δέ

From Proto-Hellenic *dḗ, from Proto-Indo-European *de (deictic particle). See also δή (dḗ).

inh

used before a vowel to ease pronunciation


δή

From Proto-Hellenic *dḗ, from Proto-Indo-European *de (“instrumental particle”). See also δέ (dé).

der

Adds emphasis: truly, !, indeed, in truth


μήν

From Proto-Indo-European *(s)me(h₂) (“really, true”). Cognate with Old Irish má (“if”), Sanskrit स्म (sma, “verily, assertive particle”).

cog

used to strengthen statements: verily, surely, truly, definitely

(after other particles)
(ἦ μήν) absolutely

(καὶ μήν) used to introduce something new or convey affirmation

(after other particles)
(αλλὰ μήν) yet truly, on the other hand

(after other particles)
(οὐ μήν) certainly not

(after other particles)
(μήτε μήν) not even

(after interrogatives, τί μήν) of course, naturally

(after a negative) applies an adversative force


μή

From Proto-Hellenic *mḗ, from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁ (prohibitive particle). Cognate with Old Armenian մի (mi), Sanskrit मा (mā), Old Persian 𐎶𐎠 (m-a /mā/), and Albanian mos.

inh

not (used in clauses expressing will or thought)

(with an imperative or subjunctive in negative commands)

(with an optative or past indicative, expressing a negative wish)

(in a question expecting a negative answer)

(with participle representing conditional clause)

Σωκράτης […] ἀλλὰ μὴ τοῦτο οὐ καλῶς ὡμολογήσαμεν.
Sōkrátēs […] allà mḕ toûto ou kalôs hōmologḗsamen.

Socrates: But [let's hope] that we didn't agree on this incorrectly.
or [I'm worried] that we agreed […] .

(in independent clauses) that ... not; that

(introducing indirect statement after verb of fearing or apprehension) that


οὖν

According to Beekes, (2010) "the relation between οὖν and ὦν is unclear. Unconvincing explanations in Brugmann-Thumb 1913: 633 and in Schwyzer 1950: 586f. On οὖν in Homer, cf.
Reynen Glotta 36 (1957): Iff. and Reynen Glotta 37 (1958): 67ff."

Marker of the continuation of a previously interrupted line of thought: "As I was saying..."

Added to indefinite pronoun or adverb, such as ὁστισοῦν (hostisoûn), to make it more general: whoever, whatever; whosoever


τε

From Proto-Hellenic *kʷe, from Proto-Indo-European *-kʷe (“and”). Cognates include Mycenaean Greek 𐀤 (qe), Sanskrit च (ca), and Latin -que.


γε

Lexikon der indogermanischen Partikeln und Pronominalstämme

From Proto-Indo-European *gó ~ *ge (emphatic, delimiting particle), which is sometimes unified with, but is formally impossible to derive from, the similar particle *gʰo ~ *gʰe. Possible cognates include Proto-Germanic *-k (pronominal accusative marker, see *mek, *dek, *sek) and Tocharian B -k (emphatic suffix).

cog

often translatable with italics or stress


οὐχ

Alternative form of οὐ (ou), used before a vowel with rough breathing


οὐκ

Alternative form of οὐ (ou), used before a vowel with smooth breathing


οὐ

Byzantine Greek: ὄχι (ókhi), ὤχι (ṓkhi)

Greek: όχι (óchi)

Mariupol Greek: йох (jox)

Possibly οὐκί (oukí, “not so, never”), from Proto-Hellenic *oyuki, from Proto-Indo-European *(ne) h₂óyu kʷíd (“(not) ever, (not) on your life”). Compare Sanskrit उद् (ud), Gothic 𐌿𐌳 (ud), Old Armenian ոչ (očʻ) and Albanian as.


τοι

A variant form of σοι (soi, “to you”), dative of σύ (sú, “thou”).

(discourse particle, assuring the listener that what the speaker says is true, or implying the listener knows it is true) let me tell you, you see, certainly

assuring the listener that what the speaker says is true; or implying the listener knows it is true; assuring the listener that what the speaker says is true; or implying the listener knows it is true


πω

up to this time, yet (as a negative polarity item)

at all, ever (as a negative polarity item)


μέν

Greek: μεν (men)

From Proto-Hellenic *hmén, from Proto-Indo-European *smé. Cognate with Sanskrit स्म (smá).

on the one hand, while, whereas (often left untranslated)

(before other particles) accordingly, and so


ἄν

Uncertain. Has been connected to similar particles in other Indo-European languages, especially Latin an and Gothic 𐌰𐌽 (an), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en.
A more recent hypothesis derives it instead from the phrase οὐκ ἀν (ouk an), supposing that it had been reanalyzed from an original *οὐ καν (*ou kan), in turn from a Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu-kn̥ (literally “long time begin”); compare οὐκί (oukí), οὐ (ou).

der

ἐγὼ δέ κ’ ἄγω Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον
αὐτὸς ἰὼν κλισίηνδε τὸ σὸν γέρας ὄφρ’ ἐῢ εἰδῇς
ὅσσον φέρτερός εἰμι σέθεν […]
egṑ dé k’ ágō Brisēḯda kallipárēion
autòs iṑn klisíēnde tò sòn géras óphr’ eǜ eidêis
hósson phérterós eimi séthen […]

800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 1.184–184

[Agamemnon speaking to Achilles]: But in that case I myself will lead away your prize, fair-cheeked Briseis, and go to my tent, so that you may learn well how much greater I am than you.

Expresses potentiality or conditionality

(only Epic, with subjunctive in main clauses) in that case and future tense

(with optative) Expresses future potentiality: would or could do or be doing

(with imperfect indicative) Expresses present or rarely past potentiality: were doing, would be doing

καὶ μὴν ἐκεῖνό γ’ αἰσχρόν, ὕστερόν ποτ’ εἰπεῖν “τίς γὰρ ἂν ᾠήθη ταῦτα γενέσθαι; νὴ τὸν Δί’, ἔδει γὰρ τὸ καὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι καὶ τὸ μὴ ποιῆσαι.”

341 BCE, Demosthenes, Third Philippic 68

And definitely it is a shame to have to say after the fact “Who on earth could have imagined this would happen? By Zeus, of course [we] should have done this and that, and not done this and that.”

kaì mḕn ekeînó g’ aiskhrón, hústerón pot’ eipeîn “tís gàr àn ōiḗthē taûta genésthai? nḕ tòn Dí’, édei gàr tò kaì tò poiêsai kaì tò mḕ poiêsai.”

(with aorist indicative) Expresses past potentiality

(with past indicative) Expresses unreality

(with aorist) Past or rarely present unreality: would have done, would do

(with imperfect) Present or past unreality: would do, would be doing; would have been doing

(with pluperfect) Present or less commonly past unreality:

Expresses unreality
Present or less commonly past unreality

ἀναλαμβάνων οὖν αὐτῶν τὰ ποιήματα ἅ μοι ἐδόκει μάλιστα πεπραγματεῦσθαι αὐτοῖς, διηρώτων ἂν αὐτοὺς τί λέγοιεν, ἵν’ ἅμα τι καὶ μανθάνοιμι παρ’ αὐτῶν.

Taking up [the poets’] works that seemed to me to have taken them the most trouble [to write], I would question them on what they meant, so that I could at the same time learn something from them.

analambánōn oûn autôn tà poiḗmata há moi edókei málista pepragmateûsthai autoîs, diērṓtōn àn autoùs tí légoien, hín’ háma ti kaì manthánoimi par’ autôn.

(with past indicative) Expresses iteration or habituality: had done, had been doing; would have done, would have been doing; used to do

οἱ δὲ ἂν Πέρσαι ἐπελθόντες λάβεσκον τὰ πρόβατα καὶ λαβόντες ἐπηείροντο ἂν τῷ πεποιημένῳ.

460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 4.130

The Persians used to attack and seize the cattle and take them and, after taking them, to be encouraged by this achievement.

hoi dè àn Pérsai epelthóntes lábeskon tà próbata kaì labóntes epēeíronto àn tôi pepoiēménōi.

