Greek Lesson 02: More Aspects On The Greek Alphabet Letter Combinations, Double Letters, Diphtongs

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Panos Friday 08th of July 2005 09:36:55 PM
Lesson 02: More aspects on the Greek Alphabet - Besides the 24 letters there are letter combinations that produce sounds - existing or not existing in the alphabet.

Combinations between vocals: There is 'α + ι =αι'. This one sounds like 'ε' (epsilon).
There are also 'ει' , 'οι', and 'υι' that all sound like 'ι' and 'η'. So, for the 'ee' sound in Greek there are 5 ways to declare it ( ι, η, ει, οι, υι).
There is the combination 'ου' that is the same sound like 'oo' in English word 'boot' (or like 'u' in put).
There is 'αυ' that is pronounced either like 'αβ' (av) or like 'αφ' (af).It is pronounced 'av' when followed by a vowel or one of the following consonants: γ, δ, λ, μ, ν, ρ.
It is pronounced like 'af' when followed by one of the following consonants: κ, π, τ, χ, θ, σ, ξ.
Likeley, there is 'ευ' that is pronounced either as 'εφ' (ef) or as 'εβ' (ev). It is pronounced /ef/ when followed by one of the following consonants: κ, π, τ, χ, θ, σ, ξ. And is pronounced /ev / when followed by vowels (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω) or one of the following consonants: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ.
There are consonant combinations also. The 'γγ' and 'γκ' produce the same sound like 'g' in 'gate'. (Note: the letter 'γ' alone never sounds like 'g', always like y in yet. But it depends from the letter that follows in how strong it will sound)
There is 'μπ' that sounds like 'b' in 'boy'
There is 'ντ' that sounds like 'd' in 'doll'
There is 'τσ' that sounds like 'ts' in 'its'
And finally there is 'τζ' that sounds like 'dz' or we can say like 'g' in 'adagio'.
There are also some points like that ¨. They are put above a letter in a vocal combination to seperate the sound in its own particles. For example, there is the word 'το γαιδούρι' = the donkey in Greek. In this word the 'αι' sounds seperated - 'ai' like in 'fly' and not like 'ε'. To declare it written and to be correct we must indicate it it like this: 'το γαϊδούρι'. These two points above 'ι' are called 'διαλυτικά' (dialitika) in Greek (i think they are called 'diaeresis' in English which is a Greek word actually and means division. And this is what they do, they divide the sound that vocal combination produces to its own particles). There is also the case to have the word 'ο γάιδαρος' (the male donkey). In this case the 'α' is accented (the stress is on 'α') and there is no way for 'αι' to sound wrongly like 'ε'. So, the two marks are not necessary. If the second letter 'ι' is accented (like 'αί') then it is necessary to use the two marks in order to seperate the sound (like that 'αΐ')

phoenix9861 Monday 11th of July 2005 02:05:23 AM
AWESOME - explains a lot more. better than most of the websites i have. none of them explains is as well. this is great.

ilovelang Monday 11th of July 2005 04:55:42 AM
Great - Thanx, Panos, It's nice! ;) See you

phoenix9861 Monday 11th of July 2005 05:26:17 AM
grammar question - i know when there is 'tha' before any verb, it is in the future tense. but what does me in 'tha me' mean. is it a preposition?

Panos Monday 11th of July 2005 06:20:54 AM
- Firstly, thank you people for finding useful what i write. I also have started translating phrases in the Translation section of PB, English to Greek.
Now, the word 'tha' - 'θα' is used to form future tenses. For example, 'tha to paro' - 'i will take it'. The little word 'me' is a short form of personal pronoun, actually of English 'me' (funny?). The normal form is 'e[b]me[/b]na'.
So, for example, 'tha [b]me[/b] deis avrio' - 'you will see [b]me[/b] tomorrow'.

