Your Guide to Greek Speak 


It's all GREEK to me


active - an initiated member of a fraternity or sorority

alumnus - an initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who is no longer in college

associate (or new) member - a person who has accepted a bid from a fraternity

bid - an invitation to become a member of a fraternity or sorority

brother - a term used by members of a fraternity when referring to each other

chapter - a term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority

fraternity - a fraternal organization for men

greek - a member of a fraternity or sorority

independent - a person not in a fraternity or sorority

initiation - a traditional, secret ritual which brings an individual into full membership

intake - the process by which prospective members join an NPHC or UGC organization

Interfraternity Council (IFC) - the umbrella organization that represents and promotes fraternities that belong to the National Interfraternity Conference

legacy - a rushee whose grandparent, parent, brother, or sister is a member of a fraternity or sorority

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) - the umbrella organization that promotes the fraternities and sororities that belong nationally to the National Pan-Hellenic Council

Panhellenic Council (NPC) - the umbrella organization that promotes and represents sororities that belong to the National Panhellenic Conference

philanthropy - a charitable project sponsored by a fraternity or sorority

pledge - a person who has accepted a bid from a fraternity or sorority

ritual - secret and inspirational ceremonies that are used to inspire and educate members about the importance of the organization

rush - the time when fraternities and sororities sponsor activities seeking rushees and rushees seek fraternal membership

rush counselor - an upperclass member of a fraternity or sorority, chosen and trained to assist rushees during rush

rushee - an individual interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority. Also referred to as “potential new member.”

sister - a term used by members of a sorority when referring to each other

soror -a term used by NPHC sororities when referring to each other

sorority - a fraternal organization for women

Unified Greek Council (UGC) - the umbrella organization formed to unify a diverse set of Greek organizations


GREEK ALPHABET
ALPHA
al-fah		 BETA
bey-tah		 GAMMA
gam-ma		 DELTA
del-tah		 EPSILON
ep-si-lon		 ZETA
zay-tah		 ETA
ay-tah		 THETA
thay-tah
IOTA
eye-o-tah		 KAPPA
cap-ah		 LAMBDA
lam-dah		 MU
mew		 NU
new		 XI
zzeye		 OMICRON
omm-e-cron		 PI
pie
RHO
roe		 SIGMA
sig-mah		 TAU
taw		 UPSILON
oop-si-lon		 PHI
feye		 CHI
keye		 PSI
sigh		 OMEGA
o-may-gah