Pronunciation

Learning kit for Modern Greek
Pronunciation
A. Individual letters
Ηη, Ιι, Υυ
[i]

All these letters are pronounced [i], like i in ”this”.

Οο, Ωω
[o]

Both letters are pronounced [o], like o in ”not”.

Ββ
[v]

The letter Β is pronounced [v], like v in ”vet”.

Γγ
[ɣ]

Γ is either [ɣ], like w in ”wood” or [ʝ] like y in ”yes”.

Δδ
[ð]

The letter Δ is pronounced [ð], like th in ”there”.

Θθ
[θ]

This letter is pronounced [θ], like th in ”theater”.

Λλ
[l]

This letter is pronounced [l], like the l in ”line”.

Ξξ
[ks]

This letter is pronounced [ks], like cc in ”access”.

Ππ
[p]

The letter Π is pronounced [p], like p in ”pen”.

Ρρ
[ɾ]

The letter Ρ is pronounced [ɾ], like r in ”write”, but rolled.

Χχ
[x]

Χ is either [x], like ch in ”loch”, or [ç] like h in “hue”.

Ψψ
[ps]

The letter Ψ is pronounced [ps], like ps in ”upset”.

 

 

B. Vowel combinations
Important note:

When the accent is on the first vowel, there is no vowel combination. The letters are pronounced individually:

αι = ε, αί = ε, άι = άη

If we must stress the second vowel or any other letter, we must keep them separate by using ¨ or ΅

10 Μαΐου, λαϊκή
ευ, εύ
[εf] [εv]

Ευ is pronounced either [εf], like ef in “left” or [εv], like ev in “never”.

Pronunciation depends on the letter that follows ευ:

[εv] + α, ε, θ, ο, ω, γ, δ, η, λ, μ, ν, ρ
[εf] + θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, τ, φ, χ
αυ, αύ
[af] [av]

Αυ is pronounced either [af], like af in “raft” or [av], like av in “avert”.

Pronunciation depends on the letter that follows αυ:

[av] + α, γ, δ, λ, μ, ν, ρ, σμ, ω
[af] + θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, στ, στ, τ, χ
αι, αί
[ε]

Αι is pronounced [ε], like ai in “air”.

ει, εί
[i]

Ει is pronounced [i], like i in “this”.

οι, οί
[i]

Οι is pronounced [i], like i in “this”.

ου, ού
[u]

Ου is pronounced [u], like oo in “zoo”.

υι
[i]

Υι is pronounced [i], like i in “this”.

ηυ
[i]

Ηυ is pronounced [iv], like iv in “river”.

 

 

C. Consonant combinations
μπ
[b]

Μπ is pronounced [b], like b in “be”.

ντ
[d]

Ντ is pronounced [d], like d in “do”.

γγ
[g]

Γγ is pronounced [g], like g in “get”.

γκ
[g]

Γκ is pronounced [g], like g in “get”.

τσ
[ts]

Τσ is pronounced [ts], like ts in “gets”.

τζ
[dz]

Τζ is pronounced [dz], like j in “jam”.