How to pronounce γκ and γγ in Greek
At the start of a word, γκ is the hard g of “go”. Inside a word, γκ and γγ both say ng, as in “finger”.
Two letters, one sound: γκολ is [gol], a goal in football, and άγγελος is [AHN-geh-los], angel. You never split them into g and k, or into g and g.
Why Greek spells the hard g with two letters
The single letter γ is not the g of “go”. It is a soft gh, a growl made at the back of the mouth without fully closing it: γάλα is [GHAH-lah], milk. Before the ee and eh sounds it softens further to the y of “yes”: γιαγιά is [yah-YAH], grandma. So to write the hard g of “go”, Greek uses two letters, γκ. Inside a word, γκ and γγ both write it, and you hear an n before the g, as in the English “finger” or “England”.
Examples
The first two words start with γκ, the rest have γκ or γγ inside.
- γκολgol · goal (in football)
- γκαράζgah-RAHZ · garage
- άγκυραAHN-gee-rah · anchor
- άγγελοςAHN-geh-los · angel
- Αγγλίαahn-GLEE-ah · England
- αγγούριahn-GOO-ree · cucumber
The capitals in a respelling mark the stressed syllable: say AHN louder than geh and los.
What you hear inside a word
At the start of a word γκ is a clean g: γκολ, γκαράζ. Inside a word γκ and γγ sound almost the same, ng followed by a hard g: άγκυρα is [AHN-gee-rah], άγγελος is [AHN-geh-los]. In fast speech the n in γκ sometimes drops out, and you hear just g: άγκυρα can sound like [AH-gee-rah]. One English trap: άγγελος looks like “angel”, but γγ is never the j sound of “angel”. It is always ng with a hard g. For reading, remember: at the start, γκ is g; inside a word, γκ and γγ are ng.
Check yourself
How do you say γκάζι (gas; also the accelerator)?
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γκάζι is [GAH-zee]: γκ at the start of a word gives the hard g of “go”.
How do you say φεγγάρι (moon)?
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φεγγάρι is [fehn-GAH-ree]: γγ inside a word gives ng, as in “finger”.
Which word starts with the hard g of “go”?
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The hard g at the start of a word is written γκ: γκρίζο is [GREE-zo]. γράμμα starts with the soft gh, and χρόνος with kh.