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We've learned how to read, but how do we know which one of the syllables we
need to give emphasis to? In other words, which one of the syllables sounds louder?
In Greek there is a little sign just like the single quotation mark,
that tells us where we will pronounce the syllable louder. This sign is
called an accent = ο Τονος.
The Greek accent is symbolized like this: ΄
The accent(ο τονος), goes only on top of Vowels, and only the
last three syllables of a word can take an accent.
Words with one syllable do not need an accent.
Some examples (click to hear the word):
πατέρας (father),
μητέρα (mother),
αυτοκίνητο (car),
οικογένεια
(family).
You think you have it bad? The story is that before the 1980's
there were three accents used in the pronunciation of a word. Fortunately, that
changed, if I remember correctly, in 1979.
Related Subjects:
Dialitika
Accent Rules
The Double Accent
The Importance of the Accent
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