Dear anyone,
Your duolingo forum registration isn't automaticaly transferred to duome forum so in order to join duome forums you need to register with your existing or any other username and email; in any case it's advised that you choose a new password for the forum.
~ Duome Team

Greek alphabet & pronunciation

O.Zoe
Greece

Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by O.Zoe »

---
The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters - 7 vowels and 17 consonants.
---

lettername of letterIPA
Α αάλφα/a/
Β ββήτα/v/
Γ γγάμμα/ɣ/
Δ δδέλτα/ð/
Ε εέψιλον/e/
Ζ ζζήτα/z/
Η ηήτα/i/
Θ θθήτα/θ/
Ι ιιώτα/i/
Κ κκάππα/k/
Λ λλάμδα/l/
Μ μμι/m/
Ν ννι/n/
Ξ ξξι/ks/
Ο οόμικρον/o/
Π ππι/p/
Ρ ρρο/ɾ/
Σ σ ςσίγμα/s/
Τ τταυ/t/
Υ υύψιλον/i/
Φ φφι/f/
Χ χχι/x/
Ψ ψψι/ps/
Ω ωωμέγα/o/

---
---

  • The lowercase σ is written in the beginning or middle of a word. The lowercase ς is written in the end of a word.
    σπίτι = house (/ˈspi.ti/)
    σκύλος = dog (/ˈsci.los/)

    ---

  • When γ is followed by /a/, /o/ or /u/, it is pronounced /ɣa/, /ɣo/ or /ɣu/ respectively.
    γάτα = cat (/ˈɣa.ta/)
    γονείς = parents (/ɣoˈnis/)
    γουρούνι = pig (/ɣuˈɾu.ni/)

    ---
    When γ is followed by /i/ or /e/, it is pronounced /ʝi/ or /ʝe/.
    γη = earth (/ˈʝi/)
    γυναίκα = woman (/ʝiˈne.ka/)
    γέλιο = laughter (/ˈʝe.ʎo/)

    ---
    When γ is followed by /io/ or /ia/, it is pronounced /ʝo/ or /ʝa/.
    γιος = son (/ˈʝos/)
    γιαγιά = grandmother (/ʝaˈʝa/)

    ---

  • When κ is followed by /a/, /o/ or /u/, it is pronounced /ka/, /ko/ or /ku/ respectively.
    καράβι = ship (/kaˈɾa.vi/)
    κορίτσι = girl (/koˈɾi.t͡si/)
    ακούω = I hear (/aˈkuo/)

    ---
    When κ is followed by /i/ or /e/, it is pronounced /ci/ or /ce/.
    κήπος = garden (/ˈci.pos/)
    κερί = candle (/ceˈɾi/)

    ---
    When κ is followed by /ia/, /io/ or /iu/, it is pronounced /ca/, /co/ or /cu/ respectively.
    κιάλια = binoculars (/ˈca.ʎa/)
    κιόλας = already (/ˈco.las/)
    τζακιού = of fireplace (/dzaˈcu/)

    ---

  • When λ is followed by /ia/, /ie/, /io/ or /iu/, it is pronounced /ʎa/, /ʎe/, /ʎo/ or /ʎu/.
    ελιά = olive (/eˈʎa/)
    ελιές = olives (/eˈʎes/)
    λιοντάρι = lion (/ʎonˈda.ɾi/)
    φασολιού = of bean (/fa.soˈʎu/)

    ---

  • When ν is followed by /ia/, /ie/, /io/ or /iu/, it is pronounced /ɲa/, /ɲe/, /ɲo/ or /ɲu/.
    νιάτα = youth (/ˈɲa.ta/)
    καπετάνιος = captain (/ka.peˈta.ɲos/)
    καπετάνιου = captain’s (/ka.peˈta.ɲu/)
    κουνιέμαι = I move (/kuˈɲe.me/)

    ---

  • When χ is followed by /a/, /o/ or /u/, it is pronounced /xa/, /xo/ or /xu/ respectively.
    χαρά = joy (/xaˈɾa/)
    χορός = dance (/xoˈros/)
    χουρμάς = date [fruit] (/xuɾˈmas/)

    ---
    When χ is followed by /i/ or /e/, it is pronounced /çi/ or /çe/.
    χειμώνας = winter (/çiˈmo.nas/)
    χέρι = hand (/ˈçeɾi/)


---

letter combinations

  • αι is pronounced /e/, just like ε.
    παίζω = I play (/ˈpe.zo/)

    ---

  • ει is pronounce /i/, just like η, ι and υ!
    εικόνα = picture (/iˈko.na/)

    ---

  • οι is pronounced /i/, just like η, ι and υ!
    οικογένεια = family (/i.koˈʝe.ni.a/)

    ---

  • υι is pronounced /i/, just like η, ι and υ!
    υιοθετώ = adopt (/i.o.θeˈto/)

    ---

  • ου is pronounced /u/.
    ουρανός = sky (/u.ɾaˈnos/)

---
To sum up, there are 6 different ways to spell an /i/ sound - η, ι, υ, ει, οι, υι!
There are 2 different ways to spell an /o/ sound - ο and ω.
There are 2 different ways to spell and /e/ sound - ε and αι.
There is no easy way to know which one to use each time. You need to learn each word’s orthography.

