Greek Classical Keyboard Help

Quickstart

This keyboard layout works intuitively with the QWERTY (English) keyboard. You can find most of the Greek letters by thinking of similar letters in English, by sound or appearance. For example, type w[[=me/ga to get ὧμέγα.

As you can see, accents and breathing marks are typed after the vowel. They can be typed in any order. For example, ΰ is typed u/+ or u+/.

When you type an accent by itself or after a non-accentable letter, you will get that key's standard symbol instead. For example, typing / by itself will give you / not ´.

To get a Latin letter instead of a Greek letter, type ` before the letter (` shares a key with ~). For example, to get d instead of δ, type `d.

Examples

Keyboard Details

Letters

The Greek Classical keyboard uses an intuitive system where most of the Greek letters are matched to similar English letters, either by sound or appearance.

Example: typing w produces ω.

Example: typing u produces υ.

The Greek letter ν can be typed by sound or appearance.

Example: typing v produces ν.

Example: typing n produces ν.

A few letters in Greek have no exact match in English, by sound or appearance. These have been assigned the remaining keys.

Example: typing q produces θ.

Example: typing y produces ψ.

Example: typing j or c produces ξ.

Sigma will appear as σ or ς automatically when followed by a space or punctuation.

Example: typing sos produces σος.

Example: typing susswmos. produces συσσωμος..

Capital letters are typed using shift as in English.

Example: typing [Sd] produces Δ.

Example: typing [Sw] produces Ω.

Finally, the keyboard also includes the archaic Greek letter digamma, ϝ. This can be typed with an [Av] combination.

Example: typing [Av] produces ϝ.

Example: typing [SAv] produces Ϝ.

Accents and Other Diacritics

The Greek Classical keyboard includes the following accents and other diacritics.

Character	Keystroke	English Name	Greek Name
῾	[[	rough breathing	dasia
᾿	]	smooth breathing	psili
ι	|	iota subscript	ypogegrammeni/ prosgegrammeni
¨	+	diaeresis	dialytika
`	\	grave accent	varia
´	/	acute accent	oxia
῀	=	circumflex accent	perispomeni
̆	-	breve accent	vrachy
¯	_	macron	macron

Diacritics are typed after the vowel. They can be typed in any order.

Example: typing u/+ or u+/ produces ΰ.

Example: typing a=]| or a=|] or a]|= or a]=| or a|=] or a|]= produces ᾆ.

The only exception to this rule is the circumflex on capital Greek letters. It cannot be typed first because a capital Greek letter cannot take a circumflex without a breathing mark.

Example: typing W[[= produces Ὧ. Typing any other combination will not produce Ὧ.

Example: typing A]|= or A]=| or A|]= produces ᾎ. Typing any other combination will not produce ᾎ.

Rho (ρ) can also take the rough and smooth breathing mark, though capital rho can only take a rough breathing mark.

Example: typing r] produces ῤ.

Example: typing R[[ produces Ῥ.

To remove a diacritic mark you have just typed, type the diacritic again before typing anything else.

Example: if you have just typed ῇ, typing | produces ῆ.

Example: if you have just typed ῇ, typing = produces ῃ.

You can also replace a diacritic mark you have just typed by typing another. This works whenever two diacritic marks cannot exist over the same letter, like rough and smooth breathing.

Example: if you have just typed ἑ, typing ] produces ἐ.

Example: if you have just typed ώ, typing = produces ῶ.

If you type a diacritic by itself or after any consonant that cannot take that diacritic, you will get the standard symbol for that keystroke, not the diacritic.

Example: typing / produces / not ´.

Example: typing g+d produces γ+δ not γ̈ δ.

Punctuation

Most punctuation on the Greek Classical keyboard is typed exactly as on the QWERTY (English) keyboard.

Example: typing . produces ..

Example: typing ; produces ;.

The Greek semicolon or ano teleia is the only exception.

Example: typing : produces ·.

Other Information

While typing in Greek, to get a Latin letter instead of a Greek letter, type ` before the letter (` shares a key with ~).

Example: typing `d produces d.

Example: typing `a. path/r produces a. πατήρ.

See the Complete Typing Chart for full details on how to type all the Greek Classical keyboard's letters, diacritics, and punctuation.

Related Keyboard Layouts

Other Classical and Polytonic Greek keyboard layouts:

Greek Keyboards Home

Non-classical and Monotonic Greek keyboard layouts:

Greek Basic
Greek (220) Basic
Greek (319) Basic

Other Internet Resources

Download the Greek Classical Keyboard for Keyman Desktop

More on the Greek Writing System at Omniglot.com
More on the Greek Writing System at Wikipedia.org

More on the Greek Language at Wikipedia.org