Koine Greek/Adjectives

Adjectives describe or further define nouns (and pronouns), e.g., "Plato is wise." English adjectives are indeclinable, but Greek ones must agree with their noun in gender, number, and case (except for σῦφαρ, "decrepit"). Greek adjectives follow the same declensions and persistent accent rules as nouns. Lexicons list adjectives with all of their nominative singular forms to indicate their declension family: -ος, -η / -ᾱ, -ον — Three-Ending 1st & 2nd Declension (2-1-2) -ος, -ον — Two-Ending 2nd Declension (2-2) -ς, - — Two-Ending 3rd Declension (3-3) -ς, -α, - — Three-Ending 1st & 3rd Declension (3-1-3) Three-Ending Adjectives: 1st and 2nd Declension (2-1-2) Most adjectives use masculine and neuter 2nd declension endings when modifying nouns of these genders and 1st declension endings when modifying feminine nouns—similar to the pronouns αὐτός, αὐτή, and αὐτό and ἐκεῖνος, ἐκείνη, and ἐκεῖνο, though with –ον in the nominative/accusative singular of the neuter. + ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν (stem: ἀγαθ-) good, brave, noble Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. ἀγαθ-red ός ἀγαθ-red ή ἀγαθ-red όν ἀγαθ-red οί ἀγαθ-red αί ἀγαθ-red ά Gen. ἀγαθ-red οῦ ἀγαθ-red ῆς ἀγαθ-red οῦ ἀγαθ-red ῶν ἀγαθ-red ῶν ἀγαθ-red ῶν Dat. ἀγαθ-red ῷ ἀγαθ-red ῇ ἀγαθ-red ῷ ἀγαθ-red οῖς ἀγαθ-red αῖς ἀγαθ-red οῖς Acc. ἀγαθ-red όν ἀγαθ-red ήν ἀγαθ-red όν ἀγαθ-red ούς ἀγαθ-red άς ἀγαθ-red ά Voc. ἀγαθ-red έ ἀγαθ-red ή ἀγαθ-red όν ἀγαθ-red οί ἀγαθ-red αί ἀγαθ-red ά Stems in –ε, –ι or –ρ If the stem of the adjective ends in –ε, –ι or –ρ, the singular forms of the 1st declension change the –η– to –ᾱ-. Note that this change matches that of 1st declension nouns. + δίκαιος, -ᾱ, -ον (stem: δικαι-) just Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. δίκαι-red ος δικαί-red ᾱ δίκαι-red ον δίκαι-red οι δίκαι-red αι δίκαι-red α Gen. δικαί-red ου δικαί-red ᾱς δικαί-red ου δικαί-red ων δικαί-red ων δικαί-red ων Dat. δικαί-red ῳ δικαί-red ᾳ δικαί-red ῳ δικαί-red οις δικαί-red αις δικαί-red οις Acc. δίκαι-red ον δικαί-red ᾱν δίκαι-red ον δικαί-red ους δικαί-red ᾱς δίκαι-red α Voc. δίκαι-red ε δικαί-red ᾱ δίκαι-red ον δίκαι-red οι δίκαι-red αι δίκαι-red α The feminine genitive plural (δικαίων) breaks the standard 1st-declension rule (which demands a circumflex on -ῶν). Because all three genders of this adjective share an identical genitive plural spelling, the feminine form regularizes its accent to match the masculine and neuter δίκαι- pattern. Big and Many Two common adjectives of the 2-1-2 type show additional small changes: + μέγᾰς, μεγᾰ́λη, μέγᾰ (stem: μεγᾰλ- / μεγᾰ-) big Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. μέγᾰ-red ς μεγᾰ́λ-red η μέγᾰ μεγᾰ́λ-red οι μεγᾰ́λ-red αι μεγᾰ́λ-red ᾰ Gen. μεγᾰ́λ-red ου μεγᾰ́λ-red ης μεγᾰ́λ-red ου μεγᾰ́λ-red ων μεγᾰ́λ-red ων μεγᾰ́λ-red ων Dat. μεγᾰ́λ-red ῳ μεγᾰ́λ-red ῃ μεγᾰ́λ-red ῳ μεγᾰ́λ-red οις μεγᾰ́λ-red αις μεγᾰ́λ-red οις Acc. μέγᾰ-red ν μεγᾰ́λ-red ην μέγᾰ μεγᾰ́λ-red ους μεγᾰ́λ-red ᾱς μεγᾰ́λ-red ᾰ Voc. μέγᾰ-red ς μεγᾰ́λ-red η μέγᾰ μεγᾰ́λ-red οι μεγᾰ́λ-red αι μεγᾰ́λ-red ᾰ Except for the 3rd decl. sg. forms μέγᾰς, μέγᾰν, and