Letters in the Greek Alphabet from A to Z

Greeks and the Greek language have a significant impact on the rest of the world in terms of their contribution to the field of philosophy, theatre, language and ancient history. The Greek alphabet was the first and the revolutionary letter script in the world to have accepted separate letters for vowels and consonants.

The Greek literature serves as a base for most literature programs taught today. As most of the modern-day Greek literature programs are based on and/or inspired by ancient Greek literature, some top universities abroad incorporated the study of the Greek language and literature in their literature degrees. While some other universities may allow the students to study the letters in the ancient Greek alphabet, the lessons in language and literature in a translated version for a better understanding of the fundamentals of literature. 

This article includes all letters in the Greek alphabet in order from A to Z, the letters in the Greek alphabet which do not have an English letter equivalent, the name of each Greek alphabet and the Greek alphabet in English with the same/similar sounds. 

Origin of the Greek Alphabet

The letters in the ancient Greek alphabet were derived from the Phoenicians’ Semitic alphabet. However, the letters in the Greek alphabet were changed later by incorporating separate letters for the vowel sounds. Moreover, the Greek alphabets were created more phonetically correct. The Greek alphabet is believed to have been first adopted by an Euboian, leading to its diffusion throughout Greece. Additionally, it is thought that the alphabet was introduced from Phoenicia around 800 BCE, marking a significant development in the history of writing.

Importance of Greek Alphabets and Language

The Greek language and literature have always had a profound effect on the world, shaping Western civilisation in countless ways. As the Greek language and the Greek language alphabets significantly affect modern-day studies, below we have listed a few points on the importance of the Greek language and its alphabets. 

• Acts as a Base for Modern Literature: Encompassing the epic poems of Homer, the tragedies of Sophocles, and the philosophical dialogues of Plato, the ancient Greek language and literature shaped the foundations for Western literary traditions. These timeless wonders of the literary world are renowned for their timeless themes, artistic brilliance, and influence on subsequent writers. 

• Set the Grounds for Philosophy: The Greek alphabet and language have been used by some greatest Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato while finding answers to the much-asked questions of that time, i.e. questions about the mere existence of humans, ethics and knowledge.  
• Gave Rise to Various Scientific Terminologies in Use in the Present World Today: Most scientific discourse relied heavily upon the Greek language and the terminologies were taken from Greek letters and words, owing to their unique properties matching with the relevant words in the Greek language. Not just that, many words in the English language are also derived from the Greek language. For example, femur, radius, -saurus, macro-, electro-, geography, architect, encyclopaedia and grammar - all these terms have been derived from the letters in the Greek language. Even the word “alphabet” is said to have been derived from the first two Greek letters in A to Z order, i.e. alpha and beta.

Letters in the Greek Alphabet in Order from A to Z

If you are curious to take a course in English literature or Greek literature then, you must surely be aware of the fundamentals of the Greek language, i.e. the letters in the Greek alphabets so that you can start recognising some basic terms in the Greek language. 

To summarise, there are 24 alphabet letters in Greek language. We have listed names of the alphabet of Greek letters, the uppercase and the lowercase of the greek letters in the gk alphabet. So, below is the list of all 24 letters in the Greek alphabet (A to Z) and their names.

Greek Alphabet to English 

Although there are 24 letters in the Greek alphabet, all of them do not resemble the letters in the English alphabet. The English letter equivalents of the Greek alphabets and a few tips on certain Greek alphabets pronunciation which are pronounced differently from their English letter equivalents are given below. 

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Greek Language Courses Abroad

If you wish to learn more about Greek culture, its language and literature abroad then, you can refer to the list of colleges and courses below. 

1. MSt in Classical Languages (Greek and Latin) at the University of Oxford, UK 

This one-year intensive program at Oxford University offers a deep dive into the ancient Greek and Latin languages, literature, and philosophy. Students pursuing this degree gain a strong foundation in grammar, translation skills, and critical analysis of classical texts.

Eligibility criteria: A bachelor's degree in a relevant subject (Classics, History, Literature) with a good honours classification is typically required.

2. Summer Session in Ancient Greek Language and Literature at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece

This intensive summer program provides students with an immersive experience in learning the ancient Greek language and literature in the heart of Greece. Students will attend classes on the Acropolis and engage with archaeological sites and museums.

Eligibility criteria: Open to undergraduate and graduate students with varying levels of Greek language experience.

3.  MA in Languages, Cultures, Literature, Translation Courses at the University of Rome "La Sapienza", Italy

These programs at the Sapienza University of Rome offer a comprehensive exploration of the languages and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, including Greek, Latin, and Etruscan. Students will gain proficiency in these languages and study their rich literary traditions.

Eligibility criteria: A bachelor's degree in Classics, History, or a related field is usually required.

4. Language and Culture Courses at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy

These unique programs combine archaeological studies with scientific and technological approaches to understand the ancient Mediterranean world. Students will gain expertise in Greek and Roman archaeology, along with relevant scientific techniques.

Eligibility criteria: A bachelor's degree in Archaeology, Classics, or a related field is typically required along with tests like the Italian language, logical skills, and English language tests.

Must Read Top MA Courses in Greek language:

• MA in Greek at University of Michigan
• Greek MA at University of Glasgow

This was all about the Greek alphabet and letters. In this blog, we learned about all 24 letters in the Greek language and their meanings. We also broke against the common myth that there is no missing letters in the Greek alphabet and all the letters are justified as per their usage. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.