akoúō

From Proto-Hellenic *akouhō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti, and cognate with English hear, hark and harken. In this word, the diphthong ου (ou) is genuine (see spurious diphthong on Wikipedia for an explanation).

Pronunciation

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• IPA^(key): /a.kǔː.ɔː/ → /aˈku.o/ → /aˈku.o/

Verb

ᾰ̓κούω • (akoúō)

1. (transitive) to hear [+accusative = something], [+genitive = someone]
2. (transitive) to hear about, learn
3. (transitive) to listen, pay attention to, heed

   Ἄκουε τοῦ διδασκάλου!

1. Ákoue toû didaskálou!

   Listen to the teacher!

1. Νῦν δὲ ἄκουσόν μου!

1. Nûn dè ákousón mou!

   Now listen to me!

1. (transitive) to understand
2. (transitive) to obey
3. (passive voice) to be called, be spoken of, be known as

Usage notes

Usually, the object which is heard takes the accusative case, while the speaker, when present, takes the genitive. Sometimes the object is in the genitive, or the person is introduced with a preposition.

Inflection

Attic uses the future middle ἀκούσομαι (akoúsomai), while future active ἀκούσω (akoúsō) appears in Koine and Homer (Iliad 21.475).