Greek (ελληνικά)

Greek belongs to the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is spoken mainly in Greece and Cyprus, and also in Australia, Albania, Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania and Hungary. It is an official language in Greece and Cyprus, and is recognised as a minority language Albania, Armenia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine [source].

In 2012 there were about 13.1 million speakers of Greek worldwide, including 10.7 million in Greece, 1.1 million in Cyprus, and 15,200 in Albania. There were about 238,000 Greek speakers in Australia in 2016, and in 1987 there were about 20,000 Greek speakers in Italy [source].

Greek at a glance

Native name: ελληνικά (elinika) [eliniˈka]
Language family: Indo-European, Hellenic
Number of speakers: c. 13 million
Spoken in: Greece, Albania, Cyprus, and a number of other countries
First written: 1500 BC
Writing systems: Linear B, Cypriot syllabary, Greek alphabet
Status: official language of Greece, an official language of Cyprus, officially recognized as a minority language in parts of Italy, and in Albania, Armenia, Romania and Ukraine.

An Introduction to Greek
A Brief History of Written Greek
Ancient Greek Alphabet
Classical Attic Greek pronunciation
Greek numerals and other symbols
Modern Greek Alphabet
Sample texts in Greek
Sample videos in Greek
Phrases: Modern Greek | Ancient Greek
Numbers Modern Greek | Ancient Greek
Modern Greek: Family words | Time Expressions | Idioms | Proverbs | Tongue twisters
Tower of Babel in Modern Greek | Ancient Greek
Articles about Greek
Greek Links
Greek learning materials
Books about the Greek alphabet

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A Brief History of Written Greek

Greek was first written in Mycenae with a script known as Linear B, which was used between about 1500 and 1200 BC. This variety of Greek is known as Mycenaean. On Crete another script, known as the Cypriot syllabary, was used to write the local variety of Greek between about 1200 and 300 BC.

Greek alphabet (Ελληνικό αλφάβητο)

The Greek alphabet has been in continuous use since about 750 BC. It was developed from the Canaanite/Phoenician alphabet and the order and names of the letters are derived from Phoenician. The original Canaanite meanings of the letter names was lost when the alphabet was adapted for Greek. For example, alpha comes for the Canaanite aleph (ox) and beta from beth (house).

When the Greeks adapted the Phoenician alphabet to write their language they used five of the Phoenician consonants to represent vowel sounds: yodh (𐤉) [j] became Ι (iota), waw (𐤅) [w] became Υ (upsilon), 'aleph (𐤀) [ʔ] became Α (alpha), 'ayin (𐤏) [ʕ] became Ο (omicron), and he (𐤄) [h] became Ε (epsilon). New letters were also devised: Φ (phi), Χ (chi) and Ψ (psi). The result was the world's first fully phonemic alphabet which represented both consonant and vowel sounds.

At first, there were a number of different versions of the alphabet used in various different Greek cities. These local alphabets, known as epichoric, can be divided into three groups: green, blue and red. The blue group developed into the modern Greek alphabet, while the red group developed into the Etruscan alphabet, other alphabets of ancient Italy and eventually the Latin alphabet.

By the early 4th century BC, the epichoric alphabets were replaced by the eastern Ionic alphabet. The capital letters of the modern Greek alphabet are almost identical to those of the Ionic alphabet. The minuscule or lower case letters first appeared sometime after 800 AD and developed from the Byzantine minuscule script, which developed from cursive writing.

Today the Greek alphabet is used only to write Greek, however at various times in the past it has been used to write such languages as Lydian, Phrygian, Thracian, Gaulish, Hebrew, Arabic, Old Ossetic, Albanian, Turkish, Aromanian, Gagauz, Surguch and Urum.

Notable features

Type of writing system: alphabet - the first one to include vowels.
Writing direction: Originally written horizontal lines either from right to left or alternating from right to left and left to right (boustrophedon/βουστροφηδόν). Around 500 BC the direction of writing changed to horizontal lines running from left to right.
Diacritics to represent stress and breathings were added to the alphabet in around 200 BC. In 1982 the diacritics representing breathings, which were not widely used after 1976, were officially abolished by presidential decree.
The letter sigma has a special form which is used when it appears at the end of a word.
Used to write: Arvanitic, Bactrian, Cypriot Arabic, Greek, Griko, Karamanli Turkish, Tsakonian

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Ancient Greek alphabet

This alphabet is based on inscriptions from Crete dated to about 800 BC. Greek was written mainly from right to left in horizontal lines at this time. It is uncertain what names were given to the letters, and some letters had more than one form.

