Greek Alphabet and Pronunciation

(Adopted from Chase & Phillips, A New Introduction to Greek, 1-3)

1. There are twenty-four letters in the Greek alphabet:

  Α α alpha, pronounced like the first a in awake when short; when long like the a in father

  Β β beta, pronounced like the English B

  Γ γ gamma, pronounced like the g in go (see 4 below)

  Δ δ delta, pronounced like the d in democracy

  Ε ε epsilon, pronounced like the e in pet

  Ζ ζ zeta, pronounced like the sd in wisdom

  Θ θ theta, pronounced like the th in thin

  Ι ι iota, pronounced like the i in geranium when short, like the 

  Κ κ kappa, pronounced like the k in kinetic

  Λ λ lambda, pronounced like the l in leap

  Μ μ mu, pronounced like the m in met

  Ν ν nu, pronounced like the n in net

  Ξ ξ xi, pronounced like the x in box or the cks in clocks

  Ο ο omicron, pronounced like the o in optics

  Π π pi, pronounced like the p in permit

  Ρ ρ rho, pronounced like the r in rhinoceros (ρ is trilled)

  Σ σ sigma, pronounced like the s in set.  The form ς is only used at the end of a word.

  Τ τ tau, pronounced like the t in tank

  Υ υ upsilon, pronounced like the French u in lune when short, like the French u in ruse when long

  Φ φ phi, pronounced like the p in pot (an aspirated p) originally, later like the f in foot.

  Χ χ chi, pronounced like the k in kill (an aspirated k) originally, later like the ch in loch.

  Ψ ψ psi, pronounced like the ps in lapse.

  Ω ω omega, pronounced like the o in ode.

2. There is no letter h in Greek.  When a word begins with a vowel h should be pronounced if the vowel has a or rough breathing mark over it.  H should not be pronounced if the vowel has a ᾿ or smooth breathing mark over it.

3.  The letter γ is pronounced like ng in angle when it comes before κ, γ, or ξ.

4.  The letters ζ, ξ, and ψ are known as double consonants, θ, φ, and χ as aspirated consonants.

5.  The vowels ε and ο are always short, η and ω are always long; α, ι, and υ are sometimes short, sometimes long.

6.  The diphthongs are:

  αι pronounced like ai in aisle

  αυ pronounced like ou in house

  ει pronounced like ei in feign

  ευ pronounced like the e in met plus the oo in moon

  ηυ pronounced like the a in paper plus the oo in moon

  οι pronounced like the oi in foil

  ου pronounced like the oo in moon

  υι pronounced like the English we.

7.  The letter iota (ι) is often written beneath α, η, and ω: ᾳ ῃ ῳ.  It is then known as the iota subscript and is not pronounced.