---

  • αυ is pronounced /av/ when it is followed by a voiced sound and /af/ when it is followed by an unvoiced sound.
    αύριο = tomorrow (/ˈa.vɾi.o/)
    αυλή = yard (/aˈvli/)
    αυτός = he (/aˈftos/)

    ---

  • ευ is pronounced /ev/ when it is followed by a voiced sound and /ef/ when it is followed by an unvoiced sound.
    ευχαριστώ = thank you (/ef.xa.ɾiˈsto/)


---

  • μπ is pronounced /b/ in the beginning of words or in loanwords. It is pronounced /mb/ in the middle of words. You might hear it pronounced /b/ even in the middle of words by some native Greeks.
    αμπέλι = vine (/amˈbe.li/)
    μπαμπάς = dad (/baˈbas/) [loanword]

    ---

  • ντ is pronounced /d/ in the beginning of words or in loanwords. It is pronounced /nd/ in the middle of words. You might hear it pronounced /d/ even in the middle of words by some native Greeks.
    αντίο = farewell (/aˈdi.o/) [loanword]
    άντρας = man (/ˈan.dɾas/)

    ---

  • γκ is pronounced /g/ in the beginning of words or in loanwords. It is pronounced /ŋɡ/ in the middle of words.
    αγκαλιά = hug (/aŋ.ɡaˈʎa/)
    γκρίζο = grey (/ˈɡɾi.zo/)

    ---

  • γγ is pronounced /ŋɡ/. It’s never used in the beginning of words.
    εγγόνια = grandchildren (/eŋˈɡo.ɲa/)

    ---

  • τσ is pronounced /t͡s/.
    τσάι = tee (/ˈt͡sa.i/)

    ---

  • τζ is pronounced /dz/.
    τζάκι = fireplace (/ˈdza.ci/)

    ---

  • γχ is pronounced /ŋx/.
    άγχος = stress (/ˈaŋ.xos/)

    ---

  • When σ is followed by a voiced consonant (except λ), then it’s pronounced /z/.
    κόσμος = world (/ˈko.zmos/)
    σβήνω = I erase (/ˈzvi.no/)

    ---
    This also happens when a word ends in and the following word starts with a voiced consonant.
    ο σκύλος μου = my dog (/oˈsci.loz.mu/)


---

  • voiced consonant (/v/, /b/, /ð/, /d/, /z/, /dz/, /r/, /m/) + /i/ + /a/, /e], /i/, /o/, /u/
    καράβια = ships (/kaˈɾa.vʝa/)
    κομπιούτερ = computer (/koˈbʝu.teɾ/)
    διαβάζω = I read (/ðʝaˈva.zo/)
    δόντια = teeth (/ˈðon.dʝa/)
    τραπέζια = tables (/tɾaˈpe.zʝa/)
    χέρια = hands (/ˈçe.ɾʝa/)

    μια = a (/ˈmɲa/)

    ---

  • unvoiced consonant (/f/, /p/, /θ/, /t/, /s/, /ks/, /ps/, /ts/) + /i/ + /a/, /e], /i/, /o/, /u/
    καρφιά = nails (/kaɾˈfça/)
    πιάτο = plate (/ˈpça.to/)
    κορίτσια = girls (/koˈɾi.t͡sça/)

    ---
    This is not always the case. You need to know when it’s one syllable, e.g. μάτια = eyes (/ˈma.tça/), or seperate syllables, e.g. δωμάτια = rooms (/ðoˈma.ti.a/)

---
source: foundalis.com

Last edited by O.Zoe on Mon Aug 29, 2022 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

🇬🇷 N :gb: C1 :de: B1 :it: A1

Phil682961

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by Phil682961 »

Fantastic!

I really agree with not drawing analogies to English pronunciation here. The best thing for learners to do is listen to pronunciation, on Duo or on forvo.com.

One other thing that might be useful (it came up in a few questions on the old forum): ν..π, ν..τ and ν..κ interact with each other across word boundaries. So:

την πόρτα: /tim'bοrta/

την Τρίτη: /tin'driti/

την κυρία: /tiŋgi'ria/

That also applies with ψ (remembering that it's /ps/) and ξ (which is /ks/):

την ψάξαμε: /tim'bzaksame/

την ξέρω: /tiŋ'gzero/

O.Zoe
Greece

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by O.Zoe »

Phil682961 wrote: Tue Mar 29, 2022 8:40 pm

I really agree with not drawing analogies to English pronunciation here. The best thing for learners to do is listen to pronunciation, on Duo or on forvo.com.

That's what I've thought. People from different regions would think of a different sound if I tried to use English words as analogies. It's better for the learner to check the IPA chart, watch Youtube videos etc.

Phil682961 wrote: Tue Mar 29, 2022 8:40 pm

One other thing that might be useful (it came up in a few questions on the old forum): ν..π, ν..τ and ν..κ interact with each other across word boundaries.

I meant to include that, as well, but honestly I got tired by typing. It took me more time to format the text than actually write it! :P So, thank you, Phil, for this useful addition!


