LET'S READ & WRITE GREEK!
PART 4: Consonant Combinations
As we saw in the previous parts, almost all pairs of identical consonants are pronounced like a single consonant (e.g., 'β' or 'ββ' [v], 'τ' or 'ττ' [t], etc.).
However, there are some consonant combinations which are pronounced in a special way:
However, there are some consonant combinations which are pronounced in a special way:
CONSONANT COMBINATION |
PRONUNCIATION |
ΜΠ μπ |
[b] (usually [mb] in the middle of a word) |
ΝΤ ντ |
[d] (usually [nd] in the middle of a word) |
ΓΚ γκ |
[g] (usually [ng] in the middle of a word) |
ΓΓ γγ (never at the beginning of a word) |
[g] (usually [ng] in the middle of a word) |
ΤΣ τσ |
[ts] |
ΤΖ τζ |
[dz] |
Now we'll combine these consonants and the consonants in PARTS 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e with the vowels we have learned to form words.
In the WORD column below, the word is written in small letters first and then in capital letters. The stress mark (') you see on the vowels indicates the stressed syllable of the word. This means that when I pronounce the word, the stress of my voice should fall on that specific vowel and for this reason, it will be slightly longer and louder. Words written in capital letters do not take a stress mark.
In the WORD column below, the word is written in small letters first and then in capital letters. The stress mark (') you see on the vowels indicates the stressed syllable of the word. This means that when I pronounce the word, the stress of my voice should fall on that specific vowel and for this reason, it will be slightly longer and louder. Words written in capital letters do not take a stress mark.
WORD |
MEANING |
PRONUNCIATION |
μπάλα ΜΠΑΛΑ |
ball |
[bála] |
μπαλόνι ΜΠΑΛΟΝΙ |
balloon |
[balóni] |
μπαίνω ΜΠΑΙΝΩ |
I get in |
[béno] |
έμπορος ΕΜΠΟΡΟΣ |
merchant |
[émboros]/ [éboros] |
λάμπα ΛΑΜΠΑ |
lamp |
[lámba]/ [lába] |
καμπάνα ΚΑΜΠΑΝΑ |
church bell |
[kambána]/ [kabána] |
ντύνω ΝΤΥΝΩ |
I dress |
[díno] |
ντεκόρ ΝΤΕΚΟΡ |
decor |
[dekór] |
πάντα ΠΑΝΤΑ |
always |
[pánda]/ [páda] |
απέναντι ΑΠΕΝΑΝΤΙ |
across |
[apénandi]/ [apénadi] |
γκάζι ΓΚΑΖΙ |
gas |
[gázi] |
γκαρίζω ΓΚΑΡΙΖΩ |
I bray |
[garízo] |
έγκυος ΕΓΚΥΟΣ |
pregnant |
[éngios]/ [égios] |
αγκάθι ΑΓΚΑΘΙ |
thorn |
[angáθi]/ [agáθi] |
αγκινάρα ΑΓΚΙΝΑΡΑ |
artichoke |
[anginára]/ [aginára] |
αγγελία ΑΓΓΕΛΙΑ |
classified ad |
[angelía]/ [agelía] |
άγγελος ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ |
angel |
[ángelos]/ [ágelos] |
φεγγάρι ΦΕΓΓΑΡΙ |
moon |
[fengári]/ [fegári] |
τσεκούρι ΤΣΕΚΟΥΡΙ |
axe |
[tsekúri] |
ταράτσα ΤΑΡΑΤΣΑ |
rooftop |
[tarátsa] |
τσάντα ΤΣΑΝΤΑ |
purse |
[tsánda]/ [tsáda] |
τζατζίκι ΤΖΑΤΖΙΚΙ |
tzatziki sauce |
[dzadzík'i] |
τζάκι ΤΖΑΚΙ |
fireplace |
[dzák'i] |
ταξιτζής ΤΑΞΙΤΖΗΣ |
taxi driver |
[taksidzís] |