Greek pronunciation might seem tricky at first, but once you get the rhythm and key sounds, you'll be speaking like a local in no time! The great news? Greek spelling is almost always phonetic, meaning what you see is what you say.
Let’s dive into the most effective Greek pronunciation tips so you can speak with confidence and sound natural to native speakers.
1. Master the Greek Diphthongs (Double Letters)
Greek uses combinations of vowels that have one sound. Know these and you’re halfway there:
- αι = e like in pet (e.g., και = ke)
- ει, οι, υι = ee like in see (e.g., παιδί = pedí)
- ου = oo like in food (e.g., που = poo)
- αυ = av or af depending on the next letter (e.g., αύριο = ávrio, αυτός = aftós)
2. Roll Your R’s
Greek ρ (rho) is a rolled R, like in Spanish or Italian. It gives your speech a true Greek flavor.
Tip: Start practicing with words like:
- ρόδα (róda – wheel)
- ράδιο (rádio – radio)
3. Stress the Right Syllable – Always!
Greek words always have one accent mark (´) on the stressed syllable:
- καφές = kafÉS
- παράθυρο = paRÁthi-ro
⚠️ Misplacing the stress can make a word hard to understand—or change its meaning.
4. Watch Out for Silent or Altered Letters
Some letters aren’t pronounced how English speakers expect:
- Γγ before ε, ι sounds like a soft y:
- γεια σου = ya sou
- Ντ (ν + τ) = sounds like d
- Μπ (μ + π) = sounds like b
- Examples:
- ντομάτα = domáta (tomato)
- μπαλκόνι = balkóni (balcony)
5. The Letter “Χ” Isn’t What You Think
- It’s not like the English “x”.
-
Χ is a rough “h” sound made at the back of the throat, like in the Scottish “loch” or German “Bach.”
Example: - χαίρετε = hérete (hello – formal)
6. Short Vowels – Don’t Drag Them Out
Greek vowels are generally short and crisp, not stretched like in English.
Say:
- νερό (ne-ró)
Not: - neee-rooo
7. Speak Smoothly and Keep It Flowing
Greek is a fluid language — syllables are evenly timed. Don’t pause too long between words. Think melody and rhythm.
8. Listen and Repeat Native Speech
Use Greek podcasts, YouTube videos, or music. Repeat phrases aloud and try to copy the melody, not just the words.
Some great starter phrases to practice:
- Καλημέρα! (kaliméra – good morning)
- Πόσο κοστίζει; (póso kostízi – how much does it cost?)
- Συγγνώμη (signómi – excuse me / sorry)
✅ Quick Practice Checklist:
- 🔊 Accent = one stress per word
- 🌀 Roll the R
- 🧩 Learn diphthongs
- 💬 Repeat after natives
- ✂️ Keep vowels short and sharp
- 🎧 Listen every day!
-
Want to sound like a Greek local in just a week?
Challenge yourself to say one new Greek sentence out loud each day. The more you speak, the smoother it gets.
💬 Which Greek sound is hardest for you?
