ἔρχομαι

See also: έρχομαι

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *h₁ergʰ- (“to move, go”), cognate with ὀρχέομαι (orkhéomai), Albanian erdha ‘I came’, and Old Irish regaid (“will go”, future of téit). 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

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ér.kʰo.mai̯/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈɛr.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)

(intransitive) I come, go

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, initially ἐρθ-σκομαι.
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.
- 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

Present: ἔρχομαι Subjunctive and optative from verb εἶμι

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
						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: 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
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.

Imperfect: ἠρχόμην only in compounds as -ηρχόμην

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

Imperfect: ᾖᾰ/ᾔειν (of verb εἶμι)

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.

Future: ἐλεύσομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐλεύσομαι	ἐλεύσεαι	ἐλεύσεται	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλευσόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐλεύσεσθε	ἐλεύσονται
middle	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 (Ionic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐλεύσομαι	ἐλεύσεαι	ἐλεύσεται	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλευσόμεθᾰ	ἐλεύσεσθε	ἐλεύσονται
middle	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 (Tragic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐλεύσομαι	ἐλεύσεαι	ἐλεύσεται	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλεύσεσθον	ἐλευσόμεθᾰ	ἐλεύσεσθε	ἐλεύσονται
middle	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.

Aorist: ἦλθον

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. In Epic Greek, the infinitive ἐλθέμεν(αι) (elthémen(ai)) is also found. In Koine, plural indicative forms of the first aorist are also found: ἤλθαμεν (ḗlthamen), ἤλθατε (ḗlthate), ἦλθαν (êlthan)/ἤλθοσαν (ḗlthosan).

Aorist: ἤλθοσᾰ (Koine)

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
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	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: ἦνθον (Doric)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἦνθον	ἦνθες	ἦνθε(ν)	ἤνθετον	ἠνθέτην	ἤνθομεν	ἤνθετε	ἦνθον
	subjunctive	ἔνθω	ἔνθῃς	ἔνθῃ	ἔνθητον	ἔνθητον	ἔνθωμεν	ἔνθητε	ἔνθωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἔνθοιμῐ	ἔνθοις	ἔνθοι	ἐνθεῖτον	ἐνθείτην	ἐνθεῖμεν	ἐνθεῖτε	ἐνθεῖεν
	imperative		ἐνθέ	ἐνθέτω	ἔνθετον	ἐνθέτων		ἔνθετε	ἐνθόντων
		active
infinitive		ἐνθεῖν
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.

Perfect: ἐλήλῠθᾰ

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: εἰλήλουθᾰ (Epic)

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.

Pluperfect: ἐληλύθειν

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐληλύθειν, ἐληλύθη	ἐληλύθεις, ἐληλύθης	ἐληλύθει(ν)	ἐληλύθετον	ἐληλυθέτην	ἐληλύθεμεν	ἐληλύθετε	ἐληλύθεσᾰν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Synonyms

ἀφικνοῦμαι (aphiknoûmai)
ἥκω (hḗkō)

Antonyms

φεύγω (pheúgō)
οἴχομαι (oíkhomai)

Derived terms

ἒλευσις f (èleusis, “arrival”)
Ἐλευσίς f (Eleusís)
προσήλυτος (prosḗlutos, “stranger, convert”)

Compounds

ἀπέρχομαι (apérkhomai, “depart from”)
διέρχομαι (diérkhomai, “pass through; narrate in detail”)
εἰσέρχομαι (eisérkhomai, “come in”)
ἐπέρχομαι (epérkhomai, “come upon, attack”)
κατέρχομαι (katérkhomai, “go down; return from exile”)
παρέρχομαι (parérkhomai, “pass, go away from”)
περιέρχομαι (periérkhomai, “go about”)
προσέρχομαι (prosérkhomai, “come”)
συνέρχομαι (sunérkhomai, “come together with others; start fighting”)
and see more than 80 compounds at perseus

Descendants

Greek: έρχομαι (érchomai, “to come”)