μήν

Ancient Greek

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /mɛ͜ɛ́n/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /meːn/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /min/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /min/

• (15th AD Constantinopolitan): IPA: /min/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s, a suffixed form of an ultimate root *me- (“measure”). Cognate with Latin mensis, Proto-Germanic *mēnan- (English moon, month), Old Armenian ամիս (amis), Old Irish mí, Proto-Slavic *měsęcь (Russian месяц (mesjac, “moon, month”)).

Noun

μήν (genitive μηνός) m, third declension; (mēn)

1. month

Inflection

Inflection

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	μήν	μῆνε	μῆνες
Genitive	μηνός	μηνοῖν	μηνῶν
Dative	μηνί	μηνοῖν	μησί(ν)
Accusative	μῆνᾰ	μῆνε	μῆνᾰς
Vocative	μήν	μῆνε	μῆνες

See also

• μηναῖος, μηνιαίος

Descendants

• Greek: μήνας

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• μάν (Doric, Aeolic, Epic)

Particle

μήν (mēn)

1. used to strengthen statements: surely, truly, definitely
2. (after other particles)
   1. (ἦ μήν) absolutely
   2. (καὶ μήν) used to introduce something new or convey affirmation
   3. (αλλὰ μήν) yet truly, on the other hand
   4. (οὐ μήν) certainly not
   5. (μήτε μήν) not even
3. (after interrogatives, τί μήν) of course, naturally
4. (after a negative) applies an adversative force