Wiktionary:About Greek

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What I liked about Greece was [...] the impressive force of the language itself, unconfined by dictionaries, spoken in the streets, in cafés and in the country.   (Peter Levi. The Hill of Kronos. 1980.)

All text in Wiktionary should be in English with the sole exception of the entry words themselves and translations, together with any examples and quotations. Those looking for definitions in Greek should look in the Greek Wiktionary - το Βικιλεξικό. This guide is intended for those editing Greek words, it is a supplement to Wiktionary:Entry layout explained.

In Wiktionary Greek when used on its own refers to Modern Greek, there is a separate About Ancient Greek guide. Generally Greek words will be found in two places: in the 'Translations' sections of English words (eg example), and as Greek words (eg οδός). The treatment of 'Translations' is covered towards the end of this guide (Greek translations for English words). Greek entries will be in both Ancient Greek (eg ὁδός) and modern Greek (eg οδός) forms, sometimes a word (eg βαθύς) will be the same in both languages and have two language headings.

Contents 1 Entries for Greek words in Wiktionary 1.1 Pre-POS headings 1.1.1 See also 1.1.2 Alternative spellings 1.1.3 Etymology 1.1.4 Pronunciation 1.2 Parts of Speech headings 1.2.1 Nouns and Proper nouns 1.2.1.1 Inflection line 1.2.1.2 Definitions 1.2.1.3 Declension table 1.2.1.4 Categories 1.2.2 Verbs 1.2.2.1 Inflection line 1.2.2.2 Definitions 1.2.2.3 Conjugation table 1.2.2.4 Categories 1.2.3 Adjectives 1.2.3.1 Inflection line 1.2.3.2 Definitions 1.2.3.3 Inflection table 1.2.3.4 Categories and templates 1.2.4 Other inflected parts of speech 1.2.4.1 Adverbs 1.2.4.2 Articles 1.2.4.3 Pronouns and Determiners 1.2.5 Non-inflected parts of speech 1.3 Other headings within the POS section 1.3.1 Related terms 2 Greek translations for English words 3 Romanisation 4 Miscellaneous 4.1 Forms of Greek 4.2 Writing Greek 4.2.1 For Windows users 5 Reference 5.1 Books 5.2 Wikipedia 5.3 Web

[edit] Entries for Greek words in Wiktionary

Wiktionary will contain all words in the Greek language, since it is a highly inflected language this will eventually include all their inflected forms. The term lemma is used to refer to that basic or main form of the word, that which is usually listed in bi-lingual dictionaries. The entry for the lemma form (eg αδελφή) will give the main English meaning of the word, other or non-lemma form (eg αδελφών) entries will refer back to the lemma form.

Each entry must contain at least two headings Greek and POS, where "POS" is shorthand for "Part of speech heading", the entry below shows the text for a noun, further details will follow below, at present the pre-POS headings will be considered:

----(used to produce a horizontal line when not the first language.)
==Greek==
===Noun===     (the POS heading)

[edit] Pre-POS headings

Details will be given for each of the three common pre-POS headings and the "See also" header.

==Greek==
===Alternative spellings===
===Etymology===
===Pronunciation===
===Noun===     (the POS heading)

[edit] See also

Not a heading; if it is used the See also section should appear at the very top of the page where it will be easily seen by a user who has mistyped or is uncertain of the capitalisation, hyphenation or stress accents of a word, and appears as:
      See also Pan, PAN, pan-, and Pan-
It is not a heading and uses the template {{also}}, providing links to words of different meaning but similar spelling. Words of similar etymology, such as δουλειά (work) and δουλεία (slavery) could appear here, but should also be listed under Related terms.

[edit] Alternative spellings

This is the place for an alphabetical list of words of identical meaning and etymology but difference in spelling, such as αδελφός and αδερφός. Words of similar etymology but different meaning should appear under Related terms, unrelated but similarly spelt words should appear under See also.