---
Here's a random video about the alphabet: Learn The Modern Greek Alphabet | Omilo

🇬🇷 N :gb: C1 :de: B1 :it: A1

Cifi

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by Cifi »

Thanks [mention]O.Zoe[/mention], I'm glad I found this thread!

First I thought (hoped) that Greek would be more or less easy to pronounce, but I really don't get that γ sound when followed by /a/, /o/ or /u/, even after listening to several examples on forvo.com.

A YouTube video suggested w as a replacement, other articles described it as similar to the ch in Loch or Bach, but both doesn't seem quite right. Would there be similar sounds in other languages?

Native: :de: Intermediate: :uk: Lower intermediate: :es: Beginner: :fr: Absolute beginner: 🇬🇷
(If there are errors in what I'm writing in either language, please do correct me - I'll never take it as offense or something like that.)

DmGabin

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by DmGabin »

The lowercase σ is written in the beginning or middle of a word. The lowercase ς is written in the end of a word.

Inscriptions in Greek churches use ϲ instead of ς. Just a little remark.

Phil682961

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by Phil682961 »

Cifi wrote: Sat Jun 04, 2022 6:11 pm

Thanks @O.Zoe, I'm glad I found this thread!

First I thought (hoped) that Greek would be more or less easy to pronounce, but I really don't get that γ sound when followed by /a/, /o/ or /u/, even after listening to several examples on forvo.com.

A YouTube video suggested w as a replacement, other articles described it as similar to the ch in Loch or Bach, but both doesn't seem quite right. Would there be similar sounds in other languages?

Wikipedia has a useful table of languages which have that sound:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiced_ve ... Occurrence

It's a long list, but the first one that came to my mind is Dutch: the name van Gogh has more or less the same sound as γ.

By the way, the Greek letter that sounds most similar to loch or Bach is χ (when it occurs before α, ο or ου).

Cifi

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by Cifi »

Phil682961 wrote: Sat Jun 04, 2022 9:41 pm

Wikipedia has a useful table of languages which have that sound:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiced_ve ... Occurrence

It's a long list, but the first one that came to my mind is Dutch: the name van Gogh has more or less the same sound as γ.

Thanks, Phil. I tried to learn a little Dutch decades ago, but unfortunately I don't remember much.

They give Spanish as an example too, and I think especially in words like "guau!" or "guagua" it becomes obvious that this isn't the g sound we have in gone or good.

Native: :de: Intermediate: :uk: Lower intermediate: :es: Beginner: :fr: Absolute beginner: 🇬🇷
(If there are errors in what I'm writing in either language, please do correct me - I'll never take it as offense or something like that.)

Phil682961

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by Phil682961 »

Cifi wrote: Sun Aug 21, 2022 8:23 am

They give Spanish as an example too, and I think especially in words like "guau!" or "guagua" it becomes obvious that this isn't the g sound we have in gone or good.

I don't know much Spanish but I think I agree :)

Actually this thread got me thinking, and I realised that the γ sound can sometimes occur in English too, though not in "dictionary" pronunciations.

In some situations it crops up as an alternative pronunciation of "g". For example, unless I'm speaking slowly and carefully, I don't really have a [g] sound in "recognise": it comes out as more of a [γ].

User avatar
LICA98
Finland

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by LICA98 »

btw you say in the letter list that ρ is /r/ but then use /ɾ/ in the examples, so which one is it? 🤔

Cifi

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by Cifi »

Phil682961 wrote: Sun Aug 21, 2022 12:08 pm
Cifi wrote: Sun Aug 21, 2022 8:23 am

They give Spanish as an example too, and I think especially in words like "guau!" or "guagua" it becomes obvious that this isn't the g sound we have in gone or good.

I don't know much Spanish but I think I agree :)

Well, guau! is something like a transliteration(?) of wow! in English, and guagua (meaning bus in some Latin American countries and on Canary Islands) is said to mimic the sound of a bus horn.

Native: :de: Intermediate: :uk: Lower intermediate: :es: Beginner: :fr: Absolute beginner: 🇬🇷
(If there are errors in what I'm writing in either language, please do correct me - I'll never take it as offense or something like that.)

O.Zoe
Greece

Re: Greek alphabet & pronunciation

Post by O.Zoe »

LICA98 wrote: Sun Aug 21, 2022 4:53 pm

btw you say in the letter list that ρ is /r/ but then use /ɾ/ in the examples, so which one is it? 🤔

That was a slip-up. Thank you for bringing it up! I've edited it.

---
According to linguist Amalia Arvaniti,

Greek has one rhotic sound. This is pronounced as an alveolar tap [ɾ] word-initially and intervocalically, or when it is followed by another consonant; in fast speech it may be pronounced as an alveolar approximant. In clusters in which it is preceded by a plosive or a fricative it is pronounced as a short trill.

So, the standard is /ɾ/ and, in some cases, it's /r/. Frankly, I think that [ɾ] and [r] are almost allophones for a native Greek. I have to be extremely focused to distinguish the difference between them.

🇬🇷 N :gb: C1 :de: B1 :it: A1

Post Reply

Return to “Greek”