The following information and images are provided courtesy of Ρωμηός (Rhomaios). Please follow on Instagram.
Greek Cypriot Alphabet
1. Alphabet
- Αα: [a]∼[ɐ]
- Ββ: [v]
- Γγ: [ɣ] / [ʝ] before front vowels
- Δδ: [ð]
- Εε: [e̞]
- Ζζ: [zː]
- Ηη: [i]
- Θθ: [θ]
- Ιι: [i]
- Κκ: [k] / [c] before front vowels
- Λλ: [l]
- Μμ: [m]
- Νν: [n]
- Ξξ: [ks]
- Οο: [ɔ]∼[o̞]
- Ππ: [p]
- Ρρ: [ɾ] / [r] in some consonant clusters
- Σσς: [s]
- Ττ: [t]
- Υυ: [i]
- Φφ: [f]
- Χχ: [x] / [ç] before front vowels
- Ψψ: [ps]
- Ωω: [ɔ]∼[o̞]
2. Digraphs
- ◦◦ (consonants): [◦ː]
- Αι αι: [e̞]
- Αυ αυ: [av] / [af] before voiceless consonants
- Γγ γγ and Γκ γκ: [ŋɡ] / [ŋɟ] before front vowels
- Γχ γχ: [xː] / [çː] before front vowels
- Γι γι: [ʝ] ∗
- Ει ει: [i]
- Ευ ευ: [e̞v] / [e̞f] before voiceless consonants
- Ζι ζι: [ʒː] (not always)
- Ηυ ηυ: [iv] / [if] before voiceless consonants
- Κι κι: [c] ∗
- Κκ κκ: [khː] / [chː] before front vowels
- Κκι κκι: [chː] ∗
- Λι λι: [ʎː] ∗
- Μι μι: [mɲ] ∗
- Μπμπ: [mb]
- Νι νι: [ɲː] ∗
- Ντ ντ: [nd]
- Ξι ξι: [kʃ] ∗
- Οι οι: [i]
- Ου ου: [u]
- Ππ ππ: [phː]
- Ρρ ρρ: [r]
- Σι σι: [ʃ] ∗
- Σσι σσι: [ʃː] ∗
- Τζι τζι [dʒ] ∗
- Τσι τσι: [tʃ] /[tʃhː] ∗
- Ττ ττ: [thː]
- Χι χι: [ç] ∗
- Ψι ψι: [pʃ] ∗
∗ Only when unstressed and before vowels, minus some exceptions
3. A Brief Phonological Overview
3.1 Word-final [n]
The realization of the word-final [n] depends on what follows:
- If nothing follows, the [n] is elided, while the preceding vowel is articulated with an altered tongue position (in the same position an alveolar [n] would be realized).
- If it is followed by a vowel, it is realized as an alveolar [n].
- If it is followed by a voiceless stop consonant, it either stays [n] (before [t]) or becomes the other nasals [m] (before [p]) and [ŋ] (before [k] and [c]), while the stop consonants become voiced.
- If it is followed by any other consonant, the [n] is elided and said consonant is geminated.
- If it is followed by a consonant cluster that isn't a nasal+voiced stop consonant combination or it doesn't include a liquid consonant, the [n] is elided or there is an epenthetic [i] between the [n] (which is now realized) and the consonant cluster.
The last four points also generally apply to consonant clusters involving [n] within words or single utterances.
3.2 Stress
Cypriot Greek has dynamic stress, with a minor elongation and elevation in pitch. It only occurs once per word, and words can be stressed up to the fourth syllable from the end (the one before the antepenultimate syllable), contrasting with the antepenultimate syllable of Standard Modern Greek.
3.3 Yeísmo
[ʎː] in some people's idiolect is realized as [ʝː].
3.4 Fricative fluidity
Cypriot Greek exhibits some regular and irregular allophonic fricative changes in a variety of environments, depending in part in regional sub-variety and a person's idiolect:
- ɣ → x
- ð → θ
- v → f
devoicing before voiceless consonants
- f → x/ç before front vowels
- θ → x/ç before front vowels
- v → ɣ/ʝ before front vowels
- v → ð
- ð → v
- ɣ → v (very rare)
- ð → ɣ/ʝ before front vowels
- c → tʃ
- s → z (before voiced consonant)
- s → h
- x → h
- ɣ → ∅
- ð → ∅
- v → ∅
rare case instead of elision
intervocalic elision
- ʃ → ç (region-specific for words that etymologically derive from χ + front vowel)
The following consonant cluster allophones also appear occasionally:
- θc → cː
- fc → cː
Language Genealogy
.png)
This chart maps the historical development of the Greek language from its ancient roots to its modern varieties. You'll find "Cypriot Greek" listed under the southeastern dialects, showing how it's related to other dialects like Dodecanesian and Southern Peloponnesian.
Deep History:
Cypriot Greek is grouped under Southeastern varieties, specifically under Southern and Eastern dialectal lines — alongside Dodecanesian and parts of the Peloponnese.
Isolated Evolution = Unique Identity:
Since Cyprus is geographically isolated, its version of Greek has preserved older features (like gemination and vowel quality) that were lost in Standard Greek.
Contact with Other Languages:
Cyprus's history of contact with Turkish, English, Italian, and French also influenced the phonology and vocabulary — something you can tie into both your pronunciation and idioms pages.
Phonetic Features
Greek Cypriot dialect features several distinctive phonetic characteristics:
- Preservation of ancient Greek double consonants
- Unique gemination patterns
- Distinctive vowel qualities
- Special consonant clusters
Phonemic Inventory
This phonetic chart shows all the consonant and vowel sounds used in Cypriot Greek. It uses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to represent each sound based on its place and manner of articulation (e.g., bilabial, dental, palatal). This system is useful because it removes ambiguity — if you know how the symbol is pronounced, you can speak the sound correctly even if you've never seen the word before.