μέγᾰ, the adjective declines as a regular 2-1-2 adjective. + πολῠ́ς, πολλή, πολῠ́ (stem: πολλ- / πολῠ-) much, many Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. πολῠ́-red ς πολλ-red ή πολῠ́ πολλ-red οί πολλ-red αί πολλ-red ᾰ́ Gen. πολλ-red οῦ πολλ-red ῆς πολλ-red οῦ πολλ-red ῶν πολλ-red ῶν πολλ-red ῶν Dat. πολλ-red ῷ πολλ-red ῇ πολλ-red ῷ πολλ-red οῖς πολλ-red αῖς πολλ-red οῖς Acc. πολῠ́-red ν πολλ-red ήν πολῠ́ πολλ-red ούς πολλ-red ᾱ́ς πολλ-red ᾰ́ Voc. πολῠ́ πολλ-red ή πολῠ́ πολλ-red οί πολλ-red αί πολλ-red ᾰ́ Note that except for the singular forms πολῠ́ς, πολῠ́ν, and πολῠ́, the adjective declines as a regular 2-1-2 adjective. Contract Adjectives A handful of adjectives that end in –εος, –εα, –εον contract in Koine Greek, producing the endings –ους, –η, –ουν, for example: + χαλκοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν (stem: χαλκέ-) bronze Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. χαλκ-red οῦς χαλκ-red ῆ χαλκ-red οῦν χαλκ-red οῖ χαλκ-red αῖ χαλκ-red ᾶ Gen. χαλκ-red οῦ χαλκ-red ῆς χαλκ-red οῦ χαλκ-red ῶν χαλκ-red ῶν χαλκ-red ῶν Dat. χαλκ-red ῷ χαλκ-red ῇ χαλκ-red ῷ χαλκ-red οῖς χαλκ-red αῖς χαλκ-red οῖς Acc. χαλκ-red οῦν χαλκ-red ῆν χαλκ-red οῦν χαλκ-red οῦς χαλκ-red ᾶς χαλκ-red ᾶ Voc. χαλκ-red οῦς χαλκ-red ῆ χαλκ-red οῦν χαλκ-red οῖ χαλκ-red αῖ χαλκ-red ᾶ Usage Depending on its placement, a Greek adjective has three possible functions. Attributive Position Greek adjectives describe nouns when they are in the attributive position: ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος (Matthew 12:35) — "The good man..." ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός (John 10:11) — "The good shepherd..." υἱὸς ὁ ἀγαπητός (Luke 20:13) — "...[my] beloved son." δένδρον ἀγαθὸν (Matthew 7:18) — "A good tree..." (anarthrous attributive) Note that while the adjective modifies its noun in gender, number, and case, it does not necessarily modify the noun in declension! ποιμήν is 3rd declension, but καλός is 2nd declension. Predicate Position Outside the attributive position, Greek adjectives function as predicates to the noun: πιστὸς ὁ θεός (1 Corinthians 1:9) — "God [is] faithful." οὐδὲν αἴτιον θανάτου εὗρον ἐν αὐτῷ (Luke 23:22) — "I found no cause worthy of death in him." Stand Alone (Substantive) Greek routinely uses adjectives substantively: ὁ δίκαιος (Romans 1:17) — "The righteous [man]..." ἁμαρτωλός (Luke 18:13) — "...[a] sinner [man]." τοὺς κακούς (Revelation 2:2) — "...those who are evil." If the definite article is neuter singular – or occasionally neuter plural – the substantive can serve as an abstract noun: τὸ κακόν (Romans 7:19) — "...the evil [thing] I do not want to do..." τὰ ἄδικα (1 Corinthians 6:9) — "...the unrighteous [things/people] will not inherit..." τὸ καλόν (Romans 7:18) — "...to do the good [thing] is not present in me." Two-Ending Adjectives: 2nd Declension (2-2) A few adjectives, usually compounds, use 2nd declension endings for all genders. For these adjectives, both the masculine and feminine forms share the same endings as 2nd declension masculine nouns; the neuter form shares the same endings as 2nd declension neuter