Greek vs Latin Alphabet Comparison

The Latin alphabet, used for English and most European languages, evolved from the Greek alphabet through Etruscan intermediaries around the 7th century BCE. Understanding their relationship helps explain many features of modern Western writing systems.

Letter-by-Letter Comparison

Key Differences

Historical Evolution

The transformation from Greek to Latin alphabet occurred through several stages:

1. Greek colonization (8th century BCE): Greeks brought their alphabet to Italy
2. Etruscan adoption (7th century BCE): Etruscans modified Greek letters for their language
3. Roman adaptation (7th-6th century BCE): Romans borrowed from Etruscans and Greeks
4. Classical standardization (1st century BCE): Latin alphabet stabilized with 23 letters
5. Medieval additions: J and U distinguished from I and V
6. Modern expansions: W added, diacritics developed for various languages

Writing Direction

• Early Greek: Boustrophedon (alternating left-to-right and right-to-left)
• Classical Greek: Left-to-right (established by 5th century BCE)
• Latin: Always left-to-right (inherited from later Greek)

Influence on Other Scripts

Modern Usage Comparison

Related Topics

• Ancient vs Modern Greek Alphabet
• History of the Greek Alphabet
• Greek Alphabet Order
• Greek Symbols and Their Meanings