English "any" reaches out to an unnamed member of a group, and it does not care which one: "If anyone is thirsty", "Have you anything to eat?", "Did anyone come?". Koine Greek does this with one small word, the indefinite pronoun τις (tis), neuter τι (ti). It means "anyone, someone" when it stands alone, and "any, some, a certain" when it goes with a noun.
English sorts these meanings out with different words: "someone" in a plain statement, "anyone" after "if" and in questions, "a certain" at the start of a story. Greek uses τις for all of them, and the sentence shows which English word to choose. After εἰ and ἐάν, "if", it is "anyone": εἴ τις θέλει, "if anyone wishes". In a question it is "anyone, anything": ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον; "have you anything to eat?". With a noun in a narrative it is "a certain": ἄνθρωπός τις, "a certain man", the way many of the parables begin.
τις is an enclitic. It has no accent of its own and leans on the word before it, so it does not normally stand first in its clause, and it often makes that word take a second accent: ἄνθρωπός τις, ἔχετέ τι. It declines like a third-declension adjective (τις, τινός, τινί, τινά). It looks exactly like the question word τίς, "who?". The only difference is the accent. The question word always has an acute on its first syllable: τίς, τί, τίνος. The indefinite word is normally written without one.
One English use of "any" belongs to a different word. In a negative sentence, "not any" is usually expressed by οὐδείς / μηδείς, "no one, nothing" (Lesson 63): οὐδὲν ἔχω, "I do not have anything". And "anyone at all who …" is usually πᾶς ὁ with a participle: πᾶς ὁ ὀργιζόμενος, "anyone who is angry".
FAQ: How do you say "any" or "anyone" in Koine Greek?
Use the enclitic τις (tis), "anyone, someone", neuter τι (ti), "anything, something", after the first word of its phrase: εἴ τις, "if anyone"; ἔχεις τι; "do you have anything?". With a noun it means "any, a certain": ἄνθρωπός τις, "a certain man". "Not any" is οὐδείς, and "anyone who" is πᾶς ὁ with a participle.
Key Takeaways
τις (masculine and feminine) and τι (neuter): "anyone, someone, anything, something"; with a noun, "any, some, a certain"
It is an enclitic: it does not normally come first in its clause, and it often adds an accent to the word before it
The question word τίς, τί, "who? what?", always carries an acute on its first syllable; the indefinite τις normally carries none
After εἰ / ἐάν, "if", and in questions, τις is English "anyone, anything"
μή τις in a question expects the answer "no"; with a subjunctive it means "let no one"
"Not any" is usually οὐδείς / μηδείς; "anyone who …" is usually πᾶς ὁ with a participle
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65.1a Ἔχεις you-have τι anything-ACC.N
65.1b Écheis (E-khays) you-have-2SG ti (ti) anything-ACC.N
65.2a Ἦλθέν came τις anyone-NOM
65.2b Ē̂lthén (EHL-then) came-AOR.3SG tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG
65.3a Γυνή woman-NOM τις a-certain-NOM.F ἦλθεν came
65.3b Gynḗ (gu-NEH) woman-NOM tis (tis) a-certain-NOM.F ē̂lthen (EHL-then) came-AOR.3SG
65.4a Ἐάν if τις anyone-NOM διψᾷ is-thirsty
65.4b Eán (e-AN) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG dipsâi (dip-SAH) is-thirsty-PRES.SBJV.3SG
65.5a Ἔχετέ you-have τι anything-ACC.N βρώσιμον edible-ACC.N ἐνθάδε here
65.5b Écheté (E-khe-te) you-have-2PL ti (ti) anything-ACC.N brṓsimon (BROH-si-mon) edible-ACC.N entháde (en-THA-de) here
65.6a Ἄνθρωπός man-NOM τις a-certain-NOM.M εἶχεν had δύο two υἱούς sons-ACC.PL
65.6b Ánthrōpós (AN-throh-pos) man-NOM tis (tis) a-certain-NOM.M eîchen (AY-khen) had-IMPF.3SG dýo (DU-o) two huioús (hwee-OOS) sons-ACC.PL
65.7a Εἴ if τις anyone-NOM ἔχει has ὦτα ears-ACC.PL ἀκούειν to-hear ἀκουέτω let-him-hear
65.7b Eí (ay) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG échei (E-khay) has-3SG ō̂ta (OH-ta) ears-ACC.PL akoúein (a-KOO-ayn) to-hear-PRES.INF akouétō (a-koo-E-toh) let-him-hear-PRES.IMP.3SG