(with subjunctive in subordinate clauses) Expresses generality, and often translatable with present or future tense in English

εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί

if thus you will do and the Achaeans obey you

ei dé ken hṑs hérxēis kaí toi peíthōntai Akhaioí

ἢν δ’ ἐγγὺς ἔλθῃ θάνατος, οὐδεὶς βούλεται θνῄσκειν

if death ever come near, no one wishes to die

ḕn d’ engùs élthēi thánatos, oudeìs boúletai thnḗiskein

With εἰ (ei), contracted to ἐάν (eán), expresses a general condition that is likely to occur

When combined with infinitive or participle in indirect speech, represents a finite verb with ἄν (án) in direct speech


ἐάν

Univerbation of εἰ (ei, “if”) and ἄν (án, subjunctive particle). The process by which the diphthong ει (ei) and short ᾰ (a) developed into short ε (e) and long ᾱ (ā) may be quantitative metathesis.

ὃς ἐὰν [= ὃς ἂν] οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων ..., ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν
hòs eàn [= hòs àn] oûn lúsēi mían tôn entolôn toútōn tôn elakhístōn ..., elákhistos klēthḗsetai en têi basileíāi tôn ouranôn

70 CE – 110 CE, The Gospel of Matthew 5:19

So, whoever annuls one of the smallest of the laws ..., will be the smallest in the kingdom of heaven

Διδάσκαλε, ἀκολουθήσω σοι ὅπου ἐὰν [= ὅπου ἂν] ἀπέρχῃ.
Didáskale, akolouthḗsō soi hópou eàn [= hópou àn] apérkhēi.

70 CE – 110 CE, The Gospel of Matthew 8:19

Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go off to.

Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὅσα ἐὰν [= ὅσα ἂν] δήσητε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται δεδεμένα ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν [= ὅσα ἂν] λύσητε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται λελυμένα ἐν οὐρανῷ.
Amḕn légō humîn, hósa eàn [= hósa àn] dḗsēte epì tês gês éstai dedeména en ouranôi kaì hósa eàn [= hósa àn] lúsēte epì tês gês éstai leluména en ouranôi.

70 CE – 110 CE, The Gospel of Matthew 18:18

Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven.

ὃ ἐὰν [= ὃ ἂν] ποιῆτε, ἐκ ψυχῆς ἐργάζεσθε, ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις
hò eàn [= hò àn] poiête, ek psukhês ergázesthe, hōs tôi kuríōi kaì ouk anthrṓpois

New Testament, Epistle to the Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, perform it heartily, as for the Lord and not for people

(New Testament Koine) Used in place of ἄν (án) after relative pronouns and conjunctions

(Classical Greek) Used instead of ἄν (án) for Future Open Conditionals (If X happens, Y will happen)


τέως

grc-particle

τέως • (téōs)

From Proto-Indo-European *teh₂wot. Cognates include Sanskrit तावत् (tāvat).


μέντοι

μέντοι • (méntoi)

525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 320

525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1054

497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Women of Trachis 413

(with a conjunctive force) yet, however, nevertheless

428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Phaedrus 65D

Suda, ε 206

384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, First Philippic 49

428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Phaedo 65D

428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Protagoras 309A

428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Phaedrus 229B

380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 339B

428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Phaedrus 236D

423 BCE, Aristophanes, The Clouds 787

405 BCE, Aristophanes, The Frogs 171

125 CE – 200 CE, Lucian, Alexander the False Prophet 44

421 BCE, Aristophanes, Peace 1100

414 BCE, Aristophanes, The Birds 661

430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 1.4.8

366 BCE – 348 BCE, Plato, Theaetetus 158E

440 BCE – 390 BCE, Andocides, On the Mysteries 130

430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Cyropaedia 5.5.24

412 BCE – 323 BCE, Diogenes of Sinope, Apoll. 5

458 BCE, Aeschylus, Agamemnon 938

429 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus the King 778

429 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus the King 1292

480 BCE – 406 BCE, Euripides, Hex. 600

405 BCE, Aristophanes, The Frogs 61

380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 331D

430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 4.6.15

430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 1.8.20

428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Protagoras 339C

366 BCE – 348 BCE, Plato, Theaetetus 143A

430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 4.6.16

380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 331E

(καὶ μέντοι καί)

