Αἰθίοψ

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Traditionally explained as αἴθω (aíthō, “I burn”) +‎ ὤψ (ṓps, “face”), though this is likely a folk etymology.

Beekes argues that the first assumed root always has senses related to brightness and never to darkness, that the -ί- as well as -ο- instead of -ώ- are unexplained, and that -οπ- (-οψ) actually is a typical Pre-Greek substrate suffix observed in ethnonyms like Δόλοψ (Dólops) and Δρύοψ (Drúops).

Compare Mycenaean Greek 𐀀𐀂𐀴𐀍𐀦 (a-i-ti-jo-qo).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ai̯.tʰí.ops/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ɛˈtʰi.ops/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ɛˈθi.ops/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /eˈθi.ops/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /eˈθi.ops/

Noun

Αἰθίοψ • (Aithíops) m (genitive Αἰθίοπος); third declension

Ethiopian

Inflection

Third declension of ὁ Αἰθῐ́οψ; τοῦ Αἰθῐ́οπος (Attic)

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ὁ Αἰθῐ́οψ ho Aithíops	τὼ Αἰθῐ́οπε tṑ Aithíope	οἱ Αἰθῐ́οπες hoi Aithíopes
Genitive	τοῦ Αἰθῐ́οπος toû Aithíopos	τοῖν Αἰθῐόποιν toîn Aithiópoin	τῶν Αἰθῐόπων tôn Aithiópōn
Dative	τῷ Αἰθῐ́οπῐ tôi Aithíopi	τοῖν Αἰθῐόποιν toîn Aithiópoin	τοῖς Αἰθῐ́οψῐ / Αἰθῐ́οψῐν toîs Aithíopsi(n)
Accusative	τὸν Αἰθῐ́οπᾰ tòn Aithíopa	τὼ Αἰθῐ́οπε tṑ Aithíope	τοὺς Αἰθῐ́οπᾰς toùs Aithíopas
Vocative	Αἰθῐ́οψ Aithíops	Αἰθῐ́οπε Aithíope	Αἰθῐ́οπες Aithíopes
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Descendants

Greek: Αιθίοψ (Aithíops), Αιθίοπας (Aithíopas)