[edit] Etymology

Full guidance is given in the main article (Wiktionary:Etymology). Since the correct etymology is not necessarily the obvious one it is essential that reliable sources are used. The following are given as examples, with their syntax:

From {{AGr.|el}} '''{{polytonic|[[ἀδελφός]]}}''' (adelfós) "[[brother]]"

From Ancient Greek ἀδελφός (adelfós) "brother"

From {{Turk.|el}} '''[[kahve]]''' "[[coffee]]"

From Turkish kahve "coffee"

From {{It.|el}} '''[[lampa#Italian|lampa]]''' "[[lamp]]"

From Italian lampa "lamp"

The templates used to specify the language (eg {{AGr.}}) automatically place the word in an appropriate category of similar derivations (eg Category:el:Ancient Greek derivations).

[edit] Pronunciation

Ideally every entry should have a pronunciation heading, although with Greek there may be problems in covering the full range of regional and expatriate forms. Guidance is available: Entry layout explained and Pronunciation and a chart is available About Greek/Pronunciation. (IPA and SAMPA).

It should be noted that the Romanised (transliterated) forms following many Greek words in Wiktionary are not intended as a pronunciation guide, although they may do this in a crude manner. Guidance is available below (Romanisation).

[edit] Parts of Speech headings

The heading (POS) should be replaced by one of the following: Adjective, Adverb, Article, Conjunction, Determiner, Interjection, Noun, Number, Particle, Prefix, Preposition, Pronoun, Proper noun, Suffix, Verb. The expected content under each of these is described, for each part of speech, below.

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[edit] Nouns and Proper nouns

The lemma form of Greek nouns is in the nominative case and singular number, entries for this form, for example αδελφός, will contain the English translation of the word plus relevant headings, such as Etymology, from the list above. Entries for the non-lemma forms (Category:Greek noun forms) of the word, for example αδελφοί, will not have an Etymology or other headings. See also Appendix:Greek nouns.

[edit] Inflection line

The Inflection line is the line immediately following the parts of speech heading. For the lemma this will usually have the following components: (1) the word itself in bold; (2) a single letter indicator of gender; (3) in parentheses, the romanisation of the word using the values shown below; (4) where appropriate the word's plural form, with romanisation. A template, either {{el-noun}} or {{el-noun-proper}}, should be used to produce this. The example below is produced for the noun πρόβλημα:

πρόβλημα n (próvlima)   (plural προβλήματα (provlímata))

Their use is explained on the talk pages Template talk:el-noun and Template talk:el-noun-proper.

For non-lemma words the inflection line takes the shorter form found, for example, in προβλήματα:

προβλήματα (provlímata)

with the first two components namely: (1) the word itself in bold, and (2) the romanisation of the word, in parentheses.

All of this can be achieved more simply by the use of templates. See Category:Greek inflection templates, where their use is described. Care should be taken to ensure that the right template is chosen.

[edit] Definitions

The definition of the lemma of a noun should usually resemble that found for αδελφός:

1. brother

Each definition of the non-lemma inflected form should usually resemble those found for αδελφοί:

1. Nominative plural of αδελφός   2. Vocative plural of αδελφός

The definitions above were produced with the template {{inflection of}} using the syntax:

{{inflection of|αδελφός|αδελφός|nom|p}}   and   {{inflection of|αδελφός|αδελφός|voc|p}}

[edit] Declension table

The Declension table shows the complete inflection of the noun, which should only appear in the entry for the lemma form of the noun; ie it will appear in the article for αδελφός, but not in that for αδελφοί and the other inflections.

An example from αδελφός:

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	ο αδελφός	οι αδελφοί
Genitive	του αδελφού	των αδελφών
Accusative	τον αδελφό	τους αδελφούς
Vocative	αδελφέ	αδελφοί

This can be achieved more simply by the use of templates. See Category:Greek declension templates, where their use is described. Care should be taken to ensure that the right template is chosen.

[edit] Categories

Lemma word should be placed in the Category:Greek nouns. If it lacks inflections it should also be placed in the Category:Greek nouns lacking inflection.

