LINKWORD LANGUAGES - LEARNING THE GREEK ALPHABET

This page will show you an easy way to learn the Greek alphabet.

Important

Do not attempt to learn the Greek alphabet until you have completed the Linkword Greek Level 1 course. This is because it is much easier to learn the alphabet when you are familiar with the Greek sounds and words taught by the course.

In this section we will give you the correct pronunciation of the Greek alphabet, so that you will be able to read in Greek. This will apply to capital letters only, at first.

As you may know, the Greek alphabet is quite similar to the English one. There are some letters that look different though and some letters that look the same but which are pronounced differently.

This is the Greek alphabet.

Α	Β	Γ	Δ	Ε	Ζ	Η	Θ	Ι	Κ	Λ	Μ
Ν	Ξ	Ο	Π	Ρ	Σ	Τ	Υ	Φ	Χ	Ψ	Ω

We will now teach you the sound of Greek letters with the help of memory aids. They will not be taught in the order above, but in the order best suited to learning the sound of each letter.

The first set of letters:

1. The Greek letter Γ sounds like rr*
Imagine Γ looks like a little r

Note: The sound is soft and is a cross between a g, gh and r sound and sometimes sounds like y
So rrata (cat) is Γata

2. The Greek letter Δ sounds like th (in the)
Imagine Δ is the shape of the pyramids

So chtapothee (octopus) is chtapoΔee

3. The Greek letter Θ sounds like th (in theatre)
Imagine Θ looks like the circular stage of a theatre

So thalassa (sea) is Θalassa

4. The Greek letter Λ sounds like L
Imagine Λ looks like an upside down v - sideways on

So leemnee (lake) is Λeemnee

5. The Greek letter Ξ sounds like x
Imagine three lines are an extra letter

Note: sometimes written as "ks" in the course
So exoh (out) is eΞoh

The next set of letters:

1.The Greek letter Π sounds like p
Imagine Π looks like a prison window

So polee (much) is Πolee

2. The Greek letter Σ sounds like s (in sea)
Imagine Σ is the shape of the sea on a beach

So soopa (soup) is Σoopa

3. The Greek letter Φ sounds like f
Imagine Φ looks like a float on a fishing line

So feethee (snake) is Φeethee

4. The Greek letter Ψ sounds like the ps (in tipsy)
Imagine Ψ looks like a psychologist's couch

So psomee (bread) is Ψomee

5. The Greek letter Ω sounds like o (in hot)
Imagine Ω looks like an "o" on a horseshoe

So proyee (morning) is prΩyee

The next set of letters:

1. The Greek letter B sounds like v
Imagine you should Be Very strong

So viepee (sees) is Blepee

2. The Greek letter H sounds like ee (in see)
Imagine "H" stands for heel

Note: the "ee" is very short, almost like the 'i' in lit
So kalee (good) is kalH

3. The Greek letter I sounds like ee (in see)
Imagine I am an eel

Note: the "ee" is very short, almost like the 'i' in lit
So psaree (fish) is psarI

4. The Greek letter P sounds like r
Imagine you are a PRAT

So teeree (cheese) is tee Pee

5. The Greek letter Y sounds like "ee" (in see)
Imagine you see the sea

Note: the "ee" is very short, almost like the 'i' in lit
So keema (wave) is kYma

6. The Greek letter X sounds like "h" in heater
Imagine x marks the spot where I hit you

So echo (I have) is eXo

Note: “X” also sounds like the CH in LOCH and is sometimes pronounced like the H in HUE.

Letters that sound the same in Greek and English

The following letters sound the same in English and Greek

A sounds like the A in ARMY

E sounds like the E in SET

O sounds like the O in OFF

N, T, K, M and Z sound the same as they do in English

Remember that some letters sound different in Greek, but N, O, T, M, A, Z, E, O, K sound the same. So, remember:

NOT MAZE OK

These letters are the same in Greek and English.

Combinations of letters to produce certain sounds

In Greek there are also some combinations of letters, used to produce certain sounds.

In the following examples note that we use all the letters you have already been taught:

NT in Greek sounds like D in DAY
so, Domata (tomato) is NTOMATA

MΠ in Greek sounds like B in BOTTLE
so, Bookalee (bottle) is MΠooKAΛI

ΓK in Greek sounds like G in GREY
so, gree (grey) is ΓKPI

ΓΓ in Greek sounds like G in GREY
so, agooree (cucumber) is AΓΓooPI

More combinations of letters to produce certain sounds

Note that in the examples we use all the letters and the combinations you already know.

OY in Greek sounds like OO in BOOK
so, Bookalee (bottle) is MΠOYKAΛI

EI in Greek sounds like EE in SEE
so, farmakeeo (chemist's shop) is ΦAPMAKEIO
(that is, EE is short)

OI in Greek sounds like EE in SEE
so, skeelee (dogs) is ΣKYΛOI
(that is, EE is short)

AI in Greek sounds like E in tell,
so, macheree (knife) is MAXAIPI

Finally the lower-case letters are as follows

Uppercase	Lowercase	Description
Α	α	Lower case looks like an "a"
Β	β	Looks like a B
Γ	γ	Looks like a "y" which is how it is sometimes pronounced
Δ	δ	The funny shape just has to be learned
Ε	ε	Looks like a little "E"
Ζ	ζ	Lower case almost an "s" shape - "z"ish in sound
Η	η	Both sound like "i" in hint
Θ	θ	Both letters look similar
Ι	ι	Big and little I
Κ	κ	Looks similar to the capital
Λ	λ	Looks similar to the capital
Μ	μ	Both sounds "m" - perhaps you live with a mum
Ν	ν	Both sound like N - remember the navy
Ξ	ξ	Both have three lines
Ο	ο	Look the same
Π	π	Look similar
Ρ	ρ	Look similar
Σ	σ	The small letter looks like a smouldering grenade
Τ	τ	Looks like a small version of T
Υ	υ	Imagine You look a little ill both sound like the "i" in m
Φ	φ	Both look similar
Χ	χ	Big and little X
Ψ	ψ	Big and little
Ω	ω	The lower case could look like an olive both sound like the "o" in olive

Produced by:

Linkword Languages, 92 Westport Avenue, Mayals, Swansea, SA3 5EF, UK

E-mail:
mg@linkwordlanguages.com

Telephone:
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Website:
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What do the following letters sound like?
	Your Answer:	Correct Answer:
Ξ
Λ
Θ
Δ
Γ