MyLeoNes™

Meeting the Greek alphabet — Classical languages, 4–6 years

Ancient Greek used its own alphabet, with shapes that are both letters and familiar symbols. Children can recognise a few letters, hear their names and make them with simple marks.

Greek letters have names and shapes

An ancient Greek letter is more than a mark on a page: it has a shape, a name and a sound. Alpha looks like α, beta like β, and omega like ω. We can notice each one without learning the whole alphabet at once.

Why make another alphabet?

People in ancient Greece spoke and wrote their own language, so they needed signs that matched its sounds. Over time, Greek communities used an alphabet shaped for their writing. A new alphabet solved the problem of recording words clearly for readers.

Find alpha, beta and omega

Look at these three signs: α, β, ω. First match α with alpha, because alpha begins with the a sound. Match β with beta, and ω with omega. Now mix the cards and put the signs back in the order alpha, beta, omega.

A shape is not the whole letter

A Greek letter may look familiar, especially α or β, so it is tempting to guess its name from its shape alone. But a sign can look like a picture or a modern symbol. Say the name and listen for the sound as well as looking.

Greek letters still appear

You may see Greek letters on a museum label, in a book about myths, or on a science sign. Alpha, beta and omega are also used as symbols in modern subjects. Recognising their shapes helps you notice where an ancient alphabet is present.

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