Gamma (uppercase
Γ, lowercase
γ; Γάμμα) is the third letter of the
Greek alphabet. In the system of
Greek numerals it has a value of 3. It was derived from the
Phoenician letter Gimel . Letters that arose from Gamma include the Roman
C and
G and the Cyrillic letters
Ge Г and
Ghe Ґ.
In Modern Greek, it represents either a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/ or a voiced palatal fricative /ʝ/. In Ancient Greek, it represented a voiced velar stop /ɡ/. Before velars, it represents a velar nasal /ŋ/ in Modern as well as Ancient Greek, and a double gamma represents a prenasalized voiced velar stop (/ŋɡ/).
Gamma combinations
The gamma can be combined with other letters or itself.
- A double gamma (γγ) is pronounced like the ng in "jumping"
- A gamma with xi (γξ) is pronounced roughly like the nx in "Sphinx"
- (γχ) is pronounced like the nkh in "ankh"
- A gamma combined with kappa (γκ) is pronounced like the nk in "banker"
Use as a symbol or a term
Gamma is often used to denote a variable in
mathematics and
physics.
In certain areas it has a specific meaning, such as representing
gamma radiation in
nuclear physics and the
Lorentz factor in
theory of relativity. In mathematics, there is a
gamma function (usually written as Γ-function.)
See also