65.8a Μή surely-not τις anyone-NOM ἤνεγκεν brought αὐτῷ to-him-DAT φαγεῖν to-eat
65.8b Mḗ (meh) surely-not tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG ḗnenken (EH-nen-ken) brought-AOR.3SG autō̂i (aw-TOH) to-him-DAT phageîn (fa-GAYN) to-eat-AOR.INF
65.9a Καί and τινες some-NOM.PL ἔλεγον were-saying Τί what-ACC.N ἂν would θέλοι wish ὁ the-NOM.M σπερμολόγος babbler-NOM οὗτος this-NOM.M λέγειν to-say
65.9b Kaí (kai) and tines (ti-nes) some-NOM.PL.M élegon (E-le-gon) were-saying-IMPF.3PL Tí (tee) what-ACC.N àn (an) would-PTCL théloi (THE-loy) wish-PRES.OPT.3SG ho (ho) the-NOM.M spermológos (sper-MO-lo-gos) babbler-NOM hoûtos (HOO-tos) this-NOM.M légein (LE-gayn) to-say-PRES.INF
65.10a Ἐάν if τις anyone-NOM ἀγαπᾷ loves με me-ACC τὸν the-ACC.M λόγον word-ACC μου my-GEN τηρήσει he-will-keep
65.10b Eán (e-AN) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG agapâi (a-ga-PAH) loves-PRES.SBJV.3SG me (me) me-ACC tòn (ton) the-ACC.M lógon (LO-gon) word-ACC mou (moo) my-GEN tērḗsei (teh-REH-say) he-will-keep-FUT.3SG
65.11a Ἀφίετε forgive εἴ if τι anything-ACC.N ἔχετε you-have κατά against τινος anyone-GEN
65.11b Aphíete (a-FEE-e-te) forgive-PRES.IMP.2PL eí (ay) if ti (ti) anything-ACC.N échete (E-khe-te) you-have-2PL katá (ka-TA) against tinos (ti-nos) anyone-GEN.SG
65.12a Εἴ if τις anyone-NOM θέλει wishes ὀπίσω after μου me-GEN ἐλθεῖν to-come ἀπαρνησάσθω let-him-deny ἑαυτὸν himself-ACC καὶ and ἀράτω let-him-take-up τὸν the-ACC.M σταυρὸν cross-ACC αὐτοῦ his-GEN καὶ and ἀκολουθείτω let-him-follow μοι me-DAT
65.12b Eí (ay) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG thélei (THE-lay) wishes-3SG opísō (o-PEE-soh) after mou (moo) me-GEN eltheîn (el-THAYN) to-come-AOR.INF aparnēsásthō (a-par-neh-SAS-thoh) let-him-deny-AOR.IMP.MID.3SG heautòn (he-aw-TON) himself-ACC kaì (kai) and arátō (a-RA-toh) let-him-take-up-AOR.IMP.3SG tòn (ton) the-ACC.M stauròn (staw-RON) cross-ACC autoû (aw-TOO) his-GEN kaì (kai) and akoloutheítō (a-ko-loo-THAY-toh) let-him-follow-PRES.IMP.3SG moi (moy) me-DAT
65.13a Ἐάν if τις anyone-NOM φάγῃ eats ἐκ from τούτου this-GEN.M τοῦ the-GEN.M ἄρτου bread-GEN ζήσει he-will-live εἰς into τὸν the-ACC.M αἰῶνα age-ACC
65.13b Eán (e-AN) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG phágēi (FA-geh) eats-AOR.SBJV.3SG ek (ek) from toútou (TOO-too) this-GEN.M toû (too) the-GEN.M ártou (AR-too) bread-GEN zḗsei (DZEH-say) he-will-live-FUT.3SG eis (ays) into tòn (ton) the-ACC.M aiō̂na (ai-OH-na) age-ACC
65.14a ὥστε so-then εἴ if τις anyone-NOM ἐν in Χριστῷ Christ-DAT καινὴ new-NOM.F κτίσις creation-NOM τὰ the-NOM.N.PL ἀρχαῖα old-things-NOM.N.PL παρῆλθεν passed-away
65.14b hṓste (HOHS-te) so-then eí (ay) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG en (en) in Christō̂i (khris-TOH) Christ-DAT kainḕ (kai-NEH) new-NOM.F ktísis (KTI-sis) creation-NOM tà (ta) the-NOM.N.PL archaîa (ar-KHAI-a) old-things-NOM.N.PL parē̂lthen (pa-REHL-then) passed-away-AOR.3SG
65.15a ἐάν if τις anyone-NOM ἀκούσῃ hears τῆς the-GEN.F φωνῆς voice-GEN μου my-GEN καὶ and ἀνοίξῃ opens τὴν the-ACC.F θύραν door-ACC καὶ then εἰσελεύσομαι I-will-come-in πρὸς to αὐτὸν him-ACC καὶ and δειπνήσω I-will-dine μετ᾽ with αὐτοῦ him-GEN καὶ and αὐτὸς he-NOM μετ᾽ with ἐμοῦ me-GEN
65.15b eán (e-AN) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG akoúsēi (a-KOO-seh) hears-AOR.SBJV.3SG tē̂s (tehs) the-GEN.F phōnē̂s (foh-NEHS) voice-GEN mou (moo) my-GEN kaì (kai) and anoíxēi (a-NOIK-seh) opens-AOR.SBJV.3SG tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F thýran (THU-ran) door-ACC kaì (kai) then eiseleúsomai (ays-e-LEW-so-mai) I-will-come-in-FUT.MID.1SG pròs (pros) to autòn (aw-TON) him-ACC kaì (kai) and deipnḗsō (dayp-NEH-soh) I-will-dine-FUT.1SG met’ (met) with autoû (aw-TOO) him-GEN kaì (kai) and autòs (aw-TOS) he-NOM met’ (met) with emoû (e-MOO) me-GEN
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65.1 Ἔχεις τι; Écheis ti? "Do you have anything?"
65.2 Ἦλθέν τις; Ē̂lthén tis? "Has anyone come?"
65.3 Γυνή τις ἦλθεν. Gynḗ tis ē̂lthen. "A certain woman came."
