The Greek Alphabet

The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters, each with uppercase and lowercase forms. The system developed from the Phoenician script in the 8th century BCE and was the first alphabet to include vowels. The word “alphabet” itself derives from the first two Greek letters, alpha and beta. The Classical alphabet used in modern Greece includes seven vowels (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω) and the remaining letters are consonants.

This site provides in‑depth information about each letter, the history of the script, its numerical system, pronunciation, scientific uses and the ways you can type or copy each character. Use the navigation menu to explore or select a letter from the table below.

Why Greek Letters Matter

Greek letters are widely used in mathematics, science and engineering to denote constants, variables and functions. For example, the capital omega (Ω) denotes electrical resistance measured in ohms, rho (ρ) stands for density and resistivity and pi (π) represents the famous ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Their distinct shapes reduce confusion with Latin letters and make equations more readable. Learn about these applications on the Uses page.

Quick Facts

• Origin: Developed from the Phoenician script around the 8th century BCE.
• Structure: 24 letters, including seven vowels and 15 consonants.
• Influence: The Greek alphabet is the ancestor of the Latin script used in most European languages.
• Pronunciation: Each letter is pronounced the same way whenever it appears, with no silent letters.
• Uses: Symbols for constants, variables and functions in mathematics and science.

Subject-Specific Guides

• Greek Letters in Mathematics — Complete guide to mathematical notation and usage
• Greek Letters in Physics — Symbols and constants used in physics
• Greek Letters in Statistics — Statistical notation and parameters
• Greek Letters in Engineering — Stress, strain, damping, control systems
• Greek Letters in Chemistry — Sigma/pi bonds, alpha/beta anomers, spectroscopy
• Greek Letters in Biology & Medicine — Protein structure, receptors, brain waves, omega-3
• Greek Letters in Finance — Alpha, beta, sigma, and the option Greeks
• Greek Letters in Computer Science — Lambda calculus, Big-O, sigma types
• How to Type Greek Letters — Keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, Linux & mobile
• LaTeX Greek Letters — Complete LaTeX command reference with examples
• HTML Greek Entities — HTML entity codes for web development

Learning Tools & Practice

• Greek Alphabet Quiz — Test your knowledge with interactive questions
• Interactive Flashcards — Study with digital flashcards
• Letter Comparison Tool — Compare any two Greek letters side-by-side
• How to Memorize the Greek Alphabet — Mnemonics, songs, and a study schedule
• Look-Alike Letters Guide — Greek letters that look like English (and how to tell them apart)
• Greek Alphabet for Kids — Simple version with memory tricks and games
• Printable PDF Chart — Download or print a complete reference chart

Culture, History & Comparisons

• Fraternities & Sororities — Why Greek life uses Greek letters; major organizations
• Biblical Greek — Koine Greek alphabet, pronunciation, nomina sacra
• Ancient vs. Modern Greek — How the language has changed over 2,800 years
• Greek vs. Latin Alphabet — How English letters descend from Greek
• Greek vs. Cyrillic Alphabet — Russian and Slavic descendants of Greek
• NATO Phonetic vs. Greek Alphabet — "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie" vs. Greek
• Greek Alphabet in Culture — Idioms, brands, and pop culture

Quick Reference Tools

• Copy & Paste — Instantly copy any Greek letter to clipboard
• Text Generator — Convert English text to Greek letters
• Interactive Chart — Explore all letters with details