Introduction
Welcome to your first step in reading Biblical Greek! This lesson focuses on the foundation of the language: the Greek alphabet, basic pronunciation, and your first Greek words. By the end, you’ll be able to read simple words from the New Testament.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the Greek alphabet letters and their sounds
- Understand basic pronunciation rules
- Read common New Testament words
- Begin recognizing Greek words in Scripture
The Greek Alphabet
The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters. Each has an uppercase and lowercase form. Let’s learn them in small, manageable groups:
Group 1: Letters Similar to English
| Greek Letter | Name | Sound | English Example |
| Α α | Alpha | ah | father |
| Β β | Beta | b | book |
| Ε ε | Epsilon | eh | egg |
| Ι ι | Iota | ee | meet |
| Κ κ | Kappa | k | kite |
| Μ μ | Mu | m | man |
| Ν ν | Nun | n | net |
| Ο ο | Omicron | oh | hot |
| Τ τ | Tau | t | tap |
Group 2: Letters That Look Familiar But Sound Different
| Greek Letter | Name | Sound | English Example |
| Η η | Eta | ay | play |
| Ρ ρ | Rho | rolled r | Spanish rojo |
| Υ υ | Upsilon | oo/u | boot |
| Χ χ | Chi | kh | chemistry |
| Ω ω | Omega | oh | tone |
Group 3: Unique Greek Letters
| Greek Letter | Name | Sound | English Example |
| Γ γ | Gamma | g/ng | good |
| Δ δ | Delta | d | door |
| Ζ ζ | Zeta | z | zoo |
| Θ θ | Theta | th | think |
| Λ λ | Lambda | l | lamp |
| Ξ ξ | Xi | x | box |
| Π π | Pi | p | pen |
| Σ σ/ς | Sigma | s | sun |
| Φ φ | Phi | f | phone |
| Ψ ψ | Psi | ps | tops |
Important Notes
- Final Sigma: The letter σ changes to ς when it appears at the end of a word
- Capitalization: Greek typically only capitalizes proper names and the first word of paragraphs
- Punctuation: Greek uses a raised dot (·) for semicolons and a question mark that looks like our semicolon (;)
Common Letter Combinations (Diphthongs)
| Combination | Sound | English Example |
| αι | ai | aisle |
| ει | ay | eight |
| οι | oi | toil |
| ου | oo | food |
| υι | wee | we |
| αυ | ow | how |
| ευ | eu | feud |
Your First Greek Words
Let’s practice with some common New Testament words:
- θεός (God)
- Pronounce: theh-OS
- Practice: θ (th) + ε (eh) + ο (oh) + ς (s)
- ἀγάπη (love)
- Pronounce: ah-GAH-pay
- Practice: ἀ (ah) + γά (GAH) + πη (pay)
- λόγος (word)
- Pronounce: LOH-gohs
- Practice: λό (LOH) + γος (gohs)
Practice Verse: John 1:1
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος (En archē ēn ho logos) “In the beginning was the Word”
Homework Activities
- Writing Practice
- Write each Greek letter 5 times
- Copy the practice verse three times
- Write your name in Greek letters
- Reading Practice
- Read the practice verse aloud 5 times
- Find these words in John 1:1-5: θεός, λόγος
- Practice writing and pronouncing each diphthong
- Online Resources
- Visit Paul’s Handkerchief Bible Search and find John 1:1 in Greek
Next Steps
In Part 2, we’ll learn essential vocabulary and begin recognizing different types of words in the New Testament. Keep practicing your alphabet and pronunciation daily!
Additional Tips
- Create flashcards for the alphabet
- Practice writing a few minutes each day
- Read aloud, even if slowly
- Focus on accuracy over speed
- Use online resources like https://forvo.com/ to hear native pronunciation
Remember: Learning the alphabet is like building a foundation. Take your time and make sure it’s solid before moving forward!