Non-lemma word should be placed in the Category:Greek noun forms

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[edit] Verbs

The lemma form of Greek verbs is the first person singular of the present tense and indicative mood. Entries for these forms, for example γράφω, will contain the English translations of the word plus the relevant headings, such as Etymology, from the list above. Entries for the non-lemma forms (Category:Greek verb forms) of the word, for example έγραψε, will not have an Etymology or other headings. The verb in the passive voice is considered a separate word, even if there is an active form of the verb, and its entry, again first person singular, present indicative, should also contain all of the headings for a lemma. For example, γράφομαι will contain the English translations of the word plus the relevant headings from the list above.

[edit] Inflection line

The Inflection line is the line immediately following the parts of speech heading. For the lemma, this will usually have the extended form found in the example from γράφω:

γράφω (grapho),     simple past:  έγραψα (égrapsa)

which has the following components:

1. the word itself in bold.
2. the romanisation of the word, in parentheses. See romanisation below.
3. the past perfective, simple past, (1st person singular) form.
4. the romanisation of that word.

This can be achieved using the template {{el-verb}}, instructions for its use can be found at Template talk:el-verb.

For non-lemma words the inflection line takes the shorter form found in the example from έγραψα :

έγραψα (égrapsa)

with the first two components, namely: (1) the word itself in bold, and (2) the romanisation of the word, in parentheses. See romanisation below.

All of this can be achieved more simply by the use of templates. See Category:Greek inflection templates, where their use is described. Care should be taken to ensure that the right template is chosen.

[edit] Definitions

The definition of the lemma of a verb will usually resemble that for γράφω:

1. I write; and thus I say, I draw etc.

Each definition of a non-lemma inflected form should usually resemble that found for έγραψε:

1. 3rd person singular of the past perfective of the verb γράφω

[edit] Conjugation table

The conjugation table shows the complete conjugation of the verb, including the indicative, subjunctive and imperative with the imperfective and perfective stems. The table should only appear in the entry for the lemma of the verb. Conjugation templates for most regular verbs in the active voice are available, and for some regular verbs in the passive voice.

An example for νυστάζω:

See Category:Greek conjugation templates, for more on their use. Additionally, each individual template contains a description of the arguments required and of the class of verbs it covers. Care should be taken to ensure that the right template is chosen.

[edit] Categories

Verbs should be added to the Category:Greek verbs.

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[edit] Adjectives

The lemma form of Greek adjectives is the nominative case, masculine gender and singular number, entries for this form, for example ζεστός, should contain the English translations of the word plus any relevant headings, such as Etymology, from the list above. Entries for non-lemma forms (Category:Greek adjective forms) of the word, for example ζεστή, will not have an Etymology or other headings.

[edit] Inflection line

The Inflection line is the line immediately following the parts of speech heading. For the lemma this will usually have the extended form shown in the extract here from the example word ζεστός:

ζεστός (zestós) m. nominative sg.,     f.:ζεστή, n.:ζεστό

which has the following components:

1. the word itself in bold
2. the romanisation of the word, in parentheses. See romanisation below.
3. the word's gender, case and number
4. where appropriate the feminine and neuter forms of the word, without romanisation.

For non-lemma words the inflection line takes the shorter form found in the example from ζεστή:

ζεστή (zestí)

with the first two components, namely: (1) the word itself in bold, and (2) the romanisation of the word, in parentheses.

[edit] Definitions

The definition of the lemma of an adjective should usually resemble that found for ζεστός:

warm, hot   welcoming, cosy

Each definition of the non-lemma inflected forms should usually resemble those found for ζεστή:

feminine nominative singular of ζεστός feminine accusative singular of ζεστός feminine vocative singular of ζεστός

The definitions above were produced with the template {{inflection of}} using the syntax:

{{inflection of |ζεστός|ζεστός|f|nom|s}}, {{inflection of |ζεστός|ζεστός|f|acc|s}}, etc.

