Greek letter pronunciation and the Greek alphabet song
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Hello everybody! And welcome to It's Greek to Me. With your host, Frieda Babbley!
Hi! Thank you! Thank you everyone. Thank you. Hi! Thank you.
(Clears throat) I am here to answer a very interesting request made by HubPages' very own, Ryan Hupfer. Hi Ryan! Yoohoo! Ryan? Hi there! Over here. Make yourself at home.
Ryan, it's interesting you should ask this question, because not five minutes ago, I was vacuuming and singing the Greek alphabet song with my daughter, Sasha. (Say hi to everyone sweetie.) "Hi." (Good girl.) The Greek way to say hi is "Allo". As in, Good to know... allo. =D
But of course that is not what we are here for.
We are here because Ryan wants to know how many Greek letters there are, and what those Greek letters are. Greek being my first language I thought I'd help a fellow hubber out. And now I shall attempt (successfully, I believe) to answer this request.
Prepare to be amazed, and learn something while you're at it.
How many and how to...
There are, indeed, 24 letters in the Greek alphabet. You can find them in a variety of places, with a few variations in phonetics and spelling.
This is how I say them (as phonetically as possible. Please note that I am using gy to stand for that guttural g sound you have to make to get that hair out the back of your throat).
- Αα alpha
- Ββ veeta
- Γγ gyamma
- Δδ thelta
- Εε epsilon
- Ζζ zeeta
- Ηη eeta
- Θθ theeta
- Ιι yiota
- Κκ kappa
- Λλ lambtha
- Μμ mee
- Νν nee
- Ξξ xee
- Οο omeecron
- Ππ pee (don't laugh!) (no, it is not PIE people! NOT pie!)
- Ρρ rho
- Σςσ seegyma
- Ττ tauf,
- Υυ eepsilawn
- Φφ fee
- Χχ hee
- Ψψ psee
- Ωω omaygya
Greek Alphabet Chart - Greek letters with their corresponding arabic counterparts. This is hot stuff.
Please People! Take Note!
The second letter in the Greek alphabet may look like a Bee, but it does not sound like a Bee! It actually has a Vee sound. That's right. Say it with me... Veeta. (Clap! Clap! Clap!)
The third letter in the modern Greek alphabet, is not gamma as in gamma rays, it starts out in the back of your throat as if you were going to hack up a fur ball then you open your mouth up as if you're actually going to come out with one. Let's please get this right people, it's important!
This next one has irked my goat since I first heard it mispronounced in geometry class. The greatest of scholars choose to mispronounce this particular letter. I understand if math is like dessert to you, but pronunciation is the key to success, at least one of the keys. So If you see the letter Π or π, could we please hold in our giggles and pronounce it PEE not pie?
ABC's Greek Primary Style!
There is a Greek alphabet song that goes along with it. Actually it is more of a chant. At any rate, the translation is a bit astonishing. None the less, it is taught to this day. (Please note that I have dashed each syllable and have put an apostrophe at the end of each stressed syllable, so you sound more like you know what you're doing.) So this is what you chant after you chant the Greek Alphabet. It's loads of fun. Try it out yourself...
Par'-eh teen tsan'-da sou' keh fehv'-ya
mee' -seh ar-hee'-so me' teen' ver'-gya.
Translation:
Get your purse and keep running before I start you with the ruler.
in other words...
Take your school bag and hurry off
before I start to spank you with the ruler.
It's sarcasm, almost like a joke. You're suppose to chuckle. If you're a child, you're suppose to chuckle, in fear. Yes, we Greeks are a hoot!
Here's a video starring moi, Frieda Babbley. Hope this clarifies things a bit further for you.
for those who can't view the following video (Eleni, for example) here is the link that should work for you to see It's Greek To Me.
Frieda Chillin' Out and talking the Greek alphabet and Greek Alphabet song. For your viewing and listening Pleasure.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hope you enjoyed today's episode of "It's Greek to Me".
We'd like to thank Ryan Hupfer for making such a fantastic request.
Now go show off your new foreign language skills!
