Greek Vowels Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide
Welcome to your go-to lesson on Greek vowels! Whether you’re decoding words or nailing pronunciation, vowels are your first step to fluent Greek. This guide covers single vowels (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω) and their tricky combinations (αι, ει, οι, etc.), with tables, examples, and tips. Let’s make Greek vowels easy!
Watch our video above for pronunciation help!Why Greek Vowels Matter
Greek has 7 single vowels shaping its 24-letter alphabet, plus combinations that blend sounds. Mastering them unlocks accurate reading and speaking—crucial for beginners. Let’s start with the basics.
Single Greek Vowels
Modern Greek has 7 vowels, each with one main sound:
| Vowel | Greek | Pronunciation | Example | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Α α | Alpha | [a] as in "father" | άλογο | álogo | horse |
| Ε ε | Epsilon | [e] as in "pet" | ένα | éna | one |
| Η η | Eta | [i] as in "see" | ήλιος | ílios | sun |
| Ι ι | Iota | [i] as in "see" | ίντερνετ | ínternet | internet |
| Ο ο | Omicron | [o] as in "pot" | όνομα | ónoma | name |
| Υ υ | Upsilon | [i] as in "see" | ύπνος | ýpnos | sleep |
| Ω ω | Omega | [o] as in "pot" | ώμος | ómos | shoulder |
Note: Η, Ι, and Υ all sound like [i]—a quirk from Ancient Greek evolution!
Vowel Combinations in Greek
When vowels pair up, they create new sounds. Here’s how:
Common Combinations
| Combination | Pronunciation | Example | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ου | [ou] as in "food" | ουρά | ourá | tail |
| αι | [e] as in "pet" | αίμα | aíma | blood |
| ει | [i] as in "see" | είσοδος | eísodos | entrance |
| οι | [i] as in "see" | οικία | oikía | house |
| υι | [i] as in "see" | υιός | yiós | son |
Special Cases: αυ and ευ
The combination 'αυ' and 'ευ' are pronounced differently depending on the letters that follow them. They can be pronounced as [af/ef] or [av/ev] based on the conditions outlined below:
- Before β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, ρ, μ, ν: [av] or [ev].
- Before κ, π, τ, χ, φ, θ, σ, ξ, ψ: [af] or [ef].
| Combination | Condition | Pronunciation | Example | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| αυ | Before λ | [av] | αυλή | avlí | yard |
| αυ | Before τ | [af] | αυτοκίνητο | aftokínito | car |
| ευ | Before ρ | [ev] | ευρώ | evró | euro |
| ευ | Before θ | [ef] | ευθύνη | efthýni | responsibility |
Pronunciation Rules
- αι = Ε: Both sound [e]—e.g., “αίμα” (aíma) matches “ένα” (éna).
- ει, οι, υι = Η, Ι, Υ: All sound [i]—e.g., “είσοδος” (eísodos) = “ήλιος” (ílios).
- ου: Unique [ou] sound, no single-vowel match.
- αυ/ευ: Check the next consonant to pick [av/af] or [ev/ef].
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Usage Examples
Combinations
- Η ουρά είναι μεγάλη. (I ourá eínai megáli.) – The tail is big.
- Το αίμα είναι κόκκινο. (To aíma eínai kókkino.) – The blood is red.
- Οι φίλοι μου είναι εδώ. (Oi fíloi mou eínai edó.) – My friends are here.
- Η αυλή έχει λουλούδια. (I avlí échei louloúdia.) – The yard has flowers.
- Η ευθύνη είναι δική μου. (I efthýni eínai dikí mou.) – The responsibility is mine.
Practice Sentences
- Το παιδί κοιμάται. (To paidí koimátai.) – The child sleeps. [αι]
- Είναι εύκολο. (Eínai éfkolo.) – It's easy. [ευ | ef]
- Δουλεύω από το πρωί. (Thoulevo apo to proí.) – I'm working all morning. [ευ | ev]
- Το αυτοκίνητο είναι γρήγορο. (To aftokínito eínai grígoro.) – The car is fast. [αυ | af]
- Ο Γιώργος είναι στην αυλή. (O Yiorgos eínai stin avlí.) – Yiorgos is in the yard. [αυ | av]
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing Sounds: “αι” isn’t [ai]—it’s [e], like “ένα.”
- αυ/ευ Confusion: “αυλή” is [av-lí], not [af-lí]—check the next letter!
Fun Fact: Aeolus and Greek Mythology
In Homer’s Odyssey, Aeolus, ruler of winds, lived on Aeolia. His name (Αίολος, Aiolos) uses “αι” ([e])—a vowel combo with ancient roots!
Conclusion
Greek vowels and combinations—α, ε, αι, ει, and more—are your pronunciation superpowers. Master them here, try our quiz below, and explore time in greek (opens in a new window) or greek cases (opens in a new window) next!