[edit] Inflection table

The Inflection table shows the complete declension of the adjective and the comparative, relative superlative and absolute superlative forms as appropriate. But the table should only appear in the entry for the lemma of the noun. For example:

Number	Singular			Plural
Gender	masc.	fem.	neut.	masc.	fem.	neut.
Nominative	ζεστός	ζεστή	ζεστό	ζεστοί	ζεστές	ζεστά
Genitive	ζεστού	ζεστής	ζεστού	ζεστών	ζεστών	ζεστών
Accusative	ζεστό	ζεστή	ζεστό	ζεστούς	ζεστές	ζεστά
Vocative	ζεστέ	ζεστή	ζεστό	ζεστοί	ζεστές	ζεστά
Comparative	πιο ζεστός   or   ζεστότερος
Relative superlative	ο πιο ζεστός   or   ο ζεστότερος
Absolute superlative	ζεστότατος

[edit] Categories and templates

Each lemma word should be placed in the Category:Greek adjectives, if it lacks inflections it should also be placed in the Category:Greek adjectives lacking inflection.

Each non-lemma word should be placed in the Category:Greek adjective forms

Templates (Category:Greek inflection templates) are available for most of the standard inflection lines and tables, but care should be taken to ensure that the right one is chosen.

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[edit] Other inflected parts of speech

[edit] Adverbs

Adverbs are not inflected, but have degrees of comparison. Initial entries may use the simple inflection line but when the forms of the degrees of comparison are known they should be entered as shown for βαθιά:

βαθιά (vathiá)   Comparative: βαθύτερα   Absolute superlative: βαθύτατα

All should be in the Category:Greek adverbs

[edit] Articles

Each entry for a definite article (οριστικό άρθρο) or an indefinite article (αόριστο άρθρο) should contain a declension table showing all the inflections. Some examples may be seen at: ο, μια, etc. Each definite and indefinite article should be in the category Category:Greek articles.

[edit] Pronouns and Determiners

The use of the term Determiner is currently under active debate , see Wiktionary:Beer parlour#Determiner_vs_Determinative
Each article should contain a definition with a link to the appropriate appendix where the inflection tables are located:

for pronouns Appendix:Greek pronouns

for determiners Appendix:Greek determiners

Examples may be seen at εγώ, αυτό, etc. Each should be in the appropriate category: Category:Greek pronouns or Category:Greek determiners.

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[edit] Non-inflected parts of speech

Other parts of speech should have a simple inflection line with the word in bold followed by its romanisation, which can be achieved using the template {{el-word}}.

όταν   (ótan)

They should be placed in one of the following categories:

• Category:Greek conjunctions
• Category:Greek interjections
• Category:Greek numbers
• Category:Greek particles
• Category:Greek prefixes
• Category:Greek prepositions
• Category:Greek suffixes

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[edit] Other headings within the POS section

If a See also section is present it should appear at the very top of the page where it will be easily seen by a user who has mistyped, or is uncertain of the spelling of, a search term. It is not a heading and uses the template {{also}}, providing links to words of different meaning but similar spelling. Although words of similar etymology, such as δουλειά (work) and δουλεία (slavery) could appear here, they are more correctly listed under Related terms.

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Greek translations for English words

Greek words will also found in the Translations sections of English words. An abbreviated table from the entry for example is shown below:

The template {{t}} should be used, it speeds up entry and will enable any later, global changes in format to be made.

The syntax below will give the output in grey which follows:

{{t|el|παράδειγμα|n|s|tr=paráthigma}}

Greek: παράδειγμα el(el) (paráthigma) n. sg.

The template is explained at Template_talk:t, it has the following arguments:

1. el – the code for Greek
2. παράδειγμα – the word
3. n – the gender: f, m, n, c, mf
4. (optional) s – the number: s for singular, or p for plural
5. (optional) tr=paráthigma the romanised form of the word with the prefix tr= (this is a named argument).

