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Unit 8 · σ, ς, λ, π and ζ · Meet

σ, ς, λ, π and ζ

Use final sigma and read four more letter shapes.

About this unit

Greek s has two shapes: σ inside a word and ς at the end. λ, π and ζ are new shapes with familiar sounds.

  • Σσhouse
    s, as in “sun”
    σπίτι · house
    i

    Use σ before the end of a word.

  • Σς
    s, the same sound as σ
    κόσμος · world / people
    i

    Use ς only at the end; it is the same letter and sound.

  • Λλlake
    l, as in “lamp”
    λίμνη · lake
  • Ππduckling
    p, as in “spin”
    παπί · duckling
  • Ζζ
    z, as in “zoo”
    ζάρι · die / dice cube
WhereShapeExample
start or middleσσαλάμι
last letterςκόσμος

κόσμος has both shapes: σ in the middle, ς at the end.

More words to read

σαλάμι

salamisalámi

λεμόνι

lemonlemóni
Reading tips

Final ς is not a new sound: σ + position gives the final shape. In κόσμος, σ before voiced μ is heard z-like; keep its σ spelling. Compare ε/ξ later, and ζ by its own shape now.

Reading practice

Hear the written stress

Listen and choose the stressed syllable, counting from the start.

Clip 1

Letters in words

Match each sign to the same sign in its example.

Letters in words

Match each sign to the same sign in its example.

Find the sound

Match the sounds to the signs. Tap a sign to check.

Read with support

Match the words to their pictures.

Read without a sound cue

Match the words to their pictures.

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the spelling.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

κόσμος

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the spelling.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

ζάρι

Read and decide

Which shape belongs at the end of κόσμος?

κόσμο…

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

house

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

lake

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

duckling

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Finish practice to save this unit.

You can read and write this

Use final sigma and read four more letter shapes.

Next unit
house

σπίτι

house

σαλάμι

salami

κόσμος

world / people
lake

λίμνη

lake

λεμόνι

lemon
duckling

παπί

duckling

ζάρι

die / dice cube
Use a Greek keyboard

Use the Greek layout or the course tiles. On a common Greek keyboard the ; key is a dead key for tonos: press it, then the vowel. Final ς has its own key. Keep the accent in ordinary lowercase words; normalise Unicode rather than removing tonos.

All letters

Α α
i

a

Ε ε
i

e

Κ κIn κα
i

ka

Μ μIn μα
i

ma

Ο ο
i

o

Τ τIn τα
i

ta

Ν νIn να
i

na. Ν is n; small ν is not Latin v.

Ρ ρIn ρα
i

ra. Ρ/ρ is r, not Latin p.

Ι ι
i

i

Η η
i

i. Η is i, not Latin H. It shares its sound with ι.

Υ υ
i

i. Υ/υ is i in ordinary vowel use, not Latin y or German ü.

Σ σIn σα
i

sa. Use σ before the end of a word.

Σ ςIn σα
i

sa. Use ς only at the end; it is the same letter and sound.

Λ λIn λα
i

la

Π πIn πα
i

pa

Ζ ζIn ζα
i

za

Β βIn βα
i

va. Β is v, not b.

Δ δth as in “this”: a buzzIn δα
i

dha. Δ is the voiced th of English this.

Γ γgh: air rubs, with a buzzIn γα
i

gha. Γ is voiced back friction before a/o/u, not a g stop.

Θ θth as in “thin”: air rubsIn θα
i

tha. The th of English thin, not t+h.

Φ φIn φα
i

fa

Χ χkh, as in German “Bach”In χα
i

kha. Χ is back friction before a/o/u; before e/i it moves forward, like German ich.

Ψ ψIn ψα
i

psa. One letter writes the consonant sequence ps.

Ξ ξIn ξα
i

ksa. One letter writes ks.

Ω ω
i

o. Ω and ο have the same modern vowel sound.

ΟΥ ουIn ουρά
i

u. Two letters, one u vowel; a team tile in the builder.

ΑΙ αιIn παιδί
i

e. Same vowel as ε; learn the printed spelling.

ΕΙ ειIn κλειδί
i

i. Same i sound as ι, η and υ.

ΟΙ οιIn οικονομία
i

i. Same i sound; read the team together.

ΥΙ υιIn υιός
i

i. A rarer i spelling, for recognition.

ΜΠ μπIn μπανάνα
i

ba. Word-initial μπ is b; inside words many speakers keep an m before b.

ΝΤ ντIn ντομάτα
i

da. Word-initial ντ is d; medial pronunciation can include n.

ΓΚ γκIn γκολ
i

ga. Γκ supplies the g stop that γ alone does not.

ΓΓ γγIn φεγγάρι
i

nga / ga. Inside words γγ commonly has a nasal plus g; some speakers reduce the nasal.

ΤΣ τσIn τσάι
i

tsa

ΤΖ τζIn τζάμι
i

dza

ΑΥ αυIn αυγό
i

av / af. Av before vowels and voiced consonants; af before voiceless consonants.

ΕΥ ευIn ευρώ
i

ev / ef. Ev before vowels and voiced consonants; ef before voiceless consonants.

Ϊ ϊIn μαϊμού
i

separate i. The diaeresis tells you not to combine with the previous vowel.

Ϋ ϋIn αϋπνία
i

separate i. Υ still has its ordinary i sound, separated from the preceding vowel.