English "even" points to the far end of a scale: the least likely person, the smallest thing, the most surprising case. "Even the tax collectors do that." "He did not even drink water." Koine Greek has no single word for this. It splits it in two, according to whether the sentence is positive or negative.
In a positive sentence, Greek uses καί (kaí) in its adverbial sense, "also, even", which was the subject of Lesson 54: οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν; "Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" (Matthew 5:46).
In a negative sentence, Greek uses οὐδέ (oudé), "not even". This lesson is about that word. It is one of the most expressive negatives in the New Testament: οὐδὲ Σολομών, "not even Solomon"; οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός, "not even the Son"; οὐδὲ εἷς, "not even one".
οὐδέ is built from two words the learner already knows: the negative οὐ (ou), "not", and the particle δέ (dé), "and, but". Its literal meaning is "and not", and it has two uses. As a conjunction it means "nor, and not". It joins a second negative statement to a first: οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν, "they do not toil, nor do they spin". As an adverb it means "not even". It stands directly before the word it picks out and pushes that word to the extreme end of the scale: οὐδὲ ἄρτον ἔχομεν, "we do not even have bread".
οὐδέ never changes its form, but its spelling changes with its surroundings. Before a vowel the final ε is usually elided and replaced by an apostrophe: οὐδ᾽ εἰ, "not even whether" (Acts 19:2). In running text the acute accent on the final syllable becomes grave when another word follows: οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός. οὐδέ has a sister form, μηδέ (mēdé), which is used wherever Greek uses μή instead of οὐ.
FAQ: How do you say "even" in Koine Greek?
In a negative sentence, "even" is expressed by οὐδέ (oudé), "not even", placed immediately before the word it emphasizes: οὐδὲ εἷς, "not even one". In a positive sentence, "even" is expressed by adverbial καί: καὶ οἱ τελῶναι, "even the tax collectors". The same word οὐδέ also serves as the conjunction "nor".
Key Takeaways
οὐδέ = οὐ "not" + δέ "and, but": literally "and not"
As a conjunction it means "nor", adding a second negative statement to a first
As an adverb it means "not even", and it stands directly before the word it emphasizes
Before a vowel it is usually elided to οὐδ᾽; in the phrases οὐδὲ εἷς and οὐδὲ ἕν it stays whole
οὐδέ is to μηδέ as οὐ is to μή
A positive "even" is καί, not οὐδέ
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63.1a οὐδὲ not-even εἷς one-NOM.M
63.1b oudè (oo-DE) not-even heîs (hays) one-NOM.M
63.2a οὐδὲ not-even ἄρτον bread-ACC ἔχομεν we-have
63.2b oudè (oo-DE) not-even árton (AR-ton) bread-ACC échomen (E-kho-men) we-have-1PL
63.3a οὐδὲ not-even ὕδωρ water-ACC ἔπιεν he-drank
63.3b oudè (oo-DE) not-even hýdōr (HU-dohr) water-ACC épien (E-pi-en) he-drank-AOR.3SG
63.4a οὐδὲ not-even ὁ the-NOM.M διδάσκαλος teacher-NOM οἶδεν knows
63.4b oudè (oo-DE) not-even ho (ho) the-NOM.M didáskalos (di-DA-ska-los) teacher-NOM oîden (OY-den) knows-3SG
63.5a οὐδὲ not-even φοβῇ fear σὺ you-NOM τὸν the-ACC.M θεόν God-ACC
63.5b oudè (oo-DE) not-even phobē̂i (fo-BEH) fear-2SG.MID sỳ (su) you-NOM tòn (ton) the-ACC.M theón (the-ON) God-ACC
63.6a οὐδὲ not-even γὰρ for οἱ the-NOM.M.PL ἀδελφοὶ brothers-NOM.PL αὐτοῦ his-GEN ἐπίστευον were-believing εἰς into αὐτόν him-ACC
63.6b oudè (oo-DE) not-even gàr (gar) for hoi (hoi) the-NOM.M.PL adelphoì (a-del-FOY) brothers-NOM.PL autoû (aw-TOO) his-GEN epísteuon (e-PIS-tew-on) were-believing-IMPF.3PL eis (ays) into autón (aw-TON) him-ACC
63.7a οὐδὲ not-even τὴν the-ACC.F γραφὴν scripture-ACC ταύτην this-ACC.F ἀνέγνωτε you-read
63.7b oudè (oo-DE) not-even tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F graphḕn (gra-FEHN) scripture-ACC taútēn (TOW-tehn) this-ACC.F anégnōte (a-NEG-noh-te) you-read-AOR.2PL
63.8a ὁ the-NOM.M δοῦλος slave-NOM οὐκ not ἔφαγεν ate οὐδὲ nor ἔπιεν drank
63.8b ho (ho) the-NOM.M doûlos (DOO-los) slave-NOM ouk (ook) not éphagen (E-fa-gen) ate-AOR.3SG oudè (oo-DE) nor épien (E-pi-en) drank-AOR.3SG
63.9a ἐν in τῇ the-DAT.F πόλει city-DAT οὐδὲ not-even ἓν one-NOM.N δένδρον tree-NOM ἦν was
63.9b en (en) in tē̂i (teh) the-DAT.F pólei (PO-lay) city-DAT oudè (oo-DE) not-even hèn (hen) one-NOM.N déndron (DEN-dron) tree-NOM ē̂n (ehn) was-IMPF.3SG
63.10a οὐδὲ not-even ἐν in τῷ the-DAT.M Ἰσραὴλ Israel τοσαύτην so-great-ACC.F πίστιν faith-ACC εὗρον I-found
63.10b oudè (oo-DE) not-even en (en) in tō̂i (toh) the-DAT.M Israḕl (is-ra-EHL) Israel-INDECL tosaútēn (to-SOW-tehn) so-great-ACC.F pístin (PIS-tin) faith-ACC heûron (HEW-ron) I-found-AOR.1SG
