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Το Ελληνικό Αλφάβητο - The Greek Alphabet

   You are looking at the first Greek grammar lesson "the Greek Alphabet".
Make sure you learn the sound of each letter and learn how to write it. We have included audio of the name of
the letter and an example of a Greek word to avoid any confusion among regional accents (i.e. English, American,
Australian...).

The Greek alphabet has 24 letters:


Table 1.1
Capital Small Name & Greek Word Example English Sound
Α α άλφα = alpha or alfa Άννα Like a in father
Β β βήτα = veta βάρκα Like v in Victor
Γ γ γάμα = gama γάτα Like y in yes or like the w in wad
Δ δ δέλτα = thelta δώρο Like th in this
Ε ε έψιλον = epselon εγώ Like e in bet
Ζ ζ ζήτα = zeta ζωή Like z in zebra
Η η ήτα = eta ήλιος Like ee in beet
Θ θ θήτα = theta θάλασσα Like th in think
Ι ι γιώτα = yota ιστός Like ee in beet
Κ κ κάπα = kapa καλός Like c in car
Λ λ λάμδα = lamtha* λουλούδι Like l in lemon
Μ μ μι = me μαμά Like m in mother
Ν ν νι = ne ναι Like n in no
Ξ ξ ξι = xe ξύλο Like x in ax
Ο ο όμικρον = omekron όλος Like o in only
Π π πι = pe πάγος Like p in poor
Ρ ρ ρο = ro ρολόι Like r in rain
Σ σ,ς** σίγμα = segma*** σαπούνι Like s in see
Τ τ ταυ = taf τώρα Like t in top
Υ υ ύψιλον = eepselon ύπνος Like ee in beet
Φ φ φι = fe φωτιά Like f in Frank
Χ χ χι = he χήνα Like h in hair
Ψ ψ ψι = pse ψάρι Like ps in lips
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Ω ω ωμέγα = omega ώρα Like o in only

* the th like the "th" in this.


** the "σ" is used at the beginning or in the middle of the words, the "ς" only at
the end.
*** The g like y in yes or like the w in wad

Vowels and Consonants

   Here is an easy one. The 24 letters of the Greek alphabet are divided into two parts. The vowels (φωνηεντα) and
the consonants (συμφωνα).
  There are 7 vowels and 17 consonants. They are:

Vowels (Φωνηεντα): α, ε, η, ι, υ, ο, ω.
Consonants (Συμφωνα): β, γ, δ, ζ, θ, κ, λ, μ, ν, ξ, π, ρ, σ, τ, φ, χ, ψ.

Double Letters

   Besides the 24 letters of the alphabet, the Greek language uses a few vowel and consonant combinations to
create sounds.
Don't get frustrated now!!! These combinations are standard. Once you've learned them you'll be able to
correctly read every word, sentence or book! Click on the Greek words to listen to an example.

Table 2.1
Double Vowels Double Consonants
αι = like e in bet - αίμα μπ = b like b in boy - μπαμπάς
οι = like ee in beet - οικογένεια ντ = d like d in door - ντύνω
υι = like ee in beet - υιός γκ = g like g in get - άγκυρα
ει = like ee in beet - είμαι γγ = g like g in get - Ευάγγελος
ου = like ou in Lou - ουρανός τσ = ts like ts in pots - τσέπη
αυ = like af in "after" - αυτί, or τζ = dg like dg in lodge - τζάκι
like av in "avocado" - αυγό
ευ = like ef in "cleff" - εύκολο, or
like ev in "evolution" - Εύα

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