nouns. + ἄδικος, -ον (stem: ἀδικ-) unjust Case Singular Plural M / F N M / F N Nom. ἄδικ-red ος ἄδικ-red ον ἄδικ-red οι ἄδικ-red α Gen. ἀδίκ-red ου ἀδίκ-red ου ἀδίκ-red ων ἀδίκ-red ων Dat. ἀδίκ-red ῳ ἀδίκ-red ῳ ἀδίκο-red ις ἀδίκο-red ις Acc. ἄδικ-red ον ἄδικ-red ον ἀδίκ-red ους ἄδικ-red α Voc. ἄδικ-red ε ἄδικ-red ον ἄδικ-red οι ἄδικ-red α Two-Ending Adjectives: 3rd Declension (3-3) Another small group of adjectives uses 3rd declension endings for all genders. For these adjectives, both the masculine and feminine forms share the same endings as 3rd declension masculine/feminine nouns; the neuter form uses the same endings as 3rd declension neuter nouns. These adjectives tend to fall into one of two groups: Adjectives ending in –ης –ες: These adjectives have a stem ending in –εσ. Adjectives ending in –(ί)ων –(ι)ον: These adjectives have a stem ending in –(ι)ον. 1. Adjectives in –ης –ες. + ἀληθής, -ές (stem: ἀληθέσ-) true Case Singular Plural M / F N M / F N Nom. ἀληθ-red ής ἀληθ-red ές ἀληθ-red εῖς ἀληθ-red ῆ Gen. ἀληθ-red οῦς ἀληθ-red οῦς ἀληθ-red ῶν ἀληθ-red ῶν Dat. ἀληθ-red εῖ ἀληθ-red εῖ ἀληθ-red έσι ἀληθ-red έσι Acc. ἀληθ-red ῆ ἀληθ-red ές ἀληθ-red εῖς ἀληθ-red ῆ Voc. ἀληθ-red ές ἀληθ-red ές ἀληθ-red εῖς ἀληθ-red ῆ The contractions that produce the inflection of –ης –ες adjectives are similar to nouns in –εσ that we have already studied, e.g. Σωκράτης, -ους (stem: Σωκράτεσ-) and ἔτος -ους (stem: ἔτεσ-). The main differences are: For the neuter of 3-3 adjectives, –ες does not become –ος in the nominative and accusative singular. The masculine/feminine accusative plural is identical to the nominative plural: –έσες → –εῖς. Still, adjectives of this type are fairly rare. The only other common adjective inflected like ἀληθής -ές is σαφής -ές "clear". 2. Adjectives ending in –(ί)ων –(ι)ον. + βελτίων, -ον (stem: βελτίον-) better Case Singular Plural M / F N M / F N Nom. βελτί-red ων βέλτι-red ον βελτί-red ονες βελτί-red ονα Gen. βελτί-red ονος βελτί-red ονος βελτι-red όνων βελτι-red όνων Dat. βελτί-red ονι βελτί-red ονι βελτί-red οσι βελτί-red οσι Acc. βελτί-red ονα βέλτι-red ον βελτί-red ονας βελτί-red ονα Voc. βέλτι-red ον βέλτι-red ον βελτί-red ονες βελτί-red ονα The inflection of –(ί)ων / –(ι)ον adjectives is similar to nouns ending in –(ι)ον that we have already studied, e.g., δαίμων -ονος. Notice: In the masculine/feminine nominative singular, –(ι)ονς becomes –(ί)ων due to the loss of the sigma and subsequent compensatory lengthening. In the dative plural of all genders, the –ν of –ονσι has dropped out, leaving only –οσι. Three-Ending Adjectives: 1st and 3rd Declension (3-1-3) The final group of adjectives uses 3rd declension endings for masculine and neuter, but 1st declension endings for feminine. Note, however, that when modifying a feminine noun, these adjectives use short –ᾰ– in the nominative and accusative singular. This change must be remembered, since it affects the accent of these adjectives. These adjectives tend to fall into one of two groups: Adjectives ending in –ς –σα –ν: These adjectives have a stem ending in –ντ. Adjectives ending in –ύς –εῖα –ύ: These adjectives have a stem