63.11a οὐκ not ἤθελεν he-was-willing οὐδὲ not-even τοὺς the-ACC.M.PL ὀφθαλμοὺς eyes-ACC.PL ἐπᾶραι to-lift-up εἰς to τὸν the-ACC.M οὐρανόν heaven-ACC
63.11b ouk (ook) not ḗthelen (EH-the-len) he-was-willing-IMPF.3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even toùs (toos) the-ACC.M.PL ophthalmoùs (of-thal-MOOS) eyes-ACC.PL epârai (e-PA-rai) to-lift-up-AOR.INF eis (ays) to tòn (ton) the-ACC.M ouranón (oo-ra-NON) heaven-ACC
63.12a ἀλλ᾽ but οὐδ᾽ not-even εἰ whether πνεῦμα spirit-NOM ἅγιον holy-NOM.N ἔστιν there-is ἠκούσαμεν we-heard
63.12b all’ (all) but oud’ (ood) not-even ei (ay) whether pneûma (PNEW-ma) spirit-NOM hágion (HA-gi-on) holy-NOM.N éstin (ES-tin) there-is-3SG ēkoúsamen (eh-KOO-sa-men) we-heard-AOR.1PL
63.13a οὐκ not ἔδωκεν he-gave αὐτῷ to-him-DAT κληρονομίαν inheritance-ACC ἐν in αὐτῇ it-DAT.F οὐδὲ not-even βῆμα step-ACC ποδός foot-GEN
63.13b ouk (ook) not édōken (E-doh-ken) he-gave-AOR.3SG autō̂i (aw-TOH) to-him-DAT klēronomían (kleh-ro-no-MEE-an) inheritance-ACC en (en) in autē̂i (aw-TEH) it-DAT.F oudè (oo-DE) not-even bē̂ma (BEH-ma) step-ACC podós (po-DOS) foot-GEN
63.14a οὐδεὶς no-one-NOM οἶδεν knows οὐδὲ not-even οἱ the-NOM.M.PL ἄγγελοι angels-NOM.PL ἐν in οὐρανῷ heaven-DAT οὐδὲ not-even ὁ the-NOM.M υἱός son-NOM εἰ if μὴ not ὁ the-NOM.M πατήρ father-NOM
63.14b oudeìs (oo-DAYS) no-one-NOM oîden (OY-den) knows-3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even hoi (hoi) the-NOM.M.PL ángeloi (AN-ge-loy) angels-NOM.PL en (en) in ouranō̂i (oo-ra-NOH) heaven-DAT oudè (oo-DE) not-even ho (ho) the-NOM.M huiós (hwee-OS) son-NOM ei (ay) if mḕ (meh) not ho (ho) the-NOM.M patḗr (pa-TEHR) father-NOM
63.15a πάντα all-things-NOM.N.PL δι᾽ through αὐτοῦ him-GEN ἐγένετο came-into-being καὶ and χωρὶς without αὐτοῦ him-GEN ἐγένετο came-into-being οὐδὲ not-even ἕν one-thing-NOM.N
63.15b pánta (PAN-ta) all-things-NOM.N.PL di’ (di) through autoû (aw-TOO) him-GEN egéneto (e-GE-ne-to) came-into-being-AOR.3SG kaì (kai) and chōrìs (kho-REES) without autoû (aw-TOO) him-GEN egéneto (e-GE-ne-to) came-into-being-AOR.3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even hén (hen) one-thing-NOM.N
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63.1 Οὐδὲ εἷς. Oudè heîs. "Not even one." (Romans 3:10, closing words)
63.2 Οὐδὲ ἄρτον ἔχομεν. Oudè árton échomen. "We do not even have bread."
63.3 Οὐδὲ ὕδωρ ἔπιεν. Oudè hýdōr épien. "He did not even drink water."
63.4 Οὐδὲ ὁ διδάσκαλος οἶδεν. Oudè ho didáskalos oîden. "Not even the teacher knows."
63.5 Οὐδὲ φοβῇ σὺ τὸν θεόν; Oudè phobē̂i sỳ tòn theón? "Do you not even fear God?" (Luke 23:40)
63.6 Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπίστευον εἰς αὐτόν. Oudè gàr hoi adelphoì autoû epísteuon eis autón. "For not even his brothers believed in him." (John 7:5)
63.7 Οὐδὲ τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην ἀνέγνωτε; Oudè tḕn graphḕn taútēn anégnōte? "Have you not even read this scripture?" (Mark 12:10, opening words; the editions close the question after the quotation that follows)
63.8 Ὁ δοῦλος οὐκ ἔφαγεν οὐδὲ ἔπιεν. Ho doûlos ouk éphagen oudè épien. "The slave did not eat, nor did he drink."
63.9 Ἐν τῇ πόλει οὐδὲ ἓν δένδρον ἦν. En tē̂i pólei oudè hèn déndron ē̂n. "In the city there was not even one tree."
63.10 Οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον. Oudè en tō̂i Israḕl tosaútēn pístin heûron. "Not even in Israel have I found such great faith." (Luke 7:9)
63.11 Οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπᾶραι εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν. Ouk ḗthelen oudè toùs ophthalmoùs epârai eis tòn ouranón. "He would not even lift up his eyes to heaven." (Luke 18:13)
63.12 Ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ εἰ πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἔστιν ἠκούσαμεν. All’ oud’ ei pneûma hágion éstin ēkoúsamen. "But we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." (Acts 19:2)
63.13 Οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἐν αὐτῇ οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός. Ouk édōken autō̂i klēronomían en autē̂i oudè bē̂ma podós. "He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length." (Acts 7:5, from the clause after the opening καί)
63.14 Οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι ἐν οὐρανῷ οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός, εἰ μὴ ὁ πατήρ. Oudeìs oîden, oudè hoi ángeloi en ouranō̂i oudè ho huiós, ei mḕ ho patḗr. "No one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, except the Father." (Mark 13:32)
63.15 Πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. Pánta di’ autoû egéneto, kaì chōrìs autoû egéneto oudè hén. "All things came into being through him, and without him not even one thing came into being." (John 1:3)
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63.1 Οὐδὲ εἷς.
