Tsakonian Digital VaultThe Tsakonian verbal system is characterized by a mix of conservative Doric features and unique innovations. It maintains a system of aspects (Imperfective vs. Perfective) and voices (Active vs. Passive), often employing periphrastic constructions.
Grammar glossary: Aspect refers to whether an action is viewed as ongoing/repeated (Imperfective) or completed/single (Perfective) — a distinction more prominent in Tsakonian and Slavic languages than in English. Voice indicates whether the subject does the action (Active) or receives it (Passive). A periphrastic construction uses two words (an auxiliary + main verb form) instead of a single inflected form. Participle: a verb form used like an adjective or as part of a compound tense (e.g. English ‘seeing’, ‘seen’). See 1.3 Doric heritage for the historical origin of the periphrastic system.
Aspect and Voice
Aspect is a central feature of the Tsakonian verb, distinguishing between ongoing or repeated actions (Imperfective) and completed, single actions (Perfective).
Active and Passive Voices
The passive voice is distinct from the active voice, with specific forms for different aspects and timeframes. Below is the paradigm for the verb ορού (oroú, to see) (Lysikatos, n.d.):
| Aspect | Time | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperfective | Non-Past | ένι ορού (éni oroú) | ενί ορούμενε (éni oroúmene) |
| Past | έμα ορού (éma oroú) | έμα ορούμενε (éma oroúmene) | |
| Perfective | Non-Past | οραού (oraoú) | οραθού (orazzoú) |
| Past | οράκα (oráka) | οράμα (oráma) |
Passive Participles
Passive participles in Tsakonian function primarily as verbs rather than adjectives, retaining verbal syntactic characteristics even in complex structures (Lysikatos, n.d.). This verbal nature is central to understanding the periphrastic system, since the participle in constructions like ενί ορούμενε (éni oroúmene) behaves syntactically as a predicate rather than a modifier.
- Analytic Imperfective Participles: Often end in -μένε (-méne) (e.g., ορούμενε (oroúmene)).
- Synthetic Perfective Passive Participles: Retain verbal syntactic characteristics even when used in complex structures.
Periphrastic Constructions
Tsakonian is the only Greek dialect with exclusively compound (periphrastic) present and imperfect forms (Liosis, 2017). This is a defining feature of the language and the most visible difference from Standard Modern Greek. The indicative is formed with the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ (éni) + the participle of the main verb:
| Tense | Form | Translit. | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | ένι ορού | éni oroú | ’I see’ |
| Imperfect | έμα ορού | éma oroú | ’I was seeing’ |
| Present passive | ένι ορούμενε | éni oroúmene | ’I am seen’ |
| Imperfect passive | έμα ορούμενε | éma oroúmene | ’I was being seen’ |
This distinguishes Tsakonian not only from all other Greek dialects but from most languages globally (cf. Haspelmath 1998) (Liosis, 2017).
Gender Distinction in Periphrastic Tenses
A remarkable feature of the Tsakonian periphrastic system is that the participle in the present and imperfect indicative agrees in gender with the subject. This means that these tenses morphologically distinguish whether the subject is masculine, feminine, or neuter — a feature unique among Greek varieties (Kostakis, 1951):
| Gender | Present (‘I want’) | Translit. | Imperfect (‘I wanted’) | Translit. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ένι θέλου | éni thélou | έμα θέλου | éma thélou |
| Feminine | ένι θέλα | éni théla | έμα θέλα | éma théla |
| Neuter | ένι θέλουντα | éni thélounda | έμα θέλουντα | éma thélounda |
For example, a man says ένι ορού (éni oroú, ‘I see’, masc. participle), but a woman says ένι ορά (éni orá, ‘I see’, fem. participle).