The superscript ^(el)   provides a link to το Βικιλεξικό and to the relevant word should it exist, and παράδειγμα links to the entry for the Greek word in the English Wiktionary.

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[edit] Romanisation

Romanisation is a (usually systematic) transliteration or respelling of a word in Roman characters, it is intended for those who cannot read foreign alphabets or who lack of fonts. Its intent is not to provide a phonetic representation, in the same way that the spelling of English 'eighth' or 'have' fail to indicate the pronunciation of the words that they represent. The correct place for the pronunciation of a word is the Pronunciation section.

The transliteration of Greek words into romanised forms should appear, in parentheses in the following locations:

• Inflection lines, for example:

πρόβλημα (próvlima) f     plural:  προβλήματα (provlímata)

• Translation sections, for example:

Greek: παράδειγμα el(el) n. sg. (paráthigma)

The creation of Wiktionary entries for all such romanised forms of all Greek words is not desirable, even when they exist in language textbooks or dictionaries. But it is important to register the existence of the common romanised forms of Greek words which appear in works of literature and to create entries in Wiktionary. Thus we shall expect to find an entry for Katharévousa or Katharevousa but not for zestó, the romanisation of the adjective form ζεστό.

The table below should be used to identify the equivalent forms used in Wiktionary. Since in some cases (eg ο & ω; and η, ι, οι, υ & υι) more than one Greek form equates to one Roman one the process is not reversible. The Roman equivalent was chosen from the tabular information at Wiktionary:About Greek/Transliteration, when more than one option was offered the nearest phonetic equivalent was chosen. Wiktionary has a draft policy.

Stressed vowels should be indicated by the appropiately acute accented Roman one (eg: á é í ó ú). Letters with a diaeresis (umlaut) should also get one (ï or ü). There are two exceptions:

1. With vowel combinations αυ, ευ (and very rarely ηυ) the stress moves from the υ, which becomes v or f, to the preceding vowel. Thus αύ → áf.
2. When the stress and diaeresis appear together, ΐ, the simple í will suffice.

Greek	English	Sources	Comments
α	a	1,2,3,4
αι	ai	1,2
άι	ai	2
αϊ	ai	1,3
αυ	av	1,2	before β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ and vowels
αυ	af	1,2	before θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, τ, φ, χ, ψ and at the end of a word
άυ, αϋ	ay	1
β	v	1,2,4
γ	g	1,2,3
γγ	ng	1,2,3,4
γξ	nx	1,2,3,4
γκ	gk	1,2
γχ	nch	1,2,3
δ	d	1,2,3
ε	e	1,2,3,4
ει	ei	1,2,3
έι	ei	2
εϊ	ei	1,2,4
ευ	ev	1,2	before β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ and vowels
ευ	ef	1,2	before θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, τ, φ, χ, ψ and at the end of a word
έυ, εϋ	ey	1
ζ	z	1,2,3,4
η	i	1,2,3,4
ηυ	iv	1,2	before β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ and vowels
ηυ	if	1,2	before θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, τ, φ, χ, ψ and at the end of a word
ήυ, ηϋ	iy	1
θ	th	1,2,3,4
ι	i	1,2,3,4
κ	k	1,2,3,4
λ	l	1,2,3,4
μ	m	1,2,3,4
μπ	b	1,2,4	Initial letters
μπ	mp	1,2,4	Medial letters
ν	n	1,2,3,4
ντ	nt	1,2
ξ	x	1,2,3,4
ο	o	1,2,3,4
οι	oi	1,2,3
όι	oi	1,2
οϊ	oi	1,2,4
ου	ou	1,2,3,4
όυ, οϋ	oy	1
π	p	1,2,3,4
μπ	b	1,2,4	Initial letters
μπ	mp	1,2,4	Medial letters
ρ	r	1,2,3,4
σ, ς	s	1,2,3,4
τ	t	1,2,3,4
υ	y	1,2,3
υι	yi	2,3
φ	f	1,2,4
χ	ch	1,2,3
ψ	ps	1,2,3,4
ω	o	1,2,4
1	ELOT 743 BGN/PCGN 1996 The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (for official British use)
2	UN (ELOT 743) 1987 Institute of the Estonian Language UN working paper (pdf 4.2Mb)
3	ALA-LC 1997 American Library Association/Library of Congress
4	BGN/PCGN 1962 Institute of the Estonian Language (pdf file 0.15Mb)
ELOT - the Hellenic Organisation for Standardisation (Ο Ελληνικός Οργανισμός Τυποποίησης) PCGN - The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (UK) BGN - Board on Geographic Names (US) ALA - Americal Library Association LC - Library of Congress

