Greek consonants play a crucial role in forming words and are easy to learn with practice. Some consonants have sounds similar to English, while others, like γ (gamma) and χ (chi), have unique pronunciations.
Greek Consonants Chart
| Consonant | Name | Pronunciation | Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| β | Beta | v as in “voice” | βιβλίο (vivlío) | Book |
| γ | Gamma | y as in “yes” or g as in “go” | γέφυρα (géfira) | Bridge |
| δ | Delta | th as in “this” | δέντρο (déntro) | Tree |
| ζ | Zeta | z as in “zebra” | ζώο (zóo) | Animal |
| θ | Theta | th as in “theory” | θέα (théa) | View |
| κ | Kappa | k as in “kite” | καράβι (karávi) | Ship |
| λ | Lambda | l as in “lion” | λύκος (lýkos) | Wolf |
| μ | Mu | m as in “man” | μητέρα (mitéra) | Mother |
| ν | Nu | n as in “net” | νερό (neró) | Water |
| ξ | Xi | x as in “box” | ξύλο (xýlo) | Wood |
| π | Pi | p as in “pie” | πόλη (póli) | City |
| ρ | Rho | r as in “red” | ρόδι (ródi) | Pomegranate |
| σ,ς | Sigma | s as in “sun” | στέλνω (stélno) | Send |
| τ | Tau | t as in “top” | τόπος (tópos) | Place |
| φ | Phi | f as in “phone” | φως (fos) | Light |
| χ | Chi | kh as in “loch” | χαρά (chará) | Joy |
| ψ | Psi | ps as in “lips” | ψωμί (psomí) | Bread |
Unique Greek Sounds
- Gamma (γ): Pronounced as “y” when before front vowels (ε, η, ι), and as “g” before back vowels (α, ο, ω). Example: γάλα (gála) – milk, γέφυρα (yéfira) – bridge.
- Chi (χ): A sound not present in English, similar to the “kh” in “loch.”
- Psi (ψ): Combines “p” and “s” into a single sound, like “lips.”
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Consonant Identification
Find and pronounce the consonants in the following words:
- ζωή (zoí) – Life
- χαρά (chará) – Joy
- ψάρι (psári) – Fish
Exercise 2: Tongue Twister
Practice the following tongue twister to improve pronunciation:
- Τρία τυριά τρώνε τα παιδιά (Tría tyriá tróne ta pediá) – Three cheeses are eaten by the children.
Exercise 3: Write and Pronounce
Write five Greek words using a mix of consonants and vowels, and practice pronouncing them aloud.
Fun Fact
The letter sigma (σ) has a special lowercase form (ς) used only at the end of a word. Example: κόσμος (kósmos) – world.