Rule 1
In Greek, there are three accents:
- acute (´)
- grave (`)
- circumflex (῀)
Rule 2
The accent can only fall on one of the last three syllables of the word. The last syllable is called the ultima or 1, the second last is the penult or 2, and the third last is the antepenult or 3.
Rule 3
The acute accent can fall on 1, 2 or 3; the circumflex on 1 or 2, and the grave only on 1.
Rule 4
When 1 is long, the accent cannot fall on 3.
Rule 5
The Law of Recessive Accentuation
On many Greek words, including the finite tenses of Greek verbs, the accent is recessive. This means that it goes as far back on the word as it can. When 1 is short, the accent will fall on 3 (if there is a 3); when 1 is long, the accent will fall on 2.
Rule 6
The grave accent is really an acute in disguise. When an acute falls on 1 (oxytone), it must turn into a grave (barytone), when another word follows without pause.
Rule 7
Words which don't have an accent are either proclitic or enclitic. Such words are parasites and either attach themselves to the following word (proclitic) or the preceding word (enclitic).
Rule 8
The circumflex can only fall on a long syllable.
Rule 9
When 1 is short and 2 is long and the accent falls on 2, that accent must be circumflex.
Rule 10
On most Greek nouns, the accent is where it is.
Rule 11
On α–impure nouns of the first declension, the accent is recessive.
Rule 12
The Oxytone Rule
On first and second declension nouns and adjectives, when the accent falls on 1, that accent becomes circumflex in the genitive and dative cases.
Rule 13
The Always Always Always Rule
On nouns of the first declension, the accent on the genitive plural is always always always circumflex on 1.
Rule 14
Some Greek words are enclitic: they have no accent of their own, but attach themselves to the previous word. They have an accent pattern as follows:
- ó·o·ó o·ο
- κίνδυνός ἐστιν
- ó·o o·ó
- ἵππος ἐστίν
- ó o·o
- φωνή ἐστιν
- ô·ó o·o
- Μοῦσά ἐστιν
- ô o·o
- γῆ ἐστιν
Rule 15
The Goat Rule
Monosyllabic nouns of the third declension move the accent to 1 on the genitive and dative. The accent becomes a circumflex on the genitive plural.
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative/vocative | αἶξ | αἶγες |
| accusative | αἶγα | αἶγας |
| genitive | αἰγός | αἰγῶν |
| dative | αἰγί | αἰξί(ν) |
Rule 16
Some nouns of the third declension have a form of the vocative singular different from their nominative singular. This form can be deduced by following these four steps:
- reduce to basic stem
- remove any superfluous consonants at the end of the word
- shorten the stem vowel, if possible
- apply recessive accentuation
Rule 17
A contracted syllable is always long, and takes a circumflex accent if it possibly can. After contraction, the accent remains on the same syllable relative to the stem.
Rule 18
Contracted Syllables
If either of the original vowels had an accent prior to contraction, then the new contracted syllable will have a circumflex (if possible). Otherwise the accent is as it would have been prior to contraction. Contraction only occurs between vowels, and therefore onluy in the present and imperfect of δηλόω, φιλέω and τιμάω.