Words of the Odyssey 1732 Studios

ν

Words of the Odyssey · 130 headwords

Each word with its meanings, its forms, and the lines it stands in.

ναίω

dwelt; dwelling; dwells 43 times

ναίει, ναίων, ἔναιον, ναίουσι, ναῖε, ἔναιε, ναῖεν, ναίειν and 10 more

imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active participle, nominative singular masculine

ναίω imperfect, 'dwelt' — epic verb for inhabiting a place

Ναιάς

Naiads 3 times

νηϊάδες

nominative plural feminine noun; vocative plural feminine noun

νηϊάδες, water-nymphs, named for νᾶμα 'stream' — nymphs of springs and fountains

ναιετάω

dwelling; situated; well-situated 23 times

ναιετάοντας, ναιεταόντων, ναιετάων, ναιετοώσης, ναιετάοντα, ναιετάουσιν, ναιετοώσας, ναιετάω and 2 more

present active participle, accusative plural masculine; present active participle, genitive plural neuter; present active participle, nominative singular masculine

Genitive absolute Ἰθάκης ... ναιετοώσης sets an independent time-frame: 'while Ithaca still stands inhabited.'

ναός

temples; temple; from the ships 3 times

νηοὺς, νηὸν, νηῶν

accusative plural masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun; genitive plural masculine noun

ναύλοχος

safe for ships; sheltering twice

ναύλοχοι, ναύλοχον

nominative plural masculine adjective; accusative singular masculine adjective

ναύλοχος, 'ship-holding' — compound describing a natural anchorage safe from storms

ναύτης

sailors; of sailors 8 times

ναῦται, ναυτάων, ναυτέων

nominative plural masculine noun; genitive plural masculine noun; vocative plural masculine noun

Vocative ναῦται addresses the crew directly, breaking into the narrated speech.

ναῦς

ship; ships; the ship 411 times

νῆα, νηὸς, νηὶ, νηῒ, νηῦς, νῆας, νηυσὶ, νῆες and 22 more

accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun

νηῦς/ναῦς is an old root noun with a very irregular declension across Greek dialects — worth flagging as a high-frequency irregular.

Ναυσίθοος

Nausithoos; Nausithous 5 times

Ναυσίθοος, Ναυσίθοον, Ναυσιθόου

nominative singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun

legendary founder-king of the Phaeacians, father of Alcinous

Ναυσικάα

Nausicaa 11 times

Ναυσικάα, Ναυσικάαν, Ναυσικάᾳ

nominative singular feminine noun; vocative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun

vocative addressing her directly, opening Athena's speech

ναυσικλυτός

famed for ships; ship-famed 6 times

ναυσίκλυτοι, ναυσικλυτοὶ

nominative plural masculine adjective; nominative plural feminine adjective

ναυσικλυτός, compound epithet 'famed for ships' — fitting for the seafaring Phaeacians.

ναυτίλλομαι

he sails; to voyage twice

ναυτίλλεται, ναυτίλλεσθαι

present medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive infinitive

ναυτίλλομαι, rare verb 'to voyage by sea,' used here of Telemachus's fatal-sounding journey

Νέαιρα

Neaera once

Νέαιρα

a minor nymph, mother of Phaethousa and Lampetie by Helios.

νέκυς

of the dead; the dead; corpses 24 times

νεκύων, νεκύεσσι, νέκυας, νέκυσσιν, νεκύεσσιν, νέκυάς, νέκυς

genitive plural masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun; accusative plural masculine noun

νέμεσις

blame; indignation; blame, reproach 4 times

νέμεσις, νέμεσιν

nominative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun

νέμεσις, the concept of righteous indignation/blame — a key epic-social term for what the community deems shameful.

νέμω

dealt out; dwell; apportions, distributes 17 times

νεῖμον, νέμε, νεμόμεσθ, νέμει, ἔνεμον, νέμων, νέμεαι, νέμεται and 7 more

aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active imperative, 2nd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb

νέμω aorist imperative 'distribute/serve' — command to portion out wine to all present.