The Auxiliary ένι έχου (éni échou, ‘I have’)
Tsakonian expresses “to have” periphrastically as ένι έχου (literally “I am having”), corresponding to SMG έχω (écho). This construction is built from the copula ένι (éni) plus the participle έχου (échou), and is itself used as an auxiliary for compound tenses (Kostakis, 1951):
| Tense | Formation | Example | Translit. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | ένι έχου | ’I have’ | éni échou |
| Imperfect | έμα έχου | ’I had’ | éma échou |
| Perfect | ένι έχου + perfect participle | ένι έχου φτατέ ‘I have arrived’ | éni échou ftaté |
| Pluperfect | έμα έχου + perfect participle | έμα έχου φτατέ ‘I had arrived’ | éma échou ftaté |
| Future perfect | θα έχου + perfect participle | ’I will have arrived’ | tha échou … |
The full present paradigm of ένι έχου:
| Person | Singular | Translit. | Plural | Translit. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ένι έχου | éni échou | έμε έχου | éme échou |
| 2nd | έσι έχου | ési échou | έτε έχου | éte échou |
| 3rd | έν̇ι έχου | én’i échou | είνι έχου | eíni échou |
Laconian Origin of Periphrasis
Contrary to Aerts’s (1965) assertion that these periphrases are an innovation, verbal periphrases leading to the modern Tsakonian system are attested in Hesychius’s Laconian glosses — Hesychius was a 5th-century AD Greek lexicographer who compiled a dictionary including rare Laconian dialect words, providing crucial evidence for the dialect’s ancient roots. (Liosis, 2017). Also see 1.3 Doric heritage for the broader context of Doric morphological inheritance.
| Hesychius Laconian | Attic Equivalent | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐξηληµβώρ | ἐξειληφώς (ἦν) | exilimmór | ’to perceive’ |
This proves that the periphrastic system is an inherited Laconian feature rather than an independent development within Tsakonian.
Subjunctive vs. Indicative
Tsakonian is the only Modern Greek dialect that preserves morphologically distinct endings in the monolectic (single-word) subjunctive, in contrast to the periphrastic indicative. The subjunctive mood is a grammatical mood used to express possibility, wish, or purpose — in English it survives in phrases like ‘if I were’ or ‘I suggest he be present’. In Standard Modern Greek the subjunctive forms have merged completely with the indicative; Tsakonian’s preservation of this distinction is a direct Doric archaism (see 1.3 Doric heritage) (Liosis, 2017).
Active Voice
| Mood | Imperfective | Translit. | Perfective | Translit. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative | ένι ορού ‘I see’ | éni oroú | — | |
| Subjunctive | να ορίνου ‘that I see (impf.)‘ | na orínou | να οράου ‘that I see (perf.)‘ | na oraoú |
Passive Voice
| Mood | Imperfective | Translit. | Perfective | Translit. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative | ένι ορούμενε ‘I am seen’ | éni oroúmene | — | |
| Subjunctive | να ορινούμα ‘that I be seen (impf.)‘ | na orinoúma | να οραθού ‘that I be seen (perf.)‘ | na orazzoú |
The mediopassive present subjunctive paradigm shows a mixture of the person endings of the ancient subjunctive and optative. For example, να γραφούμα (na grafoúma, ‘I be written (pres. subj.)’) is comparable with the ancient optative γραφοίμην (grafoimín), while the 3rd person singular να γράφηται (na gráfiti) derives from the ancient subjunctive γράφηται (gráfiti) (Liosis, 2017).
Moods and Tenses
Tsakonian moods and tenses correspond closely to those of Standard Modern Greek, with one key exception: Tsakonian preserves a morphologically distinct continuous (imperfective) present subjunctive — for example, να ορίνου (na orínou, ‘to keep seeing’) — which no longer exists in Standard Modern Greek. The SMG present subjunctive corresponds only to the Tsakonian punctual (perfective) present subjunctive να οράου (na oraoú, ‘to see [once]’).
Indicative Mood
The indicative mood is used to make factual statements and describe reality directly.
Present
Expresses ongoing or habitual actions at the time of speaking. Always formed periphrastically in Tsakonian (auxiliary ένι + participle), unlike Standard Modern Greek.
Ένι ορού. Éni oroú. ‘I see.’ / ‘I am seeing.‘
Imperfect
Expresses ongoing or habitual actions in the past. Also periphrastic (auxiliary έμα + participle).
Έμα ορού. Éma oroú. ‘I was seeing.’ / ‘I used to see.‘
Aorist (Simple Past)
Expresses a single, completed past action. Unlike the present and imperfect, the aorist is formed synthetically (single word).
