KATERINA SARRI WEBTOPOS - Combinations of Greek letters

Greek > alphabet > combinations of greek letters

help: i.p.a. for greek

BINARY
DIGRAMMES

V
O
W
E
L
S

C
O
N
S
O
N

Modern Pron. in IPA

(a)

(i)

(o)

af
av

ef
ev

if
iv

b
mb

d
nd

g ŋg
ɟ ŋɟ

ŋg
ŋɟ

ŋx
ŋç

ŋks

Erasmic Pron. in IPA

ɛ:

ɛ:u

ŋk

VOWEL DIGRAMMES
Binary vowel letterings started their life representing apparently a sequence of two separate sounds. Gradually their fast utterance was heard as a diphthong. After classical times, in different centuries and different places they were simplified in monophthongs (today's pronunciation). Although modern greeks pronounce them as one sound, you will often find them listed under 'diphthong' chapters in contemporary Grammars. Their historical orthography remains intact. Erasmic style of pronouncing ancient greek texts preserves the diphthongal utterance of both letters which is also a much easier pronunciation for non-greeks. All binary vowel digrammes/diphthongs were of long value in prosody and played the role of a long vowel in grammatical rules.
LETTERS CAPITAL-small	I.P.A.Pronunc. Standard and Erasmic	pronounced as in the word... (english or other)	examples of words: greek-[modern greek pronunciation] SOUND EXAMPLES = MODERN GREEK english-[english pronunciation] More comments can be found at each separate letter's section.
AI αι αí transliteration: ae** also ai or e	modern: monophthong [e] erasmic: diphthong* [ai] and long diphthong [α:i]	ten ice	αίνιγμα [`eniγma] enigma [ı`nıgm]	αισθητικό [esθiti`ko] aesthetic ['is`θetık]	Aίγυπτος [`eγiptos] Aegypt-Egypt
Aι	Alpha with iota hypogegrammenon ᾳ does not exist in mod.gre.mono. Used frequently in dative case of polytonic system. See notes.
AΪ αϊ ^.AI άι transliteration: ai	modern:[a]+[i] modern: diphthong [ai]*	ice	lat. Maius Mάιoς* [`maios] May [meı]	αρχαïκό [arxai`ko] archaic [ar`kaık]	but: αρχαίo = ancient [ar`çeo] ancient
↑**Transliteration AE ae or æ always at proper nouns. In other words it may become an e. In modern greek, the digramme AI* 1) is pronounced [e] a) when without stress at all: αι = [e] b) or when a stress on its second component: αί = [e] 2) is pronounced with its components split completely /ai/ or uttered in a fast diphthong /ai/ a) when the stress lies on the first vowel, as in άι = ['ai] ['ai] b) when there are dialytics (umlaut) on the second vowel as in αï = [ai] [ai] (also with dialytics+stress at second component αΐ = [a'i] ↑ The ancient pronunciation of vowel A (alpha) could be short [a] or long [α:]. Hence the two kinds of diphthongs produced. AI long [ α:i ] and AI short [ ai ]. The pronunciation changed to [e] after hellenistic times. But the orthography remained intact. Obviously, to avoid confusion of the two AI (long and short), mediaeval manuscripts present AI long with the small Iota subscript (hypogegrammenon) to small alpha or adscript (prosgegrammenon) to the capital alpha: Aι. This is often used at casus Dativus. In modern greek only one AI digraph survives, pronounced as short [e]. MORE WORDS STARTING WITH AI: •αίρεση=herecy •Aιθιoπία=Ethiopia •αίμα=haema(tologist) •αίσθηση=sensation (anaesthesia) •αιών=eon=century
