The concept of wave hierarchy in Elliott Wave Theory — classifying waves by their relative size. From smallest to largest: Sub-Minuette, Minuette, Minute, Minor, Intermediate, Primary, Cycle, Supercycle, Grand Supercycle.
Description
In Elliott Wave Theory, every wave is a sub-wave of a larger wave, and every wave contains smaller sub-waves. This self-similar (fractal) structure is organized into named degrees. The degree names provide a shared language for identifying which level of the wave structure is being discussed. Note that degrees are relative — the same price movement may be labeled differently depending on context.
Degree Hierarchy
| Name | English | Label | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| グランドスーパーサイクル | Grand Supercycle | 〔Roman numerals〕 | Centuries |
| スーパーサイクル | Supercycle | (Roman numerals) | Decades |
| サイクル | Cycle | 〔Arabic numerals〕 | Several years |
| プライマリー | Primary | (Arabic numerals) | Months to years |
| インターミーディエット | Intermediate | [Arabic numerals] | Weeks to months |
| マイナー | Minor | Arabic numerals | Days to weeks |
| ミニュエット | Minuette | (i)(ii)… | Hours to days |
| サブミニュエット | Sub-Minuette | i, ii, iii… | Minutes to hours |
Key Points
- Degrees are relative — the same wave can be labeled at a different degree depending on context
- Use degree notation to clearly communicate which level of the hierarchy is being analyzed
- ‘One degree higher’: the wave that contains the wave you are analyzing
- ‘One degree lower’: the sub-waves that make up the wave you are analyzing
- Wave personalities are most reliable at Primary degree and above
