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Words of the Odyssey · 88 headwords
Each word with its meanings, its forms, and the lines it stands in.
γάλα
milk; of milk 5 times
γάλακτος, γάλα, γάλακτι
genitive singular neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun; dative singular neuter noun
γάλα, neut. noun in -α, gives us 'galaxy' (milky way) via γαλαξίας.
γάμος
marriage; the marriage; a wedding 30 times
γάμον, γάμοιο, γάμος, γάμου, γάμῳ, γάμοιο—
accusative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
γάρ
for; indeed; since 635 times
γὰρ, γάρ
particle; postpositive explanatory particle
γάρ is the causal connective ('for'), explaining why sleeplessness is impossible; 'indeed' wrongly duplicates the sense already carried by τοι
γαῖα
land; earth; of the land 172 times
γαῖαν, γαίης, γαίῃ, γαῖα, γαιάων, γαῖάν, γαῖ
accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
γαίης is postponed to open the next line, split from its adjective ποίης — an enjambment typical of Homeric verse.
Γαιήιος
earth-born once
Γαιήιον
Patronymic-style adjective, 'earth-born', modifying Tityos.
γαιήοχος
earth-holder; holder of the earth; earth-holding 6 times
γαιήοχος, γαιήοχε
nominative singular masculine adjective; vocative singular masculine adjective
γαιήοχος, 'earth-holding', a fixed cult epithet of Poseidon as god of earthquakes and the sea.
γαλήνη
calm; windless calm; the calm sea 5 times
γαλήνη, γαλήνην
nominative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun
γαλήνη...νηνεμίη, two near-synonyms for stillness stacked for emphasis at a turning point in the storm.
γαμβρός
son-in-law; sons-in-law 5 times
γαμβρὸς, γαμβροῖσιν
nominative singular masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun
Predicate noun explaining why Menelaus alone escapes death: marriage ties him to Zeus's family.
γαμέω
to marry; has married; married 24 times
γήμασθ, γήμασθαι, γαμέεσθαι, ἔγημεν, γῆμεν, ἔγημε, γήμαιθ, γῆμαι and 4 more
aorist middle infinitive; aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive infinitive
Aorist middle infinitive γήμασθαι of γαμέω used of the bride: 'get married,' contrast active for the groom.
γαστήρ
belly; paunch; the belly 17 times
γαστέρα, γαστέρ, γαστὴρ, γαστέρι, γαστρὸς, γαστέρος, γαστέρες
accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
γαστήρ 'belly' as subject personified, driving the lion's hunger-instinct in the simile
γε
indeed; at least; (emphatic) 495 times
γε, γ, γέ, γʼ, γε—
Epic particle γε adds emphasis: 'he for his part,' contrasting Poseidon's location with the other gods'.
γέγωνα
called out; carries; carries/reaches 6 times
γέγωνε, γέγωνέ, ἐγεγώνει
perfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; pluperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
γέγωνα is a perfect with present force, 'has made himself heard' = 'can be heard/carry' — a shout's range as a distance measure.
γέλως
laughter; with laughter 7 times
γέλως, γέλω, γέλῳ
nominative singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine adjective
γένειον
his chin; chin 3 times
γενείῳ, γένειον, γενείου
dative singular neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun; genitive singular neuter noun
Touching the chin (γένειον) is a traditional gesture of supplication/intimate address in Homer.
γένος
lineage; generations; the stock 20 times
γένος, γένε
accusative singular neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
γένος accusative of respect with εἰμί, 'I am, as to birth,' = 'by birth'
γέρας
honor/prerogative; portion of honor; honor 11 times
γέρας, γέρα
accusative singular neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
γέρας, the special cut of meat marking a guest's status at a feast
γέρων
old man; the old man; old 84 times
γέρων, γέρον, γέροντα, γέροντος, γέροντι, γέροντες, γερόντων, γέροντ and 1 more
nominative singular masculine noun; vocative singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun
vocative γέρον, direct address — 'ὦ γέρον' is a standard formula opening a speech to an elder.