Ancient Greek alphabet from Crete

Source: http://www.carolandray.plus.com/Eteocretan/archaic_alpha.html

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Greek alphabet (Classical Attic pronunciation)

Greek alphabet - Classical Attic pronunciation

Note

Σ = [z] before voiced consonants

Diphthongs, consonant combinations and other special symbols

Archaic letters

Archaic Greek letters

Learn the Classical Greek alphabet

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Greek numerals and other symbols

The Ancient Greeks had two numeric systems: the Acrophonic or Attic system used the letters iota, delta, gamma, eta, nu and mu in various combinations. These letters were used as they represented the first letters of the number names, with the exception of iota: Γέντε (gente) for 5, which became Πέντε (pente); Δέκα (Deka) for 10, Ηἑκατόν (Hektaton) for 100, Χίλιοι (Khilioi) for 1,000 and Μύριον (Myrion) for 10,000. This system was used until the first century BC.

Acrophonic/Attic Greek numerals

The Acrophonic system was replaced by an alphabetic system that assigned numerical values to all the letters of the alphabet. Three obsolete letters, digamma, koppa and sampi, were used in addition to the standard Greek letters, and a apostrophe-like numeral sign was used to indicate that letters were being used as numerals.

Greek numerals (Alphabetic system)

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Modern Greek alphabet

Hear the Modern Greek alphabet

Hear a recording of the Greek alphabet by Vasiliki Baskos of learn-greek-online.com

Hear a recording of Modern Greek pronunciation by Vasiliki Baskos of learn-greek-online.com

Greek alphabet learning game

Notes

Γ = [ɣ] before back vowels [a, o, u]. Before front vowels [e, i], it is pronounced [ʝ] and transliterated y
Κ = [k] before back vowels [a, o, u], and [c] before front vowels [e, i]
Λ = [ʎ] before an unstressed i followed by another vowel, e.g. λιώμα [ʎóma]
Ν = [ɲ] before an unstressed i followed by another vowel, e.g. νιώθω [ɲóθo]
When the sound [i] is preceded by a voiced consonant and followed by another vowel, it becomes [ʝ], e.g. διάκος [ðʝákos]. When it is preceded by a voiceless consonont and followed by another vowel it is pronounced as [ç], e.g. φωτιά [fotçá]. In both cases it is not stressed.
Σ = [z] before voiced consonants
Χ = [χ] before back vowels [a, o, u], and [ç] before front vowels [e, i]

Greek diphthongs, consonant combinations, ligatures and other special letters

Notes

αυ = [av] before vowels and voiced consonants; [af] elsewhere.
ευ = [ev] before vowels and voiced consonants; [ef] elsewhere.
ηυ = [iv] before vowels and voiced consonants; [if] elsewhere.
ντ = [nd] in the middle of words; [d] at the beginning.
μπ = [mb] in the middle of words; [b] at the beginning.
γγ &γκ = [ŋg] in the middle of words; [g] at the beginning, unless followed by [i] or [e], when they are [ŋɟ] in the middle of words and [ɟ] at the beginning.
A dieresis is used to indicate that vowels are pronounced separately, e.g. Αϊτή [aití]. However, when the first of the two letters is stressed, the dieresis sign is not necessary, e.g. γάιδαρος [γáiðaros].
When κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ and σ are preceded by a word that ends in ν they become voiced and the final N turns into the corresponding nasal sound, e.g. τον πατέρα [tombatéra].

Download Greek alphabet charts in Excel, Word or PDF format

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Sample text in Greek

Sample text in Greek (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Transliteration

Óli i ánthropi yeniúnde eléftheri ke ísi stin aksioprépia ke ta dhikeómata. Íne prikizméni me loyikí ke sinídhisi, ke ofílun na simberiféronde metaksí tus me pnévma adhelfosínis.

