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The Greek alphabet has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th or early 8th century BC. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] It is derived from the earlier Phoenician alphabet , [ 5 ] and was the earliest known alphabetic script to have distinct letters for vowels as well as consonants .
Learn about the Greek alphabet, the first writing system with separate symbols for vowels and consonants. Find out the names, pronunciation, numeric value and more of each letter in the 24-letter Greek alphabet.
Greek alphabet letters are used as math and science symbols. Greek alphabet list. Upper Case Letter Lower Case Letter Greek Letter Name English Equivalent
Upper Case LetterLower Case LetterGreek Letter NameEnglish EquivalentΑαAlphaaΒβBetabΓγGammagΔδDeltad- Overview
- Classical Greek alphabet
- Classical Greek numerals
- Modern Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is a writing system that was developed in Greece about 1000 BCE. It is the direct or indirect ancestor of all modern European alphabets. It was derived from the North Semitic alphabet via that of the Phoenicians.
How is the Greek alphabet used today?
The Greek alphabet is still used for the Greek language today. The letters of the Greek alphabet are now also used as symbols for concepts in equations of the interrelated fields of mathematics and science—for example, the lowercase alpha (⍺) can be used to represent an angle in mathematics.
Is the Greek alphabet the same as the Cyrillic alphabet?
The Greek alphabet is not the same as the Cyrillic alphabet. But the Cyrillic alphabet was heavily based upon the Greek alphabet, so the two writing systems resemble each other. The Cyrillic alphabet was created during the Middle Ages, and it includes additional letters to account for the sounds which Slavic languages use that aren’t present in Greek. The Cyrillic alphabet is now also used for non-Slavic languages, such as Kyrgyz and Tajik.
Why was the Greek alphabet a significant development?
The table indicates the Classical Greek alphabet.
The table indicates the Classical Greek numerals.
The table indicates the Modern Greek alphabet.
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- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn the 24 letters of the Greek alphabet, their names, and how to pronounce them in modern and ancient Greek. Find out how Greek letters are used in math, science, astronomy, and more.
Aug 1, 2023 · The Greek alphabet was the first writing that informed the reader what the words sounded like, whether or not he knew what the words meant. The word "alphabet" itself is Greek, formed from the Greek names of the first two signs in the series [alpha and beta]. Earlier writings, including such West Semitic writings as Phoenician and Hebrew, were ...
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The modern Greek alphabet has 24 letters. It is used to write the Greek language. Greek letters are also frequently used in science and mathematics to represent various values or variables. [1] [2] Most letters in the Greek alphabet have an equivalent in the English language. [3] The twenty-four letters (each in uppercase and lowercase forms) are:
