Wiktionary:Ancient Greek transliteration
This page is an extension of Wiktionary:About Ancient Greek. See also Category:Ancient Greek IPA templates. There is also a page Modern Greek romanization.
The prescribed Romanization is the scientific transliteration; note that digraphs only affect pronunciation, not Romanization.
The prescribed pronunciation systems here reflect the main prestige dialects during the three ancient Greek development periods.
- Classical Greek pronunciation reflects the conservative standard of the Attic-speaking regions of Attica, the northern Cyclades, Euboea and Chalcidice, and their colonies.
- Koine Greek pronunciation reflects the majority mixed dialect of Alexander's empire, especially that of Alexandria, the principal philosophical and literary center of the Hellenistic Greeks, and where Judeo-Christian scripture was translated into Greek.
- Byzantine Greek pronunciation reflects the habits of Constantinople and its close transitional dialects. Though it spanned almost all of Late Antiquity, it also spanned well into the Middle Ages until the 15th century (approximately 1200 years), as the Byzantine Roman world largely escaped the Dark Ages.
- Contemporary Greek pronunciation reflects how people in modern Greece and Cyprus pronounce classical words today. The standard is based on the polished speech register of Demotic Greek, including additional polished Cypriot articulations (in parentheses) where these do not exist in Athens.
Letters
Letter | Rom. | Class. IPA | Koine IPA | Byzan. IPA | Cont. IPA | before Template:polytonic | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:polytonic | A Ā a ā | [a/aː] invalid IPA characters (/) | [a/aː] invalid IPA characters (/) | [a] | [a] | In Classical polytonic, the length distinction of Template:polytonic ([a]) and Template:polytonic ([aː]) is not indicated usually in writing nor in transcription. However, if Template:polytonic needs to be transcribed, ā suffices. | |
Template:polytonic | B b | [b] | [b] | [β] | [v] | ||
Template:polytonic | G g | [ɡ] | [ɡ] | [ɣ] | [ɣ] | [ʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | D d | [d] | [d] | [ð] | [ð] | ||
Template:polytonic | E e | [e] | [ɛ] | [e] | [e] | ||
Template:polytonic | W w | [w] | N\A | Not native to Attic-Ionic (lost in pre-classical times). If pronounced [w], Classical Attic kept it silent and Koine adapted it as Template:polytonic. If pronounced [β~v], both Classical Attic and Koine adapted it as Template:polytonic. | |||
Template:polytonic | Z z | [zd] | [z/zz] invalid IPA characters (/) | [z/zz] invalid IPA characters (/) | [z/(z)z] invalid IPA characters (/) | Was metrically considered an interchangeably single or double consonant in Koine (typically double between vowels). | |
Template:polytonic | Ē ē | [ɛː] | [eː] | [i] | [i] | Finishes merging with Template:polytonic in Byzantine. | |
Template:polytonic | Th th | [tʰ] | [tʰ] | [θ] | [θ] | ||
Template:polytonic | I Ī i ī ï | [i/iː] invalid IPA characters (/) | [i/iː] invalid IPA characters (/) | [i] | [i] | In Classical polytonic, the length distinction of Template:polytonic ([i]) and Template:polytonic ([iː]) is not indicated usually in writing nor in transcription. However, if Template:polytonic needs to be transcribed, ī suffices. | |
Template:polytonic | K k | [k] | [k] | [k] | [k] | [c] | |
