Words of the Odyssey 1732 Studios

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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.'

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)

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.'

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

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