# Chapter 3 — Greek Alphabet Drill

For each letter form, write (a) the letter's name and (b) its sound/pronunciation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal.

Tips: ε is always short; ο is always short; η is always long; ω is always long. Final sigma (ς) is used only at the end of a word. Gamma before γ, κ, χ, or ξ is pronounced "ng."

## Part A — The 24 Letters

Write the name and sound for each lowercase letter form.

# | Form | Name | Sound / Pronunciation |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | α |  |  |
Alpha — "father" (long α) or "along" (short α); length varies
2 | β |  |  |
Beta — "b" as in "Bible"
3 | γ |  |  |
Gamma — "g" as in "gone" (hard g); but before γ, κ, χ, ξ it sounds like "ng" in "sing" — e.g., ἄγγελος = "ang-ge-los"
4 | δ |  |  |
Delta — "d" as in "dog"
5 | ε |  |  |
Epsilon — short "e" as in "met" — always short
6 | ζ |  |  |
Zeta — "z" as in "daze" (originally pronounced "sd"; Erasmian = "z")
7 | η |  |  |
Eta — long "e" as in "they" — always long
8 | θ |  |  |
Theta — "th" as in "thin" (aspirated dental)
9 | ι |  |  |
Iota — long "ee" as in "intrigue" or short "i" as in "in"; length varies
10 | κ |  |  |
Kappa — "k" as in "kitchen"
11 | λ |  |  |
Lambda — "l" as in "law" (liquid consonant)
12 | μ |  |  |
Mu — "m" as in "mother"
13 | ν |  |  |
Nu — "n" as in "new" · Do not confuse with υ (upsilon), which has a rounded bottom
14 | ξ |  |  |
Xi — "ks" as in "axiom" (double consonant: κ + σ)
15 | ο |  |  |
Omicron — short "o" as in "off" — always short
16 | π |  |  |
Pi — "p" as in "peach"
17 | ρ |  |  |
Rho — "r" as in "rod" (slightly trilled); initial ρ always takes rough breathing: ῥήμα = "rhēma"
18 | σ |  |  |
Sigma (medial form) — "s" as in "sun"; used at the beginning or middle of a word
19 | ς |  |  |
Sigma (final form) — same "s" sound; used only at the end of a word; same letter as σ, different written form
20 | τ |  |  |
Tau — "t" as in "talk"
21 | υ |  |  |
Upsilon — like French "tu" or German "über"; do not confuse with ν (nu), which is narrower and pointed at top
22 | φ |  |  |
Phi — "ph" as in "phone" (aspirated labial)
23 | χ |  |  |
Chi — breathy "ch" as in German "Bach" — not English "church" and not "x"; do not confuse with English x
24 | ψ |  |  |
Psi — "ps" as in "lips" (double consonant: π + σ)
25 | ω |  |  |
Omega — long "o" as in "tone" — always long; do not confuse with English w (Greek has no w)

## Part B — Uppercase Recognition

Write the lowercase form and the letter name for each uppercase letter.

# | Uppercase | Lowercase | Name |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
B1 | Α |  |  |
α — Alpha
B2 | Γ |  |  |
γ — Gamma
B3 | Δ |  |  |
δ — Delta
B4 | Λ |  |  |
λ — Lambda
B5 | Ξ |  |  |
ξ — Xi
B6 | Π |  |  |
π — Pi
B7 | Σ |  |  |
σ / ς — Sigma (medial and final forms)
B8 | Φ |  |  |
φ — Phi
B9 | Χ |  |  |
χ — Chi
B10 | Ψ |  |  |
ψ — Psi
B11 | Ω |  |  |
ω — Omega