PHONETICS for MODERN GREEK concise
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I.P.A. = International Phonetic Alphabet
- The 5 vowels [ a e i o u ] ♪ are always simple. No variations e.g. [ æ ə y ] etc. as in other languages.
- The sounds [ b d g ♪ p v f ♪ t δ θ ♪ k γ x ♪ j ♪ l m n ♪ r s z ♪ ] are quite simple.
- Note the difference between:
- [ d ] and [ ð ] ♪
- [ j ] and [ ɣ ] ♪
- There is no [ ʃ ] ♪ sound in greek.
- The double sounds [ ks ps ♪ ts dz ♪ ] are uttered in a fast, linked way.
- [ ks ] is a little different from [ ks ].
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- There are a few variations for some consonants. If you do not pronounced them while speaking greek, no problem. Everyone will still understand you.
- [ j ] as in yes and [ ɣ ] ♪
- [ n ] as in no and [ ɲ ] as in new ♪
- [ l ] as in low and [ ʎ ] as in italian tagliatelle ♪
- [ x ] as in scottish Lokh and [ ç ] as in humour ♪
- [ k ] as in cool and [ c ] as in cute ♪
- [ g ] as in go and [ ɟ ] as in gift ♪
- [ g ] as in big and [ ŋg ] as in bingo ♪
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- A stress accent is written before the stressed syllable. Small words are usually not stressed.
- mod.gre: [efxari'sto] ♪ = eng:thanks (literally: I thank)
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katerina sarri, athens, october 2007