εἴρω

Ancient Greek

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ěː.rɔː/ → /ˈi.ro/ → /ˈi.ro/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ěː.rɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈi.ro/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈi.ro/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈi.ro/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈi.ro/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hellenic *héřřō, from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to bind, put together”).

Verb

εἴρω • (eírō)

1. to tie, join, fasten, string together
2. to insert

Inflection

   Present: εἴρω, εἴρομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἴρω	εἴρεις	εἴρει	εἴρετον	εἴρετον	εἴρομεν	εἴρετε	εἴρουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	εἴρω	εἴρῃς	εἴρῃ	εἴρητον	εἴρητον	εἴρωμεν	εἴρητε	εἴρωσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἴροιμῐ	εἴροις	εἴροι	εἴροιτον	εἰροίτην	εἴροιμεν	εἴροιτε	εἴροιεν
	imperative		εἶρε	εἰρέτω	εἴρετον	εἰρέτων		εἴρετε	εἰρόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	εἴρομαι	εἴρῃ, εἴρει	εἴρεται	εἴρεσθον	εἴρεσθον	εἰρόμεθᾰ	εἴρεσθε	εἴρονται
	subjunctive	εἴρωμαι	εἴρῃ	εἴρηται	εἴρησθον	εἴρησθον	εἰρώμεθᾰ	εἴρησθε	εἴρωνται
	optative	εἰροίμην	εἴροιο	εἴροιτο	εἴροισθον	εἰροίσθην	εἰροίμεθᾰ	εἴροισθε	εἴροιντο
	imperative		εἴρου	εἰρέσθω	εἴρεσθον	εἰρέσθων		εἴρεσθε	εἰρέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		εἴρειν				εἴρεσθαι
participle	m	εἴρων				εἰρόμενος
	f	εἴρουσᾰ				εἰρομένη
	n	εἶρον				εἰρόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: εἶρον, εἰρόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἶρον	εἶρες	εἶρε(ν)	εἴρετον	εἰρέτην	εἴρομεν	εἴρετε	εἶρον
middle/ passive	indicative	εἰρόμην	εἴρου	εἴρετο	εἴρεσθον	εἰρέσθην	εἰρόμεθᾰ	εἴρεσθε	εἴροντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: εἶρᾰ, εἰρᾰ́μην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἶρᾰ	εἶρᾰς	εἶρε(ν)	εἴρᾰτον	εἰρᾰ́την	εἴρᾰμεν	εἴρᾰτε	εἶρᾰν
	subjunctive	εἴρω	εἴρῃς	εἴρῃ	εἴρητον	εἴρητον	εἴρωμεν	εἴρητε	εἴρωσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἴραιμῐ	εἴρειᾰς, εἴραις	εἴρειε(ν), εἴραι	εἴραιτον	εἰραίτην	εἴραιμεν	εἴραιτε	εἴρειᾰν, εἴραιεν
	imperative		εἶρον	εἰρᾰ́τω	εἴρᾰτον	εἰρᾰ́των		εἴρᾰτε	εἰρᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	εἰρᾰ́μην	εἴρω	εἴρᾰτο	εἴρᾰσθον	εἰρᾰ́σθην	εἰρᾰ́μεθᾰ	εἴρᾰσθε	εἴρᾰντο
	subjunctive	εἴρωμαι	εἴρῃ	εἴρηται	εἴρησθον	εἴρησθον	εἰρώμεθᾰ	εἴρησθε	εἴρωνται
	optative	εἰραίμην	εἴραιο	εἴραιτο	εἴραισθον	εἰραίσθην	εἰραίμεθᾰ	εἴραισθε	εἴραιντο
	imperative		εἶραι	εἰρᾰ́σθω	εἴρᾰσθον	εἰρᾰ́σθων		εἴρᾰσθε	εἰρᾰ́σθων
		active			middle
infinitive		εἶραι			εἴρᾰσθαι
participle	m	εἴρᾱς			εἰρᾰ́μενος
	f	εἴρᾱσᾰ			εἰρᾰμένη
	n	εἶρᾰν			εἰρᾰ́μενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἔρσᾰ, ἐρσᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔρσᾰ	ἔρσᾰς	ἔρσε(ν)	ἔρσᾰτον	ἐρσᾰ́την	ἔρσᾰμεν	ἔρσᾰτε	ἔρσᾰν
	subjunctive	ἔρσω, ἔρσωμῐ	ἔρσῃς, ἔρσῃσθᾰ	ἔρσῃ, ἔρσῃσῐ	ἔρσητον	ἔρσητον	ἔρσωμεν	ἔρσητε	ἔρσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἔρσαιμῐ	ἔρσαις, ἔρσαισθᾰ, ἔρσειᾰς	ἔρσειε(ν), ἔρσαι	ἐρσεῖτον	ἐρσείτην	ἐρσεῖμεν	ἐρσεῖτε	ἐρσεῖεν
	imperative		ἔρσον	ἐρσᾰ́τω	ἔρσᾰτον	ἐρσᾰ́των		ἔρσᾰτε	ἐρσᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐρσᾰ́μην	ἔρσᾰο	ἔρσᾰτο	ἔρσᾰσθον	ἐρσᾰ́σθην	ἐρσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	ἔρσᾰσθε	ἔρσᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἔρσωμαι	ἔρσηαι	ἔρσηται	ἔρσησθον	ἔρσησθον	ἐρσώμε(σ)θᾰ	ἔρσησθε	ἔρσωνται
	optative	ἐρσαίμην	ἔρσαιο	ἔρσαιτο	ἔρσαισθον	ἐρσαίσθην	ἐρσαίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἔρσαισθε	ἐρσαίᾰτο
	imperative		ἔρσαι	ἐρσᾰ́σθω	ἔρσᾰσθον	ἐρσᾰ́σθων		ἔρσᾰσθε	ἐρσᾰ́σθων
		active			middle
infinitive		ἔρσαι/ἐρσᾰ́μεν/ἐρσᾰμέναι			ἔρσᾰσθαι
participle	m	ἔρσᾱς			ἐρσᾰ́μενος
	f	ἔρσᾱσᾰ			ἐρσᾰμένη
	n	ἔρσᾰν			ἐρσᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

