γάρ

Forms

γᾰ́ρ (gár) ^[1]

Etymology

From the emphatic particle γε (ge) and ἄρα (ára) (in its short form ἄρ), “so, then”: a confirming “indeed then” became the standard particle for giving a reason.^[2][3][1][4] Pokorny, who also considers this origin likely, traces the second particle, with its variant ῥα (rha), to a particle *r̥ found in Lithuanian ir “and, also”.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from the first lines of the Iliad on, already in its causal sense: Hera put it into Achilles' mind to call an assembly, κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν, “for she cared for the Danaans” (Iliad 1.56).^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

γάρ is one of the commonest words in Greek: the GLAUx corpus counts more than 150,000 occurrences.^[8] It normally stands second in its clause, and the Cambridge lexicon sorts its uses into six groups: giving the reason for what precedes, explaining or expanding it, anticipating the clause it explains, confirming in answers, pressing a point in questions, and combining with other particles.^[7] In the dialogue of tragedy and of Plato it often answers “yes” or “no” with the reason left implied, and in abrupt questions it means “why, what”.^[6]

The New Testament uses it for cause, for clarification and for inference, never first in its clause.^[9] It was borrowed into Coptic ⲅⲁⲣ (gar) by about AD 200, with more than a hundred attestations,^[10] and into Aramaic גֵּיר (gēr),^[1] and Wulfila's Gothic Bible often renders it with Gothic 𐌰𐌻𐌻𐌹𐍃 (allis).^[10][1][11] In medieval vernacular verse it was often a mere filler to complete the line.^[12] Modern Greek γαρ (gar) is a learned word, used mainly in parentheses and usually ironically, to give the supposed explanation of what was just said.^[13]

Timeline

• Homer – The Iliad uses it to give reasons, and also in abrupt questions.^[6][14]
• 5th century BC – Tragedy uses it in answers that imply “yes” or “no”.^[6][15]
• 1st century AD – The New Testament uses it for cause, clarification and inference.^[9]
• About AD 200 – Coptic texts first use the borrowed particle ⲅⲁⲣ (gar).^[10]
• 4th century AD – Wulfila translates it into Gothic, often with 𐌰𐌻𐌻𐌹𐍃 (allis).^[11]
• 1100–1669 – Vernacular poems use it as a metrical filler.^[12]
• Modern Greek – γαρ (gar) survives as a learned, mostly ironic word.^[13]

Meanings

Particle

1. (causal) For, because, since, giving the reason for what precedes.^[6][7]
2. (explanatory) That is, namely, explaining or expanding what precedes, or introducing a description or story already announced.^[6][7]
3. (anticipatory) Since, as, placed before the clause it explains.^[6][7]
4. (in answers) Yes, indeed, with the reason left implied; with a negative, no.^[6][7]
5. (in questions) Why, what, in abrupt or surprised questions: τίς γάρ σε θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγγελον ἧκεν, “why, which of the gods sent you to me as a messenger?” (Iliad 18.182).^[6][7]
6. (with the optative) Strengthening a wish, as in εἰ γάρ, “if only”.^[6]
7. With other particles, as in ἀλλά (allá) γάρ “but in fact” and καὶ γάρ “and indeed”.^[6][7]

Related words

• γε (ge)
• ἄρα (ára)

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
4. ^ Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek], Athens: Κέντρο Λεξικολογίας
5. ^ Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Bern; Munich: Francke
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
8. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
9. ^ a b Bauer, Walter; Danker, Frederick W., et al. (2000), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., Chicago: University of Chicago Press
10. ^ a b c Database and Dictionary of Greek Loanwords in Coptic (DDGLC), Freie Universität Berlin and Universität Leipzig
11. ^ a b Streitberg, Wilhelm (1910), Die gotische Bibel, II: Gotisch-griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg: Winter
12. ^ a b Kriaras, Emmanuel, Επιτομή του Λεξικού της μεσαιωνικής ελληνικής δημώδους γραμματείας 1100–1669, Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, https://www.greek-language.gr
13. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
14. ^ Cunliffe, Richard John (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect, London: Blackie and Son
15. ^ Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge