ἔρχομαι

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See also: έρχομαι

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *h₁ergʰ- (“to move, go”), cognate with ὀρχέομαι (orkhéomai), Albanian erdha (“I came”), Old Irish regaid (“will go”, future of téit), Sanskrit ऋघायति (ṛghāyáti, “to be passionate”). Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁r-ske-ti, an inchoative of *h₁er- (“to move, go”).[1]

This is a suppletive verb, with tenses derived from three different roots; see εἶμι (eîmi) and ἦλθον (êlthon) for the etymologies of the other two roots. Discussion of stems, at Notes.

Pronunciation

 

Verb

ἔρχομαι • (érkhomai)

  1. (intransitive) to go
  2. (intransitive) to come

Usage notes

ἔρχομαι is a suppletive verb that typically uses forms from other roots for all tenses and moods besides present indicative. Stems:

  • ἐρχ- of ἔρχομαι.
  • strong εἰ-, weak ἰ- supplied by εἶμι (eîmi) forming present non-indicative and imperfect indicative forms. Its present indicative forms have future meaning in Attic prose.
  • strong ἐλευθ-, weak ἐλυθ- with syncope ἐλθ- of unused verb *ἐλεύθω (*eleúthō, “to come”). Later, that verb, meaning "I come," merged with this verb meaning "I go." This is still seen in the present imperative having a connotation of "go away!," with the aorist imperative having a connotation of "come here!."
    • from ἐλευθ- the future ἐλεύσομαι (eleúsomai) (alternative future for Epic, Ionic, and Tragic), the derivative ἔλευσις (éleusis, “arrival”)
    • from ἐλυθ- the present perfect with attic reduplication ἐλ-έλυθα>ἐλ-ήλυθα (reduplication plus extension of the first vowel).
    • ἐλθ- supplies aorist ἦλθον (êlthon)

Past perfect without augment.
The aorist imperative has irregular accent on ultima when not in compound ἐλθέ (elthé) and not *ἔλθε. But ἄπελθε. (Along with a few others (λαβέ (labé), ἰδέ (idé), εὑρέ (heuré), εἰπέ (eipé)).

