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Greek Letters

Mathematicians have a habit of using Greek letters in their work. This is partly to show that they are educated and partly because there are not enough Roman letters to go round (Mathematicians don't really like the Computing habit of using words for quantities -- because of the problem with multiplication: is CAT a thing with a tail or C.A.T?).

This can be a nuisance if you are not familiar with the Greek alphabet. So here it is as a reference, together with the pronunciations of the names of the letters.

Capital Name Pronunciation of name

$$\alpha$$ A alpha alfa

$$\beta$$ B beta beeta

$$\gamma \Gamma$$ gamma gamma like gammy

$$\delta \Delta$$ delta as in river

$$\epsilon$$ E epsilon epsuylon or epsi-lon

$$\zeta$$ Z zeta zeeta

$$\eta$$ H eta eat a (cake)

$$\theta \Theta$$ theta th as in thing not the

$$\iota$$ I iota I owe Ta

$$\kappa$$ K kappa cap a(long)

$$\lambda \Lambda$$ lambda lamda

$$\mu$$ M mu mew like cat

$$\nu$$ N nu new like old

$$\xi \Xi$$ xi zi

o O omicron short `o'

$$\pi \Pi$$ pi pie

$$\rho$$ P rho rho(dodendron)

$$\sigma \Sigma$$ sigma sigma

$$\tau$$ T tau ta(lk)

$$\upsilon \Upsilon$$ upsilon oopsilon

$$\phi \Phi$$ phi fi(ne) (UK) fee (US)

$$\chi \chi$$ chi ki(nd)

$$\psi \Psi$$ psi (shar)p si(ght)

$$\omega \Omega$$ omega alpha and omega