Chapter 3 — Greek Alphabet Drill

For each letter form, write (a) the letter's name and (b) its sound/pronunciation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal.

Tips: ε is always short; ο is always short; η is always long; ω is always long. Final sigma (ς) is used only at the end of a word. Gamma before γ, κ, χ, or ξ is pronounced "ng."

Part A — The 24 Letters

Write the name and sound for each lowercase letter form.

#FormNameSound / Pronunciation
1α
Alpha — "father" (long α) or "along" (short α); length varies
2β
Beta — "b" as in "Bible"
3γ
Gamma — "g" as in "gone" (hard g); but before γ, κ, χ, ξ it sounds like "ng" in "sing" — e.g., ἄγγελος = "ang-ge-los"
4δ
Delta — "d" as in "dog"
5ε
Epsilon — short "e" as in "met" — always short
6ζ
Zeta — "z" as in "daze" (originally pronounced "sd"; Erasmian = "z")
7η
Eta — long "e" as in "they" — always long
8θ
Theta — "th" as in "thin" (aspirated dental)
9ι
Iota — long "ee" as in "intrigue" or short "i" as in "in"; length varies
10κ
Kappa — "k" as in "kitchen"
11λ
Lambda — "l" as in "law" (liquid consonant)
12μ
Mu — "m" as in "mother"
13ν
Nu — "n" as in "new" · Do not confuse with υ (upsilon), which has a rounded bottom
14ξ
Xi — "ks" as in "axiom" (double consonant: κ + σ)
15ο
Omicron — short "o" as in "off" — always short
16π
Pi — "p" as in "peach"
17ρ
Rho — "r" as in "rod" (slightly trilled); initial ρ always takes rough breathing: ῥήμα = "rhēma"
18σ
Sigma (medial form) — "s" as in "sun"; used at the beginning or middle of a word
19ς
Sigma (final form) — same "s" sound; used only at the end of a word; same letter as σ, different written form
20τ
Tau — "t" as in "talk"
21υ
Upsilon — like French "tu" or German "über"; do not confuse with ν (nu), which is narrower and pointed at top
22φ
Phi — "ph" as in "phone" (aspirated labial)
23χ
Chi — breathy "ch" as in German "Bach" — not English "church" and not "x"; do not confuse with English x
24ψ
Psi — "ps" as in "lips" (double consonant: π + σ)
25ω
Omega — long "o" as in "tone" — always long; do not confuse with English w (Greek has no w)

Part B — Uppercase Recognition

Write the lowercase form and the letter name for each uppercase letter.

#UppercaseLowercaseName
B1Α
α — Alpha
B2Γ
γ — Gamma
B3Δ
δ — Delta
B4Λ
λ — Lambda
B5Ξ
ξ — Xi
B6Π
π — Pi
B7Σ
σ / ς — Sigma (medial and final forms)
B8Φ
φ — Phi
B9Χ
χ — Chi
B10Ψ
ψ — Psi
B11Ω
ω — Omega