63.2 Οὐδὲ ἄρτον ἔχομεν.
63.3 Οὐδὲ ὕδωρ ἔπιεν.
63.4 Οὐδὲ ὁ διδάσκαλος οἶδεν.
63.5 Οὐδὲ φοβῇ σὺ τὸν θεόν;
63.6 Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπίστευον εἰς αὐτόν.
63.7 Οὐδὲ τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην ἀνέγνωτε;
63.8 Ὁ δοῦλος οὐκ ἔφαγεν οὐδὲ ἔπιεν.
63.9 Ἐν τῇ πόλει οὐδὲ ἓν δένδρον ἦν.
63.10 Οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον.
63.11 Οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπᾶραι εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν.
63.12 Ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ εἰ πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἔστιν ἠκούσαμεν.
63.13 Οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἐν αὐτῇ οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός.
63.14 Οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι ἐν οὐρανῷ οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός, εἰ μὴ ὁ πατήρ.
63.15 Πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν.
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These are the grammar rules for οὐδέ (oudé):
1. Form
οὐδέ is the negative οὐ joined to the particle δέ. It is indeclinable. Its spellings are:
οὐδέ (oudé) — at the end of a clause or before a pause
οὐδὲ (oudè) — before another word in the same clause (acute becomes grave)
οὐδ᾽ (oud’) — before a vowel, by elision (63.12: οὐδ᾽ εἰ)
The phrases οὐδὲ εἷς (masculine), οὐδὲ μία (feminine) and οὐδὲ ἕν (neuter) are normally written in full and not elided. They are a stronger way of saying the compound οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν, "no one, nothing": "not so much as one" (63.1, 63.9, 63.15).
2. Two Uses
As a conjunction, οὐδέ means "nor, and not". It follows a negative clause and adds a second negative statement of the same kind:
οὐκ ἔφαγεν οὐδὲ ἔπιεν (ouk éphagen oudè épien) — he did not eat, nor did he drink (63.8)
οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν (ou kopiō̂sin oudè nḗthousin) — they do not toil, nor do they spin (Section F)
As an adverb, οὐδέ means "not even". It focuses on the single word or phrase that follows it, marking it as the least likely exception:
οὐδὲ ὁ διδάσκαλος (oudè ho didáskalos) — not even the teacher (63.4)
οὐδὲ Σολομών (oudè Solomṓn) — not even Solomon (Section F)
To tell them apart, ask what follows. If οὐδέ joins two verbs or two clauses that are equal partners, it is "nor". If it picks out one noun, phrase or infinitive, it is "not even". The two uses often meet in one sentence: in 63.14 the first οὐδέ means "not even (the angels)", and the second can be read either as "nor (the Son)" or as "not even (the Son)".
3. Position
Adverbial οὐδέ stands immediately before the word it emphasizes. Greek word order is free, so the emphasized word can come first in the clause (63.2, 63.3, 63.4). It can also come after the verb, as in 63.15 (ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν), where it lands with full weight on the final word.
4. Negatives That Strengthen Each Other
In Greek, when a simple negative (οὐ) is followed in the same clause by a compound negative (οὐδέ, οὐδείς, οὐδέν), the negatives do not cancel each other out. They reinforce one another:
οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπᾶραι (ouk ḗthelen oudè toùs ophthalmoùs epârai) — he would not even lift his eyes (63.11)
οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι (oudeìs oîden, oudè hoi ángeloi) — no one knows, not even the angels (63.14)
English cannot do this ("he would not not-even lift"), so in translation one negative is dropped.
5. οὐδέ and μηδέ
οὐδέ is to μηδέ (mēdé) as οὐ is to μή. οὐδέ is used with statements and real questions in the indicative. μηδέ is used where μή belongs: with infinitives, imperatives, most subjunctives, and most participles.
ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι αὐτοὺς μηδὲ ἄρτον φαγεῖν (hṓste mḕ dýnasthai autoùs mēdè árton phageîn) — so that they could not even eat bread (Mark 3:20)
Compare 63.2, οὐδὲ ἄρτον ἔχομεν, where the verb is an indicative statement and so takes οὐδέ.
6. οὐδέ and οὔτε
οὔτε … οὔτε (oúte … oúte) is a matched pair, "neither … nor", for two items of equal weight set side by side. οὐδέ adds one negative to another, or picks out an extreme case. Use οὔτε for "neither A nor B". Use οὐδέ for "and not" or "not even".
7. The Positive "Even"
When the sentence is positive, "even" is adverbial καί (Lesson 54):
οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν; (ouchì kaì hoi telō̂nai tò autò poioûsin?) — do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Matthew 5:46)
The family of words, set out as text lines:
οὐ / οὐκ / οὐχ (ou / ouk / ouch) — not
οὐδέ / οὐδ᾽ (oudé / oud’) — nor; not even
οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν (oudeís, oudemía, oudén) — no one, nothing
οὔτε (oúte) — neither, nor (paired)
μηδέ (mēdé) — nor; not even (with μή-constructions)
καί (kaí) — and; also, even (positive)
Common Mistakes
Using οὐδέ for a positive "even". "Even the wind obeys him" needs καί, not οὐδέ.
Reading every οὐδέ as "nor". When οὐδέ is followed by a single noun or phrase, especially at the start of a sentence (63.4, 63.6), it usually means "not even".
