Greek ortography tips
From UniLang Wiki
Although it is quite easy to pronounce a Greek word when you see it written, writing correctly a Greek word one hears is not that easy, because many vowel combinations are pronounced the same. In this page we will give a few tips that we hope to help you with writing Greek words correctly.
Οι λέξεις που τελείωνουν σε -ότητα γράφονται πάντα με το γράμμα όμικρον (ο) και το γράμμα ήτα (η). Υπάρχουν περίπου 700 λέξεις στην ελληνική γλώσσα που λήγουν (=τελειώνουν) σε -ότητα.
π.χ.
ταυτότητα
ποιότητα
καθαριότητα
εθνικότητα
Verbs that end in -αινω are written with αι, except for πλένω (=wash), δένω (=tide), μένω (= stay, live).
All the verbs that end in –ωνω are written with ωμέγα (ω), and the first ω is kept in every tense.
All neutral nouns that end in –ι are written with γιώτα (ι) ex. το τυρί (=cheese), το παιδί (=the kid), το μάτι (=the eye)
Exceptions:
το δόρυ (an ancient weapon)
το στάχυ (wheat)
το δίχτυ (the net)
το βράδυ (the night)
το δάκρυ (the tear)
All masculine nouns that end in –ητής are written with ήτα (η).
Π.χ. ο αθλητής (the athlete), ο ποιητής (the poet), ο καλλιεργητής (the farmer)
Exceptions:
ιδρυτής (the founder)
κριτής (the judge)
μηνυτής (the person who sues)
The adjectives that end in -ωδης (ο, η) and –ωδες (το), are written with ω.
Most adjectives that end in –ινός are written with γιώτα (ι).
Some of the exceptions:
ορεινός (mountainous)
ταπεινός (modest, humble)
υγιεινός (healthy)
φωτεινός (bright, luminous)
σκοτεινός (dark)