Template:polytonic | L l | [l] | [l] | [l] | [l] | ||
Template:polytonic | M m | [m] | [m] | [m] | [m] | ||
Template:polytonic | N n | [n] | [n] | [n] | [n] | ||
Template:polytonic | Ks ks | [kʰs] | [kʰs] | [ks] | [ks] | See digraph exceptions further down. | |
Template:polytonic | O o | [o] | [o] | [o] | [o] | ||
Template:polytonic | P p | [p] | [p] | [p] | [p] | ||
Template:polytonic | Rh rh r | [hr/r] invalid IPA characters (/) | [(h)r/r] invalid IPA characters (/) | [r] | [ɾ] | Normal Template:polytonic is [r] and transcribed r. In Classical, Template:polytonic is voiceless [hr] and transcribed rh, and Template:polytonic or Template:polytonic is voiceless [rhr] and transcribed rrh. Koine Template:polytonic is [(h)r], and Template:polytonic is [r(h)r]. All are voiced [r] in Byzantine onward, except in Atticist writings. | |
Template:polytonic | S s | [s] | [s] | [s] | [s] | See digraph exceptions further down. | |
Template:polytonic | T t | [t] | [t] | [t] | [t] | See diagraph exceptions further down. | |
Template:polytonic | Hu Hū hu hū u ū ü | [ʉ/ʉː] invalid IPA characters (/) | [y/yː] invalid IPA characters (/) | [y] | [i] | Originally not a front vowel, the influential Athens dialect articulates it as [y/yː] invalid IPA characters (/) earlier on. Merges with Template:polytonic in 10th century Byzantine Greek, but merges with Template:polytonic in the Old Athenian dialect until it becomes extinct in the 20th century. | |
Template:polytonic | Ph ph | [pʰ] | [pʰ] | [ɸ] | [f] | ||
Template:polytonic | Kh kh | [kʰ] | [kʰ] | [x] | [x] | [ç] | |
Template:polytonic | Ps ps | [pʰs] | [pʰs] | [ps] | [ps] | See digraph exceptions further down. | |
Template:polytonic | Ō ō | [ɔː] | [oː] | [o] | [o] | Merges with Template:polytonic late in Koine. |
Vowel digraphs
Spelling | Rom. | Class. IPA | Koine IPA | Byzan. IPA | Cont. IPA | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:polytonic | Ai ai | [aɪ] | [ɛː] | [e] | [e] | Merges with Template:polytonic in late Koine among the Hellenists and in Alexandria, and treated as an allophone of it from then on. |
Template:polytonic | Āi āi | [aːj] | [aː] | [a] | [a] | Classically spelt Template:polytonic. In Koine, becomes collated simply as Template:polytonic as they merge. |
Template:polytonic | Au Āu au āu | [aʊ/aːʊ] invalid IPA characters (/) | [aw/aːw] invalid IPA characters (/) | [av] | [av] | See Template:polytonic exceptions further down. |
Template:polytonic | Ei ei | [eː] | [iː] | [i] | [i] | In the learned Koine pronunciation of the foreign Romans, Template:polytonic was typically an allophone of Template:polytonic immediately before other vowels, and an allophone of Template:polytonic everywhere else. Alexandrians treated it as an allophone of Template:polytonic in all circumstances, a trend that would become standard in Byzantine. |
Template:polytonic | Eu eu | [eʊ] | [ɛw] | [ev] | [ev] | See Template:polytonic exceptions further down. |
Template:polytonic | Ēi ēi | [ɛːj] | [eː] | [i] | [i] | Classically spelt Template:polytonic. In Koine, becomes collated simply as Template:polytonic as they merge. |
Template:polytonic | Ēu ēu | [ɛːʊ] | [eːw] | [iv] | [iv] | See Template:polytonic exceptions further down. |
Template:polytonic | Oi oi | [oɪ] | [yː] | [y] | [i] | Merges together with Template:polytonic and Template:polytonic in Koine, even earlier in Athens. |