EI ει εí transliteration: ei or i or e	modern: monophthong [i] erasmic: diphthong* [ei]	Greece may	εικόνα=picture [i`kona] icon [`αıkon]	είρων [`iron]= an ironic person ειρωνικό [ironi`ko] ironic [αı`ronık]
ΈI έι EΪ εϊ transliteration: ei	modern: [e]+[i] modern diphthong [ei]*	May	cake [keɪk] κέικ [k`eik]	...εï... [[addendum]]
↑ In modern greek, the digramme EI 1) is pronounced [i] a) when without stress at all: ει = [i] b) or when a stress on its second component: εί = [i] 2) is pronounced with its components split* completely /ei/ or uttered in a fast diphthong /ei/ a) when the stress lies on the first vowel, as in έι = ['ei] ['ei] b) when there are dialytics (umlaut) on the second vowel as in εï = [ei] [ei] (also with dialytics+stress at second component εΐ = [e'i]
5th B.C.E. century HI ηι old greek: Hι	modern: same as letter eta (H): [i] early: long diphthong [ε:i] modern: same as letter eta (H): [i]	--- bay	↑ This long digraph had a very short life of only a century. Its accompanying Iota weakened and disappeared. Later, its pronunciation had the fate of Eta (H), pronounced as [i]. But a reminiscence of its orthography survived, and in mediaeval manuscripts, we find it, often for casus Dativus, written with the subscript (hypogegrammenon) iota (for small η) or adscript (prosgegrammenon) for capital H Hι. It does not exist in modern greek monotonic.
OI oι oí transliteration: oe** also oi	modern: monophthong [i] erasmic: diphthong [ oi ]*	Greece point	oικoλoγία [ikolo`jia] ecology [i`koldʒ ı]	Oιδίπoυς [i`δipus] Oedipus [`idıps]	oικoυμενικό [ikumeni`ko] ecumenical ['ikυ`menıkl] =global
ΌI όι OÏ oϊ transliteration: oi	modern diphthong [ oi ] modern: [o]+[i]	point	mod.gre: κoρόιδo [ko`roiδo] =someone foolish	mod.gre: κoρoϊδία [koroi`δia] =the teasing but: πρoϊστoρία [proisto`ria] prehistory	πρoΐσταμαι [pro`istame] I stand infront, I lead
↑ In modern greek, the digramme OI 1) is pronounced [i] a) when without stress at all: oι = [i] b) or when a stress on its second component: oί = [i] 2) is pronounced with its components split* completely /oi/ or uttered in a fast diphthong /oi/ a) when the stress lies on the first vowel, as in όι = ['oi] ['oi] b) when there are dialytics (umlaut) on the second vowel as in oϊ = [oi] [oi] (also with dialytics+stress at second component oΐ = [o'i] MORE WORDS THAT START WITH OI: •oίκoς= house - eco(nomy)(logy) •oισoφάγoς=œsophagus
YI υι transliteration:	modern: monophthong [i] erasmic: diphthong [ yi ]	Greece french: nuit	υιός [i`os] = son	↑Rare digraph. The accompanying Iota weakened so much by the classical times, that it was frequently dropped from spelling. In modern greek it it pronounced as a monophthong [i].
early script ΩI ωι old greek: Ωι	modern:same as omega (Ω): [o] early: long diphthong [o:i]	↑ After hellenistic times, this long digraph was pronounced identical to Omega Ω. But its orthography survived, and in mediaeval manuscripts, we find it written (often used in casus Dativus), with the subscript (hypogegrammenon) for small or adscript (prosgegrammenon) for capital Ωι. It does not exist in modern greek monotonic.
