The Alphabet

The Alphabet - Η αλφαβήτα

The Greek alphabet is comprised of 24 letters, 7 vowels and 17 consonants.

Lowercase - μικρά
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ (ς) τ υ φ χ ψ ω

UPPERCASE - ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΑ
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

CharacterName in GreekPronunciationIPA
αάλφαalpha[a]
ββήταbeta[v]
γγάμμαgamma[γ]
δδέλταdelta[ð]
εέψιλονepsilon[e]
ζζήταzeta[z]
ηήταeta[i]
θθήταtheta[θ]
ιγιώταiota[i]
κκάπαkappa[k]
λλάμδαlamda[l]
μμιmi[m]
ννιni[n]
ξξιxi[x]
οόμικρονomikron[o]
ππιpi[p]
ρροrho[r]
σσίγμαsigma[s]
τταυtaf[t]
υύψιλονypsilon[i]
φφιfi[f]
χχιhi[h]
ψψιpsi[ps]
ωωμέγαomega[o]

The letter ς is only used in the end of a word. At the beginning or in between the word, σ is always used. For example σχολείο (school) and τροχός (wheel).

The Greek language also has other sounds of cluster vowels, called diphthongs:
οι, ευ, αυ, αι, ου, ει.

They can all be pronounced in various ways, depending on different circumstances in which they occur.

There are also consonant clusters: τζ [dz], τσ [tʃ], γγ [g], γκ [g], ντ [d], μπ [b].