Greek Alphabet and Pronunciation Guide for English Speakers

Introduction to the Greek Alphabet

The Greek alphabet is the foundation of the Greek language and has been used for over 2,500 years. It consists of 24 letters, each with a unique name and sound. Understanding the Greek alphabet is essential for English speakers learning Greek, as it differs significantly from the Latin alphabet used in English.

The 24 Letters of the Greek Alphabet

Below is a list of the Greek letters with their names and English equivalents where applicable.

• Α α (Alpha) – sounds like 'a' in 'father'
• Β β (Beta) – sounds like 'v' in 'voice'
• Γ γ (Gamma) – sounds like 'g' in 'go' before back vowels, 'y' in 'yes' before front vowels
• Δ δ (Delta) – sounds like 'th' in 'this'
• Ε ε (Epsilon) – sounds like 'e' in 'met'
• Ζ ζ (Zeta) – sounds like 'z' in 'maze'
• Η η (Eta) – sounds like 'ee' in 'see'
• Θ θ (Theta) – sounds like 'th' in 'think'
• Ι ι (Iota) – sounds like 'i' in 'machine' or 'bit' depending on context
• Κ κ (Kappa) – sounds like 'k' in 'kite'
• Λ λ (Lambda) – sounds like 'l' in 'lamp'
• Μ μ (Mu) – sounds like 'm' in 'man'
• Ν ν (Nu) – sounds like 'n' in 'net'
• Ξ ξ (Xi) – sounds like 'x' in 'box'
• Ο ο (Omicron) – sounds like 'o' in 'not'
• Π π (Pi) – sounds like 'p' in 'spin'
• Ρ ρ (Rho) – rolled 'r' similar to Spanish 'r'
• Σ σ/ς (Sigma) – sounds like 's' in 'see'
• Τ τ (Tau) – sounds like 't' in 'top'
• Υ υ (Upsilon) – sounds like French 'u' or German 'ü'
• Φ φ (Phi) – sounds like 'f' in 'fun'
• Χ χ (Chi) – sounds like 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'
• Ψ ψ (Psi) – sounds like 'ps' in 'lapse'
• Ω ω (Omega) – sounds like 'o' in 'told'

Pronunciation Tips for English Speakers

Some Greek sounds do not have direct equivalents in English. Here are some tips to help you pronounce Greek letters correctly:

• Gamma (Γ γ) before front vowels (ε, ι) sounds like the 'y' in 'yes'.
• Delta (Δ δ) is pronounced like the 'th' in 'this', not like the English 'd'.
• Theta (Θ θ) is pronounced like the 'th' in 'think', a voiceless sound.
• Rho (Ρ ρ) is rolled or trilled, similar to the Spanish 'r'.
• Upsilon (Υ υ) is pronounced like the French 'u' or German 'ü', which is not common in English.

Common Greek Words and Their Pronunciation