• ἀνείρω (aneírō)
• διείρω (dieírō)
• εἰρήνη (eirḗnē)
• ἐνείρω (eneírō)
• ἐξείρω (exeírō)
• ἕρμα (hérma)
• Λαέρτης (Laértēs)
• συνείρω (suneírō)

 

Further reading

• “εἴρω (A)”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press

Etymology 2

From Proto-Hellenic *wéryō, from Proto-Indo-European *wéryeti, ye-present from the root *werh₁- (“to speak”).

Cognates include Sanskrit व्रत (vrata), Avestan 𐬎𐬭𐬬𐬁𐬙𐬀 (urvāta), Latin verbum, Old Armenian յորջորջեմ (yorǰorǰem) and Old English word (English word).

Verb

εἴρω • (eírō)

2. to say, speak, tell

Usage notes

ἐρέω (eréō) and εἴρηκᾰ (eírēka) serve as future and perfect to λέγω (légō) (suppletion).

Inflection

   Present: εἴρω, εἴρομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἴρω	εἴρεις	εἴρει	εἴρετον	εἴρετον	εἴρομεν	εἴρετε	εἴρουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	εἴρω	εἴρῃς	εἴρῃ	εἴρητον	εἴρητον	εἴρωμεν	εἴρητε	εἴρωσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἴροιμῐ	εἴροις	εἴροι	εἴροιτον	εἰροίτην	εἴροιμεν	εἴροιτε	εἴροιεν
	imperative		εἶρε	εἰρέτω	εἴρετον	εἰρέτων		εἴρετε	εἰρόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	εἴρομαι	εἴρῃ, εἴρει	εἴρεται	εἴρεσθον	εἴρεσθον	εἰρόμεθᾰ	εἴρεσθε	εἴρονται
	subjunctive	εἴρωμαι	εἴρῃ	εἴρηται	εἴρησθον	εἴρησθον	εἰρώμεθᾰ	εἴρησθε	εἴρωνται
	optative	εἰροίμην	εἴροιο	εἴροιτο	εἴροισθον	εἰροίσθην	εἰροίμεθᾰ	εἴροισθε	εἴροιντο
	imperative		εἴρου	εἰρέσθω	εἴρεσθον	εἰρέσθων		εἴρεσθε	εἰρέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		εἴρειν				εἴρεσθαι
participle	m	εἴρων				εἰρόμενος
	f	εἴρουσᾰ				εἰρομένη
	n	εἶρον				εἰρόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ἐρέω, ἐρέομαι, εἰρήσομαι (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐρέω	ἐρέεις	ἐρέει	ἐρέετον	ἐρέετον	ἐρέομεν	ἐρέετε	ἐρέουσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐρέοιμῐ	ἐρέοις	ἐρέοι	ἐρέοιτον	ἐρεοίτην	ἐρέοιμεν	ἐρέοιτε	ἐρέοιεν
middle	indicative	ἐρέομαι	ἐρέῃ, ἐρέει	ἐρέεται	ἐρέεσθον	ἐρέεσθον	ἐρεόμεθᾰ	ἐρέεσθε	ἐρέονται
	optative	ἐρεοίμην	ἐρέοιο	ἐρέοιτο	ἐρέοισθον	ἐρεοίσθην	ἐρεοίμεθᾰ	ἐρέοισθε	ἐρέοιντο
passive	indicative	εἰρήσομαι	εἰρήσῃ	εἰρήσεται	εἰρήσεσθον	εἰρήσεσθον	εἰρησόμεθᾰ	εἰρήσεσθε	εἰρήσονται
	optative	εἰρησοίμην	εἰρήσοιο	εἰρήσοιτο	εἰρήσοισθον	εἰρησοίσθην	εἰρησοίμεθᾰ	εἰρήσοισθε	εἰρήσοιντο
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐρέειν			ἐρέεσθαι		εἰρήσεσθαι
participle	m	ἐρέων			ἐρεόμενος		εἰρησόμενος
	f	ἐρέουσᾰ			ἐρεομένη		εἰρησομένη