γεγωνέω
called out, shouted; cried out; I called out 3 times
γεγώνευν, ἐγεγώνευν
imperfect active indicative, 1st singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb
γεγωνέω, 'shout so as to be heard,' a vivid verb for calling across distance.
γείνομαι
bore; begot; bore, begot 12 times
ἐγείνατο, γείνατο, γεινομένῳ, γείνασθαι, γείνατ, γείνεαι
aorist middle indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive participle, dative singular masculine
Middle aorist ἐγείνατο of γείνομαι ('bear/beget'), the standard epic verb for a mother giving birth.
γείτων
neighbors 3 times
γείτονες
γελάω
laughing; laughed; laugh 14 times
γελόωντες, γέλασσαν, γελάσας, ἐγέλασσε, γελάσαι, γέλασσε, γελώοντες, ἐγέλασσεν and 4 more
present active participle, nominative plural masculine; aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 3rd plural verb
γελόω is subjunctive in form though translated as indicative — a Homeric deliberative/generalizing nuance.
γενέθλη
race, stock; lineage twice
γενέθλης
γενέθλη 'birth, stock' — Poseidon claims kinship with the Phaeacians.
γενεά
lineage; generation; by birthright 11 times
γενεῇ, γενεὴν, γενεήν, γενεὴ, γενεή
accusative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun
Accusative of respect: γενεήν specifies IN WHAT WAY he was a descendant, not a direct object.
γενειάς
beard once
γενειάδες
γενειάς is a rare plural for a single beard, epic idiom (cf. English 'whiskers').
γενειάω
grown bearded; grown a beard twice
γενειήσαντα
γενειήσαντα, denominative aorist participle from γένειον 'chin/beard' — 'having grown a beard.'
γεραιός
old man; an older (man); elder 6 times
γεραιέ, γεραίτερον, γεραίτερος, γεραιός
vocative singular masculine adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective; accusative singular masculine adjective
γεραιέ, vocative addressing the seer Halitherses directly — the head noun it modifies is elided (a common Homeric ellipsis).
Γερήνιος
Gerenian 10 times
Γερήνιος
nominative singular masculine adjective; nominative singular masculine noun
Γερήνιος, a recurring cult-title/epithet of Nestor linked to the town Gerenia, part of his fixed epic formula
γεύω
to taste; tasting 3 times
γεύσεσθαι, γεύσασθαι
future middle infinitive; aorist middle infinitive
Idiom 'taste of hands' = 'come to blows'.
γῆ
land; the earth; ground 7 times
γῆς, γῆ, γῆν
genitive singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun
γῆρας
old age; of old age; with age 17 times
γῆρας, γήραϊ, γήραος, γῆράς, γήραι
nominative singular neuter noun; dative singular neuter noun; genitive singular neuter noun
γῆρας personified as the subject that 'will save' the old nurse from punishment
γηθέω
rejoiced; rejoices; it rejoiced 17 times
γήθησεν, γήθησε, γήθησέν, γέγηθε, γηθήσειεν, γήθησαν, ἐγήθεις
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; perfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active optative, 3rd singular verb
γέγηθε, perfect with present sense (like οἶδα) — a stative perfect meaning 'is glad,' not 'has become glad.'
γηράσκω
to grow old; ripens; had grown old 4 times
γηρασκέμεν, γηράσκει, ἐγήρα, γηράσκωσι
present active infinitive; present active indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
subjunctive in a general temporal clause, 'whenever they grow old'
Γίγας
the Giants; of the Giants; Giants 3 times
Γιγάντεσσιν, Γιγάντων, Γίγασιν
dative plural masculine noun; genitive plural masculine noun
pairs Cyclopes and Giants as savage races close to gods but lawless — epic catalog device.
