Language/Ancient-greek-to-1453/Grammar/Ancient-Greek-Alphabet

Αρχαίο ελληνικό αλφάβητο - Ancient Greek Alphabet

Hello Ancient Greek learners,

Here is a lesson on how to use the Ancient Greek Alphabet. This lesson is in 3 languages: Greek, English and French.

Good learning!

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The Ancient Greek alphabet has been in use from 750 BC to today. It is interesting to note that the Greeks were the first Europeans to write an alphabet. Previous writing systems had been either syllabic or pictographic. The Ancient Greek alphabet has been in use from 750 BC to today. It is interesting to note that the Greeks were the first Europeans to write an alphabet.

The Greek alphabets of alpha and beta are familiar to Indian students. The first three letters of the Greek alphabet are ABΓ.

The Greek alphabet began making its appearance after the Dark Ages. The first vowel letters were Α (alpha), Ε (epsilon), Ι (iota), Ο (omicron), and Υ (upsilon). Greek also introduced three new consonant letters, Φ (phi), Χ (chi) and Ψ (psi), appended to the end of the alphabet as they were developed.

The Greek alphabet is a set of twenty-four letters and it notes each vowel and consonant with a separate Greek symbol. The alphabet was originally written from right to the left though it was written from left to right later.

The Greece alphabet has two main branches. They were the Ionic and the Chalcidian. The Ionic or eastern, form was adopted by Athens and became what we know today as the classical Greek alphabet. The Chalcidian or, western form, gave rise to the Etruscan alphabet that forms the basis of the Latin or a Roman alphabet that we use today.

capital	lowercase	combinations	name	Britannica preferred	alternatives	approximate Classical Attic pronunciation
Α	α, α*		alpha	a		are
		αι		ae in proper nouns, ai in common words	e	ice
		αυ		au		now
Β	β		beta	b		baby
Γ	γ		gamma	g		go
		γγ		ng		angle
		γκ		nk	nc	ink
		γξ		nx		thanks
		γχ		nch	nkh	in case
Δ	δ, ∂*		delta	d		dog
Ε	ε		epsilon	e		bet
		ει		ei	e or i	day
		ευ		eu		bet + now
Ζ	ζ		zeta	z		used
Η	η		eta	ē	e	air
		ηυ		ēu	eu	airway
Θ	θ, ϑ*		theta	th		tin
Ι	ι		iota	i		even or pin
Κ	κ		kappa	c in proper nouns, k in common words		pocket
Λ	λ		lambda	l		lily
Μ	μ		mu	m		maim
Ν	ν		nu	n		not
Ξ	ξ		xi	x		ax
Ο	ο		omicron	o		German so
		οι		oe in proper nouns, oi in common words		German so + day
		ου		ou		own
Π	π		pi	p		spin
Ρ	ρ		rho	initial, rh; medial, r		rose
		ρρ		rrh		German Naturrecht
Σ	σ**		sigma	s		sand
Τ	τ		tau	t		stay
Υ	υ		upsilon	y	u	French du
		υι		ui		French concluiez
Φ	ϕ, ϕ*		phi	ph		pin
Χ	χ		chi	ch	kh	kin
Ψ	ψ		psi	ps		perhaps
Ω	ω		omega	ō	o	call

• *Old-style character.
• **Final, ç.

Sources

• Image: https://www.collegeberthelot-begles.fr/2018/04/24/sondage-4eme-enseignement-de-grec-ancien/

• http://graficnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post_19.html

• https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_latin#Alphabet_antique

• http://www.ancientgreecefacts.com/greek-alphabet/

• ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA

• Anne-Marie Boxus

Author

➡ Marianthi

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