Modern Greek Grammarvowels

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Dimitra KapniaTwitter: @dkapnia

Vowels:digraphs, diphthongs, diphthongs by

convention, combinations

A digraph is a pair of letters used to write one sound or a combination of sounds that does

not correspond to the written letters in sequence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong

• A digraph is a pair of letters used to write one sound or a combination of sounds that does not correspond to the written letters in sequence.

ΕΙ/ει =[i] ΑΙ/αι=[e]

So, a digraph is two letters that spell one sound

εικόνα : ει-κό-να =picture αίθουσα: αί-θου-σα= classroom/ room

The term ‘’diphthong’’ refers to two contiguous vowel sounds occurring within the same

syllable

The term diphthong refers to two contiguous vowel sounds occurring within the same syllable

AH/αη= [ái]ΌI/όι=[ói]

So, a diphthong is a sound . Actually, it is two vowel sounds within the same syllable.

Νεράιδα: νε-ράι-δα = nymphΚορόιδο: κο-ρόι-δο= sucker

Let's have a closer look to the following examples, in order to clarify the differences

between a digraph and a diphthong

1)κορόιδο (=sucker). όι=[ói]. diphthong Notice that, inside the syllable, the first vowel (o) is stressed. The ι is not stressed.

2)νεράιδα. (=nymph) άι = [ái]. diphthong The first vowel (α) is stressed. The ι is not.

3)Γαϊδούρι (= donkey) αϊ= [ái]. diphthong No stress mark. There is a dieresis (dialitics) instead.

4)οικογένεια.(= family) οι/ει =[i] Digraph Notice that none of the letters involved is stressed.

5) αίθουσα. (=classroom/ room) αί =[e]. digraph The second vowel (ι) is stressed

Modern Greek digraphs derive from classical Greek diphthongs. Digraphs used to be

pronounced as diphthongs, during the past. Nowadays they have been shortened to

monophthongs in pronunciation. Many of them are characteristic developments of

modern Greek, however some of them were already present in Classical Greek.

Modern Greek Digraphs and pronunciation

Modern Greek Digraphs and pronunciation

AI/αι [e]

Αίθουσα (=classroom/ room)

κάθομαι (=to sit down)

Modern Greek Digraphs and pronunciation

EI/ει [i]

εικόνα (=picture)

γράφει (= he writes)

οι [i]

Οικογένεια(=family) αμοιβή (=payment/reward)

Modern Greek Digraphs and pronunciation

υι [i] (quite rare)

Modern Greek Digraphs and pronunciation

ου [u]

ουρανός (=sky)

Modern Greek Digraphs and pronunciation

Modern Greek diphthongs and pronunciation

Modern Greek diphthongs and pronunciation

αη= [ái] / αϊ = [ái]

Αηδόνι (=nightingale)

Γαϊδούρι(= donkey)

Modern Greek diphthongs and pronunciation

Όι/οη=[ói]

κορόιδο (=sucker)

diphthongs by convention

diphthongs by convention

• A diphthong by convention consists of a vowel sound [i] which is not stressed and a vowel sound like [a], [e], [u], [o] which is stressed

• Diphthongs by convention are quite common in standard modern Greek

diphthongs by convention

καρδιά [karδγιá] (=heart) please, notice the pronunciation

Diphthongs by convention

παλιός [paliós] (=old) please, notice the pronunciation

Diphthongs by convention

παιδιά [peδγιá] (children) please, notice the pronunciation

Modern Greek vowel combinations

Modern Greek vowel combinations

A vowel combo consists of two vowels αυ [af/av]

ευ [ef/ev]

Modern Greek vowel combinations

αυ [af/av]

It is pronounced [af] before of: κ, π, τ, χ, φ, θ, σ, ξ, ψ

αυτοκίνητο (aftokínito=car)

Modern Greek vowel combinations

αυ [af/av]

It is pronounced [av] before of: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ

αύρα ( a´vra =breeze wind)

Modern Greek vowel combinations

ευ [ef/ev]

It is pronounced [ef] before of: κ, π, τ, χ, φ, θ, σ, ξ, ψ

Ευχαριστώ (efxaristó=thanks)

Modern Greek vowel combinations

ευ [ef/ev]

It is pronounced [ev] before of: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ

ευγένεια (evγénia=kindness)

Resourceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Greek#Modern_Greek

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_orthography#Digraphs_and_diphthongshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong#Sound_changeshttps://www.teknia.com/greekalphabet/greekdiphthongs

http://www.foundalis.com/lan/grkalpha.htmReferences

Μανόλης Τριανταφυλλίδης: Νεοελληνική γραμματικήΓ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας

David Holton/ Peter Mackridge/ Ειρήνη Φιλιππάκη-Walton:Γραμματική της Ελληνικής γλώσσας

Thanks for watching !

Twitter @dkapnia