νέομαι

to return; to go home; to come 48 times

νέεσθαι, νέηται, νεόμην, νεῖαι, νεῖται, νεοίμεθα, νεῖτ, νέομαι and 2 more

present medio-passive infinitive; present medio-passive subjunctive, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb

νέεσθαι, epic verb 'to go/come home,' the safe homecoming (nostos) theme

νέος

young; young men; newly 62 times

νέον, νέοι, νέων, νέῳ, νεώτερον, νεώτεροι, νέος, νέαι and 2 more

accusative singular neuter adjective; nominative plural masculine adjective; genitive plural masculine adjective

νέῳ agrees with τοι, 'for you, young as you are' — dative of respect/concession.

νέποδες

brood, offspring once

νέποδες

νέποδες, 'children' of the sea-goddess, is an old poetic word used only of seals here

Νέστωρ

Nestor; of Nestor; to Nestor 40 times

Νέστωρ, Νέστορος, Νέστορ, Νέστορι, Νέστορα, Νέστορά

nominative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun

'Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ' is a fixed formulaic line-end epithet for Nestor throughout the poem

νέφος

clouds; cloud; with clouds 12 times

νεφέεσσι, νέφεα, νέφος, νεφέεσσιν, νεφέων

dative plural neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun

'black cloud of death' (θανάτοιο ... νέφος) is a Homeric death-metaphor formula.

νέω

swimming; spun 3 times

νέων, νήσαντο

present active participle, nominative singular masculine; aorist middle indicative, 3rd plural verb

νέω 'spin thread' — the Fates spinning destiny at birth, a vivid image of predetermined fate (μοῖρα).

νεῖκος

quarrel; strife; quarrels 9 times

νεῖκος, νείκεα

nominative singular neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun

νεικέω

reproach; reviled; insulted 12 times

νείκεσσεν, νείκεε, νείκεσέ, νείκεσεν, νείκεον, νεικείῃ, νείκεσ, νείκεσσε and 3 more

aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active imperative, 2nd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 1st singular verb

νείκεε, present imperative 'do not reproach', with μή for prohibition.

νεκρός

of the dead; the dead; corpse 7 times

νεκρῶν, νεκροὶ, νεκρόν, νεκρός, νεκροῦ

genitive plural masculine adjective; genitive plural masculine noun; nominative plural masculine noun

νεμεσάω

blame; were indignant; I blame 20 times

νεμεσήσῃ, νεμεσήσεαι, νεμεσσᾶται, νεμεσσῶμαί, νεμεσσῶμαι, νεμέσησαν, νεμέσσα, νεμεσσήθη and 4 more

present medio-passive indicative, 1st singular verb; aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular verb; future indicative, 2nd singular verb

νεμεσσήθη conveys righteous indignation/anger at the impropriety of a guest left unattended, not shame.

νεμεσητός

blameworthy; shameful twice

νεμεσσητὸν

impersonal predicate 'it is no cause for blame,' softening Eurymachus's plea.

νεμεσίζομαι

held in awe; feels indignation; am indignant 3 times

νεμεσίζετο, νεμεσίζεται, νεμεσίζομαι

imperfect medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive indicative, 1st singular verb

νεμεσίζομαι, middle deponent 'feel righteous anger/indignation', a key epic emotion-word.

Νεστορίδης

son of Nestor; Nestor's son 10 times

Νεστορίδης, Νεστορίδη, Νεστορίδην

nominative singular masculine noun; vocative singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun

Νεστορίδης, patronymic naming Pisistratus as Nestor's son, standard epic identification by lineage.

νεύω

nodded; I nodded/signaled; signaled 7 times

νεῦον, νεῦσε, νεύσω, νεῦσ, νεύοιεν, νεῦσεν, ἔνευεν

aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 1st singular verb; future active indicative, 1st singular verb

νεῦσε ἐπ' ὀφρύσι, 'nodded/signaled with her eyebrows' — vivid Homeric gesture idiom.

νευστάζω

nodding 3 times

νευστάζων

νευστάζων 'nodding with the brows' is a vivid gesture-verb showing Odysseus signaling silently while gagged/bound.

