Ancient Greek edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Traditionally derived, according to Pokorny, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (to swell); see also φαλλός (phallós, penis, phallus).[1] However, Beekes considers the word Pre-Greek due to variation between the single and geminate λ in its variant forms.[2]

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

φάλλαινᾰ (phállainaf (genitive φαλλαίνης); first declension

  1. whale
  2. moth

Inflection edit

Descendants edit

  • Greek: φάλαινα (fálaina) (see there for further descendants)
  • Latin: ballaena (see there for further descendants)

References edit

  1. ^ Pokorny, Julius (1959) Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 1, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 120
  2. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1549

Further reading edit

Greek edit

Noun edit

φάλλαινα (fállainaf (plural φάλλαινες)

  1. Alternative form of φάλαινα (fálaina)

Declension edit