Alpha to Omega: Learn The Greek Alphabet And Pronunciation

Greek Fun Facts

• Greek was initially written in Mycenaean between 1500 and 1200 BC using Linear B script.
• Between 1200 and 300 BC, the Cypriot Syllabary was used on Crete.
• The Greek Dark Ages saw the loss of the writing system before the Archaic Period.
• The earliest modern Greek writings date to the 8th century BCE, found on ceramics.

The Greek alphabet, which developed from the earlier Phoenician alphabet, has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th century BCE. By the end of the 4th century BCE, the Euclidean alphabet had developed into the 24-letter version of Modern Greek that is still in use today.

Greek is written using a phonetic writing system. Interestingly, the Greeks modified the Phoenician script by replacing consonants that didn't have a Greek equivalent with vowels, such as Α α, Ε ε, and Ο ο.

Common Diphthongs

These are sounds made by combining two vowels:

• αι – "ai" (as in aisle)
• αυ – "ow" (as in how)
• ει – "ei" (as in eight)
• ου – "oo" (as in mood)