Φωνήεντα
Greek has seven vowels (letters) for just four vowel sounds. There are also eight double vowels (δίψηφα φωνήεντα): one creates a fifth vowel sound, four are alternate spellings for regular vowels, and three make a vowel + consonant sound.
| IPA | ~ English equivalent | ||||
| Α | α | [a] | a in father | ||
| Ε | ε | [ɛ] | e in bed | ||
| ΑI | αι | [ɛ] | " | ||
| Η | η | [i] | ea in eat | ||
| I | ι | [i] | " | ||
| ΕI | ει | [i] | " | ||
| ΟI | οι | [i] | " | ||
| Υ | υ | [i] | " | ||
| ΥI | υι | [i] | " | (very rare) | |
| Ο | ο | [o] | o in owe | ||
| Ω | ω | [o] | " | ||
| ΟΥ | ου | [u] | ou in soup | ||
| ΑΥ | αυ | [af] [av] |
af in after ** av in avid * |
||
| ΕΥ | ευ | [ɛf] [ɛv] |
ef in effort ev in ever |
||
| ΗΥ | ηυ | [if] [iv] |
eaf in leaf eav in leave |
(very rare) |
* Before all vowels and the consonants β, γ, δ, μ ν, λ, ρ
** Before any other consonants and at the end of words