Template:polytonic | Ou ou | [oː] | [uː] | [u] | [u] | Becomes [uː] earlier on in Athens, remaining an allophone of [oː] until Template:polytonic fills that pronunciation. |
Template:polytonic | Hui hui ui üi | [yː] | [yː] | [y] | [i] | Merges with Template:polytonic in Koine, and earlier on in Athens. |
Template:polytonic | Ōi ōi | [ɔːj] | [oː] | [o] | [o] | Classically spelt Template:polytonic. In Koine, becomes collated simply as Template:polytonic as they merge. |
Template:polytonic | Ōu ōu | [ɔːy] | [oːy] | [oy] | [oi] | Non-Attic Greek diphthong (originally pronounced [ɔːʊ]), separated into two separate vowels, Template:polytonic, when loaned into Classical Attic onward. |
Consonant digraphs and exceptions
Spelling | Rom. | Class. IPA | Koine IPA | Byzan. IPA | Cont. IPA | before Template:polytonic | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:polytonic | bb | [bb] | [bb] | [ββ] | [(v)v] | ||
Template:polytonic | ng | [ŋɡ] | [ŋɡ] | [ŋɡ] | [ŋɡ] | [ŋɟ] | In Contemporary pronunciation, in numerous irregular cases, is pronounced [ŋɣ] and [ŋʝ] respectively. Please consult (and preferably cite) a reputable Modern Greek pronunciation source for each word concerned. |
Template:polytonic | nk | [ŋk] | [ŋk] | [ŋk] | [ŋɡ] | [ŋɟ] | |
Template:polytonic | nkt | [ŋkt] | [ŋkt] | [ŋkt] | [ŋkt] | ||
Template:polytonic | nks | [ŋkʰs] | [ŋkʰs] | [ŋks] | [ŋks] | ||
Template:polytonic | nkh | [ŋkʰ] | [ŋkʰ] | [ ̃x] | [ŋx] | [ŋç] | In Byzantine pronuncation, this phoneme becomes seriously endangered and merges with Template:polytonic in common speech, later reintroduced under influence from Katharevousa. |
Template:polytonic | dd | [dd] | [dd] | [ðð] | [(ð)ð] | ||
Template:polytonic | kb | [ɡb] | [ɡb] | [ɡβ] | [ɡv] | ||
Template:polytonic | kg | [ɡɡ] | [ɡɡ] | [ɡɣ] | [ɡɣ] | [ɡʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | kd | [ɡd] | [ɡd] | [ɡð] | [ɡð] | ||
Template:polytonic | kz | [ɡʱzd] | [ɡʱz] | [ɡz] | [ɡz] | ||
Template:polytonic | kth | [kʰtʰ] | [kʰtʰ] | [kθ] | [kθ] | ||
Template:polytonic | kk | [kk] | [kk] | [kk] | [k(ʰ)] | [c(ʰ)] | |
Template:polytonic | kks | [kkʰs] | [kkʰs] | [kks] | [k(ʰ)s invalid IPA characters ([) | ||
Template:polytonic | ks | [kʰs] | [kʰs] | [ks] | [ks] | ||
Template:polytonic | ksm | [ɡʱzm] | [ɡʱzm] | [ɡzm] | [ɡzm] | ||
Template:polytonic | kph | [kʰpʰ] | [kʰpʰ] | [kɸ] | [kf] | ||
Template:polytonic | kkh | [kkʰ] | [kkʰ] | [kx] | [kx] | [kç] | |
Template:polytonic | kps | [kʰpʰs] | [kʰpʰs] | [kps] | [kps] | ||
Template:polytonic | ll | Template:unicode | Template:unicode | Template:unicode | Template:unicode | ||
Template:polytonic | mb | [mb] | [mb] | [mb] | [ɱv] | ||
Template:polytonic | mm | [mm] | [mm] | [mm] | [(m)m] | ||
Template:polytonic | mp | [mp] | [mp] | [mp] | [mb] | ||
Template:polytonic | mpt | [mpt] | [mpt] | [mpt] | [mpt] | ||
Template:polytonic | mph | [mpʰ] | [mpʰ] | [ ̃ɸ] | [ɱf] | In Byzantine pronuncation, this phoneme becomes seriously endangered and merges with Template:polytonic in common speech, later reintroduced under influence from Katharevousa. | |
Template:polytonic | mps | [mpʰs] | [mpʰs] | [mps] | [mps] | ||
Template:polytonic | nd | [nd] | [nd] | [nd] | [nð] | ||
Template:polytonic | nz | [ːzd] | [nz] | [ndz] | [nz] | Not viable in Classical Attic, where the spelling is rare, and the Template:polytonic is silent and audibly lengthens the preceding vowel instead. | |
