ἔρχομαι

See also: έρχομαι

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *h₁ergʰ- (“to move, go”), cognate with ὀρχέομαι (orkhéomai), Albanian erdha (“I came”), Old Irish regaid (“will go”, future of téit), Sanskrit ऋघायति (ṛghāyáti, “to be passionate”). Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁r-ske-ti, an inchoative of *h₁er- (“to move, go”).^[1]

This is a suppletive verb, with tenses derived from three different roots; see εἶμι (eîmi) and ἦλθον (êlthon) for the etymologies of the other two roots. Discussion of stems, at Notes.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ér.kʰo.mai̯/ → /ˈer.xo.mɛ/ → /ˈer.xo.me/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ér.kʰo.mai̯/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈer.kʰo.mɛ/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈer.xo.mɛ/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈer.xo.me/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈer.xo.me/

Verb

ἔρχομαι • (érkhomai)

1. (intransitive) to go
2. (intransitive) to come

Usage notes

ἔρχομαι is a suppletive verb that typically uses forms from other roots for all tenses and moods besides present indicative. Stems:

• ἐρχ- of ἔρχομαι.
• strong εἰ-, weak ἰ- supplied by εἶμι (eîmi) forming present non-indicative and imperfect indicative forms. Its present indicative forms have future meaning in Attic prose.
• strong ἐλευθ-, weak ἐλυθ- with syncope ἐλθ- of unused verb *ἐλεύθω (*eleúthō, “to come”). Later, that verb, meaning "I come," merged with this verb meaning "I go." This is still seen in the present imperative having a connotation of "go away!," with the aorist imperative having a connotation of "come here!."
  • from ἐλευθ- the future ἐλεύσομαι (eleúsomai) (alternative future for Epic, Ionic, and Tragic), the derivative ἔλευσις (éleusis, “arrival”)
  • from ἐλυθ- the present perfect with attic reduplication ἐλ-έλυθα>ἐλ-ήλυθα (reduplication plus extension of the first vowel).
  • ἐλθ- supplies aorist ἦλθον (êlthon)

Past perfect without augment.
The aorist imperative has irregular accent on ultima when not in compound ἐλθέ (elthé) and not *ἔλθε. But ἄπελθε. (Along with a few others (λαβέ (labé), ἰδέ (idé), εὑρέ (heuré), εἰπέ (eipé)).

Inflection

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἔρχομαι	ἔρχῃ, ἔρχει	ἔρχεται	ἔρχεσθον	ἔρχεσθον	ἐρχόμεθᾰ	ἔρχεσθε	ἔρχονται
	subjunctive
	optative
	imperative		ἔρχεο, ἔρχευ
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἔρχεσθαι
participle	m					ἐρχόμενος
	f					ἐρχομένη
	n					ἐρχόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Present: ἔρχομαι Subjunctive and optative from verb εἶμι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἶμι	εἶ	εἶσῐ(ν)	ἴτον	ἴτον	ἴμεν	ἴτε	ἴᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἴω	ἴῃς	ἴῃ	ἴητον	ἴητον	ἴωμεν	ἴητε	ἴωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἴοιμῐ	ἴοις	ἴοι	ἴοιτον	ἰοίτην	ἴοιμεν	ἴοιτε	ἴοιεν
	imperative		ἴθῐ	ἴτω	ἴτον	ἴτων		ἴτε	ἰόντων
		active
infinitive		ἰέναι
participle	m	ἰών
	f	ἰοῦσᾰ
	n	ἰόν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Present: εἶμι Indicative has future meaning. The other moods are used for present ἔρχομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἔρχομαι	ἔρχεαι	ἔρχεται	ἔρχεσθον	ἔρχεσθον	ἐρχόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἔρχεσθε	ἔρχονται
	subjunctive	ἔρχωμαι	ἔρχηαι	ἔρχηται	ἔρχησθον	ἔρχησθον	ἐρχώμε(σ)θᾰ	ἔρχησθε	ἔρχωνται
	optative	ἐρχοίμην	ἔρχοιο	ἔρχοιτο	ἔρχοισθον	ἐρχοίσθην	ἐρχοίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἔρχοισθε	ἐρχοίᾰτο
	imperative		ἔρχεο	ἐρχέσθω	ἔρχεσθον	ἐρχέσθων		ἔρχεσθε	ἐρχέσθων
infinitive						ἔρχεσθαι
participle	m					ἐρχόμενος
	f					ἐρχομένη
	n					ἐρχόμενον
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.

