ἀλάλητος (G215) — Greek Lexicon

ἀλάλητος

alálētos

G215 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Root λαλ- to speak, to utter

Definition

Not able to be expressed in words; that which cannot be articulated, spoken, or verbalized. The primary sense is of something being inexpressible, particularly in the context of human language or ability, often implying something profound, deep, or beyond human capacity to put into words. The semantic range also covers concepts or feelings that surpass ordinary speech, highlighting their depth or intensity.

Semantic Range

inexpressible, unspeakable, unutterable, impossible to verbalize, beyond speech; that which cannot be put into words

Root / Etymology

ἀλάλητος derives from the negative prefix ἀ- (alpha privative, meaning 'not' or 'without') and the adjective λαλήτος ('spoken', from the verb λαλέω, 'to speak, utter'). Thus, the etymology denotes 'not able to be spoken' or 'unspeakable.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word ἀλάλητος is extremely rare in extant Greek; in fact, it is primarily attested in the New Testament (Romans 8:26), where it describes groanings or utterances produced by the Spirit that are 'unutterable' or 'inexpressible' by human speech. The formation follows a common Greek pattern for creating adjectives that indicate privation or impossibility. In Hellenistic and later sources, similar constructions are sometimes used to denote that something is ineffable or beyond the scope of ordinary human language. Standard English translations often render the term as 'inexpressible' or 'unutterable,' but the Greek conveys the specific sense of being beyond speech — not merely difficult to express, but fundamentally unspeakable. No classical Greek attestations are recorded, suggesting it was either rare in literary Greek or a coinage for the expressiveness of early Christian texts. There is no evidence of a technical religious meaning confined to any particular group; its sense is determined contextually as that which cannot be verbalized, especially regarding profound spiritual or emotional experiences.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and a derivative of λαλέω; unspeakable:--unutterable, which cannot be uttered.

Root Family

ἀλάλητος (alálētos) — not spoken, inexpressible, unutterable, beyond speech

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G215-01`	ἀλαλήτοις	alaletois	`ADJ.A DAT M PL`		to unspeakable ones	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G215-01`	Romans 8:26	ἀλαλήτοις	alaletois	`ADJ.A DAT M PL`		to unspeakable ones

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