Please feel free to leave us with your questions and or comments. Got any ideas for a future episode, let us know and you could be featured, like Ryan Hupfer here. Adio for now! (That's Greek for, goodbye. A-dee'-oh!
Some books for laughter and thought
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Greek Laughter: A Study of Cultural Psychology from Homer to Early Christianity
Price: $49.28
List Price: $60.00 |
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Broken Laughter: Select Fragments of Greek Comedy
Price: $136.51
List Price: $175.00 |
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Talking about Laughter: And Other Studies in Greek Comedy
Price: $93.38
List Price: $125.00 |
Extra Extra Read All About It: FRIEDA'S OTHER GREEK HUBS
- Father Steve and the Bush Branch - A Greek Orthodox House Blessing
Having your house blessed is a Greek Orthodox tradition. It's about the people as much as it is about the blessing itself. "We have recently gotten our house blessed by Father Steve from the Greek Orthodox Church. It was great, and surprisingly not a - A Favorite Childhood Memory ~ Visiting the Homeland ...
If you told me that 30 years ago I was in Greece visiting my relatives and homeland, I would have told you it could not be so. I would have said, I dreamed of it last night, and I remember it clearly. In fact, sometimes, I still breathe it in. - Cracking Your Easter Eggs and other Greek Orthodox E...
The differences in Western Easter and Orthodox Easter are plentiful. Find out what some of these are here in this spectacular Greek Easter hub.
PLEASE NOTE:
Frieda really really likes getting the thumbs up. So if you like what you read, or you laughed even just a little, smile and say, "Thumbs up Frieda!" Then go and actually click on the thumbs up, the green button just above the comments. (That gives you brownie points.) =D
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Comments
Have cold or would have finished up the video so you guys could hear it. I got antsy and had to publish anyway. Will have it up by next weekend, so come back for a listen. Glad you liked SweetiePie. By the way, this is my favorite avatar of yours I've seen yet.
Ahahaha, really enjoyed this hub and learning all about the Greek Alphavet! I'm a go have me an apple pee. :)
Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And that you learned a bit from it (what nationality are you by the way). So did you earn your brownie points? Or do I have to come after you?
I hate gamma - they always look perplexed by my attempts to pronounce it correctly. Mind you, my mangling of the Greek language generally brings perplexed looks.
Well G'day Frieda how is your cold ? As a electronics technician I used the Omega sign as a symbol for 'resistance' with a catchy name of 'ohm'. Now I'm off to press that bloody green button before you bite my head off. ;-)
Lol I'm australian born but of palestinian background (never been there). Half the stuff we eat is well... stuffed! A lot of Greek style foods & traditions, plus i'm actually baptised Greek orthodox but essentially catholic, having gone to a catholic highschool... :) Gee, sounds like there's not much more to reveal! :)
Hilarious and informative! I learned the Greek alphabet for a bit of fun when I was a teen (whatever was I thinking? You can tell that I come from a small town, can't you!) but as I learned it from a pocket phrase book, the niceties of pronunciation somehow escaped me. My bad pronunciation was then compounded when I studied further maths. I've certainly learned something today. Next time my daughter asks for help with her maths homework, I shall put her straight about 'pee'!?!
Sufidreamer, I'm terribly sorry to hear about your shlepping up of the Greek language. It does happen to the best of us. Just pay closer attention to your cats, I'm pretty sure cats are Greek. If all else fails, there's always ouzo and windex.
Agvulpes, g'day, Allo, My cold is on it's way out the door. Still fever, but I give it two more days and I'll be good as gold. Ohm is a very grand name. Rather meditative. I won't be biting your head off, I'll be smacking you with the ruler (please re-read the Greek Alphabet Song section again, and put the Bunyip down!). Thank you kindly. Please revisit in the near future for my Greek Alphabet Feature. =D
Marco, yeah, I'd say you stripped down pretty naked there. I thought you looked familiarish, meaning somewhere from around there. Dolmathes are my favorite of stuffed foods. And of course seed stuffed calamata olives, can't get enough of those.