νεφέλη

cloud; clouds; in cloud 7 times

νεφέλῃ, νεφέλη, νεφέλην, νεφέλας

dative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun

'Black cloud of grief' is a Homeric metaphor image for being overwhelmed by sorrow.

νεφεληγερέτα

cloud-gatherer; cloud-gathering 8 times

νεφεληγερέτα

νεφεληγερέτα is Zeus's standing epithet ('cloud-gatherer'), a formulaic noun-title that fills out the line whenever he speaks or acts.

νεώτατος

newest once

νεωτάτη

νεωτάτη 'newest' — Telemachus voices a striking meta-poetic idea: audiences prize the latest song over the old.

νήγρετος

unbroken twice

νήγρετον, νήγρετος

accusative singular neuter adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective

νήγρετον, 'not to be woken', anticipates the magical unbroken sleep Odysseus falls into.

νήπιος

a child; foolish; little 25 times

νήπιος, νήπιοι, νήπια, νήπιός, νήπιον

nominative singular masculine adjective; accusative plural neuter adjective; nominative plural masculine adjective

νήπιος, standard epic epithet marking a character's fatal misjudgment

νήποινος

unpunished; unrecompensed; without payment 8 times

νήποινον, νήποινοί

accusative singular neuter adjective; nominative plural masculine adjective; accusative singular masculine adjective

νήποινον, 'without penalty,' is Telemachus's bitter jab — the suitors feast free of consequence.

Νήρικος

Nericus once

Νήρικον

place name: a citadel Laertes recalls capturing in his youth

Νήριτον

Neriton once

Νήριτον

Mount Neriton, the famous peak of Ithaca mentioned elsewhere in the poem.

Νήριτος

Neriton; Neritus twice

Νήριτόν, Νήριτος

nominative singular neuter noun; nominative singular masculine noun

Mount Neriton, Ithaca's landmark peak — proof-of-place detail Athena offers Odysseus.

νήχω

swimming; I will swim; to swim 9 times

νῆχε, νηχόμενος, νήξομ, νηχέμεναι, νῆχον, νηχομένοισι, νηχόμενοι

imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive participle, nominative singular masculine; future middle indicative, 1st singular verb

νηχομένοισι, dative participle 'to men swimming', begins the famous shipwreck simile.

νῆσος

island; the island; of the island 65 times

νῆσον, νήσῳ, νήσου, νῆσος, νήσοισιν, νήσων, νῆσοι, νῆσόν and 2 more

accusative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun

νῆστις

fasting once

νήστιες

νήστιες, 'without food'—working straight through without eating, epic touch on endurance.

νηέω

to heap up; heaped up twice

νηῆσαι, νήησαν

aorist active infinitive; aorist active indicative, 3rd plural verb

epic aorist infinitive νηῆσαι, 'to pile/lay' (a fire)

νηλεῖτις

guiltless twice

νηλείτιδές

rare feminine noun-adjective νηλεῖτις 'blameless one', predicate of εἰσιν

Νηλεύς

Neleus; of Neleus; Neleian 9 times

Νηλεὺς, Νηλῆος, Νηλῆα, Νηλήιον, Νηλέα

accusative singular masculine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun

Νηλήιος: patronymic-style adjective 'of Neleus,' founder-king, marking Pylos as his city.

νηλής

pitiless 14 times

νηλέι, νηλέϊ, νηλεὲς

dative singular adjective; dative singular masculine adjective; accusative singular neuter adjective

νηλέι θυμῷ, formulaic phrase marking the Cyclops's inhuman cruelty in contrast to xenia norms

Νηληιάδης

son of Neleus 3 times

Νηληϊάδη

Νηληϊάδη, patronymic vocative — formal epic address by lineage, showing Telemachus's new confidence in speech

νηλιτής

guiltless once

νηλείτιδές

Contrast αἵ...ἀτιμάζουσι / αἳ νηλείτιδες neatly divides the maids into disloyal vs. innocent, key to the plot's ending.

νημερτής

truly; unerring; unerring truth 27 times

νημερτέα, νημερτὲς, νημερτής, νημερτὴς, νημερτέως, νημερτές, νημερτέ

accusative singular neuter adjective; accusative plural neuter adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective

νημερτής, 'unerring,' the standard word for reliable prophetic or eyewitness truth in Homer.

