A Greek Primer: For Beginners in New Testament Greek

by Wallace N. Stearns

Note 1.—In diphthongs with a long vowel ι is subscribed.

Note 2.—As in music, the difference between long and short is one of time, as

A difference in quality actually appears in pronunciation.

Note 3.—A diphthong is counted long. But in determining accent final –αι– and –οι– are counted short except in the optative mode and in a few words, οἴμοι, οἴκοι. Bt. 3-4; Gl. 5; Gn. 5; H.A. 9-11.

3. The consonants are classified:

(1) Mutes—

Smooth Middle Rough With s Labial, π β φ ψ Palatal, κ γ χ ξ Lingual, τ δ θ ζ

(2) Liquids— λ, μ, ν, ρ, as in English, σ(ς) is a sibilant.

(3) ζ, ξ, ψ are called double consonants. Bt. 12; Gl. 38; Gn. 18-22.

SYLLABLES

1. There are as many syllables in a word as there are separate vowels and diphthongs.

2. Consonants are pronounced with succeeding vowels: λό-γος, πο-λί-της, ἐ-λέ-γε-το. Where two consonants occur together, they are not separated at the beginning of a word or in the case of combinations that do occur at the beginning of the words. G. 97; H.A. 91.