Grammatical and natural gender correlations in Greek
compiled by Wayne Leman
corrections and additions welcomed
latest update: June 15, 2002

1. Expected correlations

a. Common gender (masculine, feminine, or inclusive, depending on
usage)
ANQRWPOS, person (hO ANQRWPOS masculine, hOI ANQRWPOI, plural = referentially masculine or
inclusive, depending on pragmatic context; hH ANQRWPOS feminine)
ARKOS, bear
BOUS, one head of cattle
GEITWN, neighbor
DIAKONOS servant, helper
QURWROS, doorkeeper
KAMHLOS, camel
KOINWNOS, partner
ONOS, donkey
PAIS, servant
PARQENOS, virgin

b. Masculine (some masculines are also linguistically unmarked generics; some plurals are referentially gender-inclusive, depending on the pragmatic context)
ADELFOS, brother (sometimes used as unmarked for 'sibling')
ALEKTWR, rooster, cock
ANHR, man, husband (appears to be gender-inclusive in some contexts, esp. for plural)
ARSHN, male, man
hUIOS, son, (sometimes used as unmarked for 'child')
NEANIAS, young man
BASILEUS, king
NUMFIOS, bridegroom
PATHR, father
TAUROS, bull
FILOS, male friend

c. Feminine
ADELFH, sister
GUNH, woman, wife
QAMALIS, heifer
QUGATHR, daughter
KURIA, lady
MAMMH, grandmother
MHTHR, mother
NUMFH, bride, daughter-in-law
PAIDISKH, maid
FILH, female friend
CHRA, widow

d. Neuter
hAIMA, blood
GONU, knee
EQNOS, nation
ERGON, work
KERMA, coin
OUS, ear
PLOION, boat
PNEUMA, wind
PUR, fire
PROSWPON, face
SWMA, body
FWS, light

2. Unexpected correlations

a. Masculine
ARTOS, bread
ASTHR, star
BRACIWN, arm
DAKTULOS, finger
LIQOS, stone
LOGOS, word
NOMOS, law
NOUS, mind
NUMFWN, wedding hall
OFQALMOS, eye
OIKOS, house
OURANOS, heaven
POUS, foot
TOPOS, place

b. Feminine
AGAPH, love
AGELH, herd
hAMARTIA, sin
GLWSSA, tongue
DIKAIOSUNH, righteousness
ELPIS, hope
EIRHNH, peace
EPISKOPH, office of bishop
ERHMOS, desert
ZWH, life
ZWNA, belt
hHMERA, day
QALASSA, sea, lake
QURA, door
KARDIA, heart
KEFALH, head
hODOS, way, road
POLIS, town, city
NAUS, ship
NUX, night
CARIS, grace
YUCH, life, soul

c. Neuter
ARNION, lamp, sheep
ZWON, living creature, animal
QHRION, animal
QREMMA, domesticated quadruped
QUGATRION, little daughter
NHPIOS, baby, infant
PAIDION, child, infant
PLHQOS, crowd
PNEUMA, spirit
PROBATON, sheep
STROUQION, sparrow
TEKNON, child
hUPOZUGION, pack or riding animal