νηνέμιος

windless calm twice

νηνεμίη

νηνεμίη is a formulaic epic noun-adjective for dead calm at sea, paired with γαλήνη in the fuller phrase.

νηπενθής

griefless once

νηπενθές

νηπενθές, "banishing grief" — the origin of the English word "nepenthe," coined directly from this line.

νηπιάα

childish ways once

νηπιάας

νηπιάας, a rare abstract plural 'childish things' from νήπιος 'infant/foolish' — Athena bluntly tells Telemachus to grow up.

νηπιέη

in his folly once

νηπιέῃσι

νηπιέῃσι 'childish follies' - dative of manner, narrator's judgment on Eupeithes's rash leadership

νίζω

to wash; for washing; washed 17 times

νίψασθαι, νιψάμενος, νίζον, νίζετο, νιψάμενοι, νίψει, νίψον, νίζειν and 3 more

aorist middle infinitive; aorist middle participle, nominative singular masculine; imperfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb

Middle voice νιψάμενος: he washes his own hands, a ritual purification before prayer.

νίσσομαι

returning; as he journeys; we come 3 times

νισόμενον, νισσόμεθα

aorist middle participle, accusative singular masculine; present medio-passive indicative, 1st plural verb

νικάω

you beat; surpassed; won 13 times

νικήσῃ, ἐνίκησας, ἐνίκα, νικῆσαι, νίκησεν, νικάσκομεν, νίκησα, νικᾶν and 3 more

imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 2nd singular verb

βουλὴ κακή νίκησεν: personifies bad counsel as a victor — the fatal turning point of the episode.

νιφετός

snowfall once

νιφετός

Nominative subject in a negated list of weather nouns—Elysium has none of these.

νιφόεις

snowy once

νιφόεντα

νιφόεντα, a stock Homeric epithet for Cretan mountains, formulaic epic diction.

νόημα

thoughts; a thought; judgment 16 times

νόημα, νοήματα, νοήμασιν, νοήματος, νοήμασι

nominative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun

νόημα, object of the verb ποίησ᾽ appearing only at the start of the next line — another run-on Homeric sentence.

νόος

mind; of mind; purpose 54 times

νόον, νόος, νόῳ, νόοιο, νόου, νοῦς, νοός

accusative singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine noun

νόῳ 'with mind/judgment' shows Nausicaa driving thoughtfully, not just fast.

νόστιμος

of return; of homecoming; returning home 13 times

νόστιμον, νόστιμός

accusative singular neuter adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective; nominative singular neuter adjective

νόστιμος echoes nostos, the Odyssey's central theme of homecoming.

νόστος

homecoming; return; return home 60 times

νόστον, νόστου, νόστοιο, νόστος, νόστῳ

accusative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun

νόστος, 'return home,' is the poem's central theme-word — here already declared lost for Odysseus.

νότιος

the roadstead; the deep water twice

νοτίῳ

dative singular neuter adjective; dative singular masculine adjective

νότιος 'wet/southerly' as noun — the open anchorage offshore

νοέω

noticed; thought of; I noticed 60 times

ἐνόησε, ἐνόησεν, ἐνόησα, νοέω, νοήσας, νόησε, νοῆσαι, νοέοντι and 8 more

aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 1st singular verb; present active indicative, 1st singular verb

Marks the narrative pivot: while Poseidon leaves satisfied, Athena immediately counters by helping Odysseus.

νομεύς

herdsmen; shepherd 7 times

νομῆας, νομῆες, νομεὺς

accusative plural masculine noun; nominative plural masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun

νομεύω

was herding; herding; pasturing 3 times

νομεύων, ἐνόμευε

present active participle, nominative singular masculine; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb

νομόνδε

to pasture once

νομόνδ

-δε suffix meaning 'toward' attached to νομόν, common Homeric directional ending

νοστέω

having returned; to return; should return 33 times

νοστήσας, νοστήσαντα, νοστῆσαι, νοστήσειε, νοστήσαντι, νοστήσει, νοστήσειν, νοστήσεις and 4 more

aorist active participle, accusative singular masculine; aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine; aorist active infinitive

aorist optative expressing a hoped-for future contingency ('should he ever return') — the classic optative-of-wish/remote-condition use.