** Something about Clayton: you can write also in your avatar "Μιλάω Ελληνικά" - "Milao Ellinika" - i speak Greek

Phrasebase Archive
	Panos	Friday 08th of July 2005 09:36:55 PM
	Lesson 02: More aspects on the Greek Alphabet - Besides the 24 letters there are letter combinations that produce sounds - existing or not existing in the alphabet. Combinations between vocals: There is 'α + ι =αι'. This one sounds like 'ε' (epsilon). There are also 'ει' , 'οι', and 'υι' that all sound like 'ι' and 'η'. So, for the 'ee' sound in Greek there are 5 ways to declare it ( ι, η, ει, οι, υι). There is the combination 'ου' that is the same sound like 'oo' in English word 'boot' (or like 'u' in put). There is 'αυ' that is pronounced either like 'αβ' (av) or like 'αφ' (af).It is pronounced 'av' when followed by a vowel or one of the following consonants: γ, δ, λ, μ, ν, ρ. It is pronounced like 'af' when followed by one of the following consonants: κ, π, τ, χ, θ, σ, ξ. Likeley, there is 'ευ' that is pronounced either as 'εφ' (ef) or as 'εβ' (ev). It is pronounced /ef/ when followed by one of the following consonants: κ, π, τ, χ, θ, σ, ξ. And is pronounced /ev / when followed by vowels (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω) or one of the following consonants: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ. There are consonant combinations also. The 'γγ' and 'γκ' produce the same sound like 'g' in 'gate'. (Note: the letter 'γ' alone never sounds like 'g', always like y in yet. But it depends from the letter that follows in how strong it will sound) There is 'μπ' that sounds like 'b' in 'boy' There is 'ντ' that sounds like 'd' in 'doll' There is 'τσ' that sounds like 'ts' in 'its' And finally there is 'τζ' that sounds like 'dz' or we can say like 'g' in 'adagio'. There are also some points like that ¨. They are put above a letter in a vocal combination to seperate the sound in its own particles. For example, there is the word 'το γαιδούρι' = the donkey in Greek. In this word the 'αι' sounds seperated - 'ai' like in 'fly' and not like 'ε'. To declare it written and to be correct we must indicate it it like this: 'το γαϊδούρι'. These two points above 'ι' are called 'διαλυτικά' (dialitika) in Greek (i think they are called 'diaeresis' in English which is a Greek word actually and means division. And this is what they do, they divide the sound that vocal combination produces to its own particles). There is also the case to have the word 'ο γάιδαρος' (the male donkey). In this case the 'α' is accented (the stress is on 'α') and there is no way for 'αι' to sound wrongly like 'ε'. So, the two marks are not necessary. If the second letter 'ι' is accented (like 'αί') then it is necessary to use the two marks in order to seperate the sound (like that 'αΐ')
	phoenix9861	Monday 11th of July 2005 02:05:23 AM
	AWESOME - explains a lot more. better than most of the websites i have. none of them explains is as well. this is great.
	ilovelang	Monday 11th of July 2005 04:55:42 AM
	Great - Thanx, Panos, It's nice! ;) See you
	phoenix9861	Monday 11th of July 2005 05:26:17 AM
	grammar question - i know when there is 'tha' before any verb, it is in the future tense. but what does me in 'tha me' mean. is it a preposition?
	Panos	Monday 11th of July 2005 06:20:54 AM
	- Firstly, thank you people for finding useful what i write. I also have started translating phrases in the Translation section of PB, English to Greek. Now, the word 'tha' - 'θα' is used to form future tenses. For example, 'tha to paro' - 'i will take it'. The little word 'me' is a short form of personal pronoun, actually of English 'me' (funny?). The normal form is 'e[b]me[/b]na'. So, for example, 'tha [b]me[/b] deis avrio' - 'you will see [b]me[/b] tomorrow'. ** Something about Clayton: you can write also in your avatar "Μιλάω Ελληνικά" - "Milao Ellinika" - i speak Greek