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The ABCs of Greek - Learn the Greek Alphabet and Smooth Your Travel in Greece

By , About.com Guide

7 of 9

Learn the Greek Alphabet - the Greek Letters Tau, Upsilon, and Phi

Whew! After the previous page, it's a relief to have a letter that looks like its equivalent in English - the Tau or Taf. Look, you've already learned it. Good for you!

Now what's up with "upsilon"? The big form looks like a "Y" and the lowercase form looks like a "u". But they're both pronounced like an "i". (Don't get the wrong impression - there may be multiple letters for "i" in Greek, but you can't just go around saying "i - i - i - i". You have to use the other letters too. Otherwise, people will stare.)

Phinally, we reach Phi. This, along with "psi", has always been my stumbling block. I just can't seem to remember that a circle with a line through it is the "f" sound. Have you got a hint that works? Let me know.

Go on to the next three letters of the Greek alphabet.

You can also practice on some real Greek roadsigns.

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