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[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] Forms of Greek

Wikipedia has a complete history of the Greek language. In Wiktionary there are currently three divisions of the Greek language: Greek, Ancient Greek, and Mycenaean.

A simple outline of the names used follows; because language changes slowly all dates are approximate, as is illustrated by the differences between various sources.

• Mycenaean – the language of Linear B the most ancient attested form of the Greek language.
• Ancient Greek – the language of Homer and Socrates, in use between say 900-300 BC. It originally consisted of a number of dialects, one of which (Attic) became predominant.

• Classical Greek, sometimes synonymous with Ancient Greek, often refers to the language of Greek classical literature (600-300 BC).
• Koine is combined within Ancient Greek in Wiktionary.

• Koine (Hellenistic or New Testament Greek) – the common (hence Koine) language of the eastern Mediterranean Greek, of Alexander the Great and the New Testament of the Christian Bible), used from say 300 BC until AD 300.
• Medieval or Byzantine Greek in use from about A.D. 325 until 1453.
• Katharevousa – the classically based artificial Greek language created at the start of Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire and used for formal and official purposes until 1976.
• Demotic Greek – the vernacular language which began to develop as early as the 11th century A.D. It became the official language of Greece in 1976.
• (Modern Greek – the standardised form of Demotic Greek, also referred to as Standard Modern Greek. It has been taught in Greek schools since 1977 and is spoken in Greece, Cyprus and by expatriates elsewhere.

[edit] Writing Greek

Wikipedia has a section on the Greek alphabet, Modern Greek uses the monotonic system with a single stress accent in nearly every word of more than one syllable; in contrast the polytonic system used for Ancient Greek entries has multiple diacritical marks. In addition the Greek numerals use three symbols extra ϛ  ϟ  ϡ Modern Greek words that begin with a vowel which is stressed should carry an accent; see for example Έλληνας.

[edit] For Windows users

Your windows Help should provide information (Searchword = language). Wazu Japan has a web site where you can check whether your browser is displaying all the Greek characters and provides downloads of necessary fonts.

You may need to set up your PC to write and read Greek:

1. Click the on screen Start menu button and select Control panel (on some menus you may have to click Settings to be offered this option).
2. Choose the Regional and Language Options icon.
3. Choose the Languages tab and click Details button.
4. Choose the Settings tab and click Add button under Installed Services.
5. Select Greek on the dropdown menu.
6. Click the Language bar and Key settings to choose your preferences under those headings.

A Greek keyboard utility is available, the Microsoft Visual Keyboard can be downloaded, or searched for. This provides a large on-screen indication of which alphabet is active on a PC and the layout of the keyboard.

Other guidance is available:

• Cambridge university (PDF file)
• Institute for Language and Speech Processing
• Institute of Biblical Greek

[edit] Reference

[edit] Books

• Holton D, Mackridge P and Philippaki-Warburton I. Greek: a comprehensive grammar of the modern language. London: Routledge (1997).
• Triandaphyllidis M A (trans. Burke J N). Concise Modern Greek Grammar. Thessaloniki: Institute of Modern Greek Studies (2004).

[edit] Wikipedia

• Ancient Greek
• Greek alphabet
• Greek language
• Greeklish
• Linear B
• List of Greek words with English derivatives
• Another (Greek) transliteration table

[edit] Web

• Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand
• The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
• Modern Greek Studies Association (US)