Elementary New Testament Greek, 2014a

Combinations of Vowels (proper diphthongs)
Specic vowels can be found in set pairs, ending either in iota [] or upsilon [].
Each pair of vowels (below) merges together to form a single sound, and will control
a single syllable (beat). Such a merger is called a diphthong.
vowel pairs ending in iota []:
pronounced like the ai in aisle
pronounced like the ei in freight
pronounced like the oi in boil
pronounced like the ui in suite (like the English word we)
vowel pairs ending in upsilon []:
pronounced like the ow in kraut
pronounced like the eu in feud (like the English word you)
pronounced like the eu in feud (Rare. We will pronounce it just as
is pronounced)
pronounced like the ou in soup
pronounced like the ou in soup (Never found in the NT functioning
as a diphthong. We include it here because this combination of
vowels appears in the NT in the proper name Moses, but in the
special condition explained below.)
1) Only these particular combinations of vowels will form diphthongs. With any
other sequence of vowels, each vowel will retain its distinct sound, and each vowel
will control a separate syllable (or beat).
2) On rare occasions when one of these vowel combinations is not to be read as a
diphthong, our modern editors will set double dots above the second vowel. This
textual marking, called a diaeresis [die-AIR-uh-sis], tells us to pronounce each vowel
separately, thereby creating an additional syllable. (This happens most commonly
with proper names.)
For example, in the Greek form of the proper name Isaiah [] we will nd a
diaeresis over the iota [], breaking what normally would have been a diphthong []
into two separate vowel sounds []. Now we know to treat this as a four, not a
three syllable word:
(With the diaeresis, we must treat and as separate vowels,
each with its own beat.)
(Without the diaeresis, we would have treated and as a
single sound, as a diphthong.)
Similarly, in the Greek form of the proper name Moses [] we will nd a
diaeresis over the upsilon [], breaking what normally would have been a diphthong
[] into two separate vowel sounds []. Now we know to treat this as a three,
not a two syllable word:
(With the diaeresis, we must treat and as separate vowels,
each with its own beat.)
(Without the diaeresis, we would have treated and as a
single sound, as a diphthong.)
Combinations of Vowels (improper diphthongs)
Three vowels ( ) are sometimes found with tiny iotas [] written beneath them.
This iota subscript does not change the pronunciation of the main vowel. Though
these iotas can be thought of as the only silent letters in Greek, they are important.
pronounced like a simple
pronounced like a simple
pronounced like a simple
1: Reading Greek Aloud
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