page in greek ελληνικά
PHONETICS for MODERN GREEK concise

    
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 ].
 
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  
 
A stress accent is written before the stressed syllable. Small words are usually not stressed.
mod.gre: [efxari'sto]  = eng:thanks (literally: I thank)


 

    
katerina sarri, athens, october 2007