Amanda, I'm thrilled you like this. And thank you, pronounciation is everything or they will stare at you funny like they do Sufidreamer and they will talk about you behind your back. I hope that once the video comes in any questions will be solved. Of course, it may raise others. LOL Glad you had a good read.
What ? there was a Greek Alphabet Song Section ?
My teachers always said I was anal retentive. ;-)
Very entertaining! Why weren't my language teachers like you???
Ahah, so, agvulpes, you got distracted in the middle there? No worries, summer is just around the corner, and if sufi dreamer payed more attention than you, despite his minor pronunciation faux pas, looks like he's going to be gettin the hot chicks, Greek or not, while you hang out with dear bunyup...trying. As a Greek Philosopher once said, "Sometimes man weilds his own fate by following his fears of failure." It's quite alright, you've got charm.
2Patricias, it's simple, they probably weren't Greek and they probably weren't ... FRIEDA BABBLEY! LOL Just kidding. I do know what you mean. Especially on those subjects that you just really can't get into your head for the life of you. A little bit of short sweet fun would make all the difference. Well, who knows, maybe this'll get picked up as a teaching lesson or guide. LOL Glad you came by, good to see you guys.
Great hub! My kids' teacher last year was Greek so they learned the alphabet and so much more (they also learned other languages as well). I thought it was wonderful what they were able to teach me.
Excellent! Great fun. thumbs up (even the one in the cast).
Hi Triplet mom. So these pronounciations made sense to you, I hope. Can you believe I cannot find a single true well said Greek video of the Greek alphabet ANYWHERE? I mean what is that about. So it's up to me, but right now I'm pretty sure I look worse than I smell, which despite my shower is like sick hospital person, no offense. But I'm getting one out! If you and your boys want to do one too, I'd love to showcase it. Glad you enjoyed.
Teresa, dear me! You're still in a cast? It's been forever! You're not going to know what to do with yourself when you finally get the darn thing off. Thanks for the two thumbs up.
By the way, did you guys know that you can vote on request responces? Just click into "Answers the request" and you'll see the list. There's a place to arrow up or down there. Please feel free to use that great feedback area for this and other answered requests.
Thumbs. This was certainly a romp into the Greek alphabet. Up. I'm kind of stuck on the whole spanking with the ruler thing, though. It's a character flaw. Sorry.
It's freaky, isn't it? I pondered and wondered about it for hours at a time. The American in me still wonders about it, but it is what it is. It's okay Tom. It's a different kind of humor that's for certain. I glad you enjoyed.
And there is only one punishment for setting alight the Grail Shaped Beacon. A SPANKING...
oh, sorry, I uh, well I guess Tom isn't the only one getting carried away with the Spanking part. Great Hub. Loved the Frieda Babbley touch.
Thanks pm. Did you get brownie points? Actually I think Tom was trying to get away as opposed to getting carried away, but that's okay, reactions to that one may be illogical. Please don't ponder over it too much. =O Anyway, you're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed. And yes, I do believe the Frieda Babbley touch is a rather nice one, nudge nudge wink wink know what a mean
I'll be honest, I could not hold my giggles, but I did pronounce it "pee" with you as I sang along.
LOL @ your whimsical, fun-to-read voice. I confess to having clicked on this hub with trepidation, fully expecting to hit the back button almost immediately, but I took a chance. Sometimes you get lucky, you know. Thanks for a delightful read. :)
Hey there Shadesbreath. Well, I'll okay the giggles since you at least got it right. Don't forget to come back by the end of next week for the video release party.
I have to say I understand your trepidation, and I'm glad you took a chance on me. (ABBA comes to mind).
Congratulations on your Hubber Score of 100! I guess that knocked you over the wall again, thus- legs in the air. :D
Thank you Paper Moon! I went a-wall (shhh), then found myself on hubpages and thought, think I'll make myself a home.
OK I got several brownie points - one for the thumbs up and one for peeing.
roflmao! Awesome Jewels! I hope you were wearing your depends at the time. I know I've got to remember to buy some more. I run out so fast here on hubpages. (by the way, don't be alarmed, i need to reinstall my skype. they're working on my computer this week. should be good to go by next.)