γίγνομαι
became; would become; were born 144 times
γένοιτο, γένηται, ἐγένοντο, γενέσθαι, γίγνεται, γίγνονται, γεγάασιν, γένετο and 26 more
aorist middle optative, 3rd singular verb; aorist middle indicative, 3rd plural verb; aorist middle subjunctive, 3rd singular verb
γένηται subjunctive with ἄν in general temporal clause 'whenever it becomes'
γιγνώσκω
recognized; you would know; knew 52 times
ἔγνω, γιγνώσκω, γνοίης, γνῶναι, γίγνωσκον, γνοίη, ἔγνως, γνώω and 15 more
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active indicative, 1st singular verb; aorist active optative, 2nd singular verb
γνώμεναι, epic aorist infinitive with -μεναι ending, completes the sense of ὑπέμεινε: 'did not wait to be recognized.'
γλαυκω~πις
gray-eyed once
γλαυκώπιδος
stock epithet of Athena, γλαυκῶπις, here genitive
γλαυκῶπις
gray-eyed; bright-eyed; grey-eyed 56 times
γλαυκῶπις, γλαυκώπιδι, γλαυκῶπιν, γλαυκώπιδος, γλαυκῶπι
nominative singular feminine adjective; nominative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine adjective
γλαυκῶπις is Athena's fixed Homeric epithet ('owl-/gleaming-eyed') — a formulaic tag that fills the line's meter and always travels with her name.
γλαφυρός
hollow; sheltered 41 times
γλαφυρῆς, γλαφυροῖσι, γλαφυρῇ, γλαφυρῷ, γλαφυρὴν, γλαφυρῇσι, γλαφυροῖο, γλαφυρὴ and 5 more
genitive singular feminine adjective; dative plural neuter adjective; accusative singular feminine adjective
γλαφυρός 'hollow', standard formulaic epithet for ships in Homer.
γλυκερός
sweet 4 times
γλυκερῷ, γλυκερῆς
dative singular masculine adjective; genitive singular feminine adjective; dative singular neuter adjective
γλυκύς
sweet; sweeter 27 times
γλυκὺς, γλυκὺν, γλυκεροῖο, γλυκερὸν, γλυκεραὶ, γλυκερὸς, γλυκερώτερον, γλυκύς and 2 more
nominative singular masculine adjective; accusative singular masculine adjective; genitive singular neuter adjective
γλυκὺς ὕπνος ‘sweet sleep’ — a fixed Homeric collocation for the onset of sleep.
γλῶσσα
tongues; tongue/language 3 times
γλώσσας, γλῶσσα
accusative plural feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun
Cutting out the tongues of sacrificial victims for burning is a set ritual step before libation—cultural detail worth flagging.
γναθμός
cheeks; jaws; with jaws 3 times
γναθμοὶ, γναθμῶν, γναθμοῖσι
nominative plural masculine noun; genitive plural masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun
γναμπτός
supple; bent; supple, pliant 6 times
γναμπτοῖσι, γναμπτοῖς
γνωτός
plain once
γνωτὸν
γνωτόν 'known/evident' — predicate adjective opening the clause, 'it was clear that...'.
γόνος
offspring; begetting; lineage 10 times
γόνον, γόνος
accusative singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
γόνυ
knees; his knees; the knees 45 times
γούνων, γούνατα, γούνατ, γούνασι, γούναθ, γοῦνα, γούνασιν, γουνὸς
accusative plural neuter noun; genitive plural neuter noun; nominative plural neuter noun
Idiom 'lies on the knees of the gods' = the outcome rests with divine will, still undecided.
γόος
lament; of weeping; of lament 26 times
γόοιο, γόον, γόοιό, γόῳ, γόους, γόος, γόου
genitive singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine noun
στοναχῇ...γόῳ τε: paired datives with τε...τε correlation, epic formulaic grief phrase.
γοάω
weeping; wailing; lamenting 12 times
γοόωσα, γοόωσαν, γοάασκεν, γοῶντες, γοόωντας, γόων, γοόωντες, γοόωντά and 1 more
present active participle, nominative singular feminine; present active participle, accusative singular feminine; present active participle, nominative plural masculine
Another -σκε iterative verb, capping the recurring pattern of habitual grief.
