In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we use the following symbols to make Greek teaching and study convenient. These marks require no special characters and can be easily typed on any device and in plain text files. Greek characters may be used when writing by hand, but it is not recommended when typing. A little effort to learn the symbols below can greatly improve Greek studies and discussion. This transliteration also helps students to recognize English words derived from Greek. For the Greek ἀρχῇ another transliteration method in use would give a)rxh=|, whereas ours gives arche-^(i), which looks much closer to the English derivative arche- as in archaeology and architect.
Please note that while this system of symbols has been carefully developed, it must be subject to change as we study together and seek to avoid any confusion.
Uppercase Letters
A = alpha, B = beta, G = gamma, D = delta, E = epsilon, Z = zeta, E- = eta, TH = theta, I = iota,
K = kappa, L = lambda, M = mu, N = nu, X = xi, O = omicron, P = pi, R = rho, S = sigma, T = tau,
U = upsilon, PH = phi, CH = chi, PS = psi, O- = omega.
Lowercase Letters
a = alpha, b = beta, g = gamma, d = delta, e = epsilon, z = zeta, e- = eta, th = theta, i = iota,
k = kappa, l = lambda, m = mu, n = nu, x = xi, o = omicron, p = pi, r = rho, s = sigma, t = tau,
u = upsilon, ph = phi, ch = chi, ps = psi, o- = omega.
Subscripts
a(i) = alpha with iota subscript e-(i) = eta with iota subscript
Accents
Accents are written after the accented vowel or diphthong. Grave accents are not marked.
a/ = alpha with acute accent a\ = alpha with grave accent a^ = alpha with circumflex accent
ai/ = diphthong with acute ai\ = diphthong with grave accent ai^ = diphthong with circumflex
The grave accent can normally be omitted.
Aspiration
Marks of aspiration are written before vowels and diphthongs, but after the consonant rho for the sake of English vocabulary.
ha = aspirated alpha he = aspirated epsilon he- = aspirated eta hi = aspirated iota
ho = aspirated omicron hu = aspirated upsilon ho- = aspirated omega
rh = aspirated rho
Example
Below, you can practice reading the transliterated symbols for the first five verses of the Gospel of St. John.
1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.
Transliteration:
1 En arche-(i)^ e-^n ho lo/gos kai ho lo/gos e-^n pros ton theo/n, kai theos e-^n ho lo/gos. 2 hou^tos e-^n en arche-(i)^ pros ton theo/n. 3 pa/nta di’ autou^ ege/neto, kai cho-ris autou^ ege/neto oude hen ho ge/gonen. 4 en auto-(i)^ zo-e- e-^n, kai he- zo-e- e-^n to pho-^s to-^n anthro-/po-n. 5 kai to pho-^s en te-(i)^ skoti/a(i) phai/nei, kai he- skoti/a auto ou kate/laben.
This may seem complicated at first glance, but when compared to typing in Greek characters, it will be found very convenient. This symbols can easily be typed on any device and work in simple text files as well. Remember that transliteration is not intended to help reading Greek, but to allow us to communicate more easily when typing concerning Greek studies. Handwritten work requires no transliteration.
God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
