φ
Words of the Odyssey · 130 headwords
Each word with its meanings, its forms, and the lines it stands in.
φάος
light; the light; eyes 23 times
φάος, φάεα, φάει
accusative singular neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
φάος ἠελίοιο 'the light of the sun' is a set epic phrase for being alive.
φάρμακον
drugs; drug; a drug 16 times
φάρμακον, φάρμακ, φάρμακα
accusative plural neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun
φάρμακον 'drug/poison' — same word can mean remedy or poison, context (θυμοφθόρα) marks it deadly
Φάρος
Pharos once
Φάρον
Naming the island Pharos—a real geographic anchor for the tale's fantastic events.
φάσγανον
sword; swords; the sword 10 times
φάσγανον, φασγάνῳ, φάσγανα, φάσγανά
accusative singular neuter noun; dative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
φάσκω
used to say; claimed; kept saying 15 times
ἔφασκε, ἔφασκεν, φάσχ, ἔφασκον, φάσκεν, φάσκε, ἐφάσκεθ, φάσκ
imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 1st singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 2nd plural verb
ἔφασκον, iterative-flavored imperfect of φάσκω, 'kept saying/promising,' stresses repeated assurance.
φάτις
report, fame; talk, rumor; word 3 times
φάτις, φάτιν
nominative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun
φάτις ‘rumor, report’ — news of the suitors' deaths will spread fast; Odysseus fears reprisal.
φᾶρος
cloak; robe; cloth 23 times
φᾶρος, φάρε, φᾶρός, φάρει, φάρεα
accusative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun; dative singular neuter noun
φᾶρος, the famous shroud for Laertes — setup for Penelope's weaving trick
φαάντατος
brightest once
φαάντατος
φαάντατος, superlative epithet for the morning star (Venus), a formulaic Homeric image
φαγεῖν
to eat; ate; eating 20 times
φαγέμεν, φάγοι, φάγον, φάγοιτε, φάγωσιν, φαγόντε, φάγῃσιν, φαγὼν and 6 more
aorist active infinitive; present active subjunctive, 3rd plural verb; aorist active optative, 3rd singular verb
dual participle φαγόντε agreeing with νῶι, matching the dual subject
Φαέθουσα
Phaethousa once
Φαέθουσά
one of Helios's daughters, her name meaning 'the shining one.'
φαέθω
blazing; blazing, shining; shining 4 times
φαέθων
epic epithet-participle for the sun, 'shining' - formulaic pairing with ἠέλιος
φαεινός
shining; shining, bright; bright 18 times
φαεινὰς, φαεινήν, φαεινῇ, φαεινοῦ, φαεινόν, φαεινῆς, φαεινῷ, φαειναί and 4 more
accusative plural feminine adjective; accusative singular feminine adjective; dative singular feminine adjective
φαεσίμβροτος
light-giving-to-mortals; light-giver to mortals twice
φαεσιμβρότου, φαεσίμβροτος
genitive singular masculine adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective
φαεσίμβροτος: compound epithet of Helios, 'giving light to mortals'
Φαίαξ
of the Phaeacians; Phaeacians; the Phaeacians 75 times
Φαιήκων, Φαίηκες, Φαιήκεσσι, Φαίηκας, Φαιήκεσσιν, Φαιήκεσσ, Φαίηξιν, Φαίηκές
genitive plural masculine noun; nominative plural masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun
Φαίηκες, the seafaring people of Scheria who host Odysseus.
φαίαξ
the Phaeacians; of Phaeacian twice
Φαίηκας, Φαιήκων
accusative plural feminine noun; genitive plural masculine adjective
Accusative of the person before whom shame is felt, not a direct object in the usual sense.
φαίδιμος
glorious; shining; son 20 times
φαίδιμος, φαίδιμ, φαίδιμον, φαιδίμῳ
nominative singular masculine adjective; vocative singular masculine adjective; accusative singular masculine adjective
φαίδιμ(ε) Ὀδυσσεῦ: a formulaic epic address to Odysseus, vocative epithet-plus-name.
φαίνω
appeared; appearing; appears 96 times
φάνη, φαίνετο, φαινομένηφιν, φαίνεται, φαίνετ, φαινομένηφι, φάνεσκε, φανῆναι and 35 more
aorist passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb
Aorist infinitive φῆναι as the object of ᾐτέομεν, 'asked (him) to show'.