Adding an extra οὐ to the main verb. οὐδὲ ὕδωρ ἔπιεν is complete: οὐδέ carries the negation for the whole clause.
Treating the double negative as a positive. οὐκ … οὐδέ (63.11) is a stronger negative, not a positive.
Using οὐδέ with an infinitive or imperative where μηδέ is required.
Confusing οὐδέ with οὐδέν. οὐδέν (oudén), "nothing", is a pronoun and has a case. οὐδέ (oudé) has no case.
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The Argument "From the Lesser to the Greater"
Adverbial οὐδέ is one of the main tools of the argument from the extreme case. Name the person most likely to succeed, and show that even they do not: then no one does. Rabbinic tradition calls this kind of reasoning qal wa-ḥomer ("light and heavy"). Aristotle lists it among the topics of argument as "from the more and the less" (Rhetoric 2.23). Section F is a textbook instance. Not even Solomon, the richest king Israel ever had, was dressed like a wild lily. If God clothes the grass, how much more will he clothe you? The single word οὐδέ sets up the whole argument.
Wonder and Rebuke
In the Gospels, οὐδέ often carries strong feeling. In Luke 7:9, wonder: Jesus marvels at a Gentile centurion and says οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον, "not even in Israel have I found such faith". In Mark 12:10, rebuke: he challenges the temple authorities with οὐδὲ τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην ἀνέγνωτε; "have you not even read this scripture?" These were men whose whole life was reading scripture. In Luke 23:40 one crucified criminal turns on the other with οὐδὲ φοβῇ σὺ τὸν θεόν; "do you not even fear God?" In each case οὐδέ marks the one thing that should have been beyond doubt.
The Humility of the Small Unit
Many οὐδέ phrases name the smallest possible measure: οὐδὲ εἷς, "not one"; οὐδὲ ἕν, "not a single thing"; οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός, "not even a foot's length" (Acts 7:5). Stephen's phrase comes from the Septuagint. In Deuteronomy 2:5 God tells Israel that he will not give them any of Edom's land, οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός, "not even a foot's length". Stephen uses it of the promised land Abraham never owned. Greek, like English, makes absolute denials by naming the smallest unit and denying even that.
Register
οὐδέ belongs to every register of Koine. It appears in the plain narrative of Mark, in the polished periods of Luke and Acts, and in the arguments of Paul. It was inherited unchanged from Classical Greek. In Modern Greek the everyday word for "not even" is ούτε (often ούτε καν), but the old word survives in the learned language, for example in ουδέτερος, "neutral, neuter", from Ancient Greek οὐδέτερος, "neither of the two".
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Source: Gospel of Matthew 6:28–29 (the Sermon on the Mount), text of the SBL Greek New Testament (2010). The wording agrees with Nestle (1904), Westcott and Hort (1881) and Tischendorf (8th edition). The Byzantine and Textus Receptus editions read the verbs of verse 28 in the singular (αὐξάνει· οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει), with the same sense. Verse 29 is identical in all these editions.
This passage was chosen because it shows both uses of οὐδέ within two lines. In verse 28 it is the conjunction "nor"; in verse 29 it is the adverb "not even".
καὶ and περὶ about ἐνδύματος clothing-GEN τί why μεριμνᾶτε are-you-anxious
kaì (kai) and perì (pe-REE) about endýmatos (en-DU-ma-tos) clothing-GEN tí (tee) why merimnâte (me-rim-NA-te) are-you-anxious-2PL
καταμάθετε consider τὰ the-ACC.N.PL κρίνα lilies-ACC.PL τοῦ of-the-GEN.M ἀγροῦ field-GEN πῶς how αὐξάνουσιν they-grow
katamáthete (ka-ta-MA-the-te) consider-AOR.IMP.2PL tà (ta) the-ACC.N.PL krína (KREE-na) lilies-ACC.PL toû (too) of-the-GEN.M agroû (a-GROO) field-GEN pō̂s (pohs) how auxánousin (awk-SA-noo-sin) they-grow-3PL
οὐ not κοπιῶσιν they-toil οὐδὲ nor νήθουσιν they-spin
ou (oo) not kopiō̂sin (ko-pi-OH-sin) they-toil-3PL oudè (oo-DE) nor nḗthousin (NEH-thoo-sin) they-spin-3PL
λέγω I-say δὲ but ὑμῖν to-you-DAT.PL ὅτι that οὐδὲ not-even Σολομὼν Solomon-NOM ἐν in πάσῃ all-DAT.F τῇ the-DAT.F δόξῃ glory-DAT αὐτοῦ his-GEN
légō (LE-goh) I-say-1SG dè (de) but hymîn (hu-MEEN) to-you-DAT.PL hóti (HO-ti) that oudè (oo-DE) not-even Solomṑn (so-lo-MOHN) Solomon-NOM en (en) in pásēi (PA-seh) all-DAT.F tē̂i (teh) the-DAT.F dóxēi (DOK-seh) glory-DAT autoû (aw-TOO) his-GEN
περιεβάλετο was-clothed ὡς like ἓν one-NOM.N τούτων of-these-GEN.N.PL
periebáleto (pe-ri-e-BA-le-to) was-clothed-AOR.MID.3SG hōs (hohs) like hèn (hen) one-NOM.N toútōn (TOO-tohn) of-these-GEN.N.PL
Καὶ περὶ ἐνδύματος τί μεριμνᾶτε; καταμάθετε τὰ κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ πῶς αὐξάνουσιν· οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν· λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
Kaì perì endýmatos tí merimnâte? katamáthete tà krína toû agroû pō̂s auxánousin: ou kopiō̂sin oudè nḗthousin; légō dè hymîn hóti oudè Solomṑn en pásēi tē̂i dóxēi autoû periebáleto hōs hèn toútōn.
"And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil, nor do they spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these."
Καὶ περὶ ἐνδύματος τί μεριμνᾶτε; καταμάθετε τὰ κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ πῶς αὐξάνουσιν· οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν· λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
ἔνδυμα (éndyma), genitive ἐνδύματος: "garment, clothing", a third declension neuter noun from ἐνδύω, "put on"
μεριμνάω (merimnáō): "be anxious, worry"; μεριμνᾶτε is the present indicative 2nd person plural of a contract verb (-ά-ετε → -ᾶτε)
καταμάθετε (katamáthete): aorist imperative 2nd person plural of καταμανθάνω, "observe closely, learn thoroughly". The aorist gives a single decisive command: "take a good look"
κρίνον (krínon), plural κρίνα: "lily", or more broadly any showy wild flower of the Galilean fields
κοπιάω (kopiáō): "toil, labour to weariness"; κοπιῶσιν is the present 3rd person plural (-ά-ουσι → -ῶσι)
νήθω (nḗthō): "spin (thread)". Toiling is men's field work and spinning is women's household work, so between them the two verbs cover all human labour
περιεβάλετο (periebáleto): aorist middle 3rd person singular of περιβάλλω, "throw around". In the middle it means "put on oneself, be clothed"
ὡς ἓν τούτων (hōs hèn toútōn): "like one of these". The neuter ἕν agrees with the understood κρίνον, "lily"
The two οὐδέ: in οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν, οὐδέ joins two equal verbs after a negative and means "nor". In οὐδὲ Σολομών, it stands before a single name and means "not even". This is the distinction drawn in Section D §2.
The passage is an argument from the extreme case, and οὐδέ is what drives it. Jesus first describes the lilies through what they do not do: they do not toil, nor do they spin. Then he names the most richly dressed man in Israel's memory: Solomon, whose splendour fills 1 Kings 10. The adverbial οὐδέ puts Solomon at the far end of the scale. If not even he matched a wild flower, no human effort can.
Verse 30 then completes the argument: "if God so clothes the grass of the field … will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith?" The negative "not even" in verse 29 makes possible the positive "how much more" in verse 30.
The repetition of οὐδέ, first as "nor" and then as "not even", gives the passage its rhythm. The lilies are defined by the work they do not do. Solomon is defined by the glory that still falls short.
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οὐδέ is an adverb and particle of emphasis, so the genre is an action narrative. It is a constructed story in plain Koine about two fishermen and a night on the lake. Every sentence uses οὐδέ. Its phrasing echoes the Gospel fishing scenes (Mark 4, John 21), but it is not a quotation.
63.16a ὅλην whole-ACC.F τὴν the-ACC.F νύκτα night-ACC ἐκοπίασαν toiled οἱ the-NOM.M.PL ἁλιεῖς fishermen-NOM.PL καὶ and οὐδὲ not-even ἕνα one-ACC.M ἰχθὺν fish-ACC ἐπίασαν they-caught
63.16b hólēn (HO-lehn) whole-ACC.F tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F nýkta (NUK-ta) night-ACC ekopíasan (e-ko-PI-a-san) toiled-AOR.3PL hoi (hoi) the-NOM.M.PL halieîs (ha-li-AYS) fishermen-NOM.PL kaì (kai) and oudè (oo-DE) not-even héna (HE-na) one-ACC.M ichthỳn (ikh-THUN) fish-ACC epíasan (e-PI-a-san) they-caught-AOR.3PL
63.17a ὁ the-NOM.M νεώτερος younger-NOM εἶπεν said οὐδὲ not-even ἄρτον bread-ACC ἔχομεν we-have
63.17b ho (ho) the-NOM.M neṓteros (ne-OH-te-ros) younger-NOM eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even árton (AR-ton) bread-ACC échomen (E-kho-men) we-have-1PL
63.18a ὁ the-NOM.M δὲ but πρεσβύτερος elder-NOM οὐκ not ἀπεκρίθη answered οὐδὲ nor ἐγόγγυσεν grumbled
63.18b ho (ho) the-NOM.M dè (de) but presbýteros (pres-BU-te-ros) elder-NOM ouk (ook) not apekríthē (a-pe-KREE-theh) answered-AOR.PASS.3SG oudè (oo-DE) nor egóngysen (e-GON-gu-sen) grumbled-AOR.3SG
63.19a τότε then ἄνεμος wind-NOM μέγας great-NOM.M ἐγένετο arose καὶ and οὐδὲ not-even τὰ the-NOM.N.PL ἄστρα stars-NOM.PL ἐφαίνοντο were-visible
63.19b tóte (TO-te) then ánemos (A-ne-mos) wind-NOM mégas (ME-gas) great-NOM.M egéneto (e-GE-ne-to) arose-AOR.3SG kaì (kai) and oudè (oo-DE) not-even tà (ta) the-NOM.N.PL ástra (AS-tra) stars-NOM.PL ephaínonto (e-FAI-non-to) were-visible-IMPF.MID.3PL
63.20a τὰ the-NOM.N.PL κύματα waves-NOM.PL ἐπέβαλλεν were-breaking εἰς into τὸ the-ACC.N πλοῖον boat-ACC καὶ and οὐδὲ not-even ὁ the-NOM.M πρεσβύτερος elder-NOM ἠδύνατο was-able στῆναι to-stand