A recording of this text by Eυτυχία Παναγιώτου (Eftychia Panayiotou)

Another recording of this text by Χρήστος Παπαδόπουλος (Christos Papadopoulos)

Sample text in Polytonic Greek

Sample text in Polytonic Greek (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample text in handwritten Greek

Sample text in handwritten Greek (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Font from: http://boboss.gr/2009/12/13/greek-handwriting-font/

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Corrections and notes on pronunciation provided by Δημήτρης Χριστούλιας (Dimitris Christoulias)

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Sample videos in Greek

Information about Modern Greek

Information about Ancient Greek

Information about Greek (Ancient and Modern) | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

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Links

Information about the Greek language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language
http://greek-language.com
http://multipedia.com

Information about Greek numbering systems
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/Greek_numbers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_numerals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attic_numerals
http://www.mathsisgoodforyou.com/
numerals/greeknums.htm

Online Greek lessons
http://www.ilearngreek.com (Modern)
http://www.greece.org/gr-lessons/ (Modern)
http://www.xanthi.ilsp.gr/filog/ (Modern)
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Modern_Greek (Modern)
http://polymath.org/greek.php (Modern)
http://greek.pgeorgalas.gr (Modern)
https://www.learnwitholiver.com/greek/ (Modern)
http://www.theonlinegreektutor.com/blog/ (Modern)
http://ilovelanguages.org/greek.php (Modern)
https://www.alphabetagreek.com/ (Modern)
http://www.greekpod101.com/ (Modern)
http://www.kypros.org/LearnGreek/ (Modern/Ancient)
http://www.ibiblio.org/koine/greek/lessons/ (New Testament)
http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~ancgreek/ (Ancient)
http://www.textkit.com (Ancient)

Ask Greek - the place to ask questions about the Greek language
https://learn-greek-online.com/ask-greek/

Learn Greek Online via Skype
https://learn-greek-online.com/

- Learn Greek online with GreekPod101
- Learn Greek with Glossika
- Greek Electronic talking dictionaries
- Greek learning software
- Find Greek Tutors with LanguaTalk

Hellenic languages

Greek, Griko, Pontic Greek, Tsakonian, Yevanic

Languages written with the Greek alphabet

Arvanitic, Bactrian, Cypriot Arabic, Greek, Griko, Karamanli Turkish, Tsakonian

Alphabets

A-chik Tokbirim, Adinkra, ADLaM, Armenian, Avestan, Avoiuli, Bactrian, Bassa (Vah), Beitha Kukju, Beria (Zaghawa), Borama / Gadabuursi, Carian, Carpathian Basin Rovas, Chinuk pipa, Chisoi, Coorgi-Cox, Coptic, Cyrillic, Dalecarlian runes, Elbasan, Etruscan, Faliscan, Fox, Galik, Georgian (Asomtavruli), Georgian (Nuskhuri), Georgian (Mkhedruli), Glagolitic, Global Alphabet, Gothic, Greek, Irish (Uncial), Kaddare, Kayah Li, Khatt-i-Badí’, Khazarian Rovas, Koch, Korean, Latin, Lepontic, Luo Lakeside Script, Lycian, Lydian, Manchu, Mandaic, Mandombe, Marsiliana, Medefaidrin, Messapic, Mongolian, Mro, Mundari Bani, Nag Chiki, Naasioi Otomaung, N'Ko, North Picene, Novo Tupi, Nyiakeng Puachue Hmong, Odùduwà, Ogham, Old Church Slavonic, Oirat Clear Script, Ol Chiki (Ol Cemet' / Santali), Old Italic, Old Nubian, Old Permic, Ol Onal, Orkhon, Osage, Oscan, Osmanya (Somali), Pau Cin Hau, Phrygian, Pollard script, Runic, Székely-Hungarian Rovás (Hungarian Runes), South Picene, Sutton SignWriting, Sunuwar, Tai Viet, Tangsa, Todhri, Toto, Umbrian, (Old) Uyghur, Wancho, Yezidi, Zoulai

Other writing systems

Page last modified: 09.06.24

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