Lesson

1 The Greek
Alphabet
1. The History of Greek

• Classical Greek (1000 - 330 BC)

• Koine Greek (330 BC - AD 330)

• Byzantine Greek (AD 330 - 1453)

• Modern Greek (AD 1453 - Present)

1. KOINE GREEK

Greek Koine is "the Greek language as it was spoken when

the Mediterranean world was Hellenized. (Κοινή is the fem. adj.
of κοινός, “common,” implying διάλεκτος.) The convergence of
cultures and the commingling of Greek dialects produced a
type of Greek that lost some of the subtleties of classical
Greek and that was less “refined” than literary Greek during
the same period. The term is used interchangeably with
Hellenistic Greek”.

Matthew S. DeMoss, Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek
(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 77.
1. KOINE GREEK: Its Importante

• LXX-Septuagint (Old Testament

translation from Hebrew, 3rd century
BC)
• The New Testament
• Josephus (37-100 AD);
• Philo (20 BC - 50 AD)
• The Apostolic Fathers
• The Greek-speaking Ante-Nicene
Church Fathers
Why to study Greek?

• Intimacy with the Word of God

“For this light momentary affliction is

preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory beyond all comparison” (2 Co
4:17).
Why to study Greek?

• Intimacy with the Word of God

“For this light momentary affliction is

preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν εἰς
ὑπερβολὴν” (2 Co 4:17).
Why to study Greek?

• Intimacy with the Word of God

“For this light momentary affliction is

preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory, which not even all the
hyperboles of the world combined
would be able to describe” (2 Co 4:17).
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Αα Ββ Γγ Δδ Εε Ζζ Ηη Θθ Ιι
Κκ Λλ Μµ Νν Ξξ Οο Ππ Ρρ
Σ σ/ς Τ τ Υ υ Φ φ Χ χ Ψ ψ Ω ω
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Αα Ββ Γγ Δδ Εε Ζζ Ηη Θθ Ι
Ἐγώ εἰµι τὸ ἄλφα καὶ τὸ ὦ,
ι ὁ θεός,
λέγει κύριος
ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόµενος,
Κ κ Λ λ Μ ὁμπαντοκράτωρ.
Νν Ξξ Οο Ππ Ρρ
Σ σ/ς Τ τ Υ υ Φ φ Χ χ Ψ ψ Ω ω
Revelation 1:8
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET
Greek Letter Called Written Sound Note
Normal Capital In English In Greek Ιn English
α Α Alpha ἀλφα a father 1
β Β Beta Βητα b boy
γ Γ Gamma γαμμα g game 2

δ Δ Delta δελτα d dog

ε Ε Epsilon ἐψιλον e etch 1
ζ Ζ Zeta ζητα z daze

Notes:
1. There are seven vowels in Greek
2. γγ (gg) is pronounced as n
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET
Greek Letter Called Written Sound Note
Normal Capital In English In Greek Ιn English
η Η Eta ἠτα ē obey 1, 3

θ Θ Theta θητα th theology

ι Ι Iota ἰωτα i immediate 1, 4

κ Κ Kappa καππα k keep 5

λ Λ Lambda λαμβδα l lamb

μ Μ Mu μυ M mother

Notes:
1. There are seven vowels in Greek.
3. Pronunciation of η varies - some say 'bear' or 'honey'
4. ι can sometimes behave as a consonant when it begins a word.
5. There is a difference in sound between κ(k) and χ (kh).
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET
Greek Letter Called Written Sound Note
Normal Capital In English In Greek in English
ν Ν Nu νυ n now 6
ξ Ξ Xi ξι x relax
ο Ο Omicron ὀμικρον ο not 1
π Π Pi πι p peach
ρ Ρ Rho ῥω r or rh rose 7, 8
σ or ς Σ Sigma Σιγμα s same 9

Notes:
1. There are seven vowels in Greek.
6. ν looks like an English v but is an n.
7. ῥ should really be ‘aspirated’ (i.e. pronounced 'rh')
8. ρ looks like an English p but is an r (the Greek p is π).
[12
9. Sigma is σ normally, but ς if it is the last letter in a word.
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET
Greek Letter Called Written Sound Note
Normal Capital In English In Greek in English
τ Τ Tau ταυ t take
υ Υ Upsilon ὐψιλον u tulip 1, 10
φ Φ Phi φι ph or f phone
χ Χ Chi χι ch or kh loch 5
ψ Ψ Psi ψι ps tops
ω Ω Omega ὠμεγα ō told 1

Notes:
1. There are seven vowels in Greek.
5. There is a difference in sound between κ and χ.
10. The υ has become a y in English words derived from Greek.
[13
2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

a e i o u
Short α ε ι ο υ
Long α η ι ω υ

[14
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

αβγδεζηθικλμνξοπρσςτυφχψω

Notes:
• β, δ, ζ, θ, λ and ξ stretch above the line (and the central stroke of φ and ψ in
many people's handwriting). Contrary to English, κ and τ do not.
• β, γ, ζ, η, μ, ξ, ρ, ς, φ, χ, ψ have 'tails' which stretch below the line.

