φ

Φ φ, φεῖ (q.v.), τό, indecl., twenty-first letter of the Ion. alphabet: as a numeral φʹ = 500, but ͵φ = 500,000.

φ

• • Iφ, φῖ, τό, indecl., twenty-first letter of the Gr.
  • Ichanges of φ:
  • • 1in Aeolic, Doric and Ionic the aspirate was often dropped, and φ became π, as in ἀσπάραγος σπόγγος σπυράς for ἀσφάραγος σφόγγος σφυράς, whereas the Attic sometimes used φ for π, as φανός φάτρα for πανός πάτρα.
    • 2in Aeolic, Doric, and Ionic φ is sometimes put for θ, as φήρ φλάω for θήρ θλάω.
  • IIolder Poets sometimes treated φ as a double consonant, so that a short vowel before it becomes long by position, as in ὄφις, Ζεφύριος quasi ὄπφις, Ζεπφύριος.