{"id":103,"date":"2017-01-04T20:10:42","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T20:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.publiconsulting.com\/wordpress\/ancientgreek\/chapter\/32-first-declension-nouns\/"},"modified":"2018-01-19T11:35:27","modified_gmt":"2018-01-19T11:35:27","slug":"32-first-declension-nouns","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/www.publiconsulting.com\/wordpress\/ancientgreek\/chapter\/32-first-declension-nouns\/","title":{"rendered":"First Declension Nouns"},"content":{"raw":"\n[caption id=\"attachment_893\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"715\"]\"2009.04.0289\"<\/a> Marble base for a bronze statue. The inscription honors a young woman, who received crowns for her service as a hearth initiate, and for leading the processions at important festivals for Apollo and Athena. 2nd c. B.C. Athenian Agora Excavations.[\/caption]\n
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First Declension Nouns<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Almost all Greek nouns belong to one of three INFLECTION patterns, called the FIRST DECLENSION, SECOND DECLENSION, and THIRD DECLENSION. Each represents a particular set of CASE ENDINGS for gender, number, and case. So far, we have encountered only THIRD DECLENSION nouns. This lesson introduces FIRST DECLENSION nouns.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. First Declension: Nouns with -\u03b7<\/span> in the Singular<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most nouns of the first declension end in -\u03b7<\/span> in the singular, which becomes -\u03b1<\/span> in the plural (S 212). Most nouns in this declension are FEMININE and use endings similar to those of the FEMININE DEFINITE ARTICLE (S 216; GPH p. 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n-\u03b7<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n-\u03b7\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n-\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n-\u1fc3<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n-\u03b7\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n -\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7 -\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> love, charity<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03c0\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u1fc3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b1\u03c2
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b7 -\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> idea, intelligence, opinion<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b7<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u03b3\u03bd\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b7\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u1fc3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ae -\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> value, honor<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ae<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1\u03af<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u1fc6\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u1fc7<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ae\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ac\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Accent of First Declension Nouns<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recall that nouns have a PERSISTENT ACCENT. FIRST DECLENSION nouns generally follow this pattern. There are two accent rules, however, that apply to nouns of the FIRST DECLENSION, but not to those of the third declension.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Some FIRST DECLENSION nouns, e.g. \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ae -\u1fc6\u03c2<\/span>, have a persistent accent on the ultima of all inflected forms. When this happens, a CIRCUMFLEX is used on the genitive and dative, singular and plural; an ACUTE accent falls on the nominative and accusative, singular and plural. We have encountered the ultima \"cirumflex belt\" before; note the accent pattern, for example, on the definite articles as well as on a number of pronouns, such as \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03ae \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03cc<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  2. No matter where the persistent accent of a FIRST DECLENSION noun falls, the genitive plural is accented with a circumflex on the ultima: -\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span>. Note, for example, the inflections of \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7 -\u03b7\u03c2<\/span> and \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03bc\u03b7 -\u03b7\u03c2<\/span>, above. This accent reflects a contraction of the original ending of the genitive plural: -\u03ac\u03c9\u03bd <\/span>(S 213).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For a download of all the accent rules for nouns, click here: Greek Accents Nouns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    3. Inflection of \u03b3\u1fc6 \u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    There is only one monosyllabic first declension noun in our vocabulary list: \u03b3\u1fc6 \u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2<\/span>. For this noun, all inflected forms have a circumflex! This noun reflects a contraction of \u03b3\u03ad\u1fb1<\/span>- or \u03b3\u03ac\u1fb1<\/span>-, and declines in Attic Greek as follows (S 227; cf. GPH p. 4):<\/p>\n

    \u03b3\u1fc6 \u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> earth<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\n(No plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03b3\u1fc6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b3\u1fc7<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u1fc6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    4. First Declension: Noun in -\u03b5<\/span>, -\u03b9<\/span> or -\u03c1 <\/span>before -\u03b7<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    In Attic and Koine Greek, when a first declension noun has a stem ending in -\u03b5<\/span>, -\u03b9<\/span> or -\u03c1 <\/span>before the -\u03b7<\/span>-, the \u03b7<\/span> changes to to \u1fb1<\/span>. This change has no meaning. It is just a shift in pronunciation. These endings remain all long with the exception of the nominative plural -\u03b1\u03b9<\/span> (cf. S 216; GPH p. 2).<\/p>\n

    Note that when this change to \u1fb1<\/span> occurs in the genitive singular, its form now is identical to that of the accusative plural! The definite article, as well as context within a sentence, helps to distinguish between the two.<\/p>\n

    \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1 -\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> building, house<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u1fb3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1 -\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> land, place<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u03c7\u1ff6\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u1fb3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2
    \n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    5. First Declension: Nominative and Accusative Singular in -\u1fb0<\/span>-<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A handful of first declension nouns end in -\u1fb0<\/span>- in the NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE SINGULAR, yet still retain -\u03b7<\/span>- in the genitive and dative singular (S 216, 221; cf. GPH p. 2). Nouns of this class can often be identified by the accent of the nominative singular. Note, for example, that the -\u03b1<\/span> must be short for the accent to be able to recede to the antepenult of \u03b8\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1<\/span>, or to allow for a circumflex over the penult of \u03b3\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1<\/span>.<\/p>\n

    Again, when this type of noun has a stem ending in -\u03b5<\/span>, -\u03b9<\/span> or -\u03c1<\/span>, the singular forms change the -\u03b7<\/span>- to an -\u1fb1<\/span>-. Note the following inflections:<\/p>\n

    \u03b3\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1 -\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> tongue, language<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03b3\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u03b3\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bb\u03ce\u03c4\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b3\u03bb\u03c9\u03c4\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b3\u03bb\u03ce\u03c4\u03c4\u1fc3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bb\u03ce\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03b3\u03bb\u03ce\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u1f00\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 -\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f21<\/span> truth<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u1f00\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u1f00\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u1fb3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    6. First Declension: Masculine Nouns<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Most nouns of the first declension are feminine. Some nouns of the first declension, however, are MASCULINE, particularly those referring to a specifically male person. In such instances, two changes occur:<\/p>\n