[15
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Write out the Greek alphabet in order and the

English equivalents (transliteration) of each letter:

α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ
a b g d e z ē th i k l m

ν ξ ο π ρ σ υ τ φ χ ψ ω

n x o p r s t u ph ch ps ō

%16
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Write out the English alphabet and give the Greek (small)
letter equivalent to each one as far as possible (ignore q, v
and w):

a b c d e f g h i j k l m
α β κ δ ε φ γ ‘ ι ι κ λ μ

n o p q r s t u v w x y z
ν ο π ρ σ τ υ ξ υ ζ

%17
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

• Similar sound, but different in form

(4 of the 24 letters)

θ th
λ l
π p
φ ph

{05}
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

• False friends
(6 of the 24 letters)

γ g not y ν n not v
η e not n ρ r not p
µ m not u ω o not w

{05}
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

• Completely different
(3 of the 24 letters)

ξ x as in relax

χ ch as in chemical

ψ ps as in tops

{05}
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Write the sound of the following Greek words in English

letters:
βαπτισμα baptisma-baptism
θρονος thronos- throne
κοσμος kosmos- cosmos, world
μεγας megas- great
μικρος mikros- small
μυστηριον mustērion or mysterion– mystery
παραβολη parabolē– parable
παραλυτικος paralutikos or paralytikos–paralytic
σαββατον sabbaton- sabbath
%21
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET
The following are real Greek words written in English letters. Write them
in Greek (small) letters, and have a guess at their meaning:

blasphēmē βλασφηµη- blasphemy

kardia kαρδια- heart
logikos λογικος- rational, spiritual
mētēr µητηρ- mother
patēr πατηρ- father
pneumatikos πνευµατικος- spiritual
prophētēs προφητης- prophet
pyr πυρ- fire
phōnē φωνη- voice
%22
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Short & Long — α— — ι— — υ—

Short Long Short Long

Vowels ε η ο ω

voiceless voiced aspirated Sibilants Liquids

Dentals τ δζ θ ζ λ
Palatals κ γ χ ξ ρ
Labials π β φ ψ µ
σ/ς ν

Α α Β β Γ γ Δ δ Ε ε Ζ ζ Η η Θ θ Ι ι Κ κ Λ λ Μ µ Ν ν Ξ ξ Ο ο Π π Ρ ρ Σ σ/ς Τ τ Υ υ Φ φ Χ χ Ψ ψ Ω ω
 2. THE GREEK ALPHABET

Greek consonants are divided into 3 categories according to specific criteria:

• According to their sound

unvoiced: κ, π, τ, χ, φ, θ, σ, τσ*
voiced: γ, β, δ, ζ, λ, µ, ν, ρ, τζ*, µπ*, ντ*, γκ*
• According to their duration
instantaneous: κ, π, τ, τσ*, τζ*, µπ*, ντ*, γκ*
continuous: γ, β, δ, ζ, λ, µ, ν, ρ, χ, φ, θ, σ
• According to the part of mouth where they are formed
labial: π, β, φ, µπ*, µ
dental: τ, δ, θ, ντ*
alveolar: σ, ζ, τσ*, τζ*, λ, ρ, ν
velar: κ, γ, χ, γκ*
 3. BREATHINGS

Sound Written Example

Rough Breathing h ‘ ἁγιος (hagios - holy)
Smooth Breathing none ’ ἀγγελος (angelos - angel)

Every Greek vowel (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω) at the beginning

of a word must have a breathing

Notes:
• Breathings are written on top - ἀ, ἁ, ἐ, ἑ, ἠ, ἡ, ἰ, ἱ, ὀ, ὁ, ὐ, ὑ, ὠ, ὡ.
• Smooth breathings are not optional just because they are not
pronounced. They are mandatory.
• If ρ is the first letter, it also must carry a rough breathing ῥ.
[25
 3. BREATHINGS

In which of these Greek words is there an error in the

breathing?

