Note: There is a printable version of these exercises under the "printables" heading to your right.
- Write out the alphabet, and the following Greek passage. Pay close attention to the form of the letters and to the placement of accents.
Ἡροδότου Θουρίου ἱστορίης ἀπόδεξις ἥδε, ὡς μήτε τὰ γενόμενα ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τῷ χρόνῳ ἐξίτηλα γένηται, μήτε ἔργα μεγάλα τε καὶ θωμαστά, τὰ μὲν Ἕλλησι, τὰ δὲ βαρβάροισι ἀποδεχθέντα, ἀκλέα γένηται, τά τε ἄλλα καὶ δι’ ἣν αἰτίην ἐπολέμησαν ἀλλήλοισι.
2. Review the combinations below, and write the diphthong or vowel, along with appropriate accent mark, that results.
- άὰ =
- ά + ὲ =
- υί =
- ο + έ =
- έὲ =
- οό =
- άὺ =
- ίὶ =
- α + έ =
- ά + ὸ =
- όὸ =
- έὶ =
- ύὺ =
- οί =
- ε + ά =
- όὺ =
- αά =
- έ + ὸ =
- α + ό =
- αύ =
- εέ =
- έ + ὰ =
- ιί =
- εί =
- υύ =
- ό + ὲ =
- ού =
- ο + ά =
- έὺ =
- όὶ =
- άὶ =
- αί =
- ε + ό =
- ό + ὰ =
- ύὶ =
- εύ =
3. The following are ancient Greek words and their definitions. Say them out loud in Greek. How do you think the ancient definitions led to the modern ones?
ἄγγελος messenger
ἀθλητής competitor for a prize
ἀμνηστία forgetting
ἀναρχία a place or time with no ruler
ἀποκάλυψις uncovering, revelation
ἄρωμα spice
ἁρμονία joint, agreement
ἄτομος uncut
βίος life
βοτάνη grass
γένεσις birth
γεωμετρία measuring the earth
γράμμα letter (of the alphabet)
γραφή writing, drawing
γυμνάσιον a place for exercising
δαίµων divinity, demon
διάβολος deceiver
δίπλωμα paper folded in half
δόγμα opinion, decree
δύω two
ἐγώ I
εἰρήνη peace
εὐαγγέλιον (reward for) good news
ζωή life
ἱπποπόταμος river horse
ἱστορία research
καρδία heart
κατάλογος enrollment register
κλῖμαξ ladder
κόσμος order
κρατήρ mixing bowl
κρίσις judgment
κύριος master, Lord
κύκλος circle
μαθηματικά mathematics
μανία madness
μαρτυρία testimony
μηχανικός engineer
μυστήριον secret
οἰκονομία household management
ὂ μικρόν small “o”
παλίνδρομος running backward
παραβολή comparison, parable
ποιητής maker, creater
πολιτικά politics
προφήτης interpreter
ῥαψῳδία recitation
ῥητορική the field of speechmaking
ῥινόκερως horn-nosed
σκελετόν dried out
σοφία wisdom
σπέρμα seed
ὑπόθεσις foundation, principle, plan
φιλοσοφία love of wisdom
φωσφόρος bringing light
φωνή voice
χαρακτήρ mark
χάρισμα grace, gift
ψυχή soul
ὦ μέγα big “o”
The following are lists of ancient Greek words and an additional word to be added to each of them. Combine them to form modern English words.
+ λόγος word, understanding, account
ἀρχαῖος ancient
ἀστέροι stars
βίος life
εὖ well
ζῷον living thing
θεός god
μῦθος story
οἶκος home (hint: οι is later pronounced e)
τέχνη skill
χρόνος time
+ σαῦρος lizard
ἄλλος other
ἀπάτη deception
βροντή thunder
δεῖνος awesome
στέγος roof
τύραννος tyrant
+ γόνυ knee + γραμμή line
πέντε five
ἕξ six
ἑπτά seven
ὀκτώ eight
δέκα ten
δώδεκα twelve
+ ἰατρικά healing, medical
βαρύς weight
παιδίον little child
ποδές feet
ψυχή soul
