-α

See also: ἁ, ἆ, ἅ, ἀ-, ά, ά-, and α-

Ancient Greek

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hellenic *-ā́, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂. Cognate with Latin feminine -a, from Old Latin and Proto-Italic *-ā (both in names and adjectives).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /aː/ → /a/ → /a/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /aː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /a/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /a/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /a/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /a/

Suffix

-ᾱ • (-ā) f (genitive -ᾱς); first declension

2. Earlier form of -η (-ē).

   ᾰ̓γείρω (ageírō, “to gather”) + -ᾱ > ᾰ̓γορᾱ́ (agorā́)

Usage notes

The earlier -ᾱ is retained in certain dialects, and in Attic after ε, ι or ρ, whence -εā, -ιā and -ρā (e.g., ἀγορά (agorá, “agorā”)).

Derived terms

Ancient Greek terms suffixed with -α (o-grade)

Etymology 2

From the neuter accusative plural ending -ᾰ (-a).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /a/ → /a/ → /a/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /a/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /a/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /a/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /a/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /a/

Suffix

-ᾰ • (-a)

2. Added to adjectival roots to form an adverb: -ly

   ‎σᾰφ-ής (saph-ḗs, “clear”) + ‎-ᾰ (-a) → ‎σᾰ́φᾰ (sápha, “clearly”)

Derived terms

Ancient Greek terms suffixed with -α (adverb)

Greek

Suffix

-α • (-a)

1. used with a noun to form an augmentative:

   ‎μπουκάλι (boukáli, “bottle”) + ‎-α (-a) → ‎μπουκάλα (boukála, “large bottle”)

2. added to adjectival roots to form an adverb:

   ‎γρήγορος (grígoros, “quick”) + ‎-α (-a) → ‎γρήγορα (grígora, “quickly”)

3. to form the feminine:

   ‎δούλος (doúlos, “male slave”) + ‎-α (-a) → ‎δούλα (doúla, “female slave”)

4. an inflectional ending, some examples:

   ‎καρότο (karóto, “carrot”) + ‎-α (-a) → ‎καρότα (karóta, “carrots”, plural case forms)

   ‎φύλακας (fýlakas, “guard”) + ‎-α (-a) → ‎φύλακα (fýlaka, single case forms)

Derived terms

Greek terms suffixed with -α