Greek Alphabet
Complete Greek Alphabet
| Name | Uppercase | Lowercase | Pronunciation | English | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| al-fuh | a | α-particle | |||
| bay-tuh | b | β-radiation | |||
| gam-uh | g | γ-rays | |||
| del-tuh | d | Change (Δx) | |||
| ep-suh-lon | e | Error (ε) | |||
| zay-tuh | z | ζ-potential | |||
| ay-tuh | ē | Efficiency (η) | |||
| thay-tuh | th | Angle (θ) | |||
| eye-oh-tuh | i | Unit vector | |||
| cap-uh | k | Conductivity | |||
| lam-duh | l | Wavelength | |||
| mew | m | Micro (μm) | |||
| new | n | Frequency (ν) | |||
| zye | x | Random var. | |||
| om-uh-cron | o | Big O | |||
| pie | p | 3.14159... | |||
| row | r | Density (ρ) | |||
| sig-muh | s | Sum (Σ) | |||
| taw | t | Time const. | |||
| up-suh-lon | u | Energy | |||
| fye | ph | Phase (φ) | |||
| kye | ch | χ² test | |||
| sye | ps | Wave fn. | |||
| oh-may-guh | ō | Ohm (Ω) |
Scientific Applications
| Symbol | Name | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Angular acceleration | α = dω/dt | |
| Beta | Beta radiation | β⁻ decay | |
| Gamma | Gamma radiation | γ-rays | |
| Lambda | Wavelength | f = c/λ | |
| Mu | Micro (10^-6) | μm (micrometer) | |
| Rho | Density | ρ = m/V | |
| Theta | Angle | sin θ | |
| Omega | Electrical resistance | R = 100Ω | |
| Eta | Efficiency | η = W_out/W_in | |
| Tau | Time constant | τ = RC | |
| Epsilon | Permittivity | ε₀ | |
| Sigma | Standard deviation | σ = √(Σ(x-μ)²/N) |
About the Greek Alphabet
The Greek alphabet emerged around 800 BCE and became the foundation for many modern alphabets, including Latin and Cyrillic. It consists of 24 letters and continues to be used in modern Greek, mathematics, science, and engineering.
Click any symbol below to copy it to your clipboard. Each letter includes its pronunciation, English equivalent, and a common usage example from science or mathematics.
Famous Equations
Einstein's Mass-Energy
Newton's Second Law
Pythagorean Theorem
Euler's Identity
Common Use Cases
Physics
- Wavelength in wave equations
- Lorentz factor in special relativity
- Time constant in decay processes
Mathematics
- Summation in series and sequences
- Circle ratio and trigonometry
- Integration in calculus
Statistics
- Population mean
- Standard deviation
- Correlation coefficient
Historical Significance
The Greek alphabet evolved from the Phoenician alphabet and became one of the most influential writing systems in history. It introduced vowels as distinct letters, making it more precise for representing spoken language.
This alphabet was crucial in preserving ancient Greek literature, philosophy, and scientific works that continue to influence modern thought.
Modern Applications
Mathematics: Greek letters represent variables, constants, and functions. They're essential in calculus, geometry, and analysis.
Physics: From elementary particles (α, β, γ) to physical properties (ρ, λ, μ), Greek letters are fundamental to physical notation.
Statistics: Greek letters denote population parameters (μ, σ, ρ) and hypothesis testing values (α, β).