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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.
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
Language family: Indo-European, Hellenic. Number of speakers: c. 13 million. Spoken in: Greece, Albania, Cyprus, and a number of other countries. First written: 1500 BC. Writing systems: Linear B, Cypriot syllabary, Greek alphabet.
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 .
Aug 1, 2023 · The Greek alphabet allowed for the development of Greek culture on every level. It was adopted by the Etruscans, who then transmitted it to the Romans, who developed Latin script, which became the basis for modern-day alphabetic script and enabled the written word as it is presently known.
