The Greek Alphabet

Who Speaks Greek?

Greek (ελληνικά) is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in Greece and Cyprus, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. Though modern Greek has evolved considerably from Ancient Greek, many roots remain the same, connecting it to one of the world’s richest linguistic traditions. You’ll also find Greek speakers in diaspora communities across the globe.

What About Dialects?

While Standard Modern Greek is used officially, Greece’s regions showcase a variety of dialects and accents. Notable examples include the Cretan dialect and the Pontic dialect. Although most Greeks understand the standard form, local expressions or words can vary from one island or region to another.

In this guide, we’ll concentrate on Standard Modern Greek—the form you’ll hear on TV, in schools, and in official documents. It’s the safest bet for everyday communication no matter where you travel in Greece or Cyprus.

The Greek Alphabet

The Greek alphabet has 24 letters, derived from ancient scripts. Unlike the Latin alphabet, Greek has distinct characters for sounds like “theta” (θ) or “phi” (φ). Once you get the hang of these symbols, Greek can be quite straightforward to read since each letter typically corresponds to a single sound.

Unique Greek letters: θ, ξ, ψ, χ, φ, ω (and more!)

Here’s a table to help you get familiar with Modern Greek letters and their approximate sounds. The examples below use a simple transliteration—but listening to native speakers is the best way to master the nuances!

Letter	Pronunciation	Example	Translation
Α α (Alpha)	/a/ (“father”)	άνθρωπος	human
Β β (Beta)	/v/ (“voice”)	βιβλίο	book
Γ γ (Gamma)	/ɣ/ (a throaty “g” or “y” like “yes”)	γάλα	milk
Δ δ (Delta)	/ð/ (“th” in “this”)	δρόμος	road
Ε ε (Epsilon)	/e/ (“bed”)	Ελλάδα	Greece
Ζ ζ (Zeta)	/z/ (“zap”)	ζεστό	warm
Η η (Eta)	/i/ (“bee”)	ήρωας	hero
Θ θ (Theta)	/θ/ (“th” in “thin”)	θέατρο	theater
Ι ι (Iota)	/i/ (“meet”)	Ιταλία	Italy
Κ κ (Kappa)	/k/ (“cut”)	καφές	coffee
Λ λ (Lambda)	/l/ (“love”)	λεμόνι	lemon
Μ μ (Mu)	/m/ (“mother”)	μαμά	mom
Ν ν (Nu)	/n/ (“now”)	νερό	water
Ξ ξ (Xi)	/ks/ (“fox”)	ξένο	foreign
Ο ο (Omicron)	/o/ (“orb”)	όρος	term / mountain (context-dependent)
Π π (Pi)	/p/ (“pet”)	πιπέρι	pepper
Ρ ρ (Rho)	/r/ (rolled “r”)	ρόδα	wheels
Σ σ/ς (Sigma)	/s/ (“sound”)	σαλάτα	salad
Τ τ (Tau)	/t/ (“town”)	τραπέζι	table
Υ υ (Upsilon)	/i/	υγεία	health
Φ φ (Phi)	/f/ (“fun”)	φίλος	friend
Χ χ (Chi)	/x/ (“ch” like “Bach” or like “China” in German)	χώρα	country
Ψ ψ (Psi)	/ps/ (“upside”)	ψάρι	fish
Ω ω (Omega)	/o/ (“orb”)	ώρα	hour, time

Special Greek Sounds

Greek letters sometimes shift their sound depending on nearby letters, but it’s mostly straightforward once you learn the rules. Let’s look at a few letter pairs and special points:

When Σ becomes ς

The letter sigma appears as σ in the beginning or middle of a word, but changes to ς at the end. It’s the same sound, just a different written form.

Digraphs: αι, ει, οι, ου, ευ, αυ, μπ, ντ, γκ, γγ

• αι typically sounds like “e” in “bet.”
• ει typically sounds like “i” as in “meet.”
• οι typically sounds like “i” as in “meet.”
• ου typically sounds like “oo” in “food.”
• ευ typically sounds like “ev” or “ef” depending on context.
• αυ typically sounds like “av” or “af” depending on context.
• μπ can sound like “b” at the start of a word and “mb” elsewhere.
• ντ can sound like “d” at the start of a word and “nd” elsewhere.
• γκ can sound like “g” at the start of a word and “ng” in other positions.
• γγ typically sounds like “ng” in the middle of words.

Stress and Accent Marks

Modern Greek places a written accent (´) over a single vowel in each word of more than one syllable (e.g., νεrό → νερό). This accent determines which syllable is stressed—crucial for proper pronunciation!

Pronouncing Greek

Greek is largely phonetic, meaning letters often correspond directly to their sounds. Once you master these letters and a few key digraphs, you’ll find reading and speaking more intuitive.

With these basics down, you’re well on your way to exploring the Greek language in its written and spoken form—key to unlocking an incredible cultural heritage spanning millennia.