μήτηρ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• μάτηρ (Doric)

Etymology

From Proto-Hellenic (cf. Mycenaean Greek 𐀔𐀳𐀩 (ma-te-re), Doric μάτηρ (mátēr)), from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr. Cognates include Phrygian ματαρ (matar), Old Armenian մայր (mayr), Latin māter, Old Persian 𐎶𐎠𐎫𐎠 (mātā), Avestan mātar, Sanskrit मातृ (mā́tṛ), Old Church Slavonic мати (mati), and Old English mōdor (English mother).

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /mɛ͜ɛ́tɛ͜ɛr/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /méːteːr/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /mítir/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /mítir/

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

Noun

μήτηρ (genitive μητέρος or μητρός); f, third declension; (mētēr)

1. mother
2. source or origin

Usage notes

The singular genitive and dative are often contracted to μητρός and μητρί respectively.

Descendants

• Greek: μητέρα (mitéra)

References

• LSJ
• Bauer lexicon
• Strong’s concordance number: G3384