Learn The Greek Alphabet

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Oh, my! The dreaded Greek alphabet!

This is how most people react when they see the Greek alphabet for the

first time. But, please, don’t be terrified! I know it can be overwhelming

when you are called to learn something new. This is why I’m here to help

you learn smoothly and without any anxiety.

Shall we begin?

Why learn an alphabet? Any alphabet

When starting a new language, one of the first things you need to do

is learn its alphabet. In fact, it’s the foundation for reading, writing, and

understanding the language. Even if Greek isn’t on your immediate

learning list, getting familiar with its alphabet has surprising benefits.

For instance, it can help you better understand English words derived

from Greek.

A Brief History

Before we move on, let’s see some historical facts.

The Greek alphabet was developed around 1000 – 900 BC. Interestingly, it

originated from the Phoenician alphabet and is the oldest alphabetic

system that is still in use. It is the forebear of all European alphabets. Coptic,

Cyrillic, Glagolitic, Gothic and Latin. As a result, some letters may look

familiar.

Why is the Greek Alphabet so important?

Greek letters appear everywhere in science, math, and everyday life.

For example:

• Maths and science use many of the Greek alphabet letters as symbols. Even if you don’t like maths, like me – yes, guilty -, you probably have stumbled upon the famous letter Π (Pi) = 3,14. Yes, Π is a Greek letter. Other “famous” Greek letters are Σ (sigma) which can stand for “sum” or Δ (delta) which can stand for “change”. These are just a few examples to mark the importance of Greek letters in maths. If you want more, please ask your maths teacher who probably loves maths much more than me.
• Astronomy also really loves the use of Greek letters and names. For example, Άλφα (alpha) is the name they give to the biggest star in a constellation. Βήτα (beta) is the name of the second biggest star and so on.
• Computer science uses many of the Greek letters especially when it comes to coding.
• On college campuses, names of sororities and fraternities, all come from the Greek alphabet.
• Many of the English words are of Greek origin. Even the word “alphabet” derives from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet. Άλφα – Βήτα (Alpha – Beta).

Clearly, therefore, the Greek alphabet is more than just a set of letters—it’s

a key to understanding history, science, and culture.

Have I not convinced you yet of the importance of Greek Alphabet or

should I continue to act like Mr. Portokalos?

The Greek Alphabet

It is now time to really dig in to its core.

The modern Greek alphabet consists of 24 characters.

17 consonants:  β, γ, δ, ζ, θ, κ, λ, μ, ν, ξ, π, ρ, σ (ς), τ, φ, χ, ψ

and 7 vowels: α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω.

Words form by combining consonants and vowels, or by using

two-letter consonants to create single sounds.

Helping Images

In the image below, you’ll find the Greek alphabet along with the names

of each letter in Greek.

In addition, another version includes pronunciation guides in Latin/English

to make learning easier.

 

In the images below you can learn the alphabet along with the correct

pronunciation of the letters. It is divided in 4 parts each containing

6 letters for smoother learning.

1: Α – Ε

2: Η – Μ

3: Ν – Σ

4: Τ – Ω

Note:

• Σ,σ and ς: When σίγμα (sigma) is written at the end of a word, it is written like this: “ς”. This only happens in lower case words. Greeks call that “ς” τελικό σίγμα (final sigma or final “s”)

The video

Next, watch this video to hear the correct pronunciation of each Greek

letter. It’s a fun way to practice and reinforce your learning.

Conclusion

Overall, the Greek alphabet has played a a significant role throughout

history, contributing to science, arts, and language.Even if you don’t

plan to learn Greek anytime soon – or never – knowledge of the Greek

alphabet can aid you with a better understanding of maths and

science and can also give you a better appreciation of the

Greek classics.

Now how amazing is that?

Finally, before you go, test your knowledge with the

Greek Alphabet Quiz and explore

fun tools and crafts to make learning even more enjoyable.

Until next time! Happy learning! 🙂

Keep exploring Greek!
1. Greek in action – visit free museums & archaeological sites!