What is middle voice?

Definition
	Middle voice is a voice that indicates that the subject is the actor and acts
	upon himself or herself reflexively, or for his or her own benefit.
	In the case of plural subjects, the actors may, perhaps, act upon each other.

Example (Greek)

Here is an example of middle voice [diacritical markings are omitted here]:

The Greek verb louomai means ‘I wash myself.’

Source:

Hartmann and Stork 1972 252

Concept module: middle voice
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): M
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004