	n	ἐρέον			ἐρεόμενον		εἰρησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ἐρῶ, ἐροῦμαι, εἰρήσομαι (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐρῶ	ἐρεῖς	ἐρεῖ	ἐρεῖτον	ἐρεῖτον	ἐροῦμεν	ἐρεῖτε	ἐροῦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐροίην, ἐροῖμῐ	ἐροίης, ἐροῖς	ἐροίη, ἐροῖ	ἐροῖτον, ἐροίητον	ἐροίτην, ἐροιήτην	ἐροῖμεν, ἐροίημεν	ἐροῖτε, ἐροίητε	ἐροῖεν, ἐροίησᾰν
middle	indicative	ἐροῦμαι	ἐρῇ	ἐρεῖται	ἐρεῖσθον	ἐρεῖσθον	ἐρούμεθᾰ	ἐρεῖσθε	ἐροῦνται
	optative	ἐροίμην	ἐροῖο	ἐροῖτο	ἐροῖσθον	ἐροίσθην	ἐροίμεθᾰ	ἐροῖσθε	ἐροῖντο
passive	indicative	εἰρήσομαι	εἰρήσῃ	εἰρήσεται	εἰρήσεσθον	εἰρήσεσθον	εἰρησόμεθᾰ	εἰρήσεσθε	εἰρήσονται
	optative	εἰρησοίμην	εἰρήσοιο	εἰρήσοιτο	εἰρήσοισθον	εἰρησοίσθην	εἰρησοίμεθᾰ	εἰρήσοισθε	εἰρήσοιντο
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐρεῖν			ἐρεῖσθαι		εἰρήσεσθαι
participle	m	ἐρῶν			ἐρούμενος		εἰρησόμενος
	f	ἐροῦσᾰ			ἐρουμένη		εἰρησομένη
	n	ἐροῦν			ἐρούμενον		εἰρησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ῥηθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	ῥηθήσομαι	ῥηθήσῃ	ῥηθήσεται	ῥηθήσεσθον	ῥηθήσεσθον	ῥηθησόμεθᾰ	ῥηθήσεσθε	ῥηθήσονται
	optative	ῥηθησοίμην	ῥηθήσοιο	ῥηθήσοιτο	ῥηθήσοισθον	ῥηθησοίσθην	ῥηθησοίμεθᾰ	ῥηθήσοισθε	ῥηθήσοιντο
							passive
infinitive							ῥηθήσεσθαι
participle	m						ῥηθησόμενος
	f						ῥηθησομένη
	n						ῥηθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐρρήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	ἐρρήθην	ἐρρήθης	ἐρρήθη	ἐρρήθητον	ἐρρηθήτην	ἐρρήθημεν	ἐρρήθητε	ἐρρήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ῥηθῶ	ῥηθῇς	ῥηθῇ	ῥηθῆτον	ῥηθῆτον	ῥηθῶμεν	ῥηθῆτε	ῥηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ῥηθείην	ῥηθείης	ῥηθείη	ῥηθεῖτον, ῥηθείητον	ῥηθείτην, ῥηθειήτην	ῥηθεῖμεν, ῥηθείημεν	ῥηθεῖτε, ῥηθείητε	ῥηθεῖεν, ῥηθείησᾰν
	imperative		ῥήθητῐ	ῥηθήτω	ῥήθητον	ῥηθήτων		ῥήθητε	ῥηθέντων
							passive
infinitive							ῥηθῆναι
participle	m						ῥηθείς
	f						ῥηθεῖσᾰ
	n						ῥηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐρρέθην (Koine)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	ἐρρέθην	ἐρρέθης	ἐρρέθη	ἐρρέθητον	ἐρρεθήτην	ἐρρέθημεν	ἐρρέθητε	ἐρρέθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ῥεθῶ	ῥεθῇς	ῥεθῇ	ῥεθῆτον	ῥεθῆτον	ῥεθῶμεν	ῥεθῆτε	ῥεθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ῥεθείην	ῥεθείης	ῥεθείη	ῥεθεῖτον, ῥεθείητον	ῥεθείτην, ῥεθειήτην	ῥεθεῖμεν, ῥεθείημεν	ῥεθεῖτε, ῥεθείητε	ῥεθεῖεν, ῥεθείησᾰν
	imperative		ῥέθητῐ	ῥεθήτω	ῥέθητον	ῥεθήτων		ῥέθητε	ῥεθέντων
							passive
infinitive							ῥεθῆναι
participle	m						ῥεθείς
	f						ῥεθεῖσᾰ
	n						ῥεθέν

