More Basics: Accents & Pronunciation

Very briefly, in order to read the Greek alphabet as words, it is important to know the various Greek accent/breathing marks. We don’t generally make use of accent marks in how we read these Greek words today (though they did affect the original pronunciation of the Koine Greek language), but their presence and absence determine what word we are actually reading.

If we look at the Greek word τις (or τι), is roughly defined as “someone” or “something.” If we see acute accent marks (´), τίς (or τί) is roughly defined as “who?” “what?” “which?” and “why?” The most important accent marks to be aware of are the acute accent (´), the grave accent (`), the circumflex (῀). The iota subscript (ͺ) is also an important mark as it influences translation by identifying the presence of an improper diphthong. Two marks that do affect pronunciation are the diaeresis (¨) and the rough breathing mark (῾). The smooth breathing mark (᾿) is a necessary mark to know, but it does not affect pronunciation. The diaeresis signifies that a diphthong (a grouping of two vowels that form a singular sound) is pronounced as two separate vowel sounds. To read more about diphthongs see this great Greek blog.

A rough breathing mark (῾) is at the beginning of a word it creates an "h" sound: ἕξ (which means "six") is pronounced "hex". The breathing marks appear at the beginning of words beginning with vowels (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω, or diphthongs) and rhos (ρ). When a gamma (γ) is followed by another γ, or a κ, χ, or ξ, it becomes nasal and takes on an “n” sound:

• ἄγγελος is pronounced “angelos”

Practice identifying these marks and how to use them with several words below (to see the answer highlight to the right of the "|" with your cursor) like so:

• Greek word (English translation[s]) | marks
  

ᾅδης (Hades) | "hedes," rough breathing, acute accent, iota subscript
ὁδός (way) | "hodos," rough breathing, acute accent
ὕδωρ (water) | "hudor," rough breathing, acute accent
ἀλήθεια (truth) | "alethia," smooth breathing, acute accent
ἔργον (work, deed, action) | "ergon," smooth breathing, acute accent
οἶκος (house, home) | "oikos," smooth breathing, circumflex
εὐαγγέλιον (Gospel) | "euangelion," smooth breathing, gamma nasal, acute accent