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οὗτος

hoûtos

G3778 demonstrative pronoun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A demonstrative pronoun indicating a person, thing, or concept that is near in time, space, discourse, or attention to the speaker or writer; primarily refers to 'this (one), these', sometimes with emphasis on what is present, just mentioned, or about to be described. Can function as subject, object, or attribute in a sentence, agreeing in gender, number, and case with its referent. In discourse, can distinguish 'this one' (more immediate) from 'that one' (ἐκεῖνος, more distant). Forms part of set phrases or idioms to emphasize or clarify the referent.

Semantic Range

this (one), these, the aforementioned, the present, such as, he, she, it, those here, the same, this person, this thing, hereof, which, who, such

Root / Etymology

Compound of the article ὁ (the) and αὐτός (self, same); developed in Greek as a demonstrative pronoun through the combination of the definite article and the intensifying pronominal element.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Koine Greek, οὗτος frequently serves as the primary demonstrative pronoun for what is close (in proximity, thought, or narrative), in contrast to ἐκεῖνος, which denotes something more remote. Its forms vary for gender, number, and case (masculine: οὗτος, feminine: αὕτη, neuter: τοῦτο). In New Testament and Septuagint usage, it typically functions to bring attention to a person or thing just mentioned or presently considered—the near demonstrative. English translations ('this', 'these', sometimes 'the one' or 'such') do not always convey its emphasis or contrast with ἐκεῖνος, and sometimes use 'he' or 'she' for stylistic smoothness; this can obscure the Greek's explicit demonstrative force.

Translation Consistency

primary "this" 932 occurrences

'This' is the most frequent and natural English rendering for οὗτος and serves as the canonical demonstrative base. Plural and other forms (e.g., 'these') can be generated by regular inflection while keeping one consistent base; it best captures the proximal, immediate sense in the SILEX definition.

Alternatives (451 occurrences):
"these" (349x) "these ones" (63x) "these here" (27x) "him" (5x) "than these" (5x) "he" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.

Root Family

οὗτος (houtos) — this one, these, the present, the same, the one here

Root οὗτ- to indicate what is present or near, point out, designate this or these
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G5024 ταὐτά these things

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3778-12 τοῦτο touto PRO.D NOM N SG this this this 408
G3778-05 ταῦτα tauta PRO.D ACC N PL these things these these 239
G3778-04 οὗτος outos PRO.D NOM M SG this in this way this one 187
G3778-14 τούτων touton DET GEN M PL these of these of these 132
G3778-03 οὗτοι outoi DET NOM M PL these these ones these ones 74
G3778-02 αὕτη aute DET NOM F SG this to this one this 73
G3778-15 τούτου toutou DET GEN M SG this of this one of this one 69
G3778-09 ταύτην tauten DET ACC F SG this this (feminine singular) this (feminine singular) 52
G3778-10 ταύτης tautes DET GEN F SG this of this of this 33
G3778-08 ταύτῃ taute DET DAT F SG this to this one this 32

Occurrences in Scripture

1385 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3778-05 Matthew 1:20 ταῦτα tauta PRO.D ACC N PL these things these these
G3778-12 Matthew 1:22 τοῦτο touto PRO.D NOM N SG this this this
G3778-04 Matthew 3:3 οὗτος outos PRO.D NOM M SG this in this way this
G3778-14 Matthew 3:9 τούτων touton DET GEN M PL these of these these
G3778-04 Matthew 3:17 οὗτός outos PRO.D NOM M SG This in this way this
G3778-03 Matthew 4:3 οὗτοι outoi DET NOM M PL these these ones these ones
G3778-05 Matthew 4:9 ταῦτά tauta PRO.D ACC N PL these things these these
G3778-14 Matthew 5:19 τούτων touton DET GEN F PL these of these these
G3778-04 Matthew 5:19 οὗτος outos-2 PRO.D NOM M SG this-one in this way this one
G3778-14 Matthew 5:37 τούτων touton PRO.D GEN N PL these of these of these
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