Tag Archives: κἀκεῖ

Definition of Crasis

Crasis (Greek: κρᾶσις) is a linguistic phenomenon in Greek where two adjacent words, especially when one ends in a vowel and the next begins with a vowel, combine to form a single word. The term itself means “mixing” or “blending,” which captures the essence of this contraction process. Crasis primarily occurs to simplify pronunciation, creating a smoother flow of speech by avoiding the need to articulate two consecutive vowel sounds. In New Testament Greek, crasis is most commonly seen with the conjunction καὶ (“and”) blending with pronouns, articles, or particles that begin with vowels.

Function and Importance in New Testament Greek

The presence of crasis in New Testament Greek helps to streamline phrases, making them easier to say and, in some cases, more efficient to write.… Learn Koine Greek