φαρέτρα
quiver 8 times
φαρέτρην, φαρέτρη, φαρέτρῃ, φαρέτρης
accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
φέριστος
good sir; mightiest one twice
φέριστε
φέριστε, superlative vocative ('best one'), is a polite/flattering form of address, common in Homeric dialogue.
φέρτατος
stronger; strongest; better 13 times
φέρτεροί, φέρτερόν, φέρτερος, φέρτεροι, φέρτατος, φέρτατ, φέρτατοι, φέρτερός
nominative plural masculine adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective; nominative singular neuter adjective
φέρτεροι is comparative in force though the lemma looks superlative (φέρτατος) — epic comparative/superlative overlap.
φέρω
carrying; bringing; carried 185 times
φέρων, φέρουσα, φέρε, φέρον, φέρεσθαι, φέρει, φέροντες, ἔνεικε and 43 more
present active participle, nominative singular masculine; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active participle, nominative singular feminine
This line repeats l428 almost verbatim (ἅμ᾽ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε), a hallmark of oral-formulaic Homeric composition.
φείδομαι
spare; I would spare 3 times
φείδεο, πεφιδοίμην
present medio-passive imperative, 2nd singular verb; aorist middle optative, 1st singular verb
ἂν + optative πεφιδοίμην is a potential optative ('I would spare'), not a contrary-to-fact construction (which uses ἄν + past indicative)
Φείδων
Pheidon twice
Φείδων
proper name in apposition to βασιλεὺς, the Thesprotian king
φεύγω
escaped; fleeing; fled 53 times
φύγεν, φεύγων, φύγοιμεν, φύγον, φύγοι, φύγομεν, φυγέειν, φεύγετε and 20 more
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active participle, nominative singular masculine; aorist active optative, 1st plural verb
Perfect participle πεφευγότες stresses the settled state of having survived, not just the past act.
φήμη
an omen; at the omen 3 times
φήμην, φήμῃ
accusative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
Φήμιος
Phemius; of Phemius 4 times
Φήμιος, Φημίῳ, Φήμιε
nominative singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine noun; vocative singular masculine noun
The bard's name is delayed to the start of the next line — classic Homeric enjambment for suspense/emphasis.
φήνη
sea-eagle; sea-eagles twice
φήνῃ, φῆναι
dative singular feminine noun; nominative plural feminine noun
φήνη is a rare bird word; Athena vanishes in a bird's shape, a common divine-epiphany motif.
φῆμις
talk; talk/rumor; the council 6 times
φῆμιν, φῆμις
accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun
φῆμις here means public opinion/rumor whose pressure compelled compliance
φημί
he spoke; spoke; she spoke 407 times
ἔφατ, φάτο, ἔφαθ, ἐφάμην, ἔφη, φημι, φάτ, ἔφαν and 42 more
imperfect medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect medio-passive indicative, 1st singular verb
φῇσιν preserves the archaic athematic subjunctive ending -σιν of φημί, a Homeric relic beside later Attic φῇ.
φθάνω
you outstripped; let us anticipate; getting there first 5 times
ἔφθης, φθέωμεν, φθάμενος, φθῆ, φθέωσι
aorist active indicative, 2nd singular verb; aorist active subjunctive, 1st plural verb; aorist middle participle, nominative singular masculine
φθάνω 'to be first/beat someone to it' + participle ἰών: 'you arrived on foot before I did.'
φθέγγομαι
of one speaking; let us call out; called out 8 times
φθέγγοντο, φθεγξαμένου, φθεγγώμεθα, φθεγξάμενος, φθεγξάμενός, φθεγγομένου
imperfect medio-passive indicative, 3rd plural verb; aorist middle participle, genitive singular masculine; present medio-passive subjunctive, 1st plural verb
Hortatory subjunctive φθεγγώμεθα: 'let us speak/call' — a command to the group.
φθίω
waning; waste away; to destroy 22 times
φθινόντων, φθίνουσιν, φθῖσαι, φθίσθαι, φθίνοντος, φθίῃς, φθινέτω, φθῖτ and 7 more
present active participle, genitive plural masculine; present active indicative, 3rd plural verb; aorist active infinitive
subjunctive after ὥς κε expresses purpose ('so that you may perish'), not a clause of fearing
φθινύθω
waste away; keep wasting away; wear away 8 times
φθινύθουσιν, φθινύθουσι, φθινύθει, φθινύθω
present active indicative, 3rd plural verb; present active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active subjunctive, 1st singular verb
φθινύθουσι 'waste away, die off' — reinforcing the eerie changelessness of the sacred herds.