Οράκα. Oráka. ‘I saw.‘
Perfect
Expresses a past action with present relevance — a completed event whose results still bear on the present. Formed with ένι έχου (‘I have’) + perfect participle.
Ένι έχου φτατέ. Éni échou ftaté. ‘I have arrived.‘
Pluperfect
Expresses a past action completed before another past event. Formed with έμα έχου (‘I had’) + perfect participle.
Έμα έχου φτατέ. Éma échou ftaté. ‘I had arrived.‘
Future Continuous
Expresses ongoing or habitual actions in the future. Formed with θα + imperfective (continuous) present subjunctive.
Θα ορίνου. Tha orínou. ‘I will be seeing.’ / ‘I will keep seeing.‘
Future Simple
Expresses a single, completed action in the future. Formed with θα + perfective (aorist) subjunctive.
Θα οράου. Tha oraoú. ‘I will see.‘
Future Perfect
Expresses an action that will be completed before a future point in time. Formed with θα έχου + perfect participle.
Θα έχου φτατέ. Tha échou ftaté. ‘I will have arrived.‘
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive is introduced by the particle να and expresses wishes, intentions, purpose, obligation, and possibility. It also serves as the base for future and conditional forms. Unlike Standard Modern Greek — where only the perfective subjunctive survives — Tsakonian maintains a morphological distinction between a continuous (imperfective) and a punctual (perfective) present subjunctive.
Present Subjunctive — Continuous (Imperfective)
Expresses an ongoing or repeated action in a subordinate context. This form is unique to Tsakonian and no longer exists in Standard Modern Greek. It is built by inserting an imperfective morpheme (e.g., -ίν-) between the verb stem and the ending.
Ένι θέλου να ορίνου. Éni thélou na orínou. ‘I want to keep seeing.’ / ‘I want to be seeing (continuously).’
Present Subjunctive — Punctual (Perfective)
Expresses a single, completed action in a subordinate context. This form corresponds to the SMG present subjunctive and uses the aorist (perfective) stem.
Ένι θέλου να οράου. Éni thélou na oraoú. ‘I want to see (once).’
Imperative Mood
The imperative is used for direct commands, instructions, and requests. Like the subjunctive, it distinguishes between imperfective (ongoing or repeated) and perfective (single or completed) aspect.
Present Imperative (Imperfective)
Commands an ongoing or repeated action.
Ορήνε! Oríne! ‘Keep looking!’ / ‘Look (repeatedly)!’
Aorist Imperative (Perfective)
Commands a single action.
Ορά! Orá! ‘Look!’
Conditional
The conditional expresses hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations. Formed with θάκια + the subjunctive, it distinguishes between continuous and simple aspect, mirroring the future.
Conditional Continuous
Expresses a hypothetical ongoing or habitual action. Formed with θάκια + imperfective present subjunctive.
Θάκια ορίνου. Thákia orínou. ‘I would be seeing.’ / ‘I would keep seeing.‘
Conditional Simple
Expresses a hypothetical single or completed action. Formed with θάκια + aorist (perfective) subjunctive.
Θάκια οράου. Thákia oraoú. ‘I would see.‘
Aspect Marking Morphology
Imperfectivity is marked by morphemes that follow the verb stem. The contrast between imperfective and perfective subjunctive forms illustrates this (Liosis, 2017):
| Imperfective | Translit. | Perfective | Translit. | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| να απρού-κh-ου | na aproú-kh-ou | να απρού | na aproú | ’spread’ |
| να ορ-ίν-ου | na or-ín-ou | να οράου | na oraoú | ’see’ |
The bolded segments -κh- (-kh-) and -ίν- (-ín-) are imperfective morphemes inserted between the stem and the ending.
Transitivity Marking: The Suffix -αΐχου (-aíchou)
The suffix -αΐχου (-aíchou) is widely used to derive transitive (causative) verbs from intransitive bases (Liosis, 2017):
| Intransitive | Translit. | Gloss | Transitive (-αΐχου) | Translit. | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| μοζού | mozzoú | ’feel pain’ | μοζαΐχου | mozzaíchou | ’cause pain’ |
| γερού | geroú | ’get old’ | γεραΐχου | geraíchou | ’cause someone to age’ |
Mediopassive Aorist
The aorist is an ancient Greek tense expressing a simple, punctual past action (roughly corresponding to English simple past). The mediopassive is a combined voice category where the subject is both agent and recipient of the action. The mediopassive aorist paradigm in Tsakonian is particularly archaic (Liosis, 2017).
