This class presents the Ancient Greek alphabet through explanations, videos and workouts.
Greek Alphabet & Writing: A Synopsis
Greek has always been written with an alphabet. Each symbol more or less corresponds to one sound in an alphabet. The Greek alphabet has been utilized to compose the Greek language for over 2700 years. The exclusion can also be the earliest type associated with the written Greeek language, referred to as Mycenaean Greek, that was encoded in a writing system called a syllabary.
In this concise that is single, i’ll show the different types of Greek writing. Over the means, we’ll coach you on to compose the scripts yourself. Yourself yearning for more practice with letters, accents, words and phrases, consider getting more hands-on time with my thorough, step-by-step workbook called Learn to Write Ancient Greek if you find.
The Early Greek Alphabet
Fortunately, the very early type of the Greek alphabet can be among the list of simplest to master. Let us travel back significantly more than 2000 years. Initially, the Greeks wrote in that which we call UPPERCASE letters. This consists of many different epigraphic and scripts that are monumental that have been etched into rock and painted on pottery. The early Greeks did not yet integrate the diacritics (“accent marks” and “breathing marks”) that embellish and complicate writing that is later greek.
| Greek Letters | Greek Letter Names | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ? | ???? | a in father |
| ? | ???? | b |
| ? | ????? | g |
| ? | ????? | d |
| ? | ?????? | age in let |
| ? | ???? | sd in Thursday |
| ? | ??? | e in they |
| ? | ???? | th in pot-hole, maybe perhaps maybe not in thing |
| ? | ???? | i in sing |
| ? | ????? | k in sky |
| ? | ?????? | l |
| ? | ?? | m |
| ? | ?? | n |
| ? | ??? | x in fax, maybe not instance |
| ? | ??????? | o in sock |
| ? | ??? | p in spire |
| ? | ?? | r (trilled) |
| ? | ????? | s |
| ? | ??? | t in stay |
| ? | ?????? | u in French tu* |
| ? | ??? | ph in loophole |
| ? | ??? | kh in backhoe |
| ? | ??? | ps in lips |
| ? | ????? | o in therefore |
* To make this noise, round your lips to pronounce the “oo” in “soon” but say the “ee” in “seem” alternatively.
A few records. It’s not hard to spell names as well as other words that are greek might know already making use of the equivalents We give above. Take to reading: ????????, ????????, ??????.
This as a type of Greek ended up being written without areas. For instance, ??????????????????? is “alpha and beta and gamma”.
right Here we omit some “extra” letters lacking from standard variations regarding the alphabet, such as for instance digamma.
The image that is following a close-up of Greek text in the famous Rosetta Stone. Try to look for ???????????? and ?????????? in this text.
The Later Uncial Script
The seed of very very very early Greek writing sprouted in to a amount of various scripts. By the millenium that is first of age, Hellenic Koine Greek (????? simply means “common”) took over whilst the talked language, because of Alexander’s conquest. This multinational part had been just solidified underneath the iron hold associated with Romans. Through the entire Eastern Empire, Greek endured because the standard written language.
The Greek alphabet utilized in texts during this time around can be “uppercase only”, but it possesses unique design. We call this the Uncial alphabet.
Should you any archaeological sleuthing, you will find that Uncial ended up being typical in Greek texts on papyrus, parchment and vellum during the very very very early years advertisement. Hence, the Uncial script is included right here maybe perhaps not just for the interest to pupils associated with brand brand New Testament and very very very early Christianity, but additionally due to the tremendous historic value of works through the period that is roman.
Like the uppercase that is original, Uncials had been written without any areas between terms.
Below the truth is a photo of an authentic papyrus that is ancient Uncial writing. Attempt to find the phrases that are following ?????????, ????????????, ?????????.
The Greek Minuscule Alphabet
Sometime within the past 2000 years, Greek got smaller. Especially, Greeks started initially to compose using just what we call lowercase letters today. In a few full situations, we find both uppercase (“majuscule”) and lowercase (“minuscule”) letters utilized together. The minuscules came to dominate – lowercase became far more plentiful in all cases.
In the event that you learn the ancient greek language language from any modern guide, you will see just how to utilized this blended, minuscule-based script. Like in English, appropriate nouns (names of individuals and places) focus on a money page. Paragraphs additionally begin with a letter that is capitalized but specific sentences never.
Let us take a good look at the uppercase and lowercase variations of every page in this script.
| Majuscule & Minuscule | Greek Name |
|---|---|
| ? ? | ???? |
| ? ? | ???? |
| ? ? | ????? |
| ? ? | ????? |
| ? ? | ? ????? |
| ? ? | ???? |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ???? |
| ? ? | ???? |
| ? ? | ????? |
| ? ? | ?????? |
| ? ? | ?? |
| ? ? | ?? |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ? ?????? |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ?? |
| ? ? | ????? * |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ? ????? |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ??? |
| ? ? | ? ???? |
* lowercase ????? is written ? at the conclusion of the word and ? every-where else.