   Present: ἔρχομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠρχόμην	ἤρχου	ἤρχετο	ἤρχεσθον	ἠρχέσθην	ἠρχόμεθᾰ	ἤρχεσθε	ἤρχοντο

   Imperfect: ἠρχόμην only in compounds as -ηρχόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ᾖᾰ/ᾔειν	ᾔεισθᾰ/ᾔεις	ᾔειν/ᾔει	ᾖτον	ᾔτην	ᾖμεν	ᾖτε	ᾖσᾰν/ᾔεσᾰν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ᾖᾰ/ᾔειν (of verb εἶμι)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐλεύσομαι	ἐλεύσεαι	ἐλεύσεται	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλευσόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐλεύσεσθε	ἐλεύσονται
	optative	ἐλευσοίμην	ἐλεύσοιο	ἐλεύσοιτο	ἐλεύσοισθον	ἐλευσοίσθην	ἐλευσοίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐλεύσοισθε	ἐλευσοίᾰτο
					middle
infinitive					ἐλεύσεσθαι
participle	m				ἐλευσόμενος
	f				ἐλευσομένη
	n				ἐλευσόμενον
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.

   Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐλεύσομαι	ἐλεύσεαι	ἐλεύσεται	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλευσόμεθᾰ	ἐλεύσεσθε	ἐλεύσονται
	optative	ἐλευσοίμην	ἐλεύσοιο	ἐλεύσοιτο	ἐλεύσοισθον	ἐλευσοίσθην	ἐλευσοίμεθᾰ	ἐλεύσοισθε	ἐλευσοίᾰτο
					middle
infinitive					ἐλεύσεσθαι
participle	m				ἐλευσόμενος
	f				ἐλευσομένη
	n				ἐλευσόμενον
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.

   Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Ionic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐλεύσομαι	ἐλεύσεαι	ἐλεύσεται	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλευσόμεθᾰ	ἐλεύσεσθε	ἐλεύσονται
	optative	ἐλευσοίμην	ἐλεύσοιο	ἐλεύσοιτο	ἐλεύσοισθον	ἐλευσοίσθην	ἐλευσοίμεθᾰ	ἐλεύσοισθε	ἐλεύσοιντο
					middle
infinitive					ἐλεύσεσθαι
participle	m				ἐλευσόμενος
	f				ἐλευσομένη
	n				ἐλευσόμενον
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.

   Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Tragic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἦλθον	ἦλθες	ἦλθε(ν)	ἤλθετον	ἠλθέτην	ἤλθομεν	ἤλθετε	ἦλθον
	subjunctive	ἔλθω	ἔλθῃς	ἔλθῃ	ἔλθητον	ἔλθητον	ἔλθωμεν	ἔλθητε	ἔλθωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἔλθοιμῐ	ἔλθοις	ἔλθοι	ἔλθοιτον	ἐλθοίτην	ἔλθοιμεν	ἔλθοιτε	ἔλθοιεν
	imperative		ἐλθέ	ἐλθέτω	ἔλθετον	ἐλθέτων		ἔλθετε	ἐλθόντων
		active
infinitive		ἐλθεῖν
participle	m	ἐλθών
	f	ἐλθοῦσᾰ
	n	ἐλθόν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation. Epic Greek also has the infinitive forms ἐλθέμεν (elthémen) and ἐλθέμεναι (elthémenai). In Koine, plural indicative forms of the first aorist are also found: ἤλθαμεν (ḗlthamen), ἤλθατε (ḗlthate), ἦλθαν (êlthan)/ἤλθοσαν (ḗlthosan).