Thumbs up Frieda! I did like this one - I have always wondered about the Greek alphabet. Thanks for the entertaining Greek Lesson!! :D
Glad you enjoyed Janetta. Thanks for the looksie!
And yet another funny Freida Babbley hub - about the Greek alphabet no less. I just knew it would be hilarious even before I clicked on it! Time was, when like Amanda, I learned a bit of Greek for fun - but no one book told you about the 'pee'!! Thumbs up as commanded :D
Oh now this is fun! What a hoot. I've been waiting for hank to take me on a cruise to the Greek islands. This might help get the ball rolling. Hahaha! Oh, who am I kidding. But still, you never know. Wonderful stuff here, Frieda! ~Naddy
Ah, Shalini, you know me well. Thank you and you're so very welcome!
Naddy, a cruise sounds fantastic right now. You've got me dreaming. :) Ah, one day... one day. Glad you enjoyed. You come back and practice when I get my video in next week, okay?
Oh PG you are a hoot and a blessing. this is great, I love it. haha It was a great read. I'm still a fan you see?
Thank you Charlie!
Thumbs up Frieda
Thanks Hawkesdream!
If we do ever decide to teach the kids the greek alphabet, I'd like to invite you over so you could sing it for the class. LOL I enjoyed your greek lesson Frieda! And oh by the way, if you get over the cold and finish your video, it would be lovely to hear you too! :)
Thanks ripplemaker. You know, that would be fun.
I'm at the most tail end of my cold. I'm actually working on the video now. I've only made one with pictures, not a live one, so I'm having stupid problems. Will luck I'll have it posted to night or tomorrow night at the latest. I'll facebook and twitter it to make sure you guys know. Thanks. And so glad you enjoyed.
Yippee..I'm excited to see you on video. :-) And thanks for saying yes to the invitation. Now I just have to fly you over. LOL
Okay, so cross your fingers and hope for the best this afternoon.
And you're welcome. Too bad they don't have free flights for teachers, huh. We need more philanthropical groups, don't we? Geared towards education, especially for the young and formative.
Hmmm yes, I should add that to my list of things in my "What will I do if I have a million dollars" hub...which should be a billion now. Hahahaha
Greek alphabets were limited to my studies in physics and maths but this hub was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
roflmao! There's an add on the sidebar that says "Meet local Sailors". I had to share, cuase that's hoot!
ripplemaker, video going in 10 pm central standard time. Having issues loading to youtube but I should have it figured out. And yeah, a billion! Now THAT could make a lot of dreams come true.
cashmere, hello and good to see you. You're very welcome. Come back in a bit and see the video if you're interested. It's short but sweet.
And Eleni, I'll post a link for you since you can't watch the videos.
Loved this - and you are so clever (well you and that paper moon man) with you videos. I love languages and speak English (mother tongue), French, Old and Middle English (love Chaucer), am getting on with quite nicely Italian, some Danish (which is almost identical to Middle English) and notions of Tibetan.
I had to choose between Latin and Greek at school - I argued for dropping needlework so that I could do both languages but the bastards stuck to their guns - and I remain unable to sew more than the odd wobbly button and such. (I stuck to my guns - that showed 'em)
I think I shall start Greek next - a few more months of Italian, then definitely Greek.
Frieda, reading this had me chuckling from begining to end! I choose Latin at school, and I still don't know why, because I always found Greek fascinating -- maybe I wanted the easy way out --which was a serious misconception on my part, Latin was DIFFICULT!
Anyhow, great hub and thanks for remembering that I can't watch videos here. BESOS!
Hahahahah I got to see it Frieda! Congratulations you finished the video!! Yaayyyy! Love it...I'm sure I'm one of those in the crowd clapping my hands for you...LOL
OK, next time I go to Greece, I'll just take you. I like shortcuts.
The wonders of twitter, Great movie, and I even stayed to watch the credits. That Paper Moon is one hell of a director ain't he just!
Definitely up for best foreign movie at the next Oscars.
Well anyways that's the hot tip from the Bunyip ;-)
Yes he watched it too, as well as Hairy A.S.S.
