Breathing Mark

Question 1

What is a breathing mark?

Answer 1

Every Greek word that begins with a vowel (α,ε,η,ι,ο,υ, and ω) will have something called a breathing mark. These look like apostrophes and can be either rough or smooth. If the breathing is rough then it is an apostrophe curved in the opposite direction (ἑ,ἁ,ἡ, etc…)

Question 2

Smooth breathing mark

Answer 2

The smooth breathing mark is a (᾿) and is not pronounced. The word ἀποστολος is pronounced “apostolos.”

Question 3

Rough breathing mark
rho or upsilon

Answer 3

The rough breathing mark is a (῾) placed over the initial vowel and adds an “h” sound to the word. The word ὑπερ is pronounced “huper.” Every word that begins with a ρ or υ takes a rough breathing.

Question 4

Breathing mark on the first capitol letter

Answer 4

If a word or name begins with a capital letter, the breathing mark is placed before that first letter.

Question 5

Breathing mark over a diphthong

Answer 5

If a word begins with a diphthong, the breathing mark is placed over the second vowel.