   Aorist: ἦλθον

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἤλθοσᾰ	ἤλθοσᾰς	ἤλθοσε(ν)	ἠλθόσᾰτον	ἠλθοσᾰ́την	ἠλθόσᾰμεν	ἠλθόσᾰτε	ἤλθοσᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐλθόσω	ἐλθόσῃς	ἐλθόσῃ	ἐλθόσητον	ἐλθόσητον	ἐλθόσωμεν	ἐλθόσητε	ἐλθόσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλθόσαιμῐ	ἐλθόσειᾰς, ἐλθόσαις	ἐλθόσειε(ν), ἐλθόσαι	ἐλθόσαιτον	ἐλθοσαίτην	ἐλθόσαιμεν	ἐλθόσαιτε	ἐλθόσειᾰν, ἐλθόσαιεν
	imperative		ἔλθοσον	ἐλθοσᾰ́τω	ἐλθόσᾰτον	ἐλθοσᾰ́των		ἐλθόσᾰτε	ἐλθοσᾰ́ντων
		active
infinitive		ἐλθόσαι
participle	m	ἐλθόσᾱς
	f	ἐλθόσᾱσᾰ
	n	ἐλθόσᾰν

   Aorist: ἤλθοσᾰ (Koine)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἤλῠθον	ἤλῠθες	ἤλῠθε(ν)	ἠλῠ́θετον	ἠλῠθέτην	ἠλῠ́θομεν	ἠλῠ́θετε	ἤλῠθον
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.

   Aorist: ἤλῠθον (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἦνθον	ἦνθες	ἦνθε(ν)	ἤνθετον	ἠνθέτᾱν	ἤνθομες	ἤνθετε	ἦνθον
	subjunctive	ἔνθω	ἔνθῃς	ἔνθῃ	ἔνθητον	ἔνθητον	ἔνθωμες	ἔνθητε	ἐνθέωντῐ
	optative	ἔνθοιμῐ	ἔνθοις	ἔνθοι	ἐνθεῖτον	ἐνθείτᾱν	ἐνθεῖμες	ἐνθεῖτε	ἐνθεῖεν
	imperative		ἐνθέ	ἐνθέτω	ἔνθετον	ἐνθέτων		ἔνθετε	ἐνθόντω
		active
infinitive		ἐνθῆμεν
participle	m	ἐνθών
	f	ἐνθοῦσᾰ
	n	ἐνθόν
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.

   Aorist: ἦνθον (Doric)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλήλῠθᾰ	ἐλήλῠθᾰς	ἐλήλῠθε(ν)	ἐληλῠ́θᾰτον	ἐληλῠ́θᾰτον	ἐλήλυμεν/ἐληλύθαμεν	ἐλήλυτε/ἐληλύθατε	ἐληλῠ́θᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐληλῠ́θω	ἐληλῠ́θῃς	ἐληλῠ́θῃ	ἐληλῠ́θητον	ἐληλῠ́θητον	ἐληλῠ́θωμεν	ἐληλῠ́θητε	ἐληλῠ́θωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐληλῠ́θοιμῐ, ἐληλῠθοίην	ἐληλῠ́θοις, ἐληλῠθοίης	ἐληλῠ́θοι, ἐληλῠθοίη	ἐληλῠ́θοιτον	ἐληλῠθοίτην	ἐληλῠ́θοιμεν	ἐληλῠ́θοιτε	ἐληλῠ́θοιεν
	imperative		ἐλήλῠθε	ἐληλῠθέτω	ἐληλῠ́θετον	ἐληλῠθέτων		ἐληλῠ́θετε	ἐληλῠθόντων
		active
infinitive		ἐληλῠθέναι
participle	m	ἐληλῠθώς
	f	ἐληλῠθυῖᾰ
	n	ἐληλῠθός
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: ἐλήλῠθᾰ

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἰλήλουθᾰ	εἰλήλουθᾰς	εἰλήλουθε(ν)	εἰληλούθᾰτον	εἰληλούθᾰτον	εἰληλούθαμεν/εἰλήλουθμεν	εἰληλούθᾰτε	εἰληλούθᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	εἰληλούθω, εἰληλούθωμῐ	εἰληλούθῃς, εἰληλούθῃσθᾰ	εἰληλούθῃ, εἰληλούθῃσῐ	εἰληλούθητον	εἰληλούθητον	εἰληλούθωμεν	εἰληλούθητε	εἰληλούθωσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἰληλούθοιμῐ, εἰληλουθοίην	εἰληλούθοις, εἰληλουθοίης	εἰληλούθοι, εἰληλουθοίη	εἰληλούθοιτον	εἰληλουθοίτην	εἰληλούθοιμεν	εἰληλούθοιτε	εἰληλούθοιεν
	imperative		εἰλήλουθε	εἰληλουθέτω	εἰληλούθετον	εἰληλουθέτων		εἰληλούθετε	εἰληλουθόντων
		active
infinitive		εἰληλουθέναι
participle	m	εἰληλουθώς
	f	εἰληλουθυῖᾰ
	n	εἰληλουθός
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.