OY oυ oύ transliteration: ou	[u]	zoo	oυρανός=sky [ura`nos] Uranus [ju`reıns]
OΫ oϋ oΰ	[o]+[i]		old gre: πρoϋπόθεσις mod.gre: πρoϋπόθεση mod.gre: [proi`poθesi] prerequisite (pre-hypothesis: pre=before+hypothesis)
↑ At very early stages, [u] was presented by Upslion Y. When the pronunciation of Y changed into [y], a diphthong OY [oy] was born, but was very short lived. Since classical attic times, the digramme OY represents the monophthong [u]. In modern greek, the digramme OY 1) is pronounced* [u] a) when without stress at all: oυ = [u] b) or when a stress on its second component: oύ = [u] 2) is pronounced with its components split completely /oi/ a) when the stress lies on the first vowel, as in όυ = ['oi] b) when there are dialytics (umlaut) on the second vowel as in oϋ = [oi] (also with dialytics+stress at second component oΰ = [o'i]
AY αυ αύ transliteration: au	modern:[af] or [av] erasmic: diphthong [ au ]* Check Upsilon Y	after or avenue	αυθεντικό [afθendi`ko] authentic [`θentιik]	αυστηρό [afsti`ro] austere [`stı(r)]	αύρα [`avra] aura [`r]
↑ *In ancient times AY was pronounced [au] and not [ay] as expected, because the digramme AY preserved the pre-classical [u] pronunciation of Upslion Y instead of the classical [y]. In modern greek the digramme AY is pronounced: 1) [av] : before vowels and β[v],γ[γ],δ[δ],ζ[z],λ[l],μ[m],ν[n],ρ[r]. [af] : in all other cases. a) when without stress at all: αυ = [af] or [av] b) or when a stress on its second component: αύ = ['af] or ['av] 2) is pronounced with its components split completely /ai/ a) when the stress lies on the first vowel, as in άυ = ['ai] b) when there are dialytics (umlaut) on the second vowel as in αϋ = [ai] (also with dialytics+stress at second component αΰ = [a'i]
EY ευ εύ transliteration: eu	modern:[ef] or [ev] erasmic: diphthong [ eu ]*	eff or: Kevin	εύρηκα= I found [`evrika] eureka [jυ`rik]	Eυρώπη [ev`ropi] Europe [`jυrp]	ευθανασία [efθana`sia] euthanasia [jυθ`neızı]
↑ *In ancient times EY was pronounced [eu] and not [ey] as expected, because the digramme EY preserved the pre-classical [u] pronunciation of Upslion Y instead of the classical [y]. In modern greek the digramme EY is pronounced: 1) [ev] : before vowels and β[v],γ[γ],δ[δ],ζ[z],λ[l],μ[m],ν[n],ρ[r]. [ef] : in all other cases. a) when without stress at all: ευ = [ef] or [ev] b) or when a stress on its second component: εύ = ['ef] or ['ev] 2) is pronounced with its components split completely /ei/ a) when the stress lies on the first vowel, as in έυ = ['ei] b) when there are dialytics (umlaut) on the second vowel as in εϋ = [ei] (also with dialytics+stress at second component εΰ = [e'i]
HY ηυ ηύ transliteration:	modern: [if] or [iv] erasmic: diphthong [eu]*	thief or: eve	↑ Extremely rare. It occurs in some past tense prefixes. Even during the classical times, people confused the pronunciations of EY and HY and they often spelt words interchanging the two.