γουνάζομαι
I beseech once
γουνάζομαι
γουνάζομαι, 'to clasp the knees in supplication', a vivid ritual-gesture verb.
γουνόομαι
I clasp your knees; praying; I beg you 6 times
γουνοῦμαί, γουνούμενος, γουνοῦσθαι, γουνούμην
present medio-passive indicative, 1st singular verb; present medio-passive participle, nominative singular masculine; present medio-passive infinitive
γουνόομαι, lit. 'clasp the knees (of)' — supplication gesture lexicalized into the verb 'beseech'.
γουνός
the ridge; the slope; hill 3 times
γουνὸν
γραῦς
old woman; the old woman; an old woman 22 times
γρηῢς, γρῆυς, γρηῒ, γρηῦς, γρηῦ, γρηὶ, γρηῢ, γρηΰ
nominative singular feminine noun; vocative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
γραῦς 'old woman' (feminine of γέρων) shows the alternate stem γρη- used in oblique cases — a common irregular noun to flag.
γύψ
two vultures; vultures twice
γῦπε, γῦπες
nominative dual masculine noun; nominative plural masculine noun
γῦπε, dual number — Homeric Greek marks pairs distinctly from plurals
γυῖον
limbs; the knees 10 times
γυῖα, γυίων
nominative plural neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun; genitive plural neuter noun
γυμνός
bare; naked 3 times
γυμνός, γυμνὸν
nominative singular masculine adjective; accusative singular neuter adjective
γυμνός 'bare': this single arrow lay unsheathed on the table, unlike the others still in the quiver.
γυμνόω
to be naked; stripped; was stripped 3 times
γυμνοῦσθαι, γυμνωθέντα, γυμνώθη
present medio-passive infinitive; aorist passive participle, accusative singular masculine; aorist passive indicative, 3rd singular verb
Aorist passive participle: 'once I am stripped' — sets up the purpose clause with ὄφρα + subjunctive θήῃς.
γυνή
women; wife; of women 167 times
γυναικῶν, γύναι, γυναῖκας, γυνὴ, γυναῖκα, γυναῖκες, γυναιξὶ, γυναιξὶν and 8 more
genitive plural feminine noun; dative plural feminine noun; vocative singular feminine noun
Vocative direct address to Helen.
Γυραί
onto the Gyrae; Gyraean twice
Γυρῇσίν, Γυραίην
dative plural feminine noun; accusative singular feminine adjective
Proper name of the rocks where Ajax met his death, key to this whole digression.
Seen once or twice
γάνυμαι
nor do they rejoice once
γάστρα
belly once
Γαῖα
of Earth once
γαλαθηνός
suckling twice
γαμψῶνυξ
crook-taloned once
γανάω
gleaming once
γαυλός
pails once
γένυς
cheeks once
γελαστός
laughable once
γενετή
birth once
γεραίρω
honored; honor twice
Γεραιστός
Geraistos once
γερήνιος
Gerenian once
γερούσιος
elders' once
γηθόσυνος
rejoicing twice
γλήνη
eyeball, as the once
γλύκιος
sweeter once
γλυφίς
notches once
γνήσιος
legitimate once
γνώριμος
known once
γόμφος
with pegs once
Γόργειος
Gorgon's once
Γόρτυς
of Gortyn once
γονή
line once
γραῖα
of the old woman once
γραπτύς
scratches once
γύναιος
of a woman; a woman's twice
γυναικεῖος
female once
γυρός
round-shouldered once
γωρυτός
case once
The particulars
- The words
- Every word of the text, parsed: its headword, its form and its meaning in the line. Source text: public domain (Homer, ancient; Greek per the Murray/Allen text via the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 3.0).
- Translation
- Public-domain Greek (Homer, ancient; text via the Perseus Digital Library). English translation © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.
- Data
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