   Perfect: εἰλήλουθᾰ (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐληλῠ́θειν, ἐληλῠ́θη	ἐληλῠ́θεις, ἐληλῠ́θης	ἐληλῠ́θει(ν)	ἐληλῠ́θετον	ἐληλῠθέτην	ἐληλῠ́θεμεν	ἐληλῠ́θετε	ἐληλῠ́θεσᾰν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Pluperfect: ἐληλῠ́θειν

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	εἰληλούθειν, εἰληλούθη	εἰληλούθεις, εἰληλούθης	εἰληλούθει(ν)	εἰληλούθετον	εἰληλουθέτην	εἰληλούθεμεν	εἰληλούθετε	εἰληλούθεσᾰν
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.

   Pluperfect: εἰληλούθειν (Epic)

Synonyms

• ἀφικνέομαι (aphiknéomai)
• ἥκω (hḗkō)

Antonyms

• φεύγω (pheúgō)
• οἴχομαι (oíkhomai)

Derived terms

• ἒλευσις (èleusis)
• Ἐλευσίς (Eleusís)
• προσήλυτος (prosḗlutos)

 

Compounds

• ἀμφέρχομαι (amphérkhomai)
• ἀνέρχομαι (anérkhomai)
• ἀντεξέρχομαι (antexérkhomai)
• ἀντεπεξέρχομαι (antepexérkhomai)
• ἀντιπαρέρχομαι (antiparérkhomai)
• ἀπέρχομαι (apérkhomai)
• διαπέρχομαι (diapérkhomai)
• διεξέρχομαι (diexérkhomai)
• διέρχομαι (diérkhomai)
• εἰσέρχομαι (eisérkhomai)
• εἰσέρχομαι (eisérkhomai)
• ἐξανέρχομαι (exanérkhomai)
• ἐξέρχομαι (exérkhomai)
• ἐπανέρχομαι (epanérkhomai)
• ἐπεισέρχομαι (epeisérkhomai)
• ἐπεξέρχομαι (epexérkhomai)
• ἐπέρχομαι (epérkhomai)
• κατέρχομαι (katérkhomai)
• μετέρχομαι (metérkhomai)
• παρεισέρχομαι (pareisérkhomai)
• παρεξέρχομαι (parexérkhomai)
• παρέρχομαι (parérkhomai)
• περιέρχομαι (periérkhomai)
• προαπέρχομαι (proapérkhomai)
• προδιεξέρχομαι (prodiexérkhomai)
• προδιέρχομαι (prodiérkhomai)
• προεισέρχομαι (proeisérkhomai)
• προεξέρχομαι (proexérkhomai)
• προέρχομαι (proérkhomai)
• προσέρχομαι (prosérkhomai)
• συγκατέρχομαι (sunkatérkhomai)
• συμπαρεισέρχομαι (sumpareisérkhomai)
• συνεισέρχομαι (suneisérkhomai)
• συνεξέρχομαι (sunexérkhomai)
• συνέρχομαι (sunérkhomai)
• ὑπεισέρχομαι (hupeisérkhomai)
• ὑπεξέρχομαι (hupexérkhomai)
• ὑπερέρχομαι (huperérkhomai)
• ὑπέρχομαι (hupérkhomai)

 

• and see more than 80 compounds at perseus

Descendants

• Greek: έρχομαι (érchomai, “to come”)

References

1. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἔρχομαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 468

Further reading

• “ἔρχομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ἔρχομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “ἔρχομαι”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• ἔρχομαι in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• ἔρχομαι in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• “ἔρχομαι”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
• G2064 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
• Pokorny, Julius (1959) Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 1, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 326