μπέ-λα,  κε-λαη-δά,  κά-ποι-ος, λα-λιά, γυά-λα, στα-χυού

Compound words

Compound words are divided into its elements:

• κα-τέ-χω (possess), ε-πί-λο-γος (epilogue)

Name of words (depending on the number of syllables)

monosyllables (1 syllable)

• και (and), με (with), ναι (yes)

dissyllables (2 syllables)

• ό-χι,(no)  μέ-σα, (in) πι-κρός (bitter)

trisyllables (3 syllables)

• κα-ρέ-κλα,  (chair) γρα-φεί-ο (office)

polysyllabes (more than 3 syllables)

• πο-δή-λα- το (bike) φω-το-γρα-φεί-ο (photographic studio)

Syllables names

Last syllable of a word

The last syllable of a word is called an ending:

• τι-μή (honor)

Penultimate syllable

The penultimate syllable is said to be conceding

• με – λέ – τη (study)

Third syllable from the end

The third syllable from the end is said to be a prelude:

• άν-θρω- πος (man)

First syllable of a word

The first syllable of a word is called the original syllable:

• κα-ρα-μέ-λα (candy)

Not emphasized: where?

No multi-word word is emphasized above the foreword!

• οι-κό-πε-δο (field)

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! 

Other Lessons

• Relative Pronouns
• Irregular adjectives
• Pronoms interrogatifs
• Les numéraux ordinaux cardinaux
• Punctuation
• Participle spelling
• Active and passive verbs
• Verbes elliptiques, impersonnels et irréguliers
• Greek phonology of the consonants : Φφ Θθ
• The comma