65.4 Ἐάν τις διψᾷ… Eán tis dipsâi… "If anyone is thirsty…" (John 7:37, opening words of the saying)
65.5 Ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε; Écheté ti brṓsimon entháde? "Have you anything here to eat?" (Luke 24:41)
65.6 Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχεν δύο υἱούς. Ánthrōpós tis eîchen dýo huioús. "A certain man had two sons." (Luke 15:11)
65.7 Εἴ τις ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. Eí tis échei ō̂ta akoúein akouétō. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:23)
65.8 Μή τις ἤνεγκεν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν; Mḗ tis ḗnenken autō̂i phageîn? "Surely no one has brought him anything to eat?" (John 4:33)
65.9 Καί τινες ἔλεγον· Τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν; Kaí tines élegon: Tí àn théloi ho spermológos hoûtos légein? "And some were saying, 'What would this babbler want to say?'" (Acts 17:18, from the middle of the verse)
65.10 Ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ με, τὸν λόγον μου τηρήσει. Eán tis agapâi me, tòn lógon mou tērḗsei. "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word." (John 14:23)
65.11 Ἀφίετε εἴ τι ἔχετε κατά τινος. Aphíete eí ti échete katá tinos. "Forgive, if you have anything against anyone." (Mark 11:25, the central clause)
65.12 Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. Eí tis thélei opísō mou eltheîn, aparnēsásthō heautòn kaì arátō tòn stauròn autoû kaì akoloutheítō moi. "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)
65.13 Ἐάν τις φάγῃ ἐκ τούτου τοῦ ἄρτου ζήσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Eán tis phágēi ek toútou toû ártou zḗsei eis tòn aiō̂na. "If anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever." (John 6:51; the Textus Receptus reads ζήσεται, with the same meaning)
65.14 Ὥστε εἴ τις ἐν Χριστῷ, καινὴ κτίσις· τὰ ἀρχαῖα παρῆλθεν. Hṓste eí tis en Christō̂i, kainḕ ktísis; tà archaîa parē̂lthen. "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old things have passed away." (2 Corinthians 5:17, the opening clauses)
65.15 Ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν, καὶ εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δειπνήσω μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ. Eán tis akoúsēi tē̂s phōnē̂s mou kaì anoíxēi tḕn thýran, kaì eiseleúsomai pròs autòn kaì deipnḗsō met’ autoû kaì autòs met’ emoû. "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20, after the opening words; Westcott and Hort and the Textus Receptus omit the καί before εἰσελεύσομαι)
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65.1 Ἔχεις τι;
65.2 Ἦλθέν τις;
65.3 Γυνή τις ἦλθεν.
65.4 Ἐάν τις διψᾷ…
65.5 Ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε;
65.6 Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχεν δύο υἱούς.
65.7 Εἴ τις ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.
65.8 Μή τις ἤνεγκεν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν;
65.9 Καί τινες ἔλεγον· Τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν;
65.10 Ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ με, τὸν λόγον μου τηρήσει.
65.11 Ἀφίετε εἴ τι ἔχετε κατά τινος.
65.12 Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.
65.13 Ἐάν τις φάγῃ ἐκ τούτου τοῦ ἄρτου ζήσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
65.14 Ὥστε εἴ τις ἐν Χριστῷ, καινὴ κτίσις· τὰ ἀρχαῖα παρῆλθεν.
65.15 Ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν, καὶ εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δειπνήσω μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ.
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These are the grammar rules for τις (tis):
1. Forms
τις declines like a third-declension adjective. The masculine and feminine share one set of forms, and the neuter has its own in the nominative and accusative. As an enclitic it is usually printed without an accent; where the rules below give it one, the accent falls on the last syllable.
Singular
τις (tis) — nominative masculine and feminine: anyone, someone
τι (ti) — nominative and accusative neuter: anything, something
τινός (tinós) — genitive, all genders: of anyone
τινί (tiní) — dative, all genders: to anyone
τινά (tiná) — accusative masculine and feminine: anyone
Plural
τινές (tinés) — nominative masculine and feminine: some (people)
τινά (tiná) — nominative and accusative neuter: some things
τινῶν (tinō̂n) — genitive: of some
τισί(ν) (tisí(n)) — dative: to some
τινάς (tinás) — accusative masculine and feminine: some (people)
The neuter plural τινά and the masculine and feminine accusative singular τινά look the same; the context decides.
2. Indefinite τις and Interrogative τίς
The question word "who? what?" has the same endings but always carries an acute on its first syllable, and that acute never turns grave: τίς, τί, τίνος, τίνι, τίνα, τίνες, τίνων, τίσι(ν), τίνας. The indefinite word is an enclitic: unaccented, or accented on its last syllable. Acts 17:18 (65.9) has both side by side:
καί τινες ἔλεγον· Τί ἂν θέλοι… (kaí tines élegon: Tí àn théloi…) — and some (indefinite) were saying, "What (interrogative) would he want…?"
A second test is position. The question word usually stands first in its clause. The indefinite word normally does not; the exception is the plural τινές at the head of a clause, which then carries its own accent (see §3).
3. Enclitic Accent Rules
An enclitic leans on the word before it, and the two are pronounced as one unit. The word before it may change:
A word with an acute on the third syllable from the end takes a second acute on its last syllable: ἄνθρωπός τις (65.6), ἔχετέ τι (65.5)
A word with a circumflex on the second syllable from the end does the same: ἦλθέν τις (65.2)
A word with an acute on the last syllable keeps it as an acute and does not change it to a grave: γυνή τις (65.3), κατά τινος (65.11), καί τινες (65.9), εἰ δέ τις (Section F)
A proclitic such as εἰ takes an acute: εἴ τις (65.7), εἴ τι (65.11)
A word with an acute on the second syllable from the end does not change. A one-syllable enclitic stays unaccented after it (ἔχεις τι, 65.1), and a two-syllable enclitic takes an accent on its own last syllable (ναύτου τινός, 65.16)
The enclitic is printed with its own accent when it stands for emphasis or, against the normal rule, at the head of a clause: τινὲς δὲ λέγουσιν (65.24), as at the start of Acts 17:18.
4. Pronoun and Adjective
Standing alone, τις is a pronoun: "anyone, someone, anything, something" (65.1, 65.2, 65.4).
With a noun it is an adjective, "any, some, a certain", and it normally follows the noun: ἄνθρωπός τις, "a certain man" (65.6); γυνή τις, "a certain woman" (65.3); μικρόν τι δῶρον, "a little gift" (65.27).
With a partitive genitive it means "one of, any of": τις ὑμῶν, "any of you" (65.22); τινα τῶν ἐκ τῆς κώμης, "someone from the village" (65.18).