↑

CONSONANT COMBINATIONS
↑ Binary letterings of consonants in greek were created to make up for the loss of letters that might represent sounds as [b], [d], [g]. Also, they may represent double consonant sounds as [ts] and [dz]. In the case of non-greek words that entered the greek vocabulary, they just represent their transliteration.
LETTERS CAPITAL-small	I.P.A.Pronunc. Standard and Erasmic	pronounced as in the word... (english or other)	examples of words: greek-[modern greek pronunciation] SOUND EXAMPLES = MODERN GREEK english-[english pronunciation] More comments can be found at each separate letter's section.
MΠ μπ transliteration: mp	modern: [b] voiced bilabial plosive (beginning of word) [mb] (middle of word) erasmic:	bed ambitious	↑ The ancient (and erasmic) pronunciation of letter beta (B) was [b]. But when its pronunciation changed into [v], a new way to represent the sound [b] was needed. And this was MΠ: mu (M) and pi (Π). The MΠ combination originates mainly from composition, as in putting together two words: e.g. first word ending in N and second starting with Π,B: εν+πρoς (=in+towards) [en]+[pros] < εμπρός [em`bros] =go forth!! Truly greek words do not start with the MΠ combination. Only hellenized foreign words may start with [b]. Also, this is why, when an MΠ occurs in the middle of a greek word, it is always pronounced [mb], not [b]. If an MΠ occurs in the middle of a foreign word-loan, it is not clear to the reader if it is a [b], [mb] or [mp]. Most greeks are keen on imitating the authentic foreign pronunciations: imperium is pronounced as in latin [im`perium] but ιμπεριαλισμός imperialismus swaps to the greek ear's habits: [imberializ`mos].
NT ντ transliteration: nt	modern:[d] voiced dental plosive (beginning of word) [nd] (middle of word) erasmic:	bed bend nt	↑ The ancient (and erasmic) pronunciation of letter delta (Δ) was [d]. But when its pronunciation changed into [δ], a new way to represent the sound [d] was needed. And this was NT: nu (N) and tau (T). The NT combination originates mostly from composition of two words: e.g. εν+τασις [en]+[`tasis] < έντασις [`endasis] (entasis=volume) . This is why, when NT occurs in the middle of a greek word, it is always pronounced [nd]. Greek words do not start with the NT combination. Only hellenized foreign word-loans may start with [d]. If an NT occurs in the middle of a foreign word, it is not clear to the reader if it is a [d], [nd] or [nt]. The greek ear improvises towards the greek-style [nd]: pantalon is pronounced [panda`loni]. Confusion may be caused in words as: vedette (french = star actress) and vendeta (italian= vindictive killings)... both are written: βεντέτα and pronounced by greeks: [ven`deta].
ΓK γκ transliteration: nk	mod.gre: [g] voiced velar plosive or [] palatalized (beginning of word) [g] or [] nasalized (middle of word) also: [k] erasmic:	go gift anger german: findword ancylosis	↑ The ancient (and erasmic) pronunciation of letter gamma (Γ) was [g]. But when its pronunciation changed into [ɣ], a new way to represent the sound [g] was needed. And this was ΓK: gamma (Γ) and kappa (K). The ΓK combination originates from composition. e.g. εν- κυκλo-παιδεια → εγκυκλoπαίδεια [eiklo'peδia] = encyclopaedia > εν [en] = in + κύκλoς ['ciklos] = cycle + παιδεία [pe`δia] = education So, ΓK never occurs at the beginning of a greek word. Only hellenized foreign word-loans may start with [g] or [ɟ]. This is also why, when it occurs in the middle of a greek word, it is always pronounced [ŋg]. This velar [ŋ] sound called «άγμα» [ˈaɣma] is never written in greek with an N, but with a Gamma Γ. The palatalized sound [ɟg] occurs before /i/ and /e/ sounds. Only foreign word-loans used in greek may start with [g] or [ɟ]. If a ΓK occurs in the middle of a greek word, it is always pronounced with the velar [ŋg]. If a ΓK occurs in the middle of a foreign word, it is not clear to the greek reader if it is a [g], [ŋg] or [ŋk]. Usually, the greek ear improvises towards the greek-style [ŋg].
ΓΓ γγ transliteration: ng	mod.gre: [g] (always middle of word) also: [] [γ] erasmic:	english	↑ ΓΓ combination is never seen at the beginning of any word, greek, or hellenized foreign. It is never pronounced [g]. It is always pronounced with the velar /n/: [ŋg]. It originates from composition of N+Γ. The velar [ŋ] sound called «άγμα» [ˈaɣma] is never written in greek with an N, but with a Gamma Γ.
ΓX γχ transliteration: nch or nk	mod.gre: [x] (always middle of word) also: [] erasmic:	close to spanish: Angeles	↑ ΓX combination is never seen at the beginning of any word, greek, or hellenized foreign. It occurs in composition of N+X. The velar [ŋ] sound called «άγμα» [ˈaɣma] is never written in greek with an N, but with a Gamma Γ.
ΓΞ γξ transliteration:	mod.gre: [ks] (end of word) erasmic: [[addendum]]	larynx	↑ ΓΞ combination occurs at the end of words (various etymological, grammatical-inflection reasons). It originates from N+(Γ, X etc.)+Σ. The velar [ŋ] sound called «άγμα» [ˈaɣma] is never written in greek with an N, but with a Gamma Γ.
TΣ τσ transliteration: ts	modern:[ts] erasmic: -	cats	↑ Double consonant. Note that in greek there is no [tʃ] sound as in church.
TZ τζ transliteration: tz	modern:[dz] erasmic:	dads	↑ Double consonant. Note that in greek there is no [ʤ] sound as in judge.

erasmian