-άκης

See also: ἀκῆς and -άκις

Greek

Alternative forms

• -άκις (-ákis)

Etymology

From Byzantine Greek -άκης (-ákēs), or “more correct -άκις (-ákis)” from -άκ(ι) < -άκ(ιν) < -άκ(ιον), diminutive suffix (for neuters) + -ης suffix for masculine.
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Suffix

-άκης • (-ákis) m

1. Gives a diminutive form of a masculine first name:

   ‎Γιώργος (Giórgos) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎Γιωργάκης (Giorgákis)

   ‎Γιάννης (Giánnis) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎Γιαννάκης (Giannákis)

2. An ending for family names, chiefly Cretan, also of diminutive derivation (See Usage Notes)

   ‎Θεόδωρος (Theódoros) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎Θεοδωράκης (Theodorákis)

   η οικογένεια των Βροντάκηδων ― i oikogéneia ton Vrontákidon ― the Vrondakides family

3. (rare, derogatory)

   ‎κόσμος (kósmos) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎κοσμάκης (kosmákis, “the poor people”)

Usage notes

Family names suffixed -άκης are attested in Byzantine times: e.g. Ραβδοκανάκης (Rabdokanákēs) c.1250. A systematic registering of surnames in Greece started in the 19th century. -άκης was frequent in Mani (where more often it became -άκος (-ákos)) and chiefly in the island of Crete (where also the augmentative -ακας (-akas) is found in contrast to the diminutive -άκης).

Which of the two alternative spellings (-άκις or -άκης) is more correct, is still debated. Currently (2010s), some people insist on -άκις, although -άκης is much more frequent.

• Notable -άκης: the writer Nikos Kazantzakis, the composer Mikis Theodorakis.
• Notable -άκις: the composer Manos Hatzidakis, the father of Greek linguistics Georgios Hatzidakis.

Declension

declension of -άκης

case     \     number	singular	plural
nominative	-άκης •	-άκηδες •
genitive	-άκη •	-άκηδων •
accusative	-άκη •	-άκηδες •
vocative	-άκη •	-άκηδες •

Derived terms

Greek terms suffixed with -άκης