5. How to Choose the English Word
Greek has one word where English has three. The sentence decides:
After εἰ or ἐάν, "if": "anyone, anything": εἴ τις θέλει, "if anyone wishes" (65.12)
In a question: "anyone, anything": ἔχεις τι; "do you have anything?" (65.1)
In a plain statement: "someone, something"; with a noun, "a certain": ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχεν, "a certain man had" (65.6)
In the plural: "some, some people": τινὲς ἔλεγον, "some were saying" (65.9)
εἰ takes the indicative (65.7, 65.12). ἐάν takes the subjunctive (65.4, 65.10, 65.13, 65.15). In the contract verbs διψάω and ἀγαπάω the present indicative and subjunctive have the same form (διψᾷ, ἀγαπᾷ), so only the ἐάν shows the mood.
6. μή τις
μή τις introduces a question that expects the answer "no": Μή τις ἤνεγκεν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν; "Surely no one has brought him anything to eat?" (65.8).
With an aorist subjunctive, μή τις forbids: μή τις ὑμᾶς ἐξαπατήσῃ (mḗ tis hymâs exapatḗsēi), "let no one deceive you" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
7. "Not Any", and "Anyone Who"
In a negative sentence Greek normally uses the compound negative, not τις (Lesson 63):
οὐδὲν ἔχω (oudèn échō) — I have nothing; I do not have anything
μηδενὶ εἴπῃς (mēdenì eípēis) — tell no one; do not tell anyone
οὐ … τις is also possible, and then the negative belongs to the verb: οὐχ ἁρπάσει τις αὐτὰ ἐκ τῆς χειρός μου (ouch harpásei tis autà ek tē̂s cheirós mou), "no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28).
For "anyone who…, whoever…", Greek uses πᾶς ὁ with a participle, or ὅστις, or ὃς ἄν: πᾶς ὁ ὀργιζόμενος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ (pâs ho orgizómenos tō̂i adelphō̂i autoû), "anyone who is angry with his brother" (Matthew 5:22). With a negative, πᾶς gives "no … at all": οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ, "no flesh will be justified" (64.14).
The family of words, set out as text lines:
τις, τι (tis, ti) — anyone, anything; any, a certain
τίς, τί (tís, tí) — who? what?
οὐδείς, οὐδέν (oudeís, oudén) — no one, nothing; not any
μηδείς, μηδέν (mēdeís, mēdén) — no one, nothing (with μή-constructions)
ὅστις (hóstis) — whoever, anyone who
πᾶς ὁ + participle (pâs ho) — everyone who, anyone who
Common Mistakes
Putting τις first in its clause. "Anyone came" is ἦλθέν τις, not *τις ἦλθεν.
Reading τις as the question word. Without an accent on the first syllable, it is "anyone", not "who?".
Forgetting the extra accent. Write εἴ τις and ἄνθρωπός τις, not εἰ τις and ἄνθρωπος τις: the word before the enclitic takes it.
Translating every τις as "someone". After εἰ / ἐάν and in questions, English needs "anyone".
Using τις for "not any" where Greek prefers the compound negative. "I do not have any bread" is οὐκ ἔχω ἄρτον, and "I have nothing" is οὐδὲν ἔχω.
Confusing τινά, "anyone" (accusative masculine or feminine), with τινά, "some things" (neuter plural). Look at what the word refers to.
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"A Certain Man"
Many of the parables in Luke open with the same two words: Ἄνθρωπός τις, "a certain man". The man who fell among robbers on the road to Jericho (Luke 10:30: Ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ εἰς Ἰεριχώ) and the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11) are introduced this way. The man has no name, and τις tells the hearer that he does not need one. He is anyone, and the story could be about the hearer.
The Open Invitation
In the sayings of Jesus, εἴ τις and ἐάν τις are among the commonest openings: "if anyone has ears", "if anyone is thirsty", "if anyone wishes to come after me", "if anyone hears my voice". The conditional with τις is an offer that leaves no one out. It names no class of person, and so includes every person who hears it. Revelation 3:20 puts it in a picture: a guest knocks at a closed door and waits for anyone at all to open it.
τις in the Papyrus Letters
The genre section is written as a private letter. Thousands of such letters in Koine survive on papyrus from Egypt. They open with "A to B, greeting" (χαίρειν), they are full of small requests and worries ("if you need anything, write to me"), and they often close with ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι, "I pray for your good health". τις and τι are everywhere in them, because letters are made of the indefinite: someone is coming, something is needed, anyone who asks should be told.
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τις belongs to every level of Koine: everyday letters, the plain narrative of Mark, the polished Greek of Luke and Paul. It was inherited from Classical Greek. In Modern Greek it has dropped out of everyday speech, where "someone" is κάποιος and "anything" is τίποτα. τίποτα grew out of the old phrase τι ποτε, "anything at all", with the indefinite τι at its core.
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Source: Paul, First Letter to the Corinthians 8:1b–3, text of the SBL Greek New Testament (2010). The Textus Receptus (Stephanus, 1550) reads verse 2 differently: εἰ δέ τις δοκεῖ εἰδέναι τι, οὐδέπω οὐδὲν ἔγνωκεν καθὼς δεῖ γνῶναι, "and if anyone thinks he knows anything, he has not yet known anything as he ought to know". The sense is the same, and so is the use of τις and τι. Verse 3 is the same in both editions.
This passage was chosen because the indefinite word carries the whole argument. In two sentences Paul uses τις twice and τι once. The τις in each conditional is "anyone", and the neuter τι is "anything".
ἡ the-NOM.F γνῶσις knowledge-NOM φυσιοῖ puffs-up ἡ the-NOM.F δὲ but ἀγάπη love-NOM οἰκοδομεῖ builds-up
hē (heh) the-NOM.F gnō̂sis (GNOH-sis) knowledge-NOM physioî (fu-si-OY) puffs-up-3SG hē (heh) the-NOM.F dè (de) but agápē (a-GA-peh) love-NOM oikodomeî (oy-ko-do-MAY) builds-up-3SG
εἴ if τις anyone-NOM δοκεῖ thinks ἐγνωκέναι to-have-known τι anything-ACC.N
eí (ay) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG dokeî (do-KAY) thinks-3SG egnōkénai (eg-noh-KE-nai) to-have-known-PERF.INF ti (ti) anything-ACC.N
οὔπω not-yet ἔγνω he-knew καθὼς as δεῖ it-is-necessary γνῶναι to-know
oúpō (OO-poh) not-yet égnō (EG-noh) he-knew-AOR.3SG kathṑs (ka-THOHS) as deî (day) it-is-necessary-3SG gnō̂nai (GNOH-nai) to-know-AOR.INF
εἰ if δέ but τις anyone-NOM ἀγαπᾷ loves τὸν the-ACC.M θεόν God-ACC
ei (ay) if dé (de) but tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG agapâi (a-ga-PAH) loves-3SG tòn (ton) the-ACC.M theón (the-ON) God-ACC
οὗτος this-one-NOM ἔγνωσται has-been-known ὑπ᾽ by αὐτοῦ him-GEN
hoûtos (HOO-tos) this-one-NOM égnōstai (EG-nohs-tai) has-been-known-PERF.PASS.3SG hyp’ (hup) by autoû (aw-TOO) him-GEN
ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ. εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἐγνωκέναι τι, οὔπω ἔγνω καθὼς δεῖ γνῶναι· εἰ δέ τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν θεόν, οὗτος ἔγνωσται ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
hē gnō̂sis physioî, hē dè agápē oikodomeî. eí tis dokeî egnōkénai ti, oúpō égnō kathṑs deî gnō̂nai; ei dé tis agapâi tòn theón, hoûtos égnōstai hyp’ autoû.
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks that he has come to know anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by him."
ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ. εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἐγνωκέναι τι, οὔπω ἔγνω καθὼς δεῖ γνῶναι· εἰ δέ τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν θεόν, οὗτος ἔγνωσται ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
γνῶσις (gnō̂sis): "knowledge", a third-declension feminine noun from γινώσκω, "know"
φυσιόω (physióō): "puff up, inflate", related to φυσάω, "blow", and φῦσα, "a pair of bellows"; φυσιοῖ is the present 3rd person singular of an -όω contract verb (-ό-ει → -οῖ)
οἰκοδομέω (oikodoméō): "build a house; build up", from οἶκος, "house", and δέμω, "build"
δοκέω (dokéō): "think, suppose, seem". With an infinitive it often means "think that one is or has something", with a hint that one is wrong
ἐγνωκέναι (egnōkénai): perfect active infinitive of γινώσκω, "to have come to know", that is, to know as a settled possession
ἔγνω (égnō): aorist of γινώσκω, "he knew, he came to know"; γνῶναι (gnō̂nai) is its aorist infinitive
οὔπω (oúpō): "not yet", οὐ + πω
καθὼς δεῖ (kathṑs deî): "as one ought, as is necessary"; δεῖ is impersonal and takes the infinitive γνῶναι
ἔγνωσται (égnōstai): perfect passive 3rd person singular of γινώσκω, "has been known, is known"
ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ (hyp’ autoû): ὑπό with the genitive gives the agent of a passive verb, "by him"; the vowel of ὑπό is elided before the vowel of αὐτοῦ
εἴ τις and εἰ δέ τις: in the first, the proclitic εἰ takes an acute before the enclitic τις. In the second, δέ comes between them. δέ keeps its acute before τις, and εἰ is left unaccented (Section D §3)
The two τις and the τι: each τις is "anyone" after εἰ. τι is the object of ἐγνωκέναι, "to have known anything". Its vagueness is the point: it does not matter what the knowledge is about.
The Corinthians had written to Paul about food offered to idols, and some of them claimed to have "knowledge" that settled the question. Paul answers with a pair of short sentences, and he builds both of them on τις.
The first conditional names no one: εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἐγνωκέναι τι, "if anyone thinks he has come to know anything". It does not accuse a particular person, and the indefinite τι does not name a particular subject. That is how it works. Any claim to knowledge, about anything, falls under it, and each reader must decide whether he is the τις.
The second conditional changes the verb and the direction: εἰ δέ τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν θεόν, "but if anyone loves God". The reader expects "he knows God". Paul writes the passive instead: οὗτος ἔγνωσται ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, "he is known by him". The person who boasted of knowing becomes the person who is known.
The two sentences have the same shape (εἰ + τις + verb, then the main clause), and that makes the contrast between them clear. The indefinite pronoun is what makes them general. They are not rules about one party at Corinth. They hold for anyone.
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τις is a pronoun, and pronouns live in dialogue and letters. The genre is therefore a letter. It is a constructed one in plain Koine, written in the manner of the private letters on papyrus from Roman Egypt, with their greeting, their family news, their small requests and their closing wish for good health. Theon, newly arrived in Alexandria, writes home to his brother Ptolemaios in the village. Every sentence uses τις or τι. The letter is not a quotation of any real papyrus.
65.16a Θέων Theon-NOM Πτολεμαίῳ to-Ptolemaios-DAT τῷ the-DAT.M ἀδελφῷ brother-DAT χαίρειν greetings ἔγραψά I-wrote σοι to-you-DAT διὰ through ναύτου sailor-GEN τινός a-certain-GEN.M
65.16b Théōn (THE-ohn) Theon-NOM Ptolemaíōi (pto-le-MAI-oh) to-Ptolemaios-DAT tō̂i (toh) the-DAT.M adelphō̂i (a-del-FOH) brother-DAT chaírein (KHAI-rayn) greetings-PRES.INF égrapsá (E-grap-sa) I-wrote-AOR.1SG soi (soy) to-you-DAT dià (di-A) through naútou (NOW-too) sailor-GEN tinós (ti-NOS) a-certain-GEN.M
65.17a Εἴ if τι anything-ACC.N θέλεις you-want γράψον write μοι to-me-DAT
65.17b Eí (ay) if ti (ti) anything-ACC.N théleis (THE-lays) you-want-2SG grápson (GRAP-son) write-AOR.IMP.2SG moi (moy) to-me-DAT
65.18a Ξένος stranger-NOM εἰμὶ I-am ἐνθάδε here καὶ and ζητῶ I-seek τινα someone-ACC τῶν of-the-GEN.PL ἐκ from τῆς the-GEN.F κώμης village-GEN ἡμῶν our-GEN.PL
65.18b Xénos (KSE-nos) stranger-NOM eimì (ay-MEE) I-am-1SG entháde (en-THA-de) here kaì (kai) and zētô (dzeh-TOH) I-seek-1SG tina (ti-na) someone-ACC.SG tō̂n (tohn) of-the-GEN.PL ek (ek) from tē̂s (tehs) the-GEN.F kṓmēs (KOH-mehs) village-GEN hēmō̂n (heh-MOHN) our-GEN.PL
65.19a Χθὲς yesterday ἄνθρωπός man-NOM τις a-certain-NOM.M ἦλθεν came πρός to με me-ACC καὶ and εἶπεν said ὅτι that γινώσκει he-knows τὸν the-ACC.M πατέρα father-ACC ἡμῶν our-GEN.PL
65.19b Chthès (khthes) yesterday ánthrōpós (AN-throh-pos) man-NOM tis (tis) a-certain-NOM.M ē̂lthen (EHL-then) came-AOR.3SG prós (pros) to me (me) me-ACC kaì (kai) and eîpen (AY-pen) said-AOR.3SG hóti (HO-ti) that ginṓskei (gi-NOHS-kay) he-knows-3SG tòn (ton) the-ACC.M patéra (pa-TE-ra) father-ACC hēmō̂n (heh-MOHN) our-GEN.PL
65.20a Ἔδωκέν he-gave μοι to-me-DAT ἄρτον bread-ACC καὶ and οἶνόν wine-ACC τινα some-ACC.M
65.20b Édōkén (E-doh-ken) he-gave-AOR.3SG moi (moy) to-me-DAT árton (AR-ton) bread-ACC kaì (kai) and oînón (OY-non) wine-ACC tina (ti-na) some-ACC.M
65.21a Ἐρώτησον ask τὴν the-ACC.F μητέρα mother-ACC εἴ whether τινος anything-GEN χρῄζει she-needs
65.21b Erṓtēson (e-ROH-teh-son) ask-AOR.IMP.2SG tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F mētéra (meh-TE-ra) mother-ACC eí (ay) whether tinos (ti-nos) anything-GEN.SG chrḗizei (KHREH-dzay) she-needs-3SG
65.22a Μή surely-not τις anyone-NOM ὑμῶν of-you-GEN.PL ἀσθενεῖ is-ill
65.22b Mḗ (meh) surely-not tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG hymō̂n (hu-MOHN) of-you-GEN.PL astheneî (as-the-NAY) is-ill-3SG
65.23a Ἐὰν if δέ but τις anyone-NOM ἀσθενῇ is-ill πέμψον send μοι to-me-DAT ἐπιστολὴν letter-ACC εὐθέως at-once
65.23b Eàn (e-AN) if dé (de) but tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG asthenē̂i (as-the-NEH) is-ill-PRES.SBJV.3SG pémpson (PEMP-son) send-AOR.IMP.2SG moi (moy) to-me-DAT epistolḕn (e-pis-to-LEHN) letter-ACC euthéōs (ew-THE-ohs) at-once
65.24a Τινὲς some-NOM.PL δὲ and λέγουσιν say ὅτι that ὁ the-NOM.M σῖτος grain-NOM τίμιος costly-NOM.M ἔσται will-be
65.24b Tinès (ti-NES) some-NOM.PL.M dè (de) and légousin (LE-goo-sin) say-3PL hóti (HO-ti) that ho (ho) the-NOM.M sîtos (SEE-tos) grain-NOM tímios (TI-mi-os) costly-NOM.M éstai (ES-tai) will-be-FUT.MID.3SG
65.25a Εἰ if ἔχεις you-have τι any-ACC.N ἀργύριον money-ACC φύλαξον guard αὐτό it-ACC.N
65.25b Ei (ay) if écheis (E-khays) you-have-2SG ti (ti) any-ACC.N argýrion (ar-GU-ri-on) money-ACC phýlaxon (FU-lak-son) guard-AOR.IMP.2SG autó (aw-TO) it-ACC.N
65.26a Ἐὰν if δέ but τις anyone-NOM αἰτῇ asks σε you-ACC εἰπὲ say ὅτι that οὐκ not ἔχεις you-have
65.26b Eàn (e-AN) if dé (de) but tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG aitē̂i (ay-TEH) asks-PRES.SBJV.3SG se (se) you-ACC eipè (ay-PE) say-AOR.IMP.2SG hóti (HO-ti) that ouk (ook) not écheis (E-khays) you-have-2SG
65.27a Ἔπεμψά I-sent σοι to-you-DAT διὰ through τοῦ the-GEN.M ναύτου sailor-GEN μικρόν small-ACC.N τι a-ACC.N δῶρον gift-ACC
65.27b Épempsá (E-pemp-sa) I-sent-AOR.1SG soi (soy) to-you-DAT dià (di-A) through toû (too) the-GEN.M naútou (NOW-too) sailor-GEN mikrón (mi-KRON) small-ACC.N ti (ti) a-ACC.N dō̂ron (DOH-ron) gift-ACC