   Perfect: εἴρηκᾰ, εἴρημαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἴρηκᾰ	εἴρηκᾰς	εἴρηκε(ν)	εἰρήκᾰτον	εἰρήκᾰτον	εἰρήκᾰμεν	εἰρήκᾰτε	εἰρήκᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	εἰρήκω	εἰρήκῃς	εἰρήκῃ	εἰρήκητον	εἰρήκητον	εἰρήκωμεν	εἰρήκητε	εἰρήκωσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἰρήκοιμῐ, εἰρηκοίην	εἰρήκοις, εἰρηκοίης	εἰρήκοι, εἰρηκοίη	εἰρήκοιτον	εἰρηκοίτην	εἰρήκοιμεν	εἰρήκοιτε	εἰρήκοιεν
	imperative		εἴρηκε	εἰρηκέτω	εἰρήκετον	εἰρηκέτων		εἰρήκετε	εἰρηκόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	εἴρημαι	εἴρησαι	εἴρηται	εἴρησθον	εἴρησθον	εἰρήμεθᾰ	εἴρησθε	εἴρηνται
	subjunctive	εἰρημένος ὦ	εἰρημένος ᾖς	εἰρημένος ᾖ	εἰρημένω ἦτον	εἰρημένω ἦτον	εἰρημένοι ὦμεν	εἰρημένοι ἦτε	εἰρημένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἰρημένος εἴην	εἰρημένος εἴης	εἰρημένος εἴη	εἰρημένω εἴητον/εἶτον	εἰρημένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	εἰρημένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	εἰρημένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	εἰρημένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		εἴρησο	εἰρήσθω	εἴρησθον	εἰρήσθων		εἴρησθε	εἰρήσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		εἰρηκέναι				εἰρῆσθαι
participle	m	εἰρηκώς				εἰρημένος
	f	εἰρηκυῖᾰ				εἰρημένη
	n	εἰρηκός				εἰρημένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Pluperfect: εἰρήκειν, εἰρήμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἰρήκειν, εἰρήκη	εἰρήκεις, εἰρήκης	εἰρήκει(ν)	εἰρήκετον	εἰρηκέτην	εἰρήκεμεν	εἰρήκετε	εἰρήκεσᾰν
middle/ passive	indicative	εἰρήμην	εἴρησο	εἴρητο	εἴρησθον	εἰρήσθην	εἰρήμεθᾰ	εἴρησθε	εἴρηντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Synonyms

• (say, speak): ἀγορεύω (agoreúō), εἶπον (eîpon), λέγω (légō), φημί (phēmí)

Derived terms

• ἄρρητος (árrhētos)
• εἴρη (eírē)
• εἴρων (eírōn) (possibly)
• ῥῆμα (rhêma)
• ῥῆσις (rhêsis)
• ῥητήρ (rhētḗr)
• ῥητός (rhētós)
• ῥήτρα (rhḗtra)
• ῥήτωρ (rhḗtōr)

Further reading

• “εἴρω (B)”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ἐρῶ”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “εἴρω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “εἴρω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• εἴρω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• εἴρω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• εἴρω in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2024)
• “εἴρω”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter