Wave Degree

2026.05.09

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“Wave Degree” refers to the size level of a wave in Elliott Wave Theory. Multiple degrees from grand supercycle to subminuette are nested, forming a fractal structure in which any wave unfolds as a “subwave of the next-larger wave.”

Overview: What is Wave Degree?

In Elliott Wave Theory, any wave unfolds as a “subwave of the next-larger wave.” This level of wave size is called the “Wave Degree.”

A larger single wave contains smaller waves (subwaves), and those subwaves are in turn composed of even finer subwaves — forming a nested structure. This is the essence of the fractal structure of Elliott Wave. The largest degree is “Grand Supercycle (decades to centuries)” and the smallest is “Subminuette (minutes to hours),” named in graduated steps.

Illustrated Chart

① Fractal structure: a large wave is composed of subwaves of smaller waves — Click to expand
S 1 2 3 4 5 Within a larger 5-wave structure, smaller 5-wave structures unfold
The fractal structure: within a larger 5-wave structure (red, waves 1–5), even smaller 5-wave structures (gray subwaves) are nested. Each of waves 1, 3, and 5 (motive waves) is internally subdivided into 5 subwaves, and waves 2 and 4 (corrective waves) into 3 subwaves. The same pattern repeating at every degree is the essence of Elliott Wave.
How to read the diagram: The red labels (1–5) are the waves at the next-higher degree, and the small gray dots are their subwaves. Degree is relative — what counts as “one above” or “one below” depends on where you are looking from.

Wave Degree List

The degrees of Elliott Waves are named from the largest to the smallest as follows. Notation symbols are also defined for each, used to clarify which degree of wave is being analyzed.

Name English Name Notation Period Reference
Grand Supercycle Grand Supercycle 〔Ⅰ〕〔Ⅱ〕〔Ⅲ〕〔Ⅳ〕〔Ⅴ〕 〔Roman numerals〕 Decades to centuries
Supercycle Supercycle (Ⅰ)(Ⅱ)(Ⅲ)(Ⅳ)(Ⅴ) (Roman numerals) Decades
Cycle Cycle Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅲ Ⅳ Ⅴ Roman numerals Several years to ~10+ years
Primary Primary 〔①〕〔②〕〔③〕〔④〕〔⑤〕 〔Circled numerals〕 Months to several years
Intermediate Intermediate (①)(②)(③)(④)(⑤) (Circled numerals) Weeks to months
Minor Minor 1 2 3 4 5 Arabic numerals Days to weeks
Minuette Minuette (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) (Arabic numerals) Hours to days
Subminuette Subminuette 〔ⅰ〕〔ⅱ〕〔ⅲ〕〔ⅳ〕〔ⅴ〕 〔lowercase Roman numerals〕 Minutes to hours

Detailed Points

  1. Any wave unfolds as a “subwave of the next-larger wave” (fractal structure)

    The foundation of Elliott Wave is the fractal structure. A larger single wave is composed of subwaves of the next-smaller wave, and each subwave is composed of even smaller subwaves. The same pattern repeats at every degree of this nested structure.

  2. Always be conscious of which degree of wave you are analyzing when counting

    When counting waves, always be conscious of which degree of wave you are looking at. Confusing the degree can lead to entirely different scenarios even with the same wave form, so it is standard practice to make the degree explicit through notation symbols (〔Roman numerals〕, (Roman numerals), etc.).

  3. Guidelines (such as wave personality) apply more readily at primary degree and above

    Various Elliott Wave guidelines, especially wave personality (→ Wave Personality), are said to apply well at primary degree and above (the scale observable on daily charts). At smaller degrees, they may not apply as well.

  4. Cycle degree is roughly 10 years in length as a reference

    Degree names can be hard to grasp intuitively, so using “Cycle degree = roughly 10 years in length” as a reference makes them easier to grasp. One degree larger is Supercycle, one degree smaller is Primary.

Supercycle / Grand Supercycle
The highest-class wave degrees in Elliott Wave Theory. They represent large market cycles on the scale of decades to centuries.
Counting Procedure
Proceeding in the order large → small is the basic principle. Always be conscious of which degree of wave you are analyzing.

Summary

Wave Degree refers to the size level of a wave in Elliott Wave Theory; 8 degrees are defined, from Grand Supercycle (decades to centuries) down to Subminuette (minutes to hours).

Any wave forms a fractal structure that unfolds as a “subwave of the next-larger wave,” and in counting work it is important to always be conscious of which degree you are analyzing. The notation symbols (〔Roman numerals〕, (Roman numerals), etc.) are used to make explicit which degree of wave is being discussed.

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