65.28a Ἐάν if τι anything-NOM.N λείπῃ is-missing ὁ the-NOM.M ναύτης sailor-NOM ἔλαβεν took αὐτό it-ACC.N
65.28b Eán (e-AN) if ti (ti) anything-NOM.N leípēi (LAY-peh) is-missing-PRES.SBJV.3SG ho (ho) the-NOM.M naútēs (NOW-tehs) sailor-NOM élaben (E-la-ben) took-AOR.3SG autó (aw-TO) it-ACC.N
65.29a Ἀσπάζου greet τὴν the-ACC.F μητέρα mother-ACC καὶ and εἴ if τις anyone-NOM ἐρωτᾷ asks περὶ about ἐμοῦ me-GEN εἰπὲ say ὅτι that ὑγιαίνω I-am-well
65.29b Aspázou (as-PA-dzoo) greet-PRES.IMP.MID.2SG tḕn (tehn) the-ACC.F mētéra (meh-TE-ra) mother-ACC kaì (kai) and eí (ay) if tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG erōtâi (e-roh-TAH) asks-3SG perì (pe-REE) about emoû (e-MOO) me-GEN eipè (ay-PE) say-AOR.IMP.2SG hóti (HO-ti) that hygiaínō (hu-gi-AI-noh) I-am-well-1SG
65.30a Ἐρρῶσθαί to-be-in-good-health σε you-ACC εὔχομαι I-pray καὶ and μή not τις anyone-NOM ὑμῶν of-you-GEN.PL ἐπιλάθηταί forget μου me-GEN
65.30b Errō̂sthaí (er-ROHS-thai) to-be-in-good-health-PERF.INF se (se) you-ACC eúchomai (EW-kho-mai) I-pray-1SG.MID kaì (kai) and mḗ (meh) not tis (tis) anyone-NOM.SG hymō̂n (hu-MOHN) of-you-GEN.PL epiláthētaí (e-pi-LA-theh-tai) forget-AOR.SBJV.MID.3SG mou (moo) me-GEN
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65.16 Θέων Πτολεμαίῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ χαίρειν. Ἔγραψά σοι διὰ ναύτου τινός. Théōn Ptolemaíōi tō̂i adelphō̂i chaírein. Égrapsá soi dià naútou tinós. "Theon to Ptolemaios his brother, greetings. I am writing to you by the hand of a certain sailor."
65.17 Εἴ τι θέλεις, γράψον μοι. Eí ti théleis, grápson moi. "If you want anything, write to me."
65.18 Ξένος εἰμὶ ἐνθάδε, καὶ ζητῶ τινα τῶν ἐκ τῆς κώμης ἡμῶν. Xénos eimì entháde, kaì zētô tina tō̂n ek tē̂s kṓmēs hēmō̂n. "I am a stranger here, and I am looking for someone from our village."
65.19 Χθὲς ἄνθρωπός τις ἦλθεν πρός με καὶ εἶπεν ὅτι γινώσκει τὸν πατέρα ἡμῶν. Chthès ánthrōpós tis ē̂lthen prós me kaì eîpen hóti ginṓskei tòn patéra hēmō̂n. "Yesterday a certain man came to me and said that he knows our father."
65.20 Ἔδωκέν μοι ἄρτον καὶ οἶνόν τινα. Édōkén moi árton kaì oînón tina. "He gave me bread and some wine."
65.21 Ἐρώτησον τὴν μητέρα εἴ τινος χρῄζει. Erṓtēson tḕn mētéra eí tinos chrḗizei. "Ask our mother whether she needs anything."
65.22 Μή τις ὑμῶν ἀσθενεῖ; Mḗ tis hymō̂n astheneî? "None of you is ill, I hope?"
65.23 Ἐὰν δέ τις ἀσθενῇ, πέμψον μοι ἐπιστολὴν εὐθέως. Eàn dé tis asthenē̂i, pémpson moi epistolḕn euthéōs. "But if anyone is ill, send me a letter at once."
65.24 Τινὲς δὲ λέγουσιν ὅτι ὁ σῖτος τίμιος ἔσται. Tinès dè légousin hóti ho sîtos tímios éstai. "Some people say that grain will be dear."
65.25 Εἰ ἔχεις τι ἀργύριον, φύλαξον αὐτό. Ei écheis ti argýrion, phýlaxon autó. "If you have any money, keep it safe."
65.26 Ἐὰν δέ τις αἰτῇ σε, εἰπὲ ὅτι οὐκ ἔχεις. Eàn dé tis aitē̂i se, eipè hóti ouk écheis. "And if anyone asks you for it, say that you have none."
65.27 Ἔπεμψά σοι διὰ τοῦ ναύτου μικρόν τι δῶρον. Épempsá soi dià toû naútou mikrón ti dō̂ron. "I am sending you a little gift by the sailor."
65.28 Ἐάν τι λείπῃ, ὁ ναύτης ἔλαβεν αὐτό. Eán ti leípēi, ho naútēs élaben autó. "If anything is missing, the sailor took it."
65.29 Ἀσπάζου τὴν μητέρα, καὶ εἴ τις ἐρωτᾷ περὶ ἐμοῦ, εἰπὲ ὅτι ὑγιαίνω. Aspázou tḕn mētéra, kaì eí tis erōtâi perì emoû, eipè hóti hygiaínō. "Greet our mother, and if anyone asks about me, say that I am well."
65.30 Ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι· καὶ μή τις ὑμῶν ἐπιλάθηταί μου. Errō̂sthaí se eúchomai; kaì mḗ tis hymō̂n epiláthētaí mou. "I pray for your good health. And let none of you forget me."
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65.16 Θέων Πτολεμαίῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ χαίρειν. Ἔγραψά σοι διὰ ναύτου τινός.
65.17 Εἴ τι θέλεις, γράψον μοι.
65.18 Ξένος εἰμὶ ἐνθάδε, καὶ ζητῶ τινα τῶν ἐκ τῆς κώμης ἡμῶν.
65.19 Χθὲς ἄνθρωπός τις ἦλθεν πρός με καὶ εἶπεν ὅτι γινώσκει τὸν πατέρα ἡμῶν.