Inflection

   Present: ἔρχομαι Subjunctive and optative from verb εἶμι
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
middle/
passive 		indicative ἔρχομαι ἔρχῃ,
ἔρχει 		ἔρχεται ἔρχεσθον ἔρχεσθον ἐρχόμεθᾰ ἔρχεσθε ἔρχονται
subjunctive                
optative                
imperative   ἔρχεο,
ἔρχευ 		           
middle/passive
infinitive ἔρχεσθαι
participle m ἐρχόμενος
f ἐρχομένη
n ἐρχόμενον
Notes:
This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Present: εἶμι Indicative has future meaning. The other moods are used for present ἔρχομαι
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative εἶμι εἶ εἶσῐ(ν) ἴτον ἴτον ἴμεν ἴτε ἴᾱσῐ(ν)
subjunctive ἴω ἴῃς ἴῃ ἴητον ἴητον ἴωμεν ἴητε ἴωσῐ(ν)
optative ἴοιμῐ ἴοις ἴοι ἴοιτον ἰοίτην ἴοιμεν ἴοιτε ἴοιεν
imperative   ἴθῐ ἴτω ἴτον ἴτων   ἴτε ἰόντων
active
infinitive ἰέναι
participle m ἰών
f ἰοῦσᾰ
n ἰόν
Notes:
This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Present: ἔρχομαι (Epic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
middle indicative ἔρχομαι ἔρχεαι ἔρχεται ἔρχεσθον ἔρχεσθον ἐρχόμε(σ)θᾰ ἔρχεσθε ἔρχονται
subjunctive ἔρχωμαι ἔρχηαι ἔρχηται ἔρχησθον ἔρχησθον ἐρχώμε(σ)θᾰ ἔρχησθε ἔρχωνται
optative ἐρχοίμην ἔρχοιο ἔρχοιτο ἔρχοισθον ἐρχοίσθην ἐρχοίμε(σ)θᾰ ἔρχοισθε ἐρχοίᾰτο
imperative   ἔρχεο ἐρχέσθω ἔρχεσθον ἐρχέσθων   ἔρχεσθε ἐρχέσθων
infinitive ἔρχεσθαι
participle m ἐρχόμενος
f ἐρχομένη
n ἐρχόμενον
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Imperfect: ἠρχόμην only in compounds as -ηρχόμην
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
middle/
passive 		indicative ἠρχόμην ἤρχου ἤρχετο ἤρχεσθον ἠρχέσθην ἠρχόμεθᾰ ἤρχεσθε ἤρχοντο
   Imperfect: ᾖᾰ/ᾔειν (of verb εἶμι)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ᾖᾰ/ᾔειν ᾔεισθᾰ/ᾔεις ᾔειν/ᾔει ᾖτον ᾔτην ᾖμεν ᾖτε ᾖσᾰν/ᾔεσᾰν
Notes:
This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Epic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
middle indicative ἐλεύσομαι ἐλεύσεαι ἐλεύσεται ἐλεύσεσθον ἐλεύσεσθον ἐλευσόμε(σ)θᾰ ἐλεύσεσθε ἐλεύσονται
optative ἐλευσοίμην ἐλεύσοιο ἐλεύσοιτο ἐλεύσοισθον ἐλευσοίσθην ἐλευσοίμε(σ)θᾰ ἐλεύσοισθε ἐλευσοίᾰτο
middle
infinitive ἐλεύσεσθαι
participle m ἐλευσόμενος
f ἐλευσομένη
n ἐλευσόμενον
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Ionic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
middle indicative ἐλεύσομαι ἐλεύσεαι ἐλεύσεται ἐλεύσεσθον ἐλεύσεσθον ἐλευσόμεθᾰ ἐλεύσεσθε ἐλεύσονται
optative ἐλευσοίμην ἐλεύσοιο ἐλεύσοιτο ἐλεύσοισθον ἐλευσοίσθην ἐλευσοίμεθᾰ ἐλεύσοισθε ἐλευσοίᾰτο
middle
infinitive ἐλεύσεσθαι
participle m ἐλευσόμενος
f ἐλευσομένη
n ἐλευσόμενον
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Tragic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
middle indicative ἐλεύσομαι ἐλεύσεαι ἐλεύσεται ἐλεύσεσθον ἐλεύσεσθον ἐλευσόμεθᾰ ἐλεύσεσθε ἐλεύσονται
optative ἐλευσοίμην ἐλεύσοιο ἐλεύσοιτο ἐλεύσοισθον ἐλευσοίσθην ἐλευσοίμεθᾰ ἐλεύσοισθε ἐλεύσοιντο
middle
infinitive ἐλεύσεσθαι
participle m ἐλευσόμενος
f ἐλευσομένη
n ἐλευσόμενον
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Aorist: ἦλθον
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ἦλθον ἦλθες ἦλθε(ν) ἤλθετον ἠλθέτην ἤλθομεν ἤλθετε ἦλθον
subjunctive ἔλθω ἔλθῃς ἔλθῃ ἔλθητον ἔλθητον ἔλθωμεν ἔλθητε ἔλθωσῐ(ν)
optative ἔλθοιμῐ ἔλθοις ἔλθοι ἔλθοιτον ἐλθοίτην ἔλθοιμεν ἔλθοιτε ἔλθοιεν
imperative   ἐλθέ ἐλθέτω ἔλθετον ἐλθέτων   ἔλθετε ἐλθόντων
active
infinitive ἐλθεῖν
participle m ἐλθών
f ἐλθοῦσᾰ
n ἐλθόν
Notes:
This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation. Epic Greek also has the infinitive forms ἐλθέμεν (elthémen) and ἐλθέμεναι (elthémenai).
