σφώ

Ancient Greek

second person pronoun (edit)
case singular dual plural
str. encl. str. str.
nominative σύ σφώ, σφῶϊ ῡ̔μεῖς
genitive σοῦ σου σφῷν ῡ̔μῶν
dative σοί σοι σφῷν ῡ̔μῖν
accusative σέ σε σφώ, σφῶϊ ῡ̔μᾶς
adjective σός σφωΐτερος ῡ̔μέτερος

Alternative forms

Etymology

PIE word
*swé

A conflation of the consonantism of σφεῖς (spheîs, “they”) with the vocalism of νώ (nṓ, “we two”).[1]

Pronunciation

 

Pronoun

σφώ • (sphṓ)

  1. second person dual personal pronoun: you two, both of you, you both
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 1.335–336:
      ... οὔ τί μοι ὔμμες ἐπαίτιοι ἀλλ’ Ἀγαμέμνων,
      ὃ σφῶϊ προΐει Βρισηΐδος εἵνεκα κούρης.
      ... oú tí moi úmmes epaítioi all’ Agamémnōn,
      hò sphôï proḯei Brisēḯdos heíneka koúrēs.
      [Achilles speaking to Talthybius and Eurybates:]
      To me you aren't blameworthy, but Agamemnon,
      who sent you both for the girl Briseis.

Usage notes

Singular and plural are σῠ́ (sŭ́) and ῡ̔μεῖς (hūmeîs).

Inflection

Irregular declension of σφώ; σφῷν (Attic)
Case / # Dual
Nominative σφώ
sphṓ
Genitive σφῷν
sphōîn
Dative σφῷν
sphōîn
Accusative σφώ
sphṓ
Vocative σφώ
sphṓ
Notes:
  • This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.
Irregular declension of σφῶῐ̈; σφῶῐ̈ν (Epic)
Case / # Dual
Nominative σφῶῐ̈ / σφώ
sphôĭ̈ / sphṓ
Genitive σφῶῐ̈ν / σφῷν
sphôĭ̈n / sphōîn
Dative σφῶῐ̈ν / σφῷν
sphôĭ̈n / sphōîn
Accusative σφῶῐ̈ / σφώ
sphôĭ̈ / sphṓ
Vocative σφῶῐ̈ / σφώ
sphôĭ̈ / sphṓ
Notes:
  • Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

References

  1. ^ Rix, Helmut (1976) Historische Grammatik des Griechischen: Laut- und Formenlehre (in German), Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, →ISBN, §192, page 179

Further reading

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