Alphabet
Learn Chapter Objectives
You will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Say the names for each of the letters of the Greek alphabet.
Know the sound each of the letters makes.
Recognize the special characteristics of some letters.
Identify the vowels and know which ones are short and which ones are long.
Identify and pronounce the diphthongs.
Recognize the capital letters.
Gain an appreciation for the history of the Greek language.
Translate and write 10 vocabulary words in Greek.
Learn Letters
a
Psi, kappa, sigma, delta, iota, un, pi, beta, psilon, eta, upsilon, gamma, lamda, xi, tau, chi, phi,
mu, rho, omicron, alpha, theta, zeta
Letter to Name Exercise
Omega, psi, xi, kappa, iota, theta, lambda, upsilon, zeta, omicron, rho, chi, epsilon, gamma, beta,
nu, sigma, alpha, eta, delta, mu, tau, phi, pi 24 out of 24 100%
Name to Letter Exercise
t,d,u,z,e,a,b,m,p,f,r,q,w,c,y,i,x,s,g,n,l,k,h,o,
i =i, n =n, y =ps, h =E, m =m, f =ph, a =a, u =u, g =g, q =th, r =r, o =o, w =O b =b, k =k, t
=t, d =d, z =z, c =x, x =ch, s =s, e =e, p =p, l =l, 24 out of 24 100%
Learn Capital Letters
is a gamma (g)
D is a delta (d)
H is an eta (h)
L is a lambda (l)
is a xi (c)
S is a sigma (s)
U is an upsilon (u)
W is an omega (w)
Beware confusing the following capital letters:
H is eta (not English H)
R is rho (not English P)
U is upsilon (not English Y)
Short
Long or Short
Long
Note
Iota is the most versatile letter. There are three types of iota:
1. It may be short sounding like the i in hit.
2. It may be long sounding like the i in machine.
3. It may be a consonant when found in initial positions of proper names where it sounds
like a y in yes. E.g. Jesus
Alpha sounds the same whether long or short.
Upsilon sometimes becomes a y when brought over into English words. E.g. upokrithj
hypocrite
Machen, p. 10; Mounce, pp. 9f; Wenham, p. 19
Learn Diphtongs
as ai in aisle
aima
(blood)
i as ei in eight
eimi
(I am)
as oi in oil
oikoj
(house)
as au in sauerkraut
autoj
as ou in boutique
Ihsouj
(Jesus)
i as ui in suite
uioj
(son)
, as eu in feud
pisteuw
(I believe)
a as in father skoti%
e as in obey
&
o as in home aut&
arx^
(darknes; Jn 1:5)
(beginning; Jn 1:1)
(him; Jn 1:4)
Abraam Agrippaj Ananiaj Apollwj Barnabaj Dauid Zaxariaj qwmaj Iakwb Ihsouj
Ioudaj Iwshf Lazaroj Marqa Maria Pauloj Pilatoj Petroj Sauloj Silaj Simwn
Timoqeoj Titoj Filippoj Asia Babulwn Galilaia Damaskoj Efesoj Ierousalhm
Iordanhj Israhl Makedonia Nazareq Samareia alfa bhta gamma delta eyilon
zhta hta qhta iwta kappa lambda mu nu ci omikron pi rw sigma tau uyilon fi
xi yi wmega
as it interfaced with other cultures. This common language Greek came to be known as
Koine (common) Greek. It was the language used from 300 BC to 300 AD. It was in this
language that the Septuagint (the Greek translation of Old Testament), the New Testament
and the writings of the early Church fathers were written. The nature of Koine eluded
scholars because of its simplicity when compared to Classical Greek, which led some
scholars to explain it as a Holy Ghost language created just for the Bible. After the
Egyptian papyri, inscriptions, and ostraca were found, scholars realized that the New
Testament was written in the common everyday language of the people of those times. At
points the New Testament will manifest Hebraisms where the influence of Hebrew and/or
Aramaic may be seen.
The Byzantine Period: During the Byzantine Period (A.D. 330-1453), Greek was spoken in
the eastern half of the Roman empire which was centered in Constantinople.
The Modern Period: The Modern Period dates from 1453 to the present. Modern Greek is
closer to Koine than it is to Classical Greek.
(Dana & Mantey, pp. 1ff.; Mounce, pp. 1f.)
Learn Vocabulary
a@ggeo
angel
]mh<n
a@nqrwpoj
e]g<
qe
ai<<
ardi<a
lgw
profh<th
Xristo<
I
God
and, even, also
heart
I say, I speak
prophet
Christ, Messiah
angel
truly, verily
man, human being
I
God
ai< (9153)
ardi<a (156)
lgw (156)
profh<th (144)
Xristo< (529)
Letter
a
b
g
d
e
z
h
q
i
k
l
m
n
c
o
p
r
s
t
u
f
x
y
w
Capital
A
B
G
D
E
Z
H
Q
I
K
L
M
N
C
O
P
R
S
T
U
F
X
Y
W
Transliteration
a
b
g
d
e
z
E
th
i
k
l
m
n
x
o
p
r
s
t
u
ph
ch
ps
O
Pronounce
a in father
b in bet
g in get
d in dog
e in met
z in zebra
e in obey
th in think
i in hit
k
l in let
m in met
n in net
x in axe
o in not
p in pet
r in rent
s in set
t in tent
oo in hoops
ph in phone
ch in chemical
ps in lips
o in home