Let's begin to learn Greek! You are looking at the first
lesson. 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...).
When you think you've mastered it, go ahead and click the
link for Lesson 2, which will teach you the double letters. After
that, you'll know how to read Greek!!! Let's do it!
The Greek alphabet has 24 letters:
Table 1.1
Capital
Small
Name & Greek Word Example
Audio
English Sound
Α
α
άλφα = alpha or alfa
’ννα
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
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 is a soft g