Template:polytonic | nth | [ntʰ] | [ntʰ] | [ ̃θ] | [nθ] | In Byzantine pronuncation, this phoneme becomes seriously endangered and merges with Template:polytonic in common speech, later reintroduced under influence from Katharevousa. | |
Template:polytonic | nn | [nn] | [nn] | [nn] | [(n)n] | ||
Template:polytonic | ns | [ːs] | [ns] | [ ̃s] | [ns] | Not viable in Classical Attic, where the spelling is rare, and the Template:polytonic is silent and audibly lengthens the preceding vowel instead. In Byzantine pronuncation, this phoneme becomes seriously endangered and merges with Template:polytonic again in common speech, later reintroduced under influence from Katharevousa. | |
Template:polytonic | nt | [nt] | [nt] | [nt] | [nd] | ||
Template:polytonic | ntz | [ːzd] | [ndz] | [ndz] | [ndz] | Not viable in Classical Attic, where the spelling is rare, and the Template:polytonic is silent and audibly lengthens the preceding vowel instead. | |
Template:polytonic | nts | [ːs] | [nts] | [nts] | [nts] | Not viable in Classical Attic, where the spelling is rare, and the Template:polytonic is silent and audibly lengthens the preceding vowel instead. | |
Template:polytonic | ksb | [ɡʱzb] | [ɡʱzb] | [ɡzβ] | [ɡzv] | ||
Template:polytonic | ksg | [ɡʱzɡ] | [ɡʱzɡ] | [ɡzɣ] | [ɡzɣ] | [ɡzʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | ksd | [ɡʱzd] | [ɡʱzd] | [ɡzð] | [ɡzð] | ||
Template:polytonic | ksz | [ɡʱzzd] | [ɡʱzz] | [ɡzz] | [ɡ(z)z] | ||
Template:polytonic | ksm | [ɡʱzm] | [ɡʱzm] | [ɡzm] | [ɡzm] | ||
Template:polytonic | pp | [pp] | [pp] | [pp] | [p(ʰ)] | ||
Template:polytonic | pph | [ppʰ] | [ppʰ] | [pɸ] | [pf] | ||
Template:polytonic | rrh | [rhr] | [r(h)r] | [rr] | [(r)ɾ] | ||
Template:polytonic | sb | [zb] | [zb] | [zβ] | [zv] | ||
Template:polytonic | sg | [zɡ] | [zɡ] | [zɣ] | [zɣ] | [zʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | sd | [zd] | [zd] | [zð] | [zð] | ||
Template:polytonic | sz | [zzd] | [zz] | [zz] | [(z)z] | ||
Template:polytonic | sm | [zm] | [zm] | [zm] | [zm] | ||
Template:polytonic | ss | [ss] | [ss] | [ss] | [(s)s] | ||
Template:polytonic | tz | [zd] | [dz] | [dz] | [dz] | Not viable in Classical Attic, where the spelling is rare, and is pronounced as Template:polytonic, not audibly lengthening the preceding vowel as Template:polytonic does. | |
Template:polytonic | tth | [ttʰ] | [ttʰ] | [tθ] | [tθ] | ||
Template:polytonic | ts | [s] | [ts] | [ts] | [ts] | Not viable in Classical Attic, where the spelling is rare, and is pronounced as Template:polytonic, not audibly lengthening the preceding vowel as Template:polytonic does. | |
Template:polytonic | tt | [tt] | [tt] | [tt] | [t(ʰ)] | ||
Template:polytonic | psb | [bʱzb] | [bʱzb] | [bzβ] | [bzv] | ||
Template:polytonic | psg | [bʱzɡ] | [bʱzɡ] | [bzɣ] | [bzɣ] | [bzʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | psd | [bʱzd] | [bʱzd] | [bzð] | [bzð] | ||
Template:polytonic | psz | [bʱzzd] | [bʱzz] | [bzz] | [b(z)z] | ||
Template:polytonic | psm | [bʱzm] | [bʱzm] | [bzm] | [bzm] |
αυ/ευ/ηυ exceptions
This table uses Template:polytonic as an example, but the same principles apply to Template:polytonic and Template:polytonic, with Template:polytonic and Template:polytonic instead of Template:polytonic.