αγω ἀγω

’βλεπω βλεπω

ἐχω

λἐγω λεγω

πιστευω
%26
 4. CAPITALS

Write these names in English letters:

Παυλος Paulos (Paul)
Μαρια Maria (Mary)
Ἀβρααμ Abraam (Abraham)
‘Ιωσηφ Joseph
Σιμων Simon
Ἡρῳδης Heroides (Herod)
Ἰερουσαλημ Jerusalem
Καισαρ Caesar*
* Note: When a Greek word containing the diphthong ‘αι’ is transliterated into
English the 'ai' is normally represented by 'ae'.
%27
5. DIPHTHONGS AND IOTA SUBSCRIPTS

αι 'ai' as in Thailand, or the English word 'eye'

ει 'ei' as in veil, or the 'ay' in say
οι oi as in oil
υι 'ui' as in quit
αυ 'au' as in sauerkraut, or the 'ow' in how
ου 'ou' as in soup, or the 'oo' in 'hoop'
ευ / ηυ 'eu' as in feud, or the English word 'you'

Plus - the iota subscript - ῃ ῳ ᾳ

[28
5. DIPHTHONGS AND IOTA SUBSCRIPTS

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ἀκούσας ἐν τῷ δεσµωτηρίῳ τὰ

ἔργα τοῦ Χριστοῦ πέµψας διὰ τῶν µαθητῶν
αὐτοῦ

Diphthongs Matthew 11:2

{07}
5. DIPHTHONGS AND IOTA SUBSCRIPTS

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ἀκούσας ἐν τῷ δεσµωτηρίῳ τὰ

ἔργα τοῦ Χριστοῦ πέµψας διὰ τῶν µαθητῶν
αὐτοῦ

NOT Diphthongs
Matthew 11:2

{07}
5. DIPHTHONGS AND IOTA SUBSCRIPTS

Iota subscript:
Long form of vowels cannot take the iota as diphthong

α ᾳ

η + ι = ῃ

ω ῳ

Note: Some grammarians treat them as improper diphthongs.

Long αι, ηι, and ωι do not exist {07}

5. DIPHTHONGS AND IOTA SUBSCRIPTS

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ἀκούσας ἐν τῷ δεσµωτηρίῳ τὰ

ἔργα τοῦ Χριστοῦ πέµψας διὰ τῶν µαθητῶν
αὐτοῦ

iota subscript
Matthew 11:2

{07}
5. DIPHTHONGS AND IOTA SUBSCRIPTS

Write these names in Greek letters:

Barnabas (Barnabas) Βαρναβας

Petros (Peter) Πετρος
Philippos (Philip) Φιλιππος
Pilatos (Pilate) Πιλατος
Timotheos (Timothy) Τιμοθεος
Joudaea (Judea) Ἰουδαια
Satanas (Satan) Σατανας
Pharisaios (Pharisees) Φαρισαιος
%33
 6. ACCENT AND STRESS

Breathings – Essential
Accents – Unimportant

[34
 6. ACCENT AND STRESS

Which of the following words has a smooth breathing?

Βάλλω

ἄγω

εὑρίσκω

ἅγιος

ἰωτα

%35
 7. PUNCTUATION

Greek English Equivalent Used for

. (on the line) . End of sentence

, , Minor break within a sentence

. (above the line) ; and : Major break within a sentence

; ? Questions

ELISION
• Final vowel of a word normally drops (replaced with ’) if next word
begins with a vowel
ἀλλα ἐγω ἀλλ’ ἐγω

[36
 7. PUNCTUATION

Which are questions?

βλεπεις;

ἐχω·

λυουσιν.

βαλλει;

λεγετε,

%37
 8. SYLLABLES

ONE basic rule: Divide a word’s syllables immediately following a vowel

unless there are two consonants following, in which case the first of the two
consonants is added to the preceding vowel.
• Divide between a vowel and a consonant:

ἀ κού σας (sounds like: ah KOU sas)

• When two consonants are side by side: the first one is connected to the
preceding vowel:

πέµ ψας (sounds like: PEM psas).

• So δεσµωτηρίῳ,
δεσ—µω—τη—ρί—ῳ = des moe tay REE oh

{09}
 PRACTICE

Πάτερ ἡµῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνοµά

σου· ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου· γενηθήτω τὸ θέληµά
σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς· τὸν ἄρτον ἡµῶν τὸν
ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡµῖν σήµερον· καὶ ἄφες ἡµῖν τὰ
ὀφειλήµατα ἡµῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡµεῖς ἀφήκαµεν τοῖς
ὀφειλέταις ἡµῶν· καὶ µὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡµᾶς εἰς
πειρασµόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡµᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. Ὅτι
σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναµις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς
αἰῶνας. Ἀµήν.
 PRACTICE

Ἀβραάµ (73x) εὐαγγελίζω (54x)

ἄγγελος (176x) θρόνος (62x)
ἀµήν (130x) ἰερουσαλήµ (77x)
ἀπόστολος (80x) Ἰσραήλ (68x)
βαπτίζω (77x)
 PRACTICE

κόσµος (186x) Πιλᾶτος (55x)

µήτηρ (83x) προφήτης (144x)
Μωϋσῆς (80x) σάββατον (68x)
παραβολή (50x) Σίµων (75x)
Παῦλος (158x) συναγωγή (56x)
Πέτρος (156x) φαρισαῖος (98x)