φθισίμβροτος
man-destroying once
φθισίμβροτον
φθισίμβροτον: rare compound epithet for the aegis, 'mortal-destroying' — signals divine intervention turning the tide.
φθόγγος
voice; with talk 5 times
φθόγγον, φθόγγῳ
accusative singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine noun
φθογγή
sound; voice twice
φθογγὴν, φθογγῆς
accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun
φθογγή 'voice/sound', here the bleating of flocks
φθονέω
do you begrudge; begrudge; would grudge 7 times
φθονέω, φθονέοιμι, φθονέεις, φθονέειν
present active indicative, 1st singular verb; present active optative, 1st singular verb; present active indicative, 2nd singular verb
οὔτε...οὔτε correlative 'neither...nor', governing genitive of the thing withheld
φίλος
dear; friends; friend 334 times
φίλον, φίλος, φίλοι, φίλην, φίλη, φίλα, φίλ, φίλων and 14 more
nominative singular masculine adjective; nominative singular neuter adjective; accusative singular masculine adjective
vocative address; φίλοι (an adjective used substantively) modifies an implied/elided noun such as 'men' — φίλοι itself already supplies the term of endearment.
φίλτατος
dearest 3 times
φιλτάτη, φίλτατός, φίλταθ
nominative singular feminine superlative adjective; nominative singular masculine adjective; vocative singular masculine adjective
φιλέω
loved; used to love; to love 46 times
ἐφίλει, φιλέειν, φιλέεσκε, φιλέει, φίλει, φιλήσεαι, φιλέεσκεν, φιλέων and 20 more
imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active infinitive; present active indicative, 3rd singular verb
φιλέεσκε has the iterative -εσκε suffix, marking repeated/habitual past action: 'she loved him, again and again, over time.'
φιλήρετμος
oar-loving 8 times
φιληρέτμοισι, φιληρέτμοισιν
φιλήρετμος, 'oar-loving,' is a compound epithet marking the Taphians as a seafaring people.
φιλόξενος
hospitable; kind to strangers; friendly to strangers 4 times
φιλόξεινοι
φιλόξενος 'guest-loving', the key Homeric value-word for hospitality (xenia)
φιλότης
in love; friendship; out of friendship 23 times
φιλότητι, φιλότητος, φιλότητά, φιλότητα, φιλότητ
dative singular feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun
φιλότητι, dative of cause/manner explaining why the crew follows Telemachus
Φιλοίτιος
Philoetius 5 times
Φιλοίτιος, Φιλοίτιε
nominative singular masculine noun; vocative singular masculine noun
Vocative address to the loyal cowherd, one of Odysseus's faithful servants.
Φιλοκτήτης
Philoctetes twice
Φιλοκτήτην, Φιλοκτήτης
accusative singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
the legendary archer entrusted with Herakles' bow — a name-drop that raises the stakes of Odysseus's boast
Φιλομηλεΐδης
Philomeleides twice
Φιλομηλεΐδῃ
Local Lesbian king Odysseus wrestled and beat, per the boast Menelaus recalls; dative of the person contended against.
φιλομμειδής
laughter-loving once
φιλομμειδὴς
epithet φιλομμειδής, standing epithet of Aphrodite
φόβος
of fear once
φόβου
genitive with ἔσχοντο 'held themselves from' — verb of ceasing takes genitive
φόνος
murder; slaughter; death 26 times
φόνον, φόνος, φόνου, φόνοιο, φόνῳ, φόνοι
accusative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
Φόρκυς
of Phorcys 3 times
Φόρκυνος
φόρμιγξ
lyre; the lyre; of the lyre 15 times
φόρμιγγα, φόρμιγγος, φόρμιγγός, φόρμιγξ, φόρμιγγι
accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun
φόως
light 3 times
φόως
φόωσδε
toward the light once
φόωσδε
Directive suffix -δε: 'to/toward the light,' i.e. back to the living world.
φοβέω
they shrank away once
φόβηθεν
φόβηθεν, aorist passive of φοβέω with active meaning 'fled in fear,' common Homeric usage.
Φοῖβος
Phoebus; of Phoebus 3 times
Φοῖβος, Φοίβου
nominative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun
Φοῖβος 'radiant/bright,' Apollo's standing cult epithet, always paired with his name in formula.
