How do you pronounce the Greek alphabet? For those who are interested in learning ancient Greek, or simply curious about the origins of our alphabet, understanding the pronunciation of the Greek letters is essential. The Greek alphabet, with its 24 letters, has been used for over 3,000 years and has influenced the development of alphabets in many languages around the world. In this article, we will guide you through the pronunciation of each letter, providing you with a comprehensive guide to the sounds of the Greek alphabet.
The Greek alphabet is divided into three groups: vowels, diphthongs, and consonants. The vowels are the building blocks of words, while the diphthongs are combinations of two vowel sounds. Consonants are sounds made by obstructing the airflow in the mouth or throat. Let’s begin with the vowels.
1. Vowels
a. Α (Alpha) – The “a” sound in “father” or “cat.”
b. Ε (Epsilon) – The “e” sound in “bed” or “met.”
c. Η (Eta) – The “e” sound in “let” or “set.”
d. Ι (Iota) – The “i” sound in “sit” or “bit.”
e. Ω (Omega) – The “o” sound in “hot” or “not.”
f. Υ (Upsilon) – The “u” sound in “put” or “cute.”
g. Ω (Omega) – The “o” sound in “hot” or “not.”
2. Diphthongs
a. Ει (Ei) – The “ai” sound in “pain” or “train.”
b. Ευ (Eu) – The “eu” sound in “blue” or “view.”
c. Ου (Ou) – The “ou” sound in “house” or “couch.”
d. Αυ (Au) – The “au” sound in “lau” or “sauerkraut.”
3. Consonants
a. Β (Beta) – The “b” sound in “bat” or “but.”
b. Γ (Gamma) – The “g” sound in “get” or “gate.” Before vowels, it sounds like the “ng” in “sing.”
c. Δ (Delta) – The “d” sound in “dog” or “do.”
d. Ε (Epsilon) – The “e” sound in “bed” or “met.”
e. Ζ (Zeta) – The “z” sound in “zebra” or “buzz.”
f. Η (Eta) – The “e” sound in “let” or “set.”
g. Θ (Theta) – The “th” sound in “think” or “theme.”
h. Ι (Iota) – The “i” sound in “sit” or “bit.”
i. Κ (Kappa) – The “k” sound in “cat” or “key.”
j. Λ (Lambda) – The “l” sound in “let” or “light.”
k. Μ (Mu) – The “m” sound in “me” or “my.”
l. Ν (Nu) – The “n” sound in “no” or “not.”
m. Ξ (Xi) – The “ks” sound in “axis” or “كس.”
n. Ο (Omega) – The “o” sound in “hot” or “not.”
o. Π (Pi) – The “p” sound in “pat” or “pot.”
p. Ρ (Rho) – The “r” sound in “red” or “read.”
q. Σ (Sigma) – The “s” sound in “sat” or “saw.”
r. Τ (Tau) – The “t” sound in “top” or “tan.”
s. Υ (Upsilon) – The “u” sound in “put” or “cute.”
t. Φ (Phi) – The “ph” sound in “phone” or “phobia.”
u. Χ (Chi) – The “ch” sound in “cheese” or “chick.”
v. Ψ (Psi) – The “ps” sound in “psychology” or “psychic.”
w. Ω (Omega) – The “o” sound in “hot” or “not.”
Understanding the pronunciation of the Greek alphabet is a crucial step in learning the language. By familiarizing yourself with the sounds of each letter, you will be well on your way to decoding the rich history and literature of ancient Greece.
