6.4 The verb stand has the stem στη-. The present tense REDUPLICATES the initial consonant sound of the stem and adds an –ι– for ease of pronunciation.
- στη– → ἱστη–
Note here that reduplicated stem στη– should result in σιστη-, but the initial σ has been dropped. Greeks regularly drop the initial σ– of words if it comes right before a vowel (S 119, G 54). When this happens, the initial vowel receives a rough breathing mark. As we learn later, for example, the Latin words for the numbers six and seven, sex and septem, are ἕξ and ἑπτά in Greek! In the case of ἵστημι, the initial REDUPLICATED SIGMA was dropped, and the now initial ι aspirated (σιστη– → ἱστη-).
The long stem vowel shortens in the plural forms.
- ἱστη– for the present tense singular forms
- ἱστα– for the present tense plural forms and the infinitive
Note here that in the 3rd Person Plural, the alphas DO contract.
It may seem strange that a sigma before a vowel can “change” to a rough breathing in Greek, but this is a common sound change in some Indo-European languages. To see how this happens, pronounce the “s” sound for a few seconds, then switch to an “h” sound. All it takes is lowering your tongue just a bit!
