Diphthongs and letter combinations are essential elements of Greek pronunciation. They blend two vowels or specific consonants to create unique sounds. Mastering these combinations will significantly improve your fluency in reading and speaking Greek.
Common Greek Diphthongs
| Diphthong | Pronunciation | Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| αι | e as in “bed” | καιρός (kerós) | Weather |
| ει | i as in “machine” | ειρήνη (iríni) | Peace |
| οι | i as in “machine” | οικογένεια (ikoyénia) | Family |
| ου | oo as in “food” | ουρανός (ouranós) | Sky |
| αυ | av (soft) or af (hard) | αυτός (aftós) | He/This |
| ευ | ev (soft) or ef (hard) | Ευρώπη (Evrópi) | Europe |
Pronunciation Notes for Diphthongs
- αι: Similar to the English “e” in “bed”.
- ει and οι: Both pronounced like “i” in “machine.” The context helps determine the spelling.
- ου: Sounds like “oo” in “food” and is always pronounced as one sound.
- αυ and ευ: Pronounced as “av” or “ev” before voiced consonants (e.g., vowels, β, γ, δ). They become “af” or “ef” before voiceless consonants (e.g., π, κ, τ, σ).
Greek Letter Combinations
| Combination | Pronunciation | Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| γγ | ng as in “ring” | αγγέλος (angélos) | Angel |
| γκ | g as in “go” or ng | γκρίζο (grízo) | Grey |
| μπ | b as in “boy” | μπανάνα (banána) | Banana |
| ντ | d as in “dog” | ντομάτα (domáta) | Tomato |
| τσ | ts as in “cats” | τσάι (tsái) | Tea |
| τζ | dz as in “adze” | τζάμι (dzámi) | Glass |
Pronunciation Notes for Letter Combinations
- γγ and γκ: When at the beginning of a word, γκ is pronounced as “g” (e.g., γκάμα – gkáma). In the middle of words, γγ sounds like “ng” (e.g., άγγελος – ángelos).
- μπ and ντ: At the beginning of a word, μπ and ντ are pronounced like “b” and “d,” respectively. In the middle, they often form blended sounds.
- τσ and τζ: Common in Greek and easy to master with practice.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Identify Diphthongs
Underline the diphthongs in the following words and practice pronouncing them:
- οικογένεια (family)
- αυγό (egg)
- ειρήνη (peace)
Exercise 2: Match Combinations
Match the Greek letter combinations with their pronunciations:
- γκ
- τζ
- μπ
(a) dz as in “adze”
(b) b as in “boy”
(c) g as in “go”
Exercise 3: Word Construction
Use diphthongs and letter combinations to construct three new Greek words. Practice writing and pronouncing them.
Fun Fact
Greek diphthongs simplify pronunciation and often reflect the phonetic evolution of Ancient Greek into Modern Greek.