French Orthography - Words From Greek

Words From Greek

The spelling of French words of Greek origin is complicated by a number of digraphs which originated in the Latin transcriptions. The digraphs ⟨ph⟩, ⟨th⟩, and ⟨ch⟩ normally represent /f/, /t/, and /k/ in Greek loanwords, respectively; and the digraphs ⟨ae⟩ and ⟨oe⟩ in Greek loanwords generally represent the same vowel as ⟨e⟩. Further, many words in the international scientific vocabulary were constructed in French from Greek roots and have kept their digraphs (e.g., stratosphère, photographie).

Read more about this topic:  French Orthography

Famous quotes containing the words words from, words and/or greek:

    Shall I tell you who will come
    to Bethlehem on Christmas Morn,
    Who will kneel them gently down
    before the Lord, new-born?
    —Unknown. Words from an Old Spanish Carol (l. 1–4)

    For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
    And next year’s words await another voice.
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)

    Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
    With conquering limbs astride from land to land,
    Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
    A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
    Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
    Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
    Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
    The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
    Emma Lazarus (1849–1887)