Feminine and Masculine Nominative Singular

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Introduction

If the base ends in -α/, the nominative singular is marked by a lengthening of the -α to -η. If the base ends in -ο/, the nominative singular is marked by /ς. If the base ends in any other letter, the nominative singular can be marked either by a lengthening of the final vowel of the base, or by /ς.

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Intermediate

In the 1st declension, the feminine nominative singular marker is a lengthening of the -α to -η:

     κεφαλά/L > κεφαλή

In Attic, after after ε, ι, or ρ, the short α lengthens to η as expected, but then lowers to a long α:

     κεφαλά/L > κεφαλά

For the rare masculine first declension nouns, the nominative singular is marked by both a lengthening of the -α to -η and /ς. The former is the standard for bases ending in α/; the latter is due to Greek speakers treating /ς as the standard marker for the masculine nominative singular:

     ποιητά/Lς > ποιητής

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In the 2nd declension, the masculine nominative singular marker is /ς:

     ἄνθρωπο/ς > ἄνθρωπος

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The 3rd declension can mark the nominative singular by either of the two previous methods. When the final vowel of the base can lengthen due to Ablaut, the nominative singular is marked by lengthening that vowel:

     λέοντ/L > λέων
     ἀνέρ/L > ἀνήρ
     ἡγεμόν/L > ἡγεμών

When the final vowel of the base cannot lengthen due to Ablaut, the nominative singular is marked by /ς:

     ἔρωτ/ς > ἔρως
     κήρυκ/ς > κῆρυξ
     ϝάνακτ/ς > ἄναξ

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Advanced

Many adjectives use the marker /ια/ (where ι is a consonantal /y/ and α is short) to mark feminine gender; separately, this marker can be used to create an abstract noun. In these contexts, the word-final -α in the nominative singular does not lengthen:

     μέλαν/ια/ > μέλαινα
     δημο/κρατ/ια > δημοκρατία

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Very rarely, the base of an adjective or noun will end in -οο/. In these situations, /ς is still used as the marker for the masculine nominative singular:

     διπλόο/ς > διπλόος (Ionic)

In Attic, the -οο- at the end of the base contracts to -ου-, creating a form that looks unlike a standard nominative singular:

     διπλόο/ς > διπλοῦς (Attic)

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Vocabulary for this lesson (click here for the full lexicon)

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