Spelling | Rom. | Class. IPA | Koine IPA | Byzan. IPA | Cont. IPA | before Template:polytonic | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:polytonic | eub | [eʊb] | [ɛwb] | [eββ] | [e(v)v] | ||
Template:polytonic | euth | [eʊtʰ] | [ɛʍtʰ] | [eɸθ] | [efθ] | ||
Template:polytonic | euk | [eʊk] | [ɛʍk] | [eɸk] | [efk] | [efc] | |
Template:polytonic | euks | [eʊkʰs] | [ɛʍkʰs] | [eɸks] | [efks] | ||
Template:polytonic | eup | [eʊp] | [ɛʍp] | [eɸp] | [efp] | ||
Template:polytonic | eus | [eʊs] | [ɛʍs] | [eɸs] | [efs] | ||
Template:polytonic | eusb | [eʊzb] | [ɛwzb] | [eβzβ] | [evzv] | ||
Template:polytonic | eusg | [eʊzɡ] | [ɛwzɡ] | [eβzɣ] | [evzɣ] | [evzʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | eusd | [eʊzd] | [ɛwzd] | [eβzð] | [evzð] | ||
Template:polytonic | eusm | [eʊzm] | [ɛwzm] | [eβzm] | [evzm] | ||
Template:polytonic | eut | [eʊt] | [ɛʍt] | [eɸt] | [eft] | ||
Template:polytonic | eutz | [eʊzd] | [ɛwdz] | [eβdz] | [evdz] | ||
Template:polytonic | euph | [eʊpʰ] | [ɛʍpʰ] | [eɸɸ] | [e(f)f] | ||
Template:polytonic | eukh | [eʊkʰ] | [ɛʍkʰ] | [eɸx] | [efx] | [efç] | |
Template:polytonic | eups | [eʊpʰs] | [ɛʍpʰs] | [eɸps] | [efps] | ||
Template:polytonic | eu | [eʊ] | [ɛʍ] | [eɸ] | [ef] | Specifically in the word-final position. |
Consonant-ι exceptions
Even today, most words of learned Ancient Greek origin have Template:polytonic pronounced as [i], always a full vowel in its own syllable. However, where Template:polytonic is understood to have come from [j], a [j]-derived pronunciation may reasonably apply. [j] does not enter the spoken language until the Byzantine period, and some words (such as Template:polytonic) do not today have retroactive [j] pronunciations. But when [j] does contextually apply, this is how.
Spelling | Rom. | Byzan. IPA | Cont. IPA | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Template:polytonic | i | [j] | [ʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | gi | [ɣj] | [ʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | ngi | [ŋɡj] | [ŋɟ] | |
Template:polytonic | nki | [ŋkj] | [ŋɟ] | |
Template:polytonic | nkhi | [ ̃xj] | [ŋç] | |
Template:polytonic | thi | [θj] | [θç] | |
Template:polytonic | ki | [kj] | [c] | |
Template:polytonic | kgi | [ɡɣj] | [ɡʝ] | |
Template:polytonic | kki | [kkj] | [(c)c] | |
Template:polytonic | kkhi | [kxj] | [kç] | |
Template:polytonic | li | [lj] | [ʎ] | |
Template:polytonic | lli | [llj] | [(ʎ)ʎ] | |
Template:polytonic | ni | [nj] | [ɲ] | |
Template:polytonic | nni | [nnj] | [(ɲ)ɲ] | |
Template:polytonic | ksi | [ksj] | [ksç] | |
Template:polytonic | pi | [pj] | [pç] | |
Template:polytonic | si | [sj] | [sç] | |
Template:polytonic | ti | [tj] | [tç] | |
Template:polytonic | phi | [ɸj] | [fç] | |
Template:polytonic | khi | [xj] | [ç] | |
Template:polytonic | psi | [psj] | [psç] |
Additional notes
- A rough breathing mark (dasy pneuma) is designated by an h at the front of the word (both in IPA and Romanization). A smooth breathing mark (psilon pneuma) requires no notation. In Koine IPA, the rough breathing mark is marked as [(h)] because it's already a mostly dead phoneme. In Byzantine IPA onward, it is totally gone. When the rough breathing mark is on vowels or diphthongs, they should be preceded with h in romanization. Over Template:polytonic, the consonant is romanized rh. The mark is always on (or implied to be on) word-initial Template:polytonic, which are always romanized Rh rh Hu hu Hui hui. Template:polytonic is always romanized rrh.
- Iota subscripts are Romanized for Classical Greek, but neither pronounced nor Romanized for Koine. In Classical pronunciation an iota subscript is designated by a /j/ following the vowel.
- A diaeresis should be noted in a Romanization with the umlaut set found in the Latin/Roman script set (at the bottom of the editing window).
- In Classical IPA, acute accent is noted by ́ on vowel, circumflex with ̂ . In Koine, both are represented with ˈ at the beginning of corresponding syllable. Accents are not noted in Romanization.
- Macrons should be designated in IPA by the long vowel symbol ː. The length distinctions of Template:polytonic, Template:polytonic and Template:polytonic are noted in Romanizations where they are known.