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Ancient Greek Language Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Basics of Attic Greek language

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Alphabet

Αα
alpha
Ββ
beta
Γγ
gamma
Δδ
delta
Εε
epsilon
Ζζ
zeta
Ηη
eta
Θθ
theta
Ιι
iota
Κκ
kappa
Λλ
lambada
Μμ
mu
Νν
nu
Ξξ
xi
Οο
omicron
Ππ
pi
Ρρ
rho
Σσ/ς*
sigma
Ττ
tau
Υυ
upsilon
Φφ
phi
Χχ
chi
Ψψ
psi
Ωω
omega
*σ is used in the middle of words, ς is used at the end of words

vowels

long
short
α
α
η
ε
ι
ι
ω
ο
υ
υ

Particles

ἆρα
used to introduce a yes/no question without using an interr­ogative word
ἀλλά
but, on the other hand
καί
and, even, actually
μέν ...δέ
on the one hand ... on the other hand
 

nouns

Gender
Masculine - ὁ
 
Feminine - ἡ
 
Neuter - τό
Number
Singular
 
Dual
 
Plural
Case
Nomina­tive- subject
 
Accusa­tive- direct object
 
Genitive- possession
 
Dative- indirect object
 
Vocative

The Definite Article

Case
feminine
masculine
neuter
Singular
N
ἡ
ὁ
τό
A
τήν
τόν
τό
G
τῆς
τοῦ
τοῦ
D
τῇ
τῷ
τῷ
Plural
N
αἱ
οἱ
τά
A
τάς
τούς
τά
G
τῶν
τῶν
τῶν
D
ταῖς
τοῖς
τοῖς

First and Second Declension Nouns

Case
First Declension (Feminine α)
Second Declension (Masculine ο)
Second Declension (Neuter ο)
Singular
N
-η/α
-ος
-ον
A
-ην/αν
-ον
-ον
G
-ης/ας
-ου
-ου
D
-η/α
-ῳ
-ῳ
V
-η/α
-ε
-ον
Plural
N
-αι
-οι
-α
A
-ας
-ους
-α
G
-ῶν
-ων
-ων
D
-αις
-οις
-οις
V
-αι
-α
-α

Prepos­itions

 
 

Verbs

Tense
Present- I am falling
 
Imperfect- I was falling
 
Future- I will be falling
 
Simple future- I will fall
 
Aortist- I fell
 
Perfect- I have fallen
 
Pluper­fect- I had fallen
 
Future perfect- I will have fallen
Mood
Indicitive
 
Subjun­ctive
 
Optative
 
Imperative
Voice
Active- Subject performs action
 
Middle- Subject performs action but has an interest in the action
 
Passive- Subject receives action

'Contract' verbs

Verbs with a stem that ends in α, ε, or ο often end up 'contr­acted' over time. That is to say that when the vowel from the stem ends up next to the vowel from an ending, a vowel sound usually "­win­s", out-co­mpeting the other. For example, The uncont­racted form of "I see" is "­ὁρά­ω." However, over time, the verb 'contr­acts' and becomes "­ὁρω­", dropping the less "­pow­erf­ul" alpha sound.

Present Indicitive Active

Person
Singular
Plural
1st
-ω
-ομεν
2nd
-εις
-ετε
3rd
-ει
-ουσι(ν)

Imperative (active)

singular
-ε
plural
-ετε
note that the pl. imperative mood has the same ending as the 2nd person pl. indicative mood (-ετε). Use context clues to figure out the mood.
NEGATIVE- To make an imperative negative, i.e. to tell someone not to do something, put "­μὴ" ahead of the verb. For example, μὴ βαίνε means "do not go!"

Irregular: Present Indicative Active of εἰμί

Transl­ation
Verb Form
I am
εἰμί
You are (s.)
εἶ
he/she/it is
ἐστί(ν)
we are
ἐσμέν
you are (pl.)
ἐστέ
they are
εἰσί(ν)

Irregular: Present Indicitive Active of οἶδα

Transl­ation
Verb Form
I know
οἶδα
You know (s.)
οἶσθα
he/she/it knows
οἶδε
we know
ἴσμεν
you know (pl.)
ἴστε
they know
ἴσασι

Present Indicitive Middle

Person
Singular
Plural
1st
-oμαι
-oμεθα
2nd
-ῃι/σαι
-εσθε
3rd
-εται
-oνται

Imperative (middle)

singular
-ου
plural
-εσθε