How to pronounce αυ and ευ in Greek
αυ says av or af, and ευ says ev or ef. The letter after the pair decides which.
Before a voiced sound you get v: αύριο is [AHV-ree-o], tomorrow. Before a voiceless one you get f: αυτό is [af-TO], this. It is never the “aw” of “auto” or the “you” of “Europe”: here the υ turns into a consonant.
When it is v and when it is f
Whether you hear v or f depends on the next letter:
- v before a vowel or a voiced consonant: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ. For example αύριο [AHV-ree-o] and Ευρώπη [ev-RO-pee], Europe.
- f before a voiceless consonant: θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, τ, φ, χ, ψ. For example αυτό [af-TO] and ευχαριστώ [ef-khah-ree-STO], thank you.
An easy way to remember it: f comes before the sounds that don’t buzz in your throat (t, k, p, s, th, f, kh, ks, ps); everywhere else it is v.
Examples
In the first three words you hear v, in the rest f.
- αύριοAHV-ree-o · tomorrow
- αυγόav-GHO · egg
- Ευρώπηev-RO-pee · Europe
- αυτόaf-TO · this; it
- αυτοκίνητοaf-to-KEE-nee-to · car
- ευχαριστώef-khah-ree-STO · thank you
- Δευτέραdhef-TEH-rah · Monday
The capitals in a respelling mark the stressed syllable: in [ef-khah-ree-STO], say STO louder.
Why it changes
The sound adapts to its neighbour. Put a finger on your throat: v buzzes, f does not. Before a t, which does not buzz either, the v loses its buzz and becomes f. English does the same in fast speech: “have to” comes out as “haf to”. So αυτό is [af-TO], not [av-TO].
Check yourself
How do you say αυτί (ear)?
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αυτί is [af-TEE]: αυ is followed by the voiceless τ, so you hear f.
How do you say ευτυχής (happy)?
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ευτυχής is [ef-tee-HYEES]: ευ is followed by the voiceless τ, so you hear f.
Which word has a v sound, not f?
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In αυλή αυ is followed by the voiced λ, so you hear v. In αυστηρός and ευκαιρία the next letter is voiceless (σ, κ), and you hear f.