Accent of First Declension Nouns

19.6 Recall that nouns have a PERSISTENT ACCENT. FIRST DECLENSION nouns generally follow this pattern. There are two accent rules, however, that apply to nouns of the FIRST DECLENSION, but not to those of the third declension.

1. Some FIRST DECLENSION nouns, e.g. τιμή τιῆς ἡ, have a persistent accent on the ultima of all inflected forms. When this happens, a CIRCUMFLEX is used on the genitive and dative, singular and plural; an ACUTE accent falls on the nominative and accusative, singular and plural. We have encountered the ultima “circumflex belt” before; note the accent pattern, for example, on the definite articles as well as pronouns such as αὐτός αὐτή αὐτό.
2. No matter where the persistent accent of a FIRST DECLENSION noun falls, the genitive plural is accented with a circumflex on the ultima: –ῶν. Note, for example, the inflections of ἀγάπη ἀγάπης ἡ and γνώμη γνώμς ἡ, above. This accent reflects a contraction of the original ending of the genitive plural: –άων (S 213, G 69b).

Check the "Quick Reference" section to the right for a downloadable copy of all Greek noun accent rules.