-a
Translingual
Suffix
-a
- Used to create genus names from proper nouns
- Used to take the form of certain plural Latin-derived taxonomic names
Derived terms
English
Etymology 1
From the homographic case endings of the nominative, accusative, and vocative forms of numerous Latin neuter second declension nouns.
Usage notes
- Whereas the regular pluralization in English involves adding -s or -es, English words derived from a Latin/Greek etymon where the Latin/Greek would pluralize from -on (Greek) or -um (Latin) to -a do not always do so. Usage of -a instead of -s differs between words: sometimes the two are interchangeable (e.g. memorandums/memoranda, polyhedrons/polyhedra), sometimes one is far more common than the other (e.g. neurons over neura, automata over automatons), and sometimes one is completely absent from usage (e.g. bacteria over bacteriums, dendrons over dendra)
- The word data is etymologically the plural of datum but is commonly regarded as an uncountable noun.
Translations
Etymology 2
Representing the nominative singular case ending of Latin first-declension feminine nouns.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: ə, IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “feminine suffix”): he-
Derived terms
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Etymology 4
Shortened version of verb have.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Etymology 5
Equivalent to Etymology 2, representing Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish feminine nouns.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “female suffix”): he-
Etymology 6
Added especially for metrical reasons, or as an empty filler syllable. Also used to imitate an Italian accent.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix
-a
- Added for metrical reasons to songs, poetry and verse, or as an empty filler syllable to other speech.
- c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
- A merry heart goes all the day
Your sad tires in a mile-a
- 1936 July 18, Leon Schlesinger (producer) / Norman Spencer (music), I Love to Singa:
- I love to sing-a / about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a, / I love to sing-a / about a sky of blue-a, or a tea for two-a.
- 1980s, “Wanna”, in Herb Owen (music), Kids Sing Praise, performed by Kids Sing Praise:
- I wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna really wanna be just like the Lord
So every day Im gonna gonna read the Book and rest upon-a God's own holy Word
Of good in me there's none-a none-a that's okay because I'm gonna trust upon the work that's done-a on the Cross
and Jesus is the one-a one-a God the Father's Son-a Son-a and my sin He cures!
- 2014, Don Pendleton, California Hit, Open Road Media, →ISBN:
- "I'm-a tell-a you why you better be. I named you in my will, Franco."
Etymology 7
Shortened version of preposition of.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix
-a
Etymology 8
Shortened version of verb to.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
References
- Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “-a”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 1.
- Christine A. Lindberg, editor (2002), “-a”, in The Oxford College Dictionary, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Spark Publishing, →ISBN, page 1.
Albanian
Article
-a f
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Basque
Suffix
-a
- Absolutive singular suffix.
- Liburua ekarri al duzu? ― Did you bring the book?
Usage notes
- The suffix -a is usually described as an article. However, its usage is not equivalent to that of English the or a. In