Home Classical, Ancient Near Eastern & Egyptian Studies Pronunciation of Greek Names
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Pronunciation of Greek Names

View more publications by University of Toronto Press
To Publisher Page
Socrates on Trial
This chapter is in the book Socrates on Trial
Pronunciation of Greek NamesThe correct pronunciation of ancient Greek names, like the correct pro-nunciation of ancient Greek words more generally, has been a topic ofdebate since at least the time of Erasmus in the sixteenth century.1Today, matters are complicated by the fact that over the centuries sev-eral distinct traditions governing the pronunciation of classical nameshave arisen. Even so, anglicized pronunciations (for example, the use ofPlayt ́ oh, rather than Plat ́ on when referring to Socrates’ most famouspupil) remain acceptable in most contexts. The phonetic versions of thenames listed below respect this convention and give the most commoncontemporary English pronunciations.2Syllables receiving primary stress are followed by an accent ( ́). Longvowels are written as follows: ‘ay’ for a, ‘ee’ for e, ‘y’ for i, ‘oh’ for o, and‘yoo’ for u. ‘Th’ is pronounced throughout as in think or thank, not as inthis or that. A hard g (as in Greek) is represented by g; a soft g (as in ges-ture) is represented by j. A hard c (as in can) is represented by k; a soft c(as in census) is represented by s. Other consonants are pronounced asin English.Achilles (a kil ́ eez)Acropolis (a krop ́ o lis)Adeimantos (a day mant ́ us)Aeantodorus (ee an to dor ́ us)Aelian (eel ́ i an)Aeschines (ee ́ skin eez)Agora (a ́ gor a)Aiacus (y ́ a kos or ee ́ a kus)Alcibiades (al si by ́ a deez oral ki by ́ a deez)Alexamenos of Teos (a lex ́ a men os of tee ́ os)Amphipolis (am phip ́ o lis)Anaxagoras (an ax ag ́ or as)Antiphon the Kephisian (an ́ ti fon the kef is ́ i an)Anytus (an y ́ tus)Apollo (a pol ́ oh)Apollodorus (a pol o doh ́ rus)Areopagus (a re o ́ pa gus)
© 2017 University of Toronto Press, Toronto

Pronunciation of Greek NamesThe correct pronunciation of ancient Greek names, like the correct pro-nunciation of ancient Greek words more generally, has been a topic ofdebate since at least the time of Erasmus in the sixteenth century.1Today, matters are complicated by the fact that over the centuries sev-eral distinct traditions governing the pronunciation of classical nameshave arisen. Even so, anglicized pronunciations (for example, the use ofPlayt ́ oh, rather than Plat ́ on when referring to Socrates’ most famouspupil) remain acceptable in most contexts. The phonetic versions of thenames listed below respect this convention and give the most commoncontemporary English pronunciations.2Syllables receiving primary stress are followed by an accent ( ́). Longvowels are written as follows: ‘ay’ for a, ‘ee’ for e, ‘y’ for i, ‘oh’ for o, and‘yoo’ for u. ‘Th’ is pronounced throughout as in think or thank, not as inthis or that. A hard g (as in Greek) is represented by g; a soft g (as in ges-ture) is represented by j. A hard c (as in can) is represented by k; a soft c(as in census) is represented by s. Other consonants are pronounced asin English.Achilles (a kil ́ eez)Acropolis (a krop ́ o lis)Adeimantos (a day mant ́ us)Aeantodorus (ee an to dor ́ us)Aelian (eel ́ i an)Aeschines (ee ́ skin eez)Agora (a ́ gor a)Aiacus (y ́ a kos or ee ́ a kus)Alcibiades (al si by ́ a deez oral ki by ́ a deez)Alexamenos of Teos (a lex ́ a men os of tee ́ os)Amphipolis (am phip ́ o lis)Anaxagoras (an ax ag ́ or as)Antiphon the Kephisian (an ́ ti fon the kef is ́ i an)Anytus (an y ́ tus)Apollo (a pol ́ oh)Apollodorus (a pol o doh ́ rus)Areopagus (a re o ́ pa gus)
© 2017 University of Toronto Press, Toronto

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Acknowledgments vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Production Notes 21
  6. Classroom Notes 25
  7. Pronunciation of Greek Names 29
  8. Socrates on Trial
  9. List of Characters 35
  10. Act One. Clouds 37
  11. Act Two. Apology 73
  12. Act Three. Crito and Phaedo 105
  13. Notes 123
  14. Bibliography 131
Readers are also interested in:
https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442685543-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Acknowledgments vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Production Notes 21
  6. Classroom Notes 25
  7. Pronunciation of Greek Names 29
  8. Socrates on Trial
  9. List of Characters 35
  10. Act One. Clouds 37
  11. Act Two. Apology 73
  12. Act Three. Crito and Phaedo 105
  13. Notes 123
  14. Bibliography 131
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 24.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.3138/9781442685543-005/html?srsltid=AfmBOorEgRPvAbzB3likey-bMIWrHzPVQIiTKhu0YKMYbYQcGCrLDAFZ
Scroll to top button