Reading Greek Old Handwriting Made Easy

Introduction
This article will help you learn how to read Greek handwritten records. It will help you become familiar with variations of handwritten letters of the Greek alphabet, and the difference of records kept in various parts of Greece. You will see the Greek alphabet typed and handwritten.

Two Lists of the Most Common Greek Words Used in Genealogy

 * One list includes words of the modern Greek language (Demotic). This list of words of the modern language will help you when you want to read a letter or the writings behind photographs sent from Greece.
 * Greek Genealogical Word List (Demotic)
 * The other list includes words of the old Greek language (Kathareuousa). This old language was used on all documents until 1980, and is still in use today by the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece and in other countries.
 * [[Media:Greek Word Listwith handwriting.pdf|Greek Word List: Words Used in Old Records (Kathareuousa)]]
 * For a more complete list of Greek genealogical words visit the Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition Chapter 10 THE LANGUAGE p.135.

Greek Given Names

 * A list of the most common Greek given names is also included, to help you recognize them when you see them handwritten in a document.
 * [[Media:Greek Given Name List 2.pdf|Several Greek Given Names in Handwriting]] Not every name is given in handwriting. By becoming familiar with the names in this list, you will develop the skills to read the additional names in the following list.
 * For more given names visit the Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition Appendix B.

How to Use the Handwriting Samples
Included here are samples of handwritten records of the 1800’s and 1700’s. Each record appears in two copies. One copy has over each handwritten word the word typed. The other copy has each letter typed. This will help you become familiar with the handwriting of the recorder. Some of these samples were chosen from vital records and some from electoral correspondence of the 1843-1865. This will help you become familiar with the handwriting of the person who wrote each letter, who was the clerk of a municipality acting also as recorder of vital records of the towns that belonged to this municipality.

Lesson One:Tips
{|
 * style="width:40%; vertical-align:top"|
 * Try to recognize one letter at a time. In the samples that follow here, over each handwritten letter has been typed its corresponding printed letter.
 * Try to recognize one letter at a time. In the samples that follow here, over each handwritten letter has been typed its corresponding printed letter.


 * Try to find in the document something that you already know, such as the date or the name of the place where the record was created. This will help you recognize the letters of this particular writing.


 * If you do not know the date, check in other places of the document where this may appear such as at the bottom, next to the signature(s) where the date or the place are repeated; maybe they appear clearer there.


 * If you do not know the place, maybe it appears on the heading of the document where the name of the place is usually printed.


 * You may want to take note and maybe make a list of the letters that you have recognized so you can refer to this list later.

Lesson Two:
[[Media:Lica1.pdf|Reading Old Greek Handwriting Made Easy]] This handout will teach you to read:
 * Combination of letters
 * Variation of letters
 * Abbreviation of names
 * Abbreviation of words
 * Abbreviation of months
 * Prefix of names
 * Numbers
 * style="width:40%; text-align:left"|
 * }
 * }

Lesson Three:
[[Media:Lica2.pdf|Identifying Greek Handwriting Letters]] This handout will teach you to read:
 * Substitutes of letters
 * Aspiration marks
 * Words within phrases
 * Numbers

Samples of Documents: A Variety of Documents

 * Some copies of old Greek documents are used here as samples, to assist you in recognizing the Greek old handwriting. Each document appears in two copies. The first copy of the document has over each word typed the same word. The second copy of the same document has over each letter the same letter typed. This will help in recognizing each letter of this particular handwriting. The various samples that are included here, have each of them a different handwriting, and are of various periods of time. Several samples have been used because the more individual handwritings you get familiar with, the easier you will recognize another person’s handwriting.
 * [[Media:Lica4.pdf|KERKYRA BIRTH 1822 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica5.pdf|KERKYRA BIRTH 1822 by letter]]
 * [[Media:6 Birth Index 1860 typed words (2).pdf|Birth Index 1860 by word]]
 * [[Media:7 Birth Index 1860 typed letters (2).pdf|Birth Index 1860 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica8.pdf|FTHIOTIS ELECTORAL 1862 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica9.pdf|FTHIOTIS ELECTORAL 1862 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica10.pdf|ATHENS BIRTH 1908 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica11.pdf|ATHENS BIRTH 1908 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica12.pdf|FTHIOTIDOS ELECTORAL 1843 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica13.pdf|FTHIOTIDOS ELECTORAL 1843 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica14.pdf|MAKRAKOMIS ELECTORAL 1843 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica15.pdf|MAKRAKOMIS ELECTORAL 1843 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica16.pdf|ATHENS DEATH 1884 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica17.pdf|ATHENS DEATH 1884 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica18.pdf|HALKIS DEATH 1872 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica19.pdf|HALKIS DEATH 1872 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica20.pdf|PTELEOS ELECTORAL 1856 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica21.pdf|PTELEOS ELECTORAL 1856 by letter]]
 * [[Media:Lica22.pdf|HALKIS DEATH 1873 by word]]
 * [[Media:Lica23.pdf|HALKIS DEATH 1873 by letter]]

Translating the Records
For help translating the records into English, see all the help available in Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition:

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 10 The Language.pdf|Chapter 10 THE LANGUAGE]]
It’s All Greek to Me ............................................................................................... 127

How to Work With the Language .......................................................................... 127

The Alphabet ........................................................................................................ 128
 * Diacritic Marks ................................................................................................ 128

About Transliteration ............................................................................................. 129
 * Transliteration Chart – The Simple Transliteration System........................ 130

Pronunciation......................................................................................................... 131
 * Diphthongs....................................................................................................... 131
 * Digraphs........................................................................................................... 131

The Handwriting..................................................................................................... 132

Grammar ............................................................................................................... 132

Greek Genealogical Word List............................................................................... 133
 * Key Words........................................................................................................ 133
 * Words Indicating Relation ................................................................................ 133
 * Words Indicating Birth ...................................................................................... 133
 * Words Indicating Status of Birth ....................................................................... 133
 * Words Indicating Baptism ................................................................................. 134
 * Words Indicating Marriage ................................................................................ 134
 * Words Indicating Death ..................................................................................... 134
 * Colorful Expressions for death .......................................................................... 134
 * Words Indicating Burial...................................................................................... 134
 * Words Indicating Types of Records .................................................................. 134

General Words......................................................................................................... 135

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 11 Numbers and Units of Time.pdf|Chapter 11 NUMBERS AND UNITS OF TIME]]
Numbers ................................................................................................................. 139
 * Numbers in Numerical Order............................................................................. 139
 * Cardinal Numbers in Alphabetical Order .......................................................... 140
 * Ordinal Numbers in Alphabetical Order............................................................. 140
 * Numbers in Alphabetic Form............................................................................. 141

Units of Time........................................................................................................... 141
 * Days of the Week.............................................................................................. 141
 * Months............................................................................................................... 141

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 12 Appendix A Glossary.pdf|Appendix A GLOSSARY]]
Greek Words........................................................................................................... 143

English Words......................................................................................................... 145