Difference between revisions of "Koine Greek: Alphabet"
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topic_name = Greek Alphabet | | topic_name = Greek Alphabet | | ||
subtopics = [[Hebrew: Alphabet]] | | subtopics = [[Hebrew: Alphabet]] | | ||
− | opinion_pieces = | + | opinion_pieces = | |
}} | }} | ||
− | The Koine Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters. All Greek was originally written in upper case, without spaces between words, and without added punctuation, | + | |
− | + | The Koine Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters. All Greek was originally written in upper case, without spaces between words, and without added punctuation. Today, however, most texts are written in lower case, with punctuation and spaces between words. | |
+ | |||
===Alphabet=== | ===Alphabet=== | ||
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| alpha || α || Α || a || f<u>a</u>ther | | alpha || α || Α || a || f<u>a</u>ther | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | beta || β || Β || b || <u>b</u>eta | + | | beta || β || Β || b || <u>b</u>eta, spanish b/v |
|- | |- | ||
− | | gamma || γ || Γ || g || <u>g</u>amma | + | | gamma || γ || Γ || g || <u>g</u>amma, =gh |
|- | |- | ||
− | | delta || δ || Δ || d || <u>d</u>elta | + | | delta || δ || Δ || d || <u>d</u>elta, =dh |
|- | |- | ||
| epsilon || ε || Ε || e || <u>e</u>psilon | | epsilon || ε || Ε || e || <u>e</u>psilon | ||
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| tau || τ || Τ || t || <u>t</u>au | | tau || τ || Τ || t || <u>t</u>au | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | upsilon || υ || Υ || u sometimes y || <u> | + | | upsilon || υ || Υ || u sometimes y || French <u>u</u> |
|- | |- | ||
| phi || φ || Φ || ph || <u>f</u>ather | | phi || φ || Φ || ph || <u>f</u>ather | ||
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− | : '''*''' 'ευ' is both | + | : '''*''' 'ευ' is both difficult and controversial. Some evidence suggests that is was pronounced 'ew' (as in "Ew, that's gross!") or simply 'yu'. What has been taught for ages, however, is 'eh-oo', a sound not present in English. |
− | There are also | + | There are also versions of several vowels with a small iota underneath (or beside in the case of capitols): ᾼ ᾳ, ῌ ῃ, ῼ ῳ. It is believed that these represent ancient diphthongs, but the pronunciation is not altered in the time of any Greek writing we can know. |
: ''We have chosen not to include ι-subscripts on '''WikiChristian''', partly because most browsers display them incorrectly.'' | : ''We have chosen not to include ι-subscripts on '''WikiChristian''', partly because most browsers display them incorrectly.'' | ||
===Accents=== | ===Accents=== | ||
− | + | Three possible accents can be put on Greek vowels: the acute <big>´</big>, the grave (pronounces 'grahv') <big>`</big> and the circumflex. The circumflex should appear as an upside crescent over the vowel, but some fonts use the caron (<big>^</big>) or even the tilde (<big>~</big>). It is thought the these different symbols represented rising and falling pitch, like modern Chinese, but by the time of our literature, they only indicate accent or stress. | |
* ἀρχῇ - ar'''xē''' | * ἀρχῇ - ar'''xē''' | ||
* λόγος - '''lo'''gos | * λόγος - '''lo'''gos | ||
− | Over the initial syllable of word that begins with a vowel, there will always be either a rough (<big>‘</big>) or a smooth (<big>’</big>) breathing sign. Rough means a 'h' sound and smooth means | + | Over the initial syllable of a word that begins with a vowel, there will always be either a rough (<big>‘</big>) or a smooth (<big>’</big>) breathing sign. Rough means a 'h' sound and smooth means the lack of extra sound. A 'Ρ' (Rho) in the initial position also takes a breathing sign, typically the rough. How precisely this altered pronunciation is not known. |
: ''We also do not include accents here on '''WikiChristian''', since it would make searches extremely difficult, and also, because most browsers don't render them correctly.'' | : ''We also do not include accents here on '''WikiChristian''', since it would make searches extremely difficult, and also, because most browsers don't render them correctly.'' | ||
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{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
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{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Bible]] -> [[Koine Greek]] | {{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Bible]] -> [[Koine Greek]] | ||
[[Category:Koine Greek]] | [[Category:Koine Greek]] |
Latest revision as of 21:28, 8 September 2015
Greek Alphabet | |
RELATED TOPICS | |
SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS |
|
CONTENTS | Contents |
The Koine Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters. All Greek was originally written in upper case, without spaces between words, and without added punctuation. Today, however, most texts are written in lower case, with punctuation and spaces between words.
Alphabet
Below is a table showing the letters.
Letter name | Lower Case | Upper Case | Transliteration | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|---|---|
alpha | α | Α | a | father |
beta | β | Β | b | beta, spanish b/v |
gamma | γ | Γ | g | gamma, =gh |
delta | δ | Δ | d | delta, =dh |
epsilon | ε | Ε | e | epsilon |
zêta | ζ | Ζ | z | zêta |
êta | η | Η | ê or ē | obey |
thêta | θ | Θ | th | thêta |
iota | ι | Ι | i | |
kappa | κ | Κ | k | kappa |
lambda | λ | Λ | l or L | lambda |
mu | μ | Μ | m | mu |
nu | ν | Ν | n | nu |
xi | ξ | Ξ | ks | axiom |
omicron | ο | Ο | o | omicron |
pi | π | Π | p | pi |
rho | ρ | Ρ | r | rho |
sigma | σ / ς | Σ | s | sigma |
tau | τ | Τ | t | tau |
upsilon | υ | Υ | u sometimes y | French u |
phi | φ | Φ | ph | father |
chi | χ | Χ | ch | |
psi | ψ | Ψ | ps | |
omega | ω | Ω | ô or ō | obey |
Diphthongs
Diphthong | Pronunciation |
---|---|
ΑΙ | 'ai' as in aisle |
ΕΙ | 'ei' as in freight (identical to 'Η') |
ΟΙ | 'oi' as in oil |
ΑΥ | 'ow' as in sow |
ΟΥ | 'oo' as in fool |
ΥΙ | 'ooe' as in gooey |
ΕΥ | * |
- * 'ευ' is both difficult and controversial. Some evidence suggests that is was pronounced 'ew' (as in "Ew, that's gross!") or simply 'yu'. What has been taught for ages, however, is 'eh-oo', a sound not present in English.
There are also versions of several vowels with a small iota underneath (or beside in the case of capitols): ᾼ ᾳ, ῌ ῃ, ῼ ῳ. It is believed that these represent ancient diphthongs, but the pronunciation is not altered in the time of any Greek writing we can know.
- We have chosen not to include ι-subscripts on WikiChristian, partly because most browsers display them incorrectly.
Accents
Three possible accents can be put on Greek vowels: the acute ´, the grave (pronounces 'grahv') ` and the circumflex. The circumflex should appear as an upside crescent over the vowel, but some fonts use the caron (^) or even the tilde (~). It is thought the these different symbols represented rising and falling pitch, like modern Chinese, but by the time of our literature, they only indicate accent or stress.
- ἀρχῇ - arxē
- λόγος - logos
Over the initial syllable of a word that begins with a vowel, there will always be either a rough (‘) or a smooth (’) breathing sign. Rough means a 'h' sound and smooth means the lack of extra sound. A 'Ρ' (Rho) in the initial position also takes a breathing sign, typically the rough. How precisely this altered pronunciation is not known.
- We also do not include accents here on WikiChristian, since it would make searches extremely difficult, and also, because most browsers don't render them correctly.
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