Φοῖνιξ
Phoenicians; a Phoenician; Phoenician 6 times
Φοίνικες, Φοίνικας, Φοῖνιξ, Φοίνισσ, Φοινίκων
nominative plural masculine noun; accusative plural masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
φοινικοπάρῃος
crimson-cheeked twice
φοινικοπαρῄους
φοινικοπάρῃος 'red-cheeked' describes painted prows—a vivid compound epithet unique to this formula.
φοιτάω
came thronging; range about; kept coming 8 times
ἐφοίτων, φοίτων, φοιτῶσ, φοίτα
imperfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb; present active indicative, 3rd plural verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
Eurymachus dismisses bird-omens generally, undercutting the seer's authority just claimed in the previous lines.
φορέω
carried; carry; carried, bore 20 times
ἐφόρει, φορέουσι, φορέειν, φόρεον, φορέῃσιν, φορέῃσι, φοροίη, φορῆναι and 4 more
imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active indicative, 3rd plural verb; present active infinitive
imperfect: repeated/ongoing action, 'kept carrying' him over the waves
φορμίζω
playing the lyre 3 times
φορμίζων
φορμίζων, from φόρμιγξ 'lyre' — denominative verb built directly on the instrument's name.
φορτίς
of a freighter; freighter twice
φορτίδος
φορτίς, a broad cargo/merchant ship, distinct from a swift warship
φορύσσω
smearing once
φορύξας
φορύξας aorist participle 'having smeared' — the beating leaves him drenched in blood.
φράζω
consider; devised; let us consider 63 times
φράζεσθαι, πέφραδ, πέφραδε, φράζεο, φράζευ, φραζώμεθ, φράσαι, φράσσεται and 27 more
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive infinitive; present medio-passive subjunctive, 1st plural verb
Middle infinitive φράζεσθαι used as an imperative ('be sure to consider') — a common Homeric way of issuing commands via infinitive.
φράσσω
he fenced once
φράξε
φράξε: aorist, 'walled/fenced' the raft's sides
φρήν
mind; heart; in mind 163 times
φρεσὶ, φρεσὶν, φρένας, φρένα, φρένες, φρεσίν, φρέν, φρενὶ
dative plural noun; accusative singular feminine noun; accusative plural feminine noun
φρένας (lit. 'midriff/heart-mind,' pl.) is Homer's word for the seat of thought and feeling — glossed here simply as 'mind.'
Φρόνιος
of Phronius; Noemon 3 times
Φρονίοιο
φρόνις
wisdom; knowledge twice
φρόνιν
φρόνις, a rare noun (only here in Homer) meaning 'understanding, knowledge gained'.
φρονέω
pondering; thinking; intending 35 times
φρονέων, φρονέοντι, φρονέουσ, φρονέοντες, φρονέω, φρονέῃσ, φρονέεις, φρονέῃσι and 2 more
present active participle, nominative singular masculine; present active participle, dative singular masculine; present active participle, nominative singular feminine
φρονέων ('thinking/intending') as a participle modifying the subject shows Hermes' good intent, even though the persuading failed — a classic Homeric concessive nuance.
φύλλον
leaves; of leaves; with leaves 12 times
φύλλων, φύλλα, φύλλοισι
genitive plural neuter noun; dative plural neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
φύλλων genitive describing πτόρθον, 'a branch of leaves' — leafy branch used to cover himself
φύλοπις
din of battle; battle-din; battle-strife 3 times
φυλόπιδα, φυλόπιδος, φύλοπιν
accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun
φύλοπιν αἰνὴν 'dread strife' - formulaic pairing with πόλεμον for the horror of war
φύξιμος
refuge once
φύξιμον
φύξιμον, 'affording escape' — describes the land Ino promised as his refuge.
φύρω
stained; fouled; drenched 5 times
πεφυρμένη, πεφυρμένον, φύρσω
perfect medio-passive participle, nominative singular feminine; perfect medio-passive participle, accusative singular masculine; aorist active subjunctive, 1st singular verb
perfect participle πεφυρμένη 'soaked through'—an enduring state of the tear-stained bed
φύω
had grown; grow; clasped 21 times
φῦ, πεφύκει, φύντες, ἔφυν, πεφύασιν, πεφυῶτας, πεφύκασι, φύει and 4 more
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; pluperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; perfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb
φύντες, aorist of φύω ('grow, fix'), pictures the teeth sinking/growing into the lip — a vivid literal root behind the idiom.