In Koine, plural indicative forms of the first aorist are also found: ἤλθαμεν (ḗlthamen), ἤλθατε (ḗlthate), ἦλθαν (êlthan)/ἤλθοσαν (ḗlthosan).
   Aorist: ἤλθοσᾰ (Koine)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ἤλθοσᾰ ἤλθοσᾰς ἤλθοσε(ν) ἠλθόσᾰτον ἠλθοσᾰ́την ἠλθόσᾰμεν ἠλθόσᾰτε ἤλθοσᾰν
subjunctive ἐλθόσω ἐλθόσῃς ἐλθόσῃ ἐλθόσητον ἐλθόσητον ἐλθόσωμεν ἐλθόσητε ἐλθόσωσῐ(ν)
optative ἐλθόσαιμῐ ἐλθόσειᾰς,
ἐλθόσαις 		ἐλθόσειε(ν),
ἐλθόσαι 		ἐλθόσαιτον ἐλθοσαίτην ἐλθόσαιμεν ἐλθόσαιτε ἐλθόσειᾰν,
ἐλθόσαιεν
imperative   ἔλθοσον ἐλθοσᾰ́τω ἐλθόσᾰτον ἐλθοσᾰ́των   ἐλθόσᾰτε ἐλθοσᾰ́ντων
active
infinitive ἐλθόσαι
participle m ἐλθόσᾱς
f ἐλθόσᾱσᾰ
n ἐλθόσᾰν
   Aorist: ἤλῠθον (Epic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ἤλῠθον ἤλῠθες ἤλῠθε(ν) ἠλῠ́θετον ἠλῠθέτην ἠλῠ́θομεν ἠλῠ́θετε ἤλῠθον
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Aorist: ἦνθον (Doric)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ἦνθον ἦνθες ἦνθε(ν) ἤνθετον ἠνθέτᾱν ἤνθομες ἤνθετε ἦνθον
subjunctive ἔνθω ἔνθῃς ἔνθῃ ἔνθητον ἔνθητον ἔνθωμες ἔνθητε ἐνθέωντῐ
optative ἔνθοιμῐ ἔνθοις ἔνθοι ἐνθεῖτον ἐνθείτᾱν ἐνθεῖμες ἐνθεῖτε ἐνθεῖεν
imperative   ἐνθέ ἐνθέτω ἔνθετον ἐνθέτων   ἔνθετε ἐνθόντω
active
infinitive ἐνθῆμεν
participle m ἐνθών
f ἐνθοῦσᾰ
n ἐνθόν
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Perfect: ἐλήλῠθᾰ
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ἐλήλῠθᾰ ἐλήλῠθᾰς ἐλήλῠθε(ν) ἐληλῠ́θᾰτον ἐληλῠ́θᾰτον ἐλήλυμεν/ἐληλύθαμεν ἐλήλυτε/ἐληλύθατε ἐληλῠ́θᾱσῐ(ν)
subjunctive ἐληλῠ́θω ἐληλῠ́θῃς ἐληλῠ́θῃ ἐληλῠ́θητον ἐληλῠ́θητον ἐληλῠ́θωμεν ἐληλῠ́θητε ἐληλῠ́θωσῐ(ν)
optative ἐληλῠ́θοιμῐ,
ἐληλῠθοίην 		ἐληλῠ́θοις,
ἐληλῠθοίης 		ἐληλῠ́θοι,
ἐληλῠθοίη 		ἐληλῠ́θοιτον ἐληλῠθοίτην ἐληλῠ́θοιμεν ἐληλῠ́θοιτε ἐληλῠ́θοιεν
imperative   ἐλήλῠθε ἐληλῠθέτω ἐληλῠ́θετον ἐληλῠθέτων   ἐληλῠ́θετε ἐληλῠθόντων
active
infinitive ἐληλῠθέναι
participle m ἐληλῠθώς
f ἐληλῠθυῖᾰ
n ἐληλῠθός
Notes:
This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Perfect: εἰλήλουθᾰ (Epic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative εἰλήλουθᾰ εἰλήλουθᾰς εἰλήλουθε(ν) εἰληλούθᾰτον εἰληλούθᾰτον εἰληλούθαμεν/εἰλήλουθμεν εἰληλούθᾰτε εἰληλούθᾱσῐ(ν)
subjunctive εἰληλούθω,
εἰληλούθωμῐ 		εἰληλούθῃς,
εἰληλούθῃσθᾰ 		εἰληλούθῃ,
εἰληλούθῃσῐ 		εἰληλούθητον εἰληλούθητον εἰληλούθωμεν εἰληλούθητε εἰληλούθωσῐ(ν)
optative εἰληλούθοιμῐ,
εἰληλουθοίην 		εἰληλούθοις,
εἰληλουθοίης 		εἰληλούθοι,
εἰληλουθοίη 		εἰληλούθοιτον εἰληλουθοίτην εἰληλούθοιμεν εἰληλούθοιτε εἰληλούθοιεν
imperative   εἰλήλουθε εἰληλουθέτω εἰληλούθετον εἰληλουθέτων   εἰληλούθετε εἰληλουθόντων
active
infinitive εἰληλουθέναι
participle m εἰληλουθώς
f εἰληλουθυῖᾰ
n εἰληλουθός
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Pluperfect: ἐληλῠ́θειν
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative ἐληλῠ́θειν,
ἐληλῠ́θη 		ἐληλῠ́θεις,
ἐληλῠ́θης 		ἐληλῠ́θει(ν) ἐληλῠ́θετον ἐληλῠθέτην ἐληλῠ́θεμεν ἐληλῠ́θετε ἐληλῠ́θεσᾰν
Notes:
This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
   Pluperfect: εἰληλούθειν (Epic)
number singular dual plural
first second third second third first second third
active indicative εἰληλούθειν,
εἰληλούθη 		εἰληλούθεις,
εἰληλούθης 		εἰληλούθει(ν) εἰληλούθετον εἰληλουθέτην εἰληλούθεμεν εἰληλούθετε εἰληλούθεσᾰν
Notes:
Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Compounds
  • and see more than 80 compounds at perseus

Descendants

  • Greek: έρχομαι (érchomai, “to come”)

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἔρχομαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 468

Further reading

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