(ἀλλὰ μέντοι) but as a matter of fact, but really


οὔ

ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τὴν Εὔβοιαν ἐκεῖνος σφετεριζόμενος καὶ κατασκευάζων ἐπιτείχισμ᾽ ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀττικήν, καὶ Μεγάροις ἐπιχειρῶν, καὶ καταλαμβάνων Ὠρεόν, καὶ κατασκάπτων Πορθμόν, καὶ καθιστὰς ἐν μὲν Ὠρεῷ Φιλιστίδην τύραννον, ἐν δ᾽ Ἐρετρίᾳ Κλείταρχον, καὶ τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον ὑφ᾽ αὑτῷ ποιούμενος, καὶ Βυζάντιον πολιορκῶν, καὶ πόλεις Ἑλληνίδας τὰς μὲν ἀναιρῶν, εἰς τὰς δὲ τοὺς φυγάδας κατάγων, πότερον ταῦτα ποιῶν ἠδίκει καὶ παρεσπόνδει καὶ ἔλυε τὴν εἰρήνην ἢ οὔ;

But that man, annexing Euboea and fortifying it against Attica, attacking Megara, seizing Oreus, and demolishing Porthmus, installing the tyrant Philistides in Oreus and Cleitarchus in Eretria, placing the Hellespont under himself, besieging Byzantium, destroying some Greek cities and recalling exiles into others; in so doing, was he dealing unjustly, breaking treaties, and destroying the peace, or not?


οὔ

New Testament, Matthew 5:37, Translation KJV
ἔστω δὲ ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν ναὶ ναί, οὒ οὔ· τὸ δὲ περισσὸν τούτων ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν.
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.


ἆρα

interrogative particle, introducing a yes-no question, and often indicating impatience or anxiety


μῶν

μῶν • (môn) (interrogative particle, negative particle)

Univerbation of μή (mḗ, “not”) + οὖν (oûn, “then”).

univ

Σωκράτης σοφίᾳ δέ γ’ οἶμαι σοφοὶ οἱ σοφοί.
Θεαίτητος ναί.
Σωκράτης τοῦτο δὲ μῶν διαφέρει τι ἐπιστήμης;
Sōkrátēs sophíāi dé g’ oîmai sophoì hoi sophoí.
Theaítētos naí.
Sōkrátēs toûto dè môn diaphérei ti epistḗmēs?
Socrates: And I suppose the wise are wise by wisdom.

366 BCE – 348 BCE, Plato, Theaetetus 145d–145e

Socrates: But is this [i.e., wisdom] really any different from knowledge?

(like μή, in a question expecting a negative answer) but surely not? is it really so?


περ

From περί (perí). Compare περικαλλής (perikallḗs, “very beautiful”), Latin permagnus (“very great”) etc.

Enclitic particle that follows the word it modifies and adds force to it


μά

Μὰ τὸν Δία

Μὰ τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν


κ'

Apocopic form of κε (ke) (used before the smooth breathing)


νυ

now (used to introduce a point, a remonstration or a rebuke; in the context of urgency)


ἠύτε

grc-particle

ἠῠ́τε • (ēúte)


ἠΰτε

ἠῠ̈́τε • (ēǘte)

ὃς καὶ χρυσὸν ἔχων πόλεμον δ’ ἴεν ἠΰτε κούρη

Translation by Samuel Butler
He came into the fight with gold about him, like a girl (translation at Wikisource)

hòs kaì khrusòn ékhōn pólemon d’ íen ēǘte koúrē


χ'

Pre-Classical, Classical and Early Koine

Apocopic form of κε (ke) (used before the rough breathing)


μάν

μᾱ́ν • (mā́n)

Aeolic, Doric, and Epic form of μήν (mḗn)


καίτοι

Univerbation of καί (kaí) and τοι (toi).

Used to introduce an objection by the speaker, often in rhetorical questions: and yet


αἴθε

αἴθε • (aíthe)


αἴθ'

αἴθ’ • (aíth’)


εἴθε

εἴθε • (eíthe)

Greek: είθε (eíthe)


οὐκί

οὐκί • (oukí)


θήν

θήν • (thḗn)


θην

θην • (thēn)

(enclitic, chiefly Epic and Doric) doubtless, surely, forsooth


εἴθ'

εἴθ’ • (eíth’)


ἅτε

ἅτε • (háte)

(without a participle)
ἅτε πολεμίους περιέπουσιν
háte polemíous periépousin
they treat as enemies

(with a participle)
ἅτε τὸν χρῡσὸν ἔχων πάντα
háte tòn khrūsòn ékhōn pánta
because he had all the gold

as if, as, in as much as, since, seeing that, because