ending in –ε. 1. Adjectives in –ς –σα –ν. While a handful of adjectives have their stems ending in –ντ, the most common one is πᾶς; no others appear in our vocabulary lists. + πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν (stem: παντ- / πᾱσ-) all, every, whole Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. πᾶ-red ς πᾶσ-red ᾰ πᾶν πάντ-red ες πᾶσ-red αι πάντ-red α Gen. παντ-red ός πάσ-red ης παντ-red ός πάντ-red ων πασ-red ῶν πάντ-red ων Dat. παντ-red ί πάσ-red ῃ παντ-red ί πᾶ-red σι πάσ-red αις πᾶ-red σι Acc. πάντ-red α πᾶσ-red ᾰν πᾶν πάντ-red ας πάσ-red ας πάντ-red α Voc. πᾶ-red ς πᾶσ-red ᾰ πᾶν πάντ-red ες πᾶσ-red αι πάντ-red α 2. Adjectives in –ύς –εῖα –ύ. As you study this inflection pattern, note the following: Remember that if the stem of the adjective ends in –ε, –ι or –ρ, ᾱ appears instead of η in feminine singular forms. The use of –ᾱ– affects only the GENITIVE and DATIVE SINGULAR for these adjectives, however. The nominative and accusative singular already have short –ᾰ-. In the nominative and accusative singular of the masculine and neuter, the stem ends in –υ. The masculine accusative singular ending is –ν. The masculine nominative and accusative plural are identical: see, e.g., ἡδεῖς. Not all of the expected contractions occur: see, e.g., ἡδέος, ἡδέων, and ἡδέα. All adjectives of this declension family share the same persistent accent. + ἡδύς, -εῖα, -ύ (stem: ἡδυ- / ἡδε-) sweet Case Singular Plural M F N M F N Nom. ἡδύ-red ς ἡδεῖ-red ᾰ ἡδύ ἡδ-red εῖς ἡδεῖ-red αι ἡδ-red έα Gen. ἡδέ-red ος ἡδεί-red ας ἡδέ-red ος ἡδέ-red ων ἡδει-red ῶν ἡδέ-red ων Dat. ἡδ-red εῖ ἡδεί-red ᾳ ἡδ-red εῖ ἡδέ-red σι ἡδεί-red αις ἡδέ-red σι Acc. ἡδύ-red ν ἡδεῖ-red ᾰν ἡδύ ἡδ-red εῖς ἡδεί-red ας ἡδ-red έα Voc. ἡδύ ἡδεῖ-red ᾰ ἡδύ ἡδ-red εῖς ἡδεῖ-red αι ἡδ-red έα Vocabulary 2-1-2 Adjectives ἅγιος, ἅγια, ἅγιον: holy, saintly (hagiography) ἄλλος, ἄλλη, ἄλλο: other (allergy) ἀγαθός, ἀγαθή, ἀγαθόν: good (Agatha) νεκρός, νεκρά, νεκρόν: dead (necropolis) ἴδιος, ἴδια, ἴδιον: one's own (idiosyncrasy) ὅλος, ὅλη, ὅλον: whole (holocaust) καλός, καλή, καλόν: beautiful, nice (kaleidoscope, calligraphy) ἕτερος, ἕτερα, ἕτερον: other, different (heterogeneous) πονηρός, πονηρά, πονηρόν: evil ἕκαστος, ἕκαστη, ἕκαστον: each δίκαιος, δίκαια, δίκαιον: just πιστός, πιστή, πιστον: faithful, believing λοιπός, λοιπή, λοιπόν: remaining πρεσβύτερος, πρεσβύτερα, πρεσβύτερον: elder (presbyter) κακός, κακή, κακόν: bad (cacophony) μέσος, μέση, μέσον: middle (Mesopotamia, Mesolithic) ἀγαπητός, ἀγαπητή, ἀγαπητόν: beloved δεξιός, δεξιά, δεξιον: right (Dexter) ἔσχατος, ἔσχατη, ἔσχατον: last (eschatology) ὀλίγος, ὀλίγη, ὀλίγον: few (oligarchy) μακάριος, μακάρια, μακάριον: blessed, happy (macarism) τυφλός, τυφλή, τυφλόν: blind (typhlosis) μικρός, μικρή, μικρόν: small, little (omicron, microscope, microbiology) ὅμοιος, ὅμοια, ὅμοιον: similar (homoiousian) καινός, καινή, καινόν: new ἄξιος, ἄξια, ἄξιον: worthy (axiom) ἱκανός, ἱκανή, ἱκανόν: sufficient πτωχός, πτωχή, πτωχόν: poor δυνατός, δυνατή, δυνατόν: powerful (dynamite, dynamic, dyne) ἐχθρός, ἐχθρή, ἐχθρόν: enemy ἰσχυρός, ἰσχυρά, ἰσχυρόν: strong φίλος, φίλη, φίλον: dear, loving (Philadelphia) πνευματικός, πνευματική, πνευματικόν: spiritual (pneumatology, pneumatic) πλούσιος, πλούσια, πλούσιον: rich (plutocracy) ἀληθινός, ἀληθινή, ἀληθινόν: true (alethic) περισσός, περισσή, περισσόν: abundant καθαρός, καθαρά, καθαρόν: clean, pure (catharsis, Catharine, Cathari) λευκός, λευκή, λευκόν: white (leukemia, leukocyte) νέος, νέα, νέον: new (neon, neologism, neonatal) ἐλεύθερος, ἐλεύθερα, ἐλεύθερον: free ἐκλεκτός, ἐκλεκτή, ἐκλεκτόν: chosen (eclectic) σοφός, σοφή, σοφόν: wise (philosophy) παλαιός, παλαιά, παλαιόν: old (paleography, paleolithic) τέλειος, τέλεια, τέλειον: complete (teleology) φανερός, φανερά, φανερόν: manifest, apparent (phantom, phenomenon) χρυσοῦς, χρυσῆ, χρυσοῦν: golden (chrysalis, chrysanthemum) κενός, κενή, κενόν: empty (kenosis) κρυπτός, κρυπτή, κρυπτόν: hidden (cryptic) γνωστός, γνωστή, γνωστόν: known (diagnosis, prognosis, Gnostic) νήπιος, νήπια, νήπιον: infantile, childlike γυμνός, γυμνή, γυμνόν: naked (gymnasium) χωλός, χωλή, χωλόν: lame ξένος, ξένη, ξένον: foreign (xenophobia) κωφός, κωφή, κωφόν: deaf κοινός, κοινή, κοινόν: common ἀλλότριος, ἀλλότρια, ἀλλότριον: another's, foreign τίμιος, τίμια, τίμιον: honorable ὕψιστος, ὕψιστη, ὕψιστον: highest μωρός, μωρά, μωρόν: foolish (moron) ἀρχαῖος, ἀρχαῖα, ἀρχαῖον: old (archaea, archaeology) ὑψηλός, ὑψηλή, ὑψηλόν: high πρότερος, πρότερα, πρότερον: former κλητός, κλητή, κλητόν: called ταπεινός, ταπεινή, ταπεινόν: humble, downcast ποικίλος, ποικίλη, ποικίλον: varied (poikilothermic) Proper Adjectives ὁ Ἰουδαῖος, ἡ Ἰουδαῖα, τὸ Ἰουδαῖον: Judean ὁ Ῥωμαῖος, ἡ Ῥωμαῖα, τὸ Ῥωμαῖον: Roman ὁ Γαλιλαῖος, ἡ Γαλιλαῖα, τὸ Γαλιλαῖον: Galilean ὁ Ναζαρηνός, ἡ Ναζαρηνή, τὸ Ναζαρηνόν: Nazarene ὁ Αἰγύπτιος, ἡ Αἰγυπτῖα, τὸ Αἰγύπτιον: Egyptian ἡ Ἐφέσιος, ἡ Ἐφεσία, τὸ Ἐφέσιον: Ephesian Irregular 3-1-2 Adjectives These two highly frequent adjectives are irregular, mixing 3rd decl. forms in some singular positions with 2nd decl. forms elsewhere, alongside a 1st decl. feminine. πολύς, πολλή, πολύ: much, many (polygon, polymer) μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα: large (megaphone, omega) 2-2 Adjectives αἰώνιος, αἰώνιος, αἰώνιον: eternal (eon) ἁμαρτωλός, ἁμαρτωλός, ἁμαρτωλόν: sinful (hamartia) ἀκάθαρτος, ἀκάθαρτος, ἀκάθαρτον: unclean (catharsis, Catharine, Cathari) ἄπιστος, ἄπιστος, ἄπιστον: unbelieving φρόνιμος, φρόνιμος, φρόνιμον: wise, prudent, thoughtful ἄδικος, ἄδικος, ἄδικον: unjust ἀδύνατος, ἀδύνατος, ἀδύνατον: incapable (dynamite, dynamic, dyne) ἔνοχος, ἔνοχος, ἔνοχον: guilty, liable, involved in ἐπουράνιος, ἐπουράνιος, ἐπουράνιον: heavenly (Uranus, uranium) ἕτοιμος, ἕτοιμη, ἕτοιμον: ready, prepared (Note: Can follow 2-1-2 or 2-2 in variants) 3-3 Adjectives ἀληθής, ἀληθής, ἀληθές: true (alethic) ἀσθενής, ἀσθενής, ἀσθενές: weak (asthenia, asthenopia, asthenosphere) πλήρης, πλήρης, πλήρες: full ὑγιής, ὑγιής, ὑγιές: whole, healthy (hygiene) ἀσεβής, ἀσεβής, ἀσεβές: impious ἄφρων, ἄφρων, ἄφρον: silly, thoughtless ἐλάσσων, ἐλάσσων, ἐλάσσον: lesser 3-1-3 Adjectives πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν: all, every (pantheon, pandemic) ἅπας, ἅπασα, ἅπαν: all πλατύς, πλατεῖα, πλατύ: broad (platypus)