νοσφίζομαι

forsaking; abandoning; turning away 8 times

νοσφισσαμένη, νοσφισσαμένην, νοσφισθείς, νοσφίσατ, νοσφισάμην, νοσφίζεαι

aorist medio-passive participle, nominative singular feminine; aorist medio-passive participle, accusative singular feminine; aorist medio-passive participle, nominative singular masculine

aorist middle participle of νοσφίζομαι 'to turn away from, forsake' — Helen as the (understood) subject of this whole clause.

νύμφη

nymph; nymphs; the nymph 31 times

νύμφη, νύμφαι, νύμφης, νυμφάων, νύμφῃ, νύμφῃσι, νύμφα, νυμφέων and 2 more

nominative singular feminine noun; nominative plural feminine noun; genitive plural feminine noun

Introduces Calypso, though named only later; νύμφη begins the cave's description.

νύξ

night; nights; the night 67 times

νύκτας, νύκτα, νυκτὶ, νὺξ, νύξ, νύκτες, νύκτ, νυκτὸς and 2 more

accusative plural feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun

Accusative of extent of time, paired against ἠματίη: "by day... but nights."

νύσσω

nudging once

νύξας

aorist participle νύξας: a quick, single poking gesture, distinct from the ongoing sleeping scene.

νυκτερίς

a bat; bats twice

νυκτερίς, νυκτερίδες

nominative singular feminine noun; nominative plural feminine noun

simile νυκτερίς 'bat' — a homely, unheroic image underscoring Odysseus's helplessness.

νῶροψ

flashing twice

νώροπα

νώροπα χαλκόν 'gleaming bronze' - stock Homeric epithet for armor catching light

νῶτον

back; chine; of the chine 15 times

νῶτα, νώτου, νώτοισιν, νῶτον

accusative plural neuter noun; genitive singular masculine noun; dative plural neuter noun

νῶτα 'backs' (pl.) for the sea's surface — vivid Homeric plural for a single expanse

νωίτερος

of us two once

νωιτέρην

νωιτέρην is a dual possessive adjective 'of us two,' a rare grammatical number the Sirens use to bond as a pair.

νωμάω

served; was handling, turning; I was working, handling 15 times

νώμησεν, ἐνώμα, νώμησαν, ἐνώμων, νωμῶν, νωμᾷς, ἐνώμας, νωμᾷ

aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active participle, nominative singular masculine

ἐνώμας (νωμάω) 'you kept turning over/managing' — imperfect stresses a habitual, ongoing mental sharpness as a boy.

Seen once or twice

νάκος

fleece once

νάσσω

stamped firm once

νάω

flows once

Ναυβολίδης

son of Naubolos once

ναυσικλειτός

famed for ships once

Ναυτεύς

Nauteus once

ναυτιλία

in seamanship once

νέα

ships twice

νέατος

last; lowest twice

νέρθε

below once

νέστωρ

Nestor once

νεᾶνις

unmarried once

νεανίης

young twice

νεηγενής

newborn twice

νεόδαρτος

freshly flayed twice

νεόπλυτος

freshly washed once

νεόπριστος

fresh-sawn once

νεογιλός

newborn once

νεοπενθής

fresh in grief once

Νεοπτόλεμος

Neoptolemus once

νεστορίδης

son of Nestor once

νευρή

the string; the bowstring twice

Νήιον

Neion once

νήιος

ship's; of the ship twice

νῆις

unskilled once

νηδύς

belly once

νηκερδής

pointless once

νητός

heaped, piled once

νίκη

victory twice

νόσος

sickness twice

νόστιμος ἦμαρ

day of return once

νομός

pasture twice

νύσσα

the starting-line once

νυμφίος

a bridegroom once

νυός

the daughters-in-law once

νώνυμνος

nameless once

νώνυμος

nameless twice

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
JSON · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.