63.20b tà (ta) the-NOM.N.PL kýmata (KU-ma-ta) waves-NOM.PL epéballen (e-PE-bal-len) were-breaking-IMPF.3SG eis (ays) into tò (to) the-ACC.N ploîon (PLOY-on) boat-ACC kaì (kai) and oudè (oo-DE) not-even ho (ho) the-NOM.M presbýteros (pres-BU-te-ros) elder-NOM ēdýnato (eh-DU-na-to) was-able-IMPF.3SG stē̂nai (STEH-nai) to-stand-AOR.INF
63.21a ὁ the-NOM.M νεώτερος younger-NOM ἔκραξεν cried-out ἀλλ᾽ but οὐδὲ not-even τὴν the-ACC.F φωνὴν voice-ACC αὐτοῦ his-GEN ἤκουον were-hearing οἱ the-NOM.M.PL ἄλλοι others-NOM.PL
63.21b ho (ho) the-NOM.M neṓteros (ne-OH-te-ros) younger-NOM ékraxen (E-krak-sen) cried-out-AOR.3SG all’ (all) but oudè (oo-DE) not-even tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F phōnḕn (foh-NEHN) voice-ACC autoû (aw-TOO) his-GEN ḗkouon (EH-koo-on) were-hearing-IMPF.3PL hoi (hoi) the-NOM.M.PL álloi (AL-loy) others-NOM.PL
63.22a ὁ the-NOM.M πρεσβύτερος elder-NOM εἶπεν said μὴ not φοβεῖσθε fear οὐδὲ not-even θρὶξ hair-NOM ἐκ from τῆς the-GEN.F κεφαλῆς head-GEN ὑμῶν your-GEN.PL ἀπολεῖται will-perish
63.22b ho (ho) the-NOM.M presbýteros (pres-BU-te-ros) elder-NOM eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG mḕ (meh) not phobeîsthe (fo-BAYS-the) fear-IMP.MID.2PL oudè (oo-DE) not-even thrìx (threeks) hair-NOM ek (ek) from tē̂s (tehs) the-GEN.F kephalē̂s (ke-fa-LEHS) head-GEN hymō̂n (hu-MOHN) your-GEN.PL apoleîtai (a-po-LAY-tai) will-perish-FUT.MID.3SG
63.23a μετὰ after ταῦτα these-things-ACC.N.PL ἐκόπασεν ceased ὁ the-NOM.M ἄνεμος wind-NOM καὶ and οὐδὲ not-even ἓν one-NOM.N κῦμα wave-NOM ἔμεινεν remained
63.23b metà (me-TA) after taûta (TOW-ta) these-things-ACC.N.PL ekópasen (e-KO-pa-sen) ceased-AOR.3SG ho (ho) the-NOM.M ánemos (A-ne-mos) wind-NOM kaì (kai) and oudè (oo-DE) not-even hèn (hen) one-NOM.N kŷma (KU-ma) wave-NOM émeinen (E-may-nen) remained-AOR.3SG
63.24a ἐθαύμασαν marvelled οἱ the-NOM.M.PL ἁλιεῖς fishermen-NOM.PL ὅτι because οὐδὲ not-even τὸ the-ACC.N δίκτυον net-ACC ἀπώλεσαν they-lost
63.24b ethaúmasan (e-THOW-ma-san) marvelled-AOR.3PL hoi (hoi) the-NOM.M.PL halieîs (ha-li-AYS) fishermen-NOM.PL hóti (HO-ti) because oudè (oo-DE) not-even tò (to) the-ACC.N díktyon (DIK-tu-on) net-ACC apṓlesan (a-POH-le-san) they-lost-AOR.3PL
63.25a πρωΐας morning-GEN δὲ and γενομένης having-come-GEN.F ὁ the-NOM.M νεώτερος younger-NOM εἶπεν said οὐδὲ not-even σήμερον today πιάσομεν we-will-catch οὐδέν nothing-ACC
63.25b prōḯas (proh-EE-as) morning-GEN dè (de) and genoménēs (ge-no-ME-nehs) having-come-AOR.PTCP.GEN.F ho (ho) the-NOM.M neṓteros (ne-OH-te-ros) younger-NOM eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even sḗmeron (SEH-me-ron) today piásomen (pi-A-so-men) we-will-catch-FUT.1PL oudén (oo-DEN) nothing-ACC
63.26a ὁ the-NOM.M δὲ but πρεσβύτερος elder-NOM ἔβαλεν cast τὸ the-ACC.N δίκτυον net-ACC καὶ and οὐδὲ not-even λόγον word-ACC εἶπεν said
63.26b ho (ho) the-NOM.M dè (de) but presbýteros (pres-BU-te-ros) elder-NOM ébalen (E-ba-len) cast-AOR.3SG tò (to) the-ACC.N díktyon (DIK-tu-on) net-ACC kaì (kai) and oudè (oo-DE) not-even lógon (LO-gon) word-ACC eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG
63.27a καὶ and ἰδοὺ behold τὸ the-NOM.N δίκτυον net-NOM ἐπλήσθη was-filled ἰχθύων fish-GEN.PL καὶ and οὐδὲ not-even ἑλκύσαι to-haul αὐτὸ it-ACC.N ἴσχυον they-were-strong-enough
63.27b kaì (kai) and idoù (i-DOO) behold tò (to) the-NOM.N díktyon (DIK-tu-on) net-NOM eplḗsthē (e-PLEHS-theh) was-filled-AOR.PASS.3SG ichthýōn (ikh-THU-ohn) fish-GEN.PL kaì (kai) and oudè (oo-DE) not-even helkýsai (hel-KU-sai) to-haul-AOR.INF autò (aw-TO) it-ACC.N íschyon (IS-khu-on) they-were-strong-enough-IMPF.3PL
63.28a ὁ the-NOM.M νεώτερος younger-NOM ἐγέλασεν laughed καὶ and εἶπεν said οὐδὲ not-even ὁ the-NOM.M πατήρ father-NOM μου my-GEN τοσούτους so-many-ACC.M.PL ἰχθύας fish-ACC.PL εἶδεν saw
63.28b ho (ho) the-NOM.M neṓteros (ne-OH-te-ros) younger-NOM egélasen (e-GE-la-sen) laughed-AOR.3SG kaì (kai) and eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even ho (ho) the-NOM.M patḗr (pa-TEHR) father-NOM mou (moo) my-GEN tosoútous (to-SOO-toos) so-many-ACC.M.PL ichthýas (ikh-THU-as) fish-ACC.PL eîden (AY-den) saw-AOR.3SG
63.29a ἐξελθόντες having-come-out δὲ and εἰς onto τὴν the-ACC.F γῆν land-ACC οὐδὲ not-even ἔφαγον they-ate ἀλλ᾽ but εὐθὺς at-once ἐκοιμήθησαν fell-asleep