Captive audience you might say !
Wuppa! I was watching a movie that was shot in Santorini last night. This hub is just in time for me to say...Wuppa!
I am glad you finally got the video to load. Nice touch. ;)
Coming back from watching the video, you superstar you! It was great! :-)
Hey there Iphi. Languages are fantastic, aren't they. Greek was first, of course, then French, then English. I took Latin, but can't say as I could speak it. I just couldn't concentrate for some reason. I took Spanish, I'd need to be immersed for that to come out of me. I can hear the differences of Spanish and Italian. I know a tad, and I do mean a tad of Norwegian. If I got into that I'd do well. But what I really want to learn now is Portuguese. I'm not seeing that happen for quite some time. Glad you liked this, and hope it was helpful and or inspiring.
Eleni, you're very welcome. And yeah, Latin is excruiciatingly hard for some reason, and this is so strange considering it's such a base language. Well, I don't mind still not knowing it well.
ripplemaker, thanks for your patience on the video. Hope you liked it. I'll make another at some point when I'm not all frumpy, but it'll do for now. And thank you for the applause, I'm pretty sure I did see you in the crowd somewhere. :)
Jewels, I'm there. Yes, shortcuts can be beneficial. Of course sufidreamer is already there, so I bet he'd do better than me at this point. He's in like flint and would make the best tour guide.
Thanks Sheena. Wuppa! back atcha. lol. What perfect timing.
Paper Moon, you da man!
Ag, Yes, twitter. Good to see it's worth my time. Thanks for popping in. I'm pretty sure I'm ready to accept an Oscar. I'm actually writing my acceptance speech as we speak. Tell Bunyip thank you. And a special hello to Hairy A.S.S. Captive audience, lol, what a riot. A necessity, however, you might say. Good to see you.
Well, I can be a bit slow on the uptake, so it's still all Greek to me. Loved it though, absolutely loved it!
Thanks rmr! And don't worry. You're not alone. It's probably still Greek to a lot of people lol. Glad you enjoyed, cause that's the most important thing. Thanks.
I really enjoyed this, especially the video! LOL, I will probably have to watch it about a hundred time to be able to say it, but it will be worth it. Brought to us by Windex, I loved that!
Thanks k@ri. Glad you enjoyed. And you're probably right. It's not necessarily easy to hear the accents. But hopefully people will come a bit closer and at least chuckle when they hear letters said wrong, even if they can't necessarily say them correctly. Yeah, I may have to do that one over again. Never listen to your husband when he tells you that you look great. Though in a couple of years I'll probably say, "I wish I looked like that again" lol. That movie was so great, wasn't it? I love My Big Fat Greek Wedding. What a wonderful job she did writing that.
Lol this was super however it is going to take me a good ten years to learn it, I may be a little slow but I get there in the end.
The only Greek letters I learned were in college at the Frat houses.
When is next week's episode available?
BP, I'm sure you will. And that's the whole point, isn't it? Finally getting there.
Laughing mom, I hate to wonder what you might have been doing in the Frat houses. Don't tell me! As for next week's episode, what shall it be about? Any suggestions?
Oh I'm definitely thinking it should be on what you might learn at a frat party. And don't play innocent. I know that you know, too!
roflmao!
I'm innocent, I tell you! Innocent!
Don't make me dredge up pictures, Frieda.
You never said when it will be available for download from iTunes.
Oh dear god! Download from iTunes? Hey, could I get money from that? I tell you what, hide the pictures, and I give you sole permission to download the video into your ipod. If you can. I don't know how.
Actually, I think I'll keep the pics for leverage.
Oh, nice. Where're you gonna keep them?
I'm smart enough not to tell.
:P
another good hub lot of nice info
Thanks Lgali! Much appreciated.
Very well written hub .....
very much informative ......
Thank you very much for your great hub, for good advice, good wishes and support. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.
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Sung in Greek with English Subtitles
SweetiePie says:
6 months ago
I always enjoyed looking at the Greek and Arabic alphabets, which are just so much more pretty than the Roman one we use. This is a very informative hub on a subject I must admit I had never really contemplated.