User:Aearthrise/Greek/Byzantine Greek Course



Welcome to the Byzantine Language Course! I, Andrew Earthrise, have created this course to teach you how to read and understand the Byzantine language. This Greek will help improve your English. Byzantine was spoken between Christians & Muslims of Greek & Turkish lands. It is called Romaïca, Roman.

Adamantios Korais removed all foreign words from Byzantine in the 1700's creating Katharevousa, "purified language". Katharevousa is the official language of the Greek Orthodox Church.



In learning Byzantine Greek, you will understand Modern Standard Greek, and benefit from Ancient Greek grammar.

Byzantine Pronunciation
The Greek in this course is Romanized; the ease of reading Latin letters aids literacy.

Oi, Y, and U are pronounced ü, like in "cute"

Ch is pronounced like "kh", as in Scottish "loch".

Ei is pronounced like iota, ee.

Ai is pronounced the same as epsilon & eta, "ay"

Th is pronounced th, like in "thumb"*

D is pronounced th, like in "those"*

C is always pronounced k, like "cat"

Ou is pronounced oo, like "food"

Au is pronounced av, like "avarice"

Eu is pronounced ev, like "every"

G is always a hard g, like "go"

Ph is pronounced f, like "feeling"

B is pronounced v, like "very"

Ui is pronounced wee

There are no distinctions between long & short vowels.

The * means different sounds!

Chapter 1


'''Hygeian! Tis eisai sy? '''

Hello! Who are you?

Ego eimai Despotes Andreas.

I am Mister Andrew.

Κai tis eisai sy?

And who are you?

Ego eimai Despoina Maria.

I am Miss Maria.

Hygeian Despota Andrea!

Hello Mister Andrew!

Hygeian Despoina Maria!

Hello Miss Maria!

Pos eisai sy?

How are you?

Ego eimai phantasticos.

I am fantastic.

Hygeian Despoina Maria!

Hello Miss Maria!

Hygeian Despota Andrea!

Hello Mister Andrew!

Pos eisai sy?

How are you?

Ego eimai ecstaticos.

I am ecstatic (very happy).

Chapter 2


Hygeian soi!

Hello to you!

Chaire phile!

Hello friend!

Ti einai to οnoma sou?

What is your name?

To οnoma mou einai Despoina Theodora .

My name is Miss Theodora.

Ti einai to οnoma sou, phile?

What is your name, friend?

To οnoma mou einai Despotes Marcos .

My name is Mister Marcus.

Ego chairomai poly, Despota Marce .

I am very pleased, Mister Marcus.

Ego chairomai poly, Despoina Theodora .

I am very pleased, Miss Theodora.

Ego se eucharisto, phile.

I thank you, friend!

Ego se eucharisto, Despoina Theodora.

I thank you, Miss Theodora!

Hygeian soi, phile!

Goodbye to you, friend!

Chaire Despota!

Goodbye Mister!

Chapter 3


ὁ|Ta Romaïca themata:

The Byzantine provinces:

'''En ὁ|to charte, sy blepeis Romen kai ὁ|ta themata ὁ|tes Romes. '''

In the map, you see Byzantium and the provinces of Byzantium.

'''Rome echei polla kai megala themata. '''

Byzantium has many and large provinces.

'''Metaxy ὁ|ta diasema Romaïca themata einai ὁ|he Aigyptos, ὁ|he Thrace, ὁ|he Hispania, ὁ|he Achaia, ὁ|he Macedonia. '''

Among the famous Byzantine provinces is Egypt, Thrace, Spain, Achaea, Macedonia.

'''ὁ|He glossa ὁ|ton Romaïcon thematon einai ὁ|he Romaïce glossa. '''

The language of the Byzantine provinces is the Byzantine language.

ὁ|He Thrace einai micro thema; ὁ|He Hispania kai ὁ|he Aigyptos einai megala themata.

Thrace is a small province; Spain and Egypt are large provinces.

'''Achaia den einai nesion, einai chersonesos. '''

Achaea is not an island, it's a peninsula.

'''Einai he Hispania chersonesos? '''

Is Spain a peninsula?

'''To schema tes Italias einai to schema sandaliou. '''

The shape of Italy is the shape of a sandal.

En pollois themasin einai dase.

In many provinces there are forests.

 Ta dase einai megala kai scoteina.

The forests are large and dark.

'''En tois dasesin einai thaumatica theria. '''

In the forests there are wondrous beasts.

'''En tois themasin einai hydragogeia. '''

In the provinces there are aqueducts.

'''Ta hydrogogeia pherousi neron eis tas poleis. '''

The aqueducts bring water to the cities.

Hodoi pherousi dia ton thematon.

Roads lead through the provinces.

Hoi hodoi ton thematon einai plateis kai macroi.

The roads of the provinces are flat and wide.