How to type Greek
Most Greek letters sit on the Latin key that sounds like them: α on A, β on B, δ on D, λ on L, π on P. The ones to learn are θ on U, ξ on J, ψ on C, ω on V, η on H, υ on Y and χ on X.
Sigma has two forms: σ inside a word and ς at the end. Each has its own key, σ on S and ς on W. The Q key types ;, which Greek uses as its question mark.
The accent (tonos) is a dead key on ;: press it, then the vowel, so ΄ then α gives ά and ΄ then ο gives ό. The diaeresis is Shift + ;, and Shift + W adds both marks at once, as in ΐ.
For ancient Greek with breathings and all the accents, pick Greek Polytonic in the Layout menu.
The Greek alphabet on the keyboard
| Letter | Unicode name | Key |
|---|---|---|
| α | alpha | A |
| ά | alpha with tonos | ; then A |
| β | beta | B |
| γ | gamma | G |
| δ | delta | D |
| ε | epsilon | E |
| έ | epsilon with tonos | ; then E |
| ζ | zeta | Z |
| η | eta | H |
| ή | eta with tonos | ; then H |
| θ | theta | U |
| ι | iota | I |
| ί | iota with tonos | ; then I |
| ϊ | iota with dialytika | Shift + ; then I |
| ΐ | iota with dialytika and tonos | Shift + W then I |
| κ | kappa | K |
| λ | lamda | L |
| μ | mu | M |
| ν | nu | N |
| ξ | xi | J |
| ο | omicron | O |
| ό | omicron with tonos | ; then O |
| π | pi | P |
| ρ | rho | R |
| σ | sigma | S |
| ς | final sigma | W |
| τ | tau | T |
| υ | upsilon | Y |
| ύ | upsilon with tonos | ; then Y |
| ϋ | upsilon with dialytika | Shift + ; then Y |
| ΰ | upsilon with dialytika and tonos | Shift + W then Y |
| φ | phi | F |
| χ | chi | X |
| ψ | psi | C |
| ω | omega | V |
| ώ | omega with tonos | ; then V |
Accent and AltGr keys
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| ΄ | dead key: ; |
| ¨ | dead key: Shift + ; |
| ΅ | dead key: Shift + W |
| AltGr | ² ³ £ § ¶ ¤ ¦ ° ± ½ € ® ¥ « » ΅ ¬ © |
Layouts on this page
- Greek (default)
- Greek Polytonic
- Greek (220)
- Greek (319)
Questions
How many letters does the Greek alphabet have?
36, including 1 final form, per Unicode CLDR.
Which Greek letters need Shift on this keyboard?
4 of them: ϊ (Shift + ; then I), ΐ (Shift + W then I), ϋ (Shift + ; then Y), ΰ (Shift + W then Y).
Guides
More keyboards
Layout data: CLDR release-43 keyboards/windows/el-t-k0-windows.xml; CLDR release-43 keyboards/windows/el-POLYTON-t-k0-windows.xml; CLDR release-43 keyboards/windows/el-t-k0-windows-el220.xml; CLDR release-43 keyboards/windows/el-t-k0-windows-el319.xml. Letter list: CLDR release-43 (el). Letter names: Unicode Character Database. What you type stays in your browser.