65.20 Ἔδωκέν μοι ἄρτον καὶ οἶνόν τινα.
65.21 Ἐρώτησον τὴν μητέρα εἴ τινος χρῄζει.
65.22 Μή τις ὑμῶν ἀσθενεῖ;
65.23 Ἐὰν δέ τις ἀσθενῇ, πέμψον μοι ἐπιστολὴν εὐθέως.
65.24 Τινὲς δὲ λέγουσιν ὅτι ὁ σῖτος τίμιος ἔσται.
65.25 Εἰ ἔχεις τι ἀργύριον, φύλαξον αὐτό.
65.26 Ἐὰν δέ τις αἰτῇ σε, εἰπὲ ὅτι οὐκ ἔχεις.
65.27 Ἔπεμψά σοι διὰ τοῦ ναύτου μικρόν τι δῶρον.
65.28 Ἐάν τι λείπῃ, ὁ ναύτης ἔλαβεν αὐτό.
65.29 Ἀσπάζου τὴν μητέρα, καὶ εἴ τις ἐρωτᾷ περὶ ἐμοῦ, εἰπὲ ὅτι ὑγιαίνω.
65.30 Ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι· καὶ μή τις ὑμῶν ἐπιλάθηταί μου.
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The Letter Formula: 65.16 opens as the papyrus letters do: the sender in the nominative (Θέων), the recipient in the dative (Πτολεμαίῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ), and the infinitive χαίρειν, "greetings", which depends on an understood "says" or "bids". James 1:1 and Acts 15:23 open with the same formula. 65.30 closes with the matching formula: ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι, "I pray that you are in good health", where ἐρρῶσθαι is the perfect infinitive of ῥώννυμι, "strengthen".
The Epistolary Aorist: ἔγραψα (65.16) and ἔπεμψα (65.27) are aorists, "I wrote, I sent". The writer looks at the act from the time the letter will be read, so English says "I am writing, I am sending". Paul does the same in Philippians 2:28 (ἔπεμψα αὐτόν, "I am sending him").
τις as Adjective: ναύτου τινός, "a certain sailor" (65.16); οἶνόν τινα, "some wine" (65.20); τι ἀργύριον, "any money" (65.25); μικρόν τι δῶρον, "a little gift" (65.27). The adjectival τις usually comes after its noun, but it may come before it, as in 65.25. In 65.27 it comes between the adjective and the noun. τις agrees with its noun in gender, number and case: τινός is genitive masculine with ναύτου, and τινα is accusative masculine with οἶνον.
τις with a Genitive: ζητῶ τινα τῶν ἐκ τῆς κώμης ἡμῶν, "I am looking for someone from our village" (65.18), and μή τις ὑμῶν, "none of you" (65.22, 65.30), take a partitive genitive, "someone of, anyone of".
εἰ and ἐάν: εἰ takes the indicative (65.17, 65.25, 65.29), and ἐάν the subjunctive (65.23, 65.26, 65.28). In 65.21 εἰ means "whether" and introduces an indirect question, and its verb χρῄζω takes the genitive (τινος): "whether she has need of anything".
Two Kinds of μή τις: 65.22 is a question that expects "no": μή τις ὑμῶν ἀσθενεῖ; "surely none of you is ill?". 65.30 is a prohibition with the aorist subjunctive: μή τις ὑμῶν ἐπιλάθηταί μου, "let none of you forget me", as in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The verb ἐπιλανθάνομαι takes the genitive μου, as in 63.30.
Enclitic Accents: The letter is full of words that take a second accent before an enclitic: ἔγραψά σοι, ἔδωκέν μοι, ἔπεμψά σοι, ἐπιλάθηταί μου (acute on the third syllable from the end); οἶνόν τινα, ἐρρῶσθαί σε (circumflex on the second from the end). In ναύτου τινός the word before has its accent on the second syllable from the end, so the two-syllable enclitic takes the accent itself (Section D §3).
Present and Aorist Imperatives: The aorist imperatives γράψον, πέμψον, φύλαξον, εἰπέ and ἐρώτησον ask for a single act. ἀσπάζου (65.29) is a present imperative, the regular form of the greeting in letters, and it asks for a greeting that is passed on and repeated.
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τις (tis): /tis/ in the reconstructed pronunciation this course uses; the same in later Koine
The ι is a short "i", as in "this". The τ is a plain "t", without the puff of breath of English "t" at the start of a word
τις has no stress of its own. Say it together with the word before it, as one unit: ánthrōpós tis sounds as "AN-throh-pos-tis", with a light second lift on the last syllable before the enclitic
τι (ti): /ti/, with the same short "i"
τινός (tinós): /tiˈnos/, ti-NOS, when it carries its accent; without it, ti-nos, leaning on the word before
τινές (tinés): /tiˈnes/, ti-NES
Related Words
τίς (tís), "who?": /tis/, said with its own stress and a rising pitch. In speech the question word stands out, and the indefinite word does not
τίνος (tínos), "whose?": /ˈti.nos/, TI-nos, stress on the first syllable, against ti-NOS for the indefinite τινός
Sounds Absent from English
χθ in χθές (chthés), "yesterday", is two aspirates together; learners may say "kh-th": khthes
ῄ in χρῄζει (chrḗizei) is a long open "e" with a silent iota under it: KHREH-dzay
ζ in χρῄζει and ἀσπάζου is "dz" in the reconstructed pronunciation, later "z"
ῥ and ρρ in ἐρρῶσθαι (errō̂sthai) are a rolled "r", held a little longer when doubled: er-ROHS-thai
Accent Marks in This Lesson
An enclitic can give the word before it two accents. The second accent is not a new stress. It shows that the word and the enclitic are said together, with the pitch rising on that syllable. In ἄνθρωπός τις the main stress stays on ἄν-.
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