Pronunciation Notes

Transcription from Greek characters into Latin characters may follow a number of different conventions. However, the result as far as pronunciation is concerned often remains confusing to readers who do not speak modern Greek.  Even readers who are familiar with classical Greek will find that the Erasmian pronunciation of classical Greek that is taught outside Greece, is only of limited assistance in pronouncing modern Greek. Throughout the website a combination of conventions in transcription have been followed, in the hope that this will limit the confusion in terms of pronunciation. However, some simple rules of how certain letters and diphthongs are pronounced in Greek may assist readers as they try to decipher the Latinised versions.

Vowels

 

 Latinised

 Greek

 Pronunciation

 Examples

e, i, y, ei, oi, yi

 η, ι, υ, ει, οι, υι

 beat

Samiou, Rebetiko (*)

 ou

 ου

 boot

Samiou, daouli

 e, ai

 ε, αι

 bet

Kaisariani

 eu

 ευ

 chef, ever

Eubea (pronounced Evia)

 au

 αυ

 love (before voiced sounds), cuff

 

(*):
- η can be transcribed as either e as in Epirus or in current usage as i as in Kaisariani
-
Confusion can arise from the letters ε and η since they are both often (and correctly in the case of classical Greek) as e. However, in modern Greek ε is pronounced as in egg whilst η is pronounced as in beat.

Consonants

 Latinised

 Greek

Pronunciation

Examples

 d

 δ

 father

 Stravaridis

 g

 γ

 As in Spanish Fuego

 Lykourgos

 ch, h

 χ

 As in Scottish Loch

 Chalkida

 

Note: For those interest in the various conventions concerning the transcription of the Greek alphabet in Latin characters, details can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transliteration_of_Greek_to_the_Latin_Alphabet.