63.29b exelthóntes (ex-el-THON-tes) having-come-out-AOR.PTCP.NOM.M.PL dè (de) and eis (ays) onto tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F gē̂n (gehn) land-ACC oudè (oo-DE) not-even éphagon (E-fa-gon) they-ate-AOR.3PL all’ (all) but euthỳs (ew-THUS) at-once ekoimḗthēsan (e-koy-MEH-theh-san) fell-asleep-AOR.PASS.3PL
63.30a ὁ the-NOM.M δὲ but πρεσβύτερος elder-NOM εἶπεν said οὐδὲ not-even ἐν in τῇ the-DAT.F νυκτὶ night-DAT ὁ the-NOM.M θεὸς God-NOM ἐπιλανθάνεται forgets ἡμῶν us-GEN
63.30b ho (ho) the-NOM.M dè (de) but presbýteros (pres-BU-te-ros) elder-NOM eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG oudè (oo-DE) not-even en (en) in tē̂i (teh) the-DAT.F nyktì (nuk-TEE) night-DAT ho (ho) the-NOM.M theòs (the-OS) God-NOM epilanthánetai (e-pi-lan-THA-ne-tai) forgets-MID.3SG hēmō̂n (heh-MOHN) us-GEN
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63.16 Ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἐκοπίασαν οἱ ἁλιεῖς καὶ οὐδὲ ἕνα ἰχθὺν ἐπίασαν. Hólēn tḕn nýkta ekopíasan hoi halieîs kaì oudè héna ichthỳn epíasan. "All night the fishermen toiled, and they did not catch even one fish."
63.17 Ὁ νεώτερος εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ ἄρτον ἔχομεν. Ho neṓteros eîpen: Oudè árton échomen. "The younger one said, 'We do not even have bread.'"
63.18 Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη οὐδὲ ἐγόγγυσεν. Ho dè presbýteros ouk apekríthē oudè egóngysen. "But the elder did not answer, nor did he grumble."
63.19 Τότε ἄνεμος μέγας ἐγένετο, καὶ οὐδὲ τὰ ἄστρα ἐφαίνοντο. Tóte ánemos mégas egéneto, kaì oudè tà ástra ephaínonto. "Then a great wind arose, and not even the stars could be seen."
63.20 Τὰ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, καὶ οὐδὲ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἠδύνατο στῆναι. Tà kýmata epéballen eis tò ploîon, kaì oudè ho presbýteros ēdýnato stē̂nai. "The waves were breaking into the boat, and not even the elder could stand."
63.21 Ὁ νεώτερος ἔκραξεν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἤκουον οἱ ἄλλοι. Ho neṓteros ékraxen, all’ oudè tḕn phōnḕn autoû ḗkouon hoi álloi. "The younger one cried out, but the others could not even hear his voice."
63.22 Ὁ πρεσβύτερος εἶπεν· Μὴ φοβεῖσθε· οὐδὲ θρὶξ ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν ἀπολεῖται. Ho presbýteros eîpen: Mḕ phobeîsthe; oudè thrìx ek tē̂s kephalē̂s hymō̂n apoleîtai. "The elder said, 'Do not be afraid: not even a hair of your head will perish.'"
63.23 Μετὰ ταῦτα ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος, καὶ οὐδὲ ἓν κῦμα ἔμεινεν. Metà taûta ekópasen ho ánemos, kaì oudè hèn kŷma émeinen. "After this the wind dropped, and not even one wave remained."
63.24 Ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ἁλιεῖς, ὅτι οὐδὲ τὸ δίκτυον ἀπώλεσαν. Ethaúmasan hoi halieîs, hóti oudè tò díktyon apṓlesan. "The fishermen marvelled, because they had not lost even the net."
63.25 Πρωΐας δὲ γενομένης ὁ νεώτερος εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ σήμερον πιάσομεν οὐδέν. Prōḯas dè genoménēs ho neṓteros eîpen: Oudè sḗmeron piásomen oudén. "When morning came, the younger one said, 'Not even today shall we catch anything.'"
63.26 Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος ἔβαλεν τὸ δίκτυον καὶ οὐδὲ λόγον εἶπεν. Ho dè presbýteros ébalen tò díktyon kaì oudè lógon eîpen. "But the elder cast the net and did not say even a word."
63.27 Καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ δίκτυον ἐπλήσθη ἰχθύων, καὶ οὐδὲ ἑλκύσαι αὐτὸ ἴσχυον. Kaì idoù tò díktyon eplḗsthē ichthýōn, kaì oudè helkýsai autò íschyon. "And look, the net was filled with fish, and they were not even strong enough to haul it in."
63.28 Ὁ νεώτερος ἐγέλασεν καὶ εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ ὁ πατήρ μου τοσούτους ἰχθύας εἶδεν. Ho neṓteros egélasen kaì eîpen: Oudè ho patḗr mou tosoútous ichthýas eîden. "The younger one laughed and said, 'Not even my father ever saw so many fish.'"
63.29 Ἐξελθόντες δὲ εἰς τὴν γῆν οὐδὲ ἔφαγον, ἀλλ᾽ εὐθὺς ἐκοιμήθησαν. Exelthóntes dè eis tḕn gē̂n oudè éphagon, all’ euthỳs ekoimḗthēsan. "When they came ashore they did not even eat, but fell asleep at once."
63.30 Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐπιλανθάνεται ἡμῶν. Ho dè presbýteros eîpen: Oudè en tē̂i nyktì ho theòs epilanthánetai hēmō̂n. "But the elder said, 'Not even in the night does God forget us.'"