I have held two secrets away from you. First, some Ancient Greek terms start out having an “h”. Whenever a term begins with an h-sound, the minuscule script works on the rough breathing mark on top of the after vowel (? = “ha”). Observe that rough respiration looks like a solitary estimate pointing towards your message. Whenever a term will not start by having an h-sound, we compose a smooth respiration mark over the vowel (? = “a”).
Initial vowels simply take rough or smooth respiration marks. A short “r” requires a rough respiration mark, too: ?? tells us to pronounce the word hro (usually spelled “rho” in English). These breathings usually do not connect with other initial consonants, simply to vowels and rho.
The secret that is second regarding the funny-looking marks perched atop some vowels: severe accent (?), grave accent (`) and circumflex (?). These diacritics provide us with pronunciation info that is extra. As a result of them, we all know to improve our pitch (?), reduced our pitch (?) or raise-then-lower it (?) while pronouncing a vowel. Initially, this kind of improvement in intonation noises tricky, however it just calls for publicity and training.
The absolute many complex situation happens whenever both the tone and the respiration mark autumn in the exact same vowel. This only happens when an initial vowel or diphthong is accented: ????, ??? since breathings apply to the beginning of a word. In both ???? and ???, the smooth respiration informs us never to pronounce an “h” at the start of the term: alpha and eta, perhaps not *halpha and *heta. The pitch accent mark simply suggests how to “sing” the vowel – a little greater in ????, but high-then-low in ??.
take to to say the words that are following expressions out noisy:
??????????, ????? ?? ??? ??????, ????, ??????, ????
The Byzantine Minuscule Script
If you are especially enthusiastic about this alphabet, you shall learn a lot more on my page focused on the Byzantine & Medieval Greek minuscule script.
Very striking examples associated with the minuscule script comes from texts written in belated antiquity and also the Middle Ages, throughout the guideline for the Byzantine Empire.
Spot the unique, cursive design and movement of this writing. All records offered for the minuscule system above nevertheless apply (particularly diacritics, or breathings and pitch accent markings).
Below the thing is a graphic of an authentic text that is ancient written in Greek with the Byzantine minuscule design. You will need to discover the following words and phrases:
??? ?? ???? ???????, ??????????, ???? ??????, ???????
Tricky Bits of Greek Pronunciation
Pronouncing the Greek language is, for the part that is most, effortless once you have discovered the alphabet. There is hardly any akin towards the “silent ag e” of English “fares” or the “ough” in “through” versus “trough”. Nevertheless, there are certainly a few of pronunciation points worth your attention.
Diphthongs (vowel + vowel)
An iota or upsilon after another vowel represented a y-sound (?) or a w-sound (?), as in ??, ??, ??, ?? in ancient times.
Eventually, ?? ultimately acquired the noise of “oo” in “moon”: ???????
And ?? came to be pronounced like “ee” in “seem”: ????????
The iota subscript (a tiny iota written below an alpha, eta or omega) makes for the diphthong that is deceptive. Iota subscript typically goes unpronounced: ? ? ? . Students and learners tend to be taught to ignore that small iota, but behind its silence lies its historic value.
Consonant + consonant
The consonant that is same twice in Greek (a geminate or double consonant) shows which you support the consonant sound out much much longer. Two consonants, two times as long – this is the basic insight. Greece’s really name in Greek has an exemplory instance of double-lambda: ?????.
A g is just a g for the part that is most (like in English game or offer, not age or mild). From time to time, however, Greek gamma plays its very own tricks – it often seems just like the “n” in “sing”. That unique velar nasal noise is available only if gamma comes before “k” and “g” noises that trigger the nasal pronunciation.
Gamma before kappa: ??????
Gamma before gamma: ???????
Gamma before mu: ????
FAQ – Faqs about Ancient Greek Language Composing
What is the initial (or the earliest) written Greek?
Greek happens to be written in different variations of two various scripts. The script that is second most of the variations we discovered above, and is referred to as Greek alphabet. Greek remains written by using this alphabet.
there is certainly an also older Greek system that is writing from inscriptions in Crete and southern Greece. We all know this script as Linear B, and it seems completely unrelated to your subsequent Greek alphabet. Inscriptions in Linear B protect a dialect that is early Mycenaean Greek. Linear B predates the Greek alphabet by possibly 500 years. It’s a syllabary (symbols represent syllables, perhaps perhaps not letters that are individual noises) with some logographs (“picture-words”).
The Greek alphabet must around have been by the time Homer’s epic poetry had been written, possibly before 750 BC ( a lot more than 2700 years back). Having said that, the Mycenaean Greeks borrowed their Linear B writing system through the Minoans. The Mycenaean Greeks first inscribed their language within the 1300s BC (3300 years ago).