Gemination Focus:
Cypriot Greek retains geminate consonants (e.g., [tt], [kk], [pp]), which are not used in Standard Modern Greek. You can explain how they influence rhythm and stress.
Rich Consonant System:
The chart includes aspirated plosives, post-alveolar fricatives, and even rare phonemes like [ʎ] or [ç] — helping learners understand why Cypriot Greek sounds "sharper" or more "crisp."
Vowel Placement:
The vowel chart shows front, central, and back vowels — many of which exist in Cypriot Greek but are rounded or unrounded depending on context, especially in unstressed positions.
IPA = International Clarity:
You should emphasize that IPA allows anyone learning Cypriot Greek to pronounce things accurately without needing to "guess" from spelling.
We would like thank Mr. Halil Karapaşaoglu for his valuable help in the development of this Turkish Cypriot phonemic inventory
Historical Development
Turkish Cypriot dialect evolved from Anatolian Turkish after the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1571. Over centuries of coexistence with Greek Cypriots and influence from other Mediterranean languages, it developed distinctive features that set it apart from Standard Turkish.
The dialect has been influenced by:
- Cypriot Greek phonology and vocabulary
- Ottoman Turkish preservation (some archaic features)
- English during the British colonial period
- Conversion from Italian, French, Jew and Armenian residences
- Contact from Trade Languages such as Arabic
Turkish Cypriot Phonetic System
Turkish Cypriot dialect differs from Standard Turkish in both sound and grammar. One of the biggest differences is the question formation. Instead of using the question particle "mi/mı/mu/mü", the dialect often relies on intonation patterns similar to those in Cypriot Greek.
Distinctive Phonological Features
Vowel Harmony: While Standard Turkish has strict vowel harmony rules, Turkish Cypriot dialect sometimes breaks these patterns, especially in borrowed words.
Stress Patterns: Unlike Standard Turkish where stress typically falls on the final syllable, Turkish Cypriot often shifts stress to earlier syllables in certain words.
Consonant Clusters: Turkish Cypriot allows more consonant clusters than Standard Turkish, particularly at word beginnings.
Phonemic Inventory
Consonants
The most distinctive feature of Turkish Cypriot dialect is its consonant system:
- Ğ → Y or V: The soft g disappears or transforms (Soğan → Sovan, Değil → Deyil)
- T ↔ D, K ↔ G: Voice alternation in stops (Koyma → Goyma, Taş → Daş)
- B ↔ P, S ↔ Z: Further voice alternations (Patates → Badadez)
- N → Ñ: Velarization of nasals (Bin → Biñ, Son → Soñ)
- Final consonant devoicing: Sometimes reversed compared to Standard Turkish
- Consonant gemination: Double consonants pronounced distinctly
- Palatalization: Consonants before front vowels often palatalized
Consonant Changes Table
| Standard Turkish | Turkish Cypriot | Example |
|---|---|---|
| k- | g- | Kale → gale (Castle) |
| t- | d- | tuz → duz (salt) |
| p- | b- | parmak → barmak (finger) |
| -ğ- | -v- or -y- | soğan → sovan (onion) |
| -h- | often dropped | kahve → gave (coffee) |
Morphological Changes
Grammatical Distinctions
Beyond phonology, Turkish Cypriot dialect shows grammatical distinctions:
- Plural forms: "-iz" ending becomes "-ik" (İsteriz → İsterik)
- Reflexive pronouns: "Kendi" becomes "genni/geni/gendi"
- Question formation: Dropping "mi" and using intonation
- Future tense: Often using present tense for future actions
- Evidentiality: Different marking of indirect evidence
Example Sentences
Standard Turkish vs. Turkish Cypriot
Standard: Ne yapıyorsun?
Cypriot: Napan?
(What are you doing?)
Standard: Okula gidecek misin?
Cypriot: GideceÑ okula?
(Will you go to school?)
Grammatical Features
Suffix and Grammatical Changes
Changing "-iken" gerund, "ile" postpositive
In Cypriot dialect, there are some practicalized versions of word usages:
- "-iken" gerund generally changes to -ikan, -kan
- "ile" changes to "-nan, -inan, -ınan..."
Examples:
| Tutar iken | → | tutarıkan |
| Uyur iken | → | uyurukan, uyurkan |
| Senin ile | → | seninnan |
| Parası ile | → | parasıynan |
Diminutive Forms
One of the most distinctive features of Turkish Cypriot is the extensive use of diminutives such as "-cık, -cik, -cuk, -cük".
Examples:
| çocuk (child) | → | çocucuk |
| araba (car) | → | arabacık |
| guli (dog) | → | gulicik |
Vowel Derivation
An exclusive (and sometimes humorous) property of Turkish Cypriot accent is vowel derivation in loan words:
| sterling | → | isterliñ |
| skandal | → | ıskandal |
Tense Substitution
Using present tense instead of present continuous or future tense is a prevalent way of speaking:
| yoldayım, geliyorum | → | yoldayım, gelirim | (I'm on the way, I'm coming) |
| Kıbrıs'a yarın döneceğim | → | yarın dönerim Kıbrıs'a | (I will return to Cyprus tomorrow) |
This tense substitution creates a more immediate and colloquial feeling in everyday conversation.
Standard: Ben de sizinle geleceğim.
Cypriot: Benda gelecem siziÑan.
(I will also come with you.)
To truly learn Turkish Cypriot pronunciation, listen carefully to native speakers and practice the sound changes listed above.