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63.16 Ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἐκοπίασαν οἱ ἁλιεῖς καὶ οὐδὲ ἕνα ἰχθὺν ἐπίασαν.
63.17 Ὁ νεώτερος εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ ἄρτον ἔχομεν.
63.18 Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη οὐδὲ ἐγόγγυσεν.
63.19 Τότε ἄνεμος μέγας ἐγένετο, καὶ οὐδὲ τὰ ἄστρα ἐφαίνοντο.
63.20 Τὰ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, καὶ οὐδὲ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἠδύνατο στῆναι.
63.21 Ὁ νεώτερος ἔκραξεν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἤκουον οἱ ἄλλοι.
63.22 Ὁ πρεσβύτερος εἶπεν· Μὴ φοβεῖσθε· οὐδὲ θρὶξ ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν ἀπολεῖται.
63.23 Μετὰ ταῦτα ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος, καὶ οὐδὲ ἓν κῦμα ἔμεινεν.
63.24 Ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ἁλιεῖς, ὅτι οὐδὲ τὸ δίκτυον ἀπώλεσαν.
63.25 Πρωΐας δὲ γενομένης ὁ νεώτερος εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ σήμερον πιάσομεν οὐδέν.
63.26 Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος ἔβαλεν τὸ δίκτυον καὶ οὐδὲ λόγον εἶπεν.
63.27 Καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ δίκτυον ἐπλήσθη ἰχθύων, καὶ οὐδὲ ἑλκύσαι αὐτὸ ἴσχυον.
63.28 Ὁ νεώτερος ἐγέλασεν καὶ εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ ὁ πατήρ μου τοσούτους ἰχθύας εἶδεν.
63.29 Ἐξελθόντες δὲ εἰς τὴν γῆν οὐδὲ ἔφαγον, ἀλλ᾽ εὐθὺς ἐκοιμήθησαν.
63.30 Ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος εἶπεν· Οὐδὲ ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐπιλανθάνεται ἡμῶν.
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"Nor" and "Not Even" Side by Side: οὐδέ means "nor" in 63.18 (οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη οὐδὲ ἐγόγγυσεν), where it joins two verbs after a negative. Everywhere else in the story it means "not even": it stands before a noun (63.19, 63.20, 63.28), a phrase (63.30), an adverb (63.25) or an infinitive (63.27).
οὐδὲ ἕνα: The numeral agrees with its noun. ἰχθύς is masculine, so "not even one fish" is οὐδὲ ἕνα ἰχθύν (masculine accusative, 63.16). κῦμα is neuter, so "not even one wave" is οὐδὲ ἓν κῦμα (neuter nominative, 63.23).
Neuter Plural with a Singular Verb: In 63.20, τὰ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν, a neuter plural subject takes a singular verb, as in Mark 4:37 (τὰ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον). This is regular Greek usage, not a mistake.
Strengthening Negatives: In 63.25, οὐδὲ σήμερον πιάσομεν οὐδέν, two compound negatives stand in one clause. They strengthen each other: "not even today shall we catch anything at all" (Section D §4).
οὐδέ with an Infinitive: In 63.27, οὐδὲ ἑλκύσαι αὐτὸ ἴσχυον, οὐδέ is the negative of the main verb ἴσχυον, an indicative. It highlights the infinitive that depends on that verb. This is the same pattern as Luke 18:13 in 63.11 (οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ … ἐπᾶραι). If the infinitive stood on its own, for example after ὥστε, the negative would be μηδέ (Section D §5).
μή and οὐδέ Together: 63.22 shows the division of labour. The imperative takes μή (μὴ φοβεῖσθε), while the future indicative statement takes οὐδέ (οὐδὲ θρὶξ … ἀπολεῖται).
Genitive after Verbs of Filling and Forgetting: ἐπλήσθη ἰχθύων, "was filled with fish" (63.27), and ἐπιλανθάνεται ἡμῶν, "forgets us" (63.30), both take the genitive.
Aspect in Narrative: The imperfects ἐφαίνοντο, ἐπέβαλλεν, ἠδύνατο, ἤκουον and ἴσχυον describe the background of the storm, which was ongoing. The aorists ἐκόπασεν, ἔβαλεν, ἐπλήσθη and ἐκοιμήθησαν mark the events that move the story on.
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οὐδέ (oudé): /uːˈde/ in the reconstructed pronunciation this course uses; Koine speakers of the later period said /uˈðe/
The first syllable is the diphthong ου, pronounced as a long "oo", as in "food"
The δ is a plain "d" in the reconstructed pronunciation. Later Koine softened it towards the "th" of English "this", the sound it has in Modern Greek
The stress falls on the final syllable: oo-DE, never OO-de. Say the final ε short and clear, as in "dell", not "dee"
Before a vowel the ε drops out entirely: οὐδ᾽ εἰ sounds as one unit, "oo-DAY" (oud’ ei)
Related Words
οὐδείς (oudeís): /uːˈdeːs/, oo-DAYS — the ει is the long close "ay" sound used throughout this course
οὐδέν (oudén): /uːˈden/, oo-DEN
μηδέ (mēdé): /mɛːˈde/, meh-DE — η is a long open "e"
Accent Marks in This Lesson
The acute on οὐδέ becomes a grave (οὐδὲ) when another word follows in the same clause. The pitch and stress stay on the same syllable; only the written mark changes.
Sounds Absent from English
χ in ἰχθύς (ichthýs) and ἰσχύω (ischýō) is an aspirated k, or the "ch" of Scottish "loch" in later pronunciation: ikh-THUS
φθ in ὀφθαλμούς (ophthalmoús) is two aspirates together. Learners may say it as "f-th": of-thal-MOOS
The rough breathing on ἁλιεῖς (halieîs) and ἕνα (héna) is a light "h"
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