Person Endings
The ending -μα (-ma) in Tsakonian corresponds to -μην (-min) of the middle aorist of athematic verbs in Attic:
| Tsakonian | Translit. | Attic | Translit. | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ορά-μα | orá-ma | ἐδό-μην | edó-min | ’I was seen’ / ‘I was given’ |
Doric Perfect Preservation
Over time, as past tenses merged, Tsakonian preserved ancient Doric sounds in these verbs, using voiced consonants like /v/ or /g/ instead of the breathy sounds used in ancient Athens (Liosis, 2017):
| Tsakonian Aorist | Translit. | Doric (Messenian) Perfect | Translit. | Attic Perfect | Translit. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| εκρέβα [eˈkreva] ‘I stole’ | ekréva | κεκλεβώς [kekleˈvos] | keklevós | κέκλοφα [kéklopha] | kéklopha |
Auxiliary Verbs
The auxiliary verbs ένι (éni, to be) and έχου (échou, to have) are fundamental to the Tsakonian periphrastic system (García Chaparro, 2023).
Verb ένι (éni) — to be
Note: While the Future Simple usually takes the aorist subjunctive, the verb ένι (to be) lacks a distinct aorist subjunctive and therefore uses the present subjunctive.
| Category | Number | Person | Present Indicative | Aorist (Imperfect) | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Sing. | A’ | ένι (éni) | έμα (éma) | θα + present subjunctive | θάκια + present subjunctive |
| B’ | έσι (ési) | έσα (ésa) | ||||
| Γ’ | έν̇ι (én’i) | έκι (éki) | ||||
| Plur. | A’ | έμε (éme) | έμαϊ (émaï) | |||
| B’ | έτ̔ε (éthe) | έτ̔αϊ (éthaï) | ||||
| Γ’ | είνι (eíni) | ήγκι(αϊ) (íngki(aï)) | ||||
| Negative | Sing. | A’ | όνι (óni) | όμα (óma) | Ο θα + present subjunctive | Ο θάκια + present subjunctive |
| B’ | όσι (ósi) | όσα (ósa) | ||||
| Γ’ | όν̇ι (ón’i) | όκι (óki) | ||||
| Plur. | A’ | όμε (óme) | όμαϊ (ómaï) | |||
| B’ | ότ̔ε (óthe) | ότ̔αϊ (óthaï) | ||||
| Γ’ | ούνι (oúni) | ούγκι(αϊ) (oúngki(aï)) |
Verb έχου (échou) — to have
| Voice | Number | Present Indicative | Present Subjunctive | Imperative | Aorist (Imperfect) | Future | Conditional | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Sing. | A’ | ένι + έχου participle | έχου (échou) | έμα + έχου participle | θα + present subjunctive | θάκια + present subjunctive | |
| B’ | = | έχερε (échere) | έχε (éche) | = | = | = | ||
| Γ’ | = | έχει (échei) | = | = | = | |||
| Plur. | A’ | = | έχομε (échome) | = | = | = | ||
| B’ | = | έχετε (échete) | = | = | = | |||
| Γ’ | = | έχωι (échoi) | = | = | = |
Regular Conjugation Paradigm
The following table presents the complete conjugation paradigm for regular verbs (García Chaparro, 2023):
| Voice | Number | Type | Present Indicative | Imperfect Indicative | Present Subjunctive | Imperative | Aorist Indicative | Aorist Subjunctive | Perfect | Pluperfect | Future Continuous | Future Simple | Future Perfect | Conditional Continuous | Conditional Simple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Sing. | A’ | ένι + present participle | έμα + present participle | -ου (-ou) | -ε / -ερε (-e / -ere) | -α / -κα (-a / -ka) | -ου (-ou) | ένι έχου + perfect participle | έμα έχου + perfect participle | θα + present subjunctive | θα + aorist subjunctive | θα έχου + perfect participle | θάκια + present subjunctive | θάκια + aorist subjunctive |
| B’ | -ερε (-ere) | -ερε (-ere) | |||||||||||||
| Γ’ | -ει (-ei) | -ει (-ei) | |||||||||||||
| Plur. | A’ | έμε + present participle | έμαϊ + present participle | -ομε (-ome) | -ετε (-ete) | -αμε / -καμε (-ame / -kame) | -ομε (-ome) | έμε έχου + perfect participle | έμαϊ έχου + perfect participle | = | = | = | = | = | |
| B’ | -ετε (-ete) | -ατε / -κατε (-ate / -kate) | -ετε (-ete) | ||||||||||||
| Γ’ | είνι + present participle | ήγκι + present participle | -ωι (-oi) | -αϊ / -καϊ (-aï / -kaï) | -ωι (-oi) | είνι έχου + perfect participle | ήγκι έχου + perfect participle | ||||||||
| Passive | Sing. | A’ | ένι + present passive participle | έμα + present passive participle | -ούμα (-oúma) | -ου / -σου (-ou / -sou) | -μα (-ma) | -αθού / -ου (-azzoú / -ou) | έμα + perfect passive participle | ένι έχου + perfect passive participle | θα + present passive subjunctive | θα + aorist passive subjunctive | θα έχου + perfect passive participle | θάκια + present passive subjunctive | θάκια + aorist passive subjunctive |
| B’ | -ησου (-isou) | -ειρε (-eire) | -ου (-ou) | ||||||||||||
| Γ’ | -ηται (-itai) | -ε (-e) | -εί (-eí) | ||||||||||||
| Plur. | A’ | έμε + present passive participle | έμαϊ + present passive participle | -ούμαϊ (-oúmaï) | -είτε (-eíte) | -μαϊ (-maï) | -ούμε (-oúme) | ||||||||
| B’ | -ητ̔ε (-ithe) | -ατε (-ate) | -είτε (-eíte) | ||||||||||||
| Γ’ | είνι + present passive participle | ήγκι + present passive participle | -ονται (-ontai) | -αϊ (-aï) | -ούν̇ι (-oún’i) |
Note: Perfect and Pluperfect Active are formed with the auxiliary “to have” (ένι έχου / έμα έχου) and the perfect participle (verbal adjective in -τέ, -té). In the Passive, they are often formed with “to be” (ένι / έμα) and the same participle.
Verb Classes
Tsakonian verbs are divided into paradigm classes based on their conjugation patterns. Regular classes (PA*, PB*) show suffix patterns; irregular verbs show full forms (García Chaparro, 2023).
| Paradigm | Active Present Indicative | Active Aorist Indicative | Active Aorist Subjunctive | Perfect Participle (-τέ) | Active Present Subjunctive | Active Imperative (Aorist) | Active Imperative (Present) | Passive Present Indicative | Passive Aorist Indicative | Passive Present Subjunctive | Passive Aorist Subjunctive | Passive Imperative (Present) | Passive Imperative (Aorist) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA1 | -αίνου (-aínou) | -άκα (-áka) | -άου (-áoú) | -ατέ (-até) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -άμα (-áma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | -αθού (-azoú) | |||||
| PA1 | -άνου (-ánou) | -άκα (-áka) | -άου (-áoú) | -ατέ (-até) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -άμα (-áma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | ||||||
| PA1 | -ίνου (-ínou) | -ίκα (-íka) | -ίου (-íoú) | -ατέ (-até) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | |||||||
| PA1 | -ήνου (-ínou) | -ήκα (-íka) | -ήου (-íoú) | -ατέ (-até) | |||||||||
| PA1H | -αίνου (-aínou) | -ήκα (-íka) | -ου (-ou) | ||||||||||
| PA2 | -ούνου (-oúnou) | -ούκα (-oúka) | -ού (-oú) | -ουτέ (-outé) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -ούμα (-oúma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | -ουθού (-ouzoú) | |||||
| PA3 | -ούκ̔ου (-oúkhou) | -ούκα (-oúka) | -ού (-oú) | -ουτέ (-outé) | -ου (-ou) | -ουτσ̑ε (-outsse) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -ούμα (-oúma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | -ουθού (-ouzoú) | -ούτσ̑ισου (-outssisou) | -ούσου (-oúsou) | |
| PA4 | -ίχου (-íchou) | -ία (-ía) | -ίτσου (-ítsou) | -ιστέ (-isté) | |||||||||
| PA4 | -ίντου (-índou) | -ία (-ía) | -ίτσου (-ítsou) | -ιτέ (-ité) | -ιτσε (-itse) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -ίμα (-íma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | -ίτ̔ου (-íthou) | ||||
| PA4 | -ύντου (-ýndou) | -ία (-ía) | -ίτσου (-ítsou) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | ||||||||
| PA4 | -άντου (-ándou) | -α (-a) | -άτσου (-átsou) | -ατέ (-até) | -ατσε (-atse) | -αντε (-ande) | +μενε (+mene) | -άμα (-áma) | +μα (+ma) | -ατού (-atoú) | -αντισου (-andisou) | -άτσου (-átsou) | |
| PA5 | -ίζου (-ízou) | -ία (-ía) | -σου (-sou) | -ιστέ (-isté) | -ισε (-ise) | -ιζε (-ize) | -ισκούμενε (-iskoúmene) | -ίσμα (-ísma) | -ισκούμα (-iskoúma) | -ιστού (-istoú) | -ίζισου (-ízisou) | -ίσου (-ísou) | |
| PA5 | -ύζου (-ýzou) | -ύα (-ýa) | -σου (-sou) | -υστέ (-ysté) | |||||||||
| PA5 | -άζου (-ázou) | -ά (-á) | -σου (-sou) | -αστέ (-asté) | -ασε (-ase) | -άσμα (-ásma) | |||||||
| PA6 | -φου (-fou) | -βα (-va) | -ψου (-psou) | -φτέ (-fté) | -ψε (-pse) | -φε (-fe) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -‘μα (-‘ma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | -φτού (-ftoú) | -φισου (-fisou) | -ψου (-psou) | |
| PA7 | -έγγου (-éngou) | -εύα (-eúa) | -έψου (-épsou) | -ευτέ (-euté) | -εψε (-epse) | -εμπζε (-embzze) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | -έμα (-éma) | +‘μα (+‘ma) | -ευτού (-eutoú) | -έμπζισου (-émbzzisou) | -έψου (-épsou) | |
| PA8 | -ίγγου (-íngou) | -ία (-ía) | -ίτσου (-ítsou) | ||||||||||
| PA9 | -έχου (-échou) | -έα (-éa) | -έστου (-éstou) | -ετέ (-eté) | |||||||||
| PA10I | -ίου (-íou) | -ίκα (-íka) | -ου (-ou) | -ιτέ (-ité) | -ίνου (-ínou) | ||||||||
| PA10A | -ίου (-íou) | -άκα (-áka) | -ου (-ou) | -ατέ (-até) | -ίνου (-ínou) | ||||||||
| PA11 | -αίσου (-aísou) | -άκα (-áka) | -ου (-ou) | ||||||||||
| PA12 | -ρίκου (-ríkou) | -γα (-ga) | -άου (-aoú) | ||||||||||
| PA13 | -ρου (-rou) | -ρκα (-rka) | |||||||||||
| PA14 | -άσσου (-ássou) | -ά (-á) | -άτσου (-átsou) | -ατέ (-até) | +‘μένε (+‘méne) | ||||||||
| PB1 | -ού (-oú) | -άκα (-áka) | -άου (-aoú) | -ατέ (-até) | -ήνου (-ínou) | -α (-a) | -ηνε (-ine) | +μενε (+mene) | -άμα (-áma) | -ηνούμα (-inoúma) | -αθού (-azoú) | -ήνισου (-ínisou) | -ασου (-asou) |
| PB2 | -ού (-oú) | -ήκα (-íka) | -ήου (-íoú) | -ητέ (-ité) | -ήνου (-ínou) | -ηκούμενε (-ikoúmene) | -ήμα (-íma) | -ηκούμα (-ikoúma) | -ηθού (-izoú) | -ήτσ̌ισου (-ítshisou) | -ήσου (-ísou) | ||
| PB3 | -ού (-oú) | -έκα (-éka) | -έου (-éoú) | -ετέ (-eté) | -ήνου (-ínou) | -ε (-e) | -ηνε (-ine) | -εσκούμενε (-eskoúmene) | -εσκούμα (-eskoúma) | -έτσ̌ισου (-étshisou) | |||
| αού (aoú) | επέκα (epéka) | αλ̣ήσου (al’ísou) | πετέ (peté) | αλ̣ήνου (al’ínou) | άλε (ále) | άλ̣ηνε (ál’ine) | αλ̣ικούμενε (al’ikoúmene) | επέμα (epéma) | αλ̣ικούμα (al’ikoúma) | αλ̣ήμα (al’ima) | |||
| αρίκ̔ου (aríkhou) | άγκα (ángka) | άρου (árou) | παρτέ (parté) | άρε (áre) | άριτσ̑ε (áritsse) | ||||||||
| έγγου (éngou) | εζάκα (ezzáka) | ζάσου (zzásou) | ζατέ (zzaté) | χάγγε (chángge) | έντζε (éndzze) | ||||||||
| παρίου (paríou) | εκάνα (ekána) | μόλου (mólou) | φερτέ (ferté) | έα (έα) | παρίσου (parísou) | ||||||||
| τσ̌ού (tshoú) | εφαήκα (efaíka) | φάου (fáoú) | φαητέ (faité) | τσ̌ούνου (tshoúnou) | φάε (fάe) | τσ̌ούνε (tshoúne) | |||||||
| φερίκ̔ου (ferikhoú) | ενέγκα (enéngka) | φέρου (férou) | φερτέ (ferté) | φέρε (fére) | φέριτσ̑ε (féritsse) | φερικ̔ούμενε (ferikhoúmene) | φερικ̔ούμα (ferιkhoúma) | φερικ̔ούμα (ferikhoúma) | φερθού (ferzoú) | φερίτσ̑ισου (ferítssisou) | φερίσου (ferísou) | ||
| γινούμενε (ginoúmene) | νατέ (naté) | γινούμενε (ginoúmene) | ενάμα (ενάμα) | γινούμα (ginoúμα) | ναθού (nazoú) | γινίσου (ginísou) | νάσου (nάσου) | ||||||
| μπάνου (bánou) | εμπαλ̣ήκα (embal’íka) | μπάλου (bálou) | μπαλ̣ητέ (bal’ité) | μπάλε (bále) | |||||||||
| ένι (éni) | ένι (éni) | έμα (éma) | ένι (éni) | ||||||||||
| έχου (échou) | ένι έχου (éni échou) | έμα έχου (éma échou) | έχου (échou) | ||||||||||
| βάνου (vánou) | εβαλ̣ήκα (eval’íka) | βάλου (válou) | βαλ̣ητέ (val’ité) | ||||||||||
| ερέχου (eréchou) | ερέκα (ερέκα) | ερεστέ (eresté) |
References
- Liosis, N. (2017). Tsakonian Studies: The State-of-the-Art. Tsakonian Studies State of the Art.md
- García Chaparro, J. (2023). Condensed Grammar of the Tsakonian Language in Tables. Condensed Grammar of the Tsakonian Language in Tables.md
- Lysikatos, N. (n.d.). Aspects of the Passive in Tsakonian. Aspects of the Passive in Tsakonian.md
- Kostakis, A. P. (1951). Σύντομη Γραμματική της Τσακώνικης Διαλέκτου (Sýntomi Grammatikí tis Tsakónikis Dialéktou). Institut Français d’Athènes. Kostakis Short Grammar of Tsakonian 1951.md
Practical Usage
Here are some example sentences demonstrating key verbal features:
- Present Periphrastic: Ένι ορού το καμπζί. (Éni oroú to kampzzí., ‘I see the child.’ / ‘I am seeing the child.‘)
- Aorist: Οράκα το καμπζί. (Oráka to kampzzí., ‘I saw the child.‘)
- Continuous Subjunctive: Ένι θέλου να ορίνου. (Éni thélou na orínou., ‘I want to keep seeing.‘)
- Punctual Subjunctive: Ένι θέλου να οράου. (Éni thélou na oraoú., ‘I want to see (once).‘)