φῦλον
tribes; tribe, race; whole breed 7 times
φῦλ, φῦλον, φῦλα
nominative plural neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
φυγοπτόλεμος
a battle-shirker once
φυγοπτόλεμος
φυγοπτόλεμος, 'flee-war,' is a stock Homeric term of reproach (used elsewhere as an insult, e.g. of Paris/Hector) reused here in litotes with οὐδέ for self-praise, not a word coined for this line.
φυή
in stature; in build; in form 6 times
φυήν, φυὴν
δέμας/φυήν: accusatives of respect, 'in body' and 'in stature' — specify how he is unlike the gods.
φυλάσσω
guard; to guard; to keep safe 20 times
φυλάσσω, φυλάσσειν, φυλασσέμεναι, φυλάσσει, ἐφύλασσε, φυλάσσεις, φύλασσε, φυλάξω and 4 more
present active infinitive; present active indicative, 1st singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
φυλάσσοις, optative with κε — a polite/hypothetical "you would guard/keep" (Calypso's offer of immortality).
φυσίζους
life-giving once
φυσίζοος
φυσίζοος, 'life-bearing' — striking epithet for earth that also entombs the dual heroes.
φυτεύω
is sowing; sows, plants; they plant 10 times
φυτεύει, φύτευεν, φυτεύων, φυτεύουσιν, φυτεύσω
present active indicative, 3rd singular verb; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active participle, nominative singular masculine
φυτεύει, literally 'plants,' a grim agricultural metaphor for causing doom
φυτόν
a plant; the plant; plant 4 times
φυτὸν, φυτόν
accusative singular neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun
φώκη
seals; of seals; for seals 7 times
φῶκαι, φώκας, φωκάων, φώκῃσι
nominative plural feminine noun; accusative plural feminine noun; genitive plural feminine noun
φώς
man; men; a man 35 times
φωτὶ, φῶτα, φωτῶν, φώς, φῶτας, φῶτες, φωτός, φῶτ and 2 more
accusative singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine noun; genitive plural masculine noun
ἰσόθεος φώς, 'godlike man' — an epic formula applying divine-adjacent stature to Telemachus as he steps forward with new resolve.
φωνέω
speaking; having spoken; spoke 83 times
φωνήσας, φώνησέν, φωνήσασ, ἐφώνησεν, φωνήσασα, φωνήσαντε, φωνησάσης
aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine; aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active participle, nominative singular feminine
Formulaic closing line ὣς ἄρ᾽ ἐφώνησεν marks the end of a speech throughout Homer.
φωνή
voice; a sound; in voice 10 times
φωνή, φωνήν, φωνῇ, φωνὴν, φωνὴ
accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
Seen once or twice
φάρυγξ
gullet, from; throat twice
φάτνη
manger, stall; manger twice
φάω
appeared once
Φαέθων
Phaethon once
Φαίδιμος
Phaedimus twice
Φαίδρη
Phaedra once
Φαιστός
Phaistos once
φαρμάσσω
tempering once
φέβομαι
fled once
Φέρης
Pheres once
Φεαί
Pheae once
φειδώ
sparing twice
Φεραί
in Pherae once
Φηραί
Pherae twice
φθείρω
ruin once
Φθία
Phthia once
φίλιος
dear once
φίλτερος
dearer once
φῖλος
pleasing things once
φιλοκέρτομος
mocker once
φιλοπαίγμων
merry once
φιλοτήσιος
of love once
φιτρός
logs once
φλιά
doorposts once
φλόξ
flame once
φόρτος
of cargo; cargo twice
φοίνιος
red once
φοῖνιξ
of a palm; crimson twice
φοινίκη
Phoenicia once
Φοινίκη
Phoenicia once
φοινικόεις
crimson twice
φονεύς
slayers once
φορύνω
were fouled, defiled once
φρίξ
ripple once
φρίσσω
bristling once
Φρόντις
Phrontis once
φύζα
a rout; panic/rout twice
Φύλακος
of Phylacus once
φύς
having set once
φύσις
nature once
φυγή
in flight; flight twice
φυκτός
escapable twice
Φυλάκη
Phylace twice
φυλία
wild olive once
Φυλώ
Phylo twice
φωριαμός
the chests 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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