Do You Know Your Alpha Beta Gammas? Quiz

Answer: Xi Omicron Pi

Xi, Omicron and Pi are the 14th, 15th and 16th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Xi (uppercase Ξ, lowercase ξ) is pronounced [ksai] or [zai], and makes a [ks] sound when spoken.

Omicron (uppercase Ο, lowercase ο) sounds like [o], a close-mid back rounded vowel.

Pi (uppercase Π, lowercase π) is pronounced [pai], and makes a [p] sound. Amongst its many other uses, the lowercase π is known for representing the value 3.14159265...

Answer: Epsilon Zeta

Epsilon and Zeta are the 5th and 6th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Epsilon (uppercase Ε, lowercase ε) sounds like [e], a close-mid front unrounded vowel.

Zeta (uppercase Ζ, lowercase ζ) is pronounced [ˈzita], and sounds like [z], a voiced alveolar fricative, in modern Greek.

Answer: Alpha Beta

Alpha and Beta are the 1st and 2nd letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Alpha (uppercase Α, lowercase α) sounds like the short vowel [a].

Beta (uppercase Β, lowercase β) sounds like [v], a voiced labiodental fricative, in modern Greek.

Answer: Lambda Mu Nu

Lambda, Mu and Nu are the 11th, 12th and 13th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Lambda (uppercase Λ, lowercase λ) is pronounced [lam(b)da] and sounds like the Latinate [L] when spoken.

Mu (uppercase Μ, lowercase μ) is pronounced [mi] in modern Greek, and sounds like the bilabial nasal [m].

Nu (uppercase Ν, lowercase ν) is pronounced [ni] in modern Greek, and sounds like the alveolar nasal [n].

Answer: Rho Sigma Tau

Rho, Sigma and Tau are the 17th, 18th and 19th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Rho (uppercase Ρ, lowercase ρ) sounds like a rolled or trilled [r], or alveolar trill.

Sigma (upper-case Σ, lower-case σ, lower-case in word-final position ς) and sounds like a voiceless alveolar fricative [s], unless it comes before an [m] or [n], at which point it changes to a [z] sound.

Tau (uppercase Τ, lowercase τ) is pronounced is pronounced [taʊ] in English, but in modern Greek it is pronounced [taf]. It sounds like the voiceless alveolar stop [t].

Answer: Gamma Delta

Gamma and Delta are the 3rd and 4th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Gamma (uppercase Γ, lowercase γ) has the sound of a voiced velar fricative [ɣ], meaning that it is produced by constricting air flow through a narrow channel at the place of articulation, causing turbulence. It may also have the sound of a voiced palatal fricative [ʝ], which is similar, but involves the hard palate.

Delta (uppercase Δ, lowercase δ) sounds like the voiced dental fricative [th] in modern Greek, as in 'this' or 'that'.

Answer: Chi Psi Omega

Chi, Psi and Omega are the 22nd, 23rd and 24th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Chi (uppercase Χ, lowercase χ) is pronounced [kai] and has two distinctive sounds when spoken in modern Greek. When placed before [e] or [i] vowels, it sounds like the voiceless palatal fricative [ç], like the German 'ich'. In front of [a], [o] or [u] vowels and consonants it sounds like the voiceless velar fricative [x], as in the German 'ach'.

Psi (uppercase Ψ, lowercase ψ) is pronounced [sai] or [psai] in English, and [ˈpsiː] in modern Greek. It sounds like [ps] when spoken.

Omega (uppercase Ω, lowercase ω) sounds like a long open-mid o [ɔː], like in the word 'raw'.

Answer: Eta Theta

Eta and Theta are the 7th and 8th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Eta (uppercase Η, lowercase η) originally represented the voiceless glottal fricative sound [h], but in modern Greek it is the close front unrounded vowel [i].

Theta (uppercase Θ, lowercase θ) sounds like the voiceless dental non-sibilant fricative [θ], which sounds like the [th] in 'thing'.

Answer: Upsilon Phi

Upsilon and Phi are the 20th and 21st letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Upsilon (uppercase Υ, lowercase υ) sounds like the continental [i] or English 'ee' vowel sound.

Phi (uppercase Φ, lowercase φ) is pronounced [fai] and sounds like the voiceless labiodental fricative [f].

Answer: Iota Kappa

Iota and Kappa are the 9th and 10th letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively.

Iota (uppercase Ι, lowercase ι) represents the sound [i], the close front unrounded vowel similar to Eta. Vocally, the sounds are essentially interchangeable, although their development from Ancient Greek was different.

Kappa ((uppercase Κ, lowercase κ) sounds like the voiceless velar plosive [k] when spoken.