Biblical Greek (Beginners): 04. Third declension, plosive consonants + sigma, pronouns

In this lesson, you will learn about the last declension covering all of the words which do not belong to the first and second declension. We will also show you a general overview of Greek pronouns.

Third Declension

Words not ending with α, η or ο are inflected according to the third declension. Endings of the third declension are the following:

All words belonging to the third declension will always have distinct nominative case. It is not therefore possible to guess its form as it is also impossible to determine its gender. We will always have to check within the dictionary.

Some words might end with a special set of consonants. These consonants are called plosive. They are morphed in a different way than usual.

Words with Plosive Consonants

In general observation, what is happening is that in N sg., and D pl., we have to join to a word ending beginning with the letter sigma. However, if a word root ends with one of the consonants enlisted below, both of the letters will be contracted into one. This happens only to word roots ending with a plosive consonant. Let's see all of such cases below.

Labials plus sigma morphs into ps: π, β, φ + σ = ψ (model Ἀραψ Arab)

Dentals plus sigma morphs into sigma: τ, δ, θ + σ = σ (model ἐλπις hope)

Velars plus sigma morphs into ks: κ, γ, χ + σ = ξ (model word σαρξ flesh)

Model for Neuters

Third declension neuters might end with the letter τ. What happens here is that τ cannot terminate a word and thus annihilates (drops out). In the case of root ending with –ματ, τ drops out like this: ὀνοματ + nothing → ὀνοματ → ονομα. For model word πνευμα (spirit) we have these forms:

Pronouns

There are no special rules for pronouns. They are just words you have to learn. Some of them are inflected according to one of the declensions we have learned.

However, let us mention one general observation. In the case of neuter pronouns, both nominative and accusative drop out the letter ν off the end of the word. This is very typical of neuter gender.

Exercises to practice all of the pronouns mentioned below, can be found in the exercises section of this lesson. Mastering these pronouns is not necessary at this point. Eventually, you will learn them gradually with your further study and reading. Take this as a general reference you can return to whenever you need.

a) Personal (ἐγω, συ, ἡμεις, ὑμεις, αὐτος)

b) Possessive

Possessive pronouns are drawn from Genitive of personal pronouns: ἐμου = my, σου = your, αὐτου = his etc.

c) Demonstrative (οὑτος, αὑτη, τουτο)

Demonstrative pronoun οὑτος is translated as this (near) and ἐκεινος is translated as that (far). There are particular forms for each gender and case. For G through A the letter τ will appear at the beginning of the word.

d) Relative (ὅς, ἥ, ὅ)

Forms of relative pronouns are drawn from the definite article by dropping the letter τ off the beginning of a word and by adding rough breathing mark. Their meaning is who, which.

e) Interrogative and Indefinite (τίς, τις)

Both interrogative and indefinite pronouns are inflected by the third declension. They have exactly the same forms. The only difference is that indefinite pronouns loose their accent (τίς → τις). It is crucial to remember this slight change. Their meaning is:

• interrogative (τίς): who, which, what
• indefinite (τις): someone, something

f) Reflexive (ἐμαυτοῦ, σεαυτοῦ, ἑαυτοῦ)

Reflexives are inflected by the first and second declension. Their meaning is:

• I: ἐμαυτοῦ, ῆς myself
• You: σεαυτοῦ, ῆς yourself
• He, she, it: ἑαυτοῦ, ῆς, οῦ self; his, her

g) Reciprocal (ἀλλήλων)

Reciprocals are inflected by the first and second declension. Their meaning is one another.