Movable nu

In ancient Greek grammar, movable nu, movable N or ephelcystic nu (Ancient Greek: νῦ ἐφελκυστικόν nû ephelkustikón, literally "nu dragged onto" or "attracted to") is a letter nu (written ν; the Greek equivalent of the letter n) placed on the end of some grammatical forms in Attic or Ionic Greek. It is used to avoid two vowels in a row (hiatus) and to create a long syllable in poetic meter.

Grammatical forms[]

Movable nu may appear at the end of certain forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives. In grammatical paradigms, it is usually written with a parenthesis to indicate that it is optional.

Usage[]

Movable nu is used before words starting in a vowel to prevent hiatus.

• πᾶσιν ἔλεγεν ἐκεῖνα "he said those things to everyone"

It is often omitted before consonants, but may be included there to produce a heavy syllable where the poetic meter requires one

• πᾶσι λέγουσι ταῦτα "they say these things to everyone"
• πᾶσι λέγουσιν ταῦτα "they say these things to everyone" with the dactylic pattern – ⏑ ⏑ | – – | – ×

It is often used at the end of clauses or verses.

See also[]

• Nu (letter)
• Ancient Greek
  • Attic Greek
  • Ionic Greek
• Eifeler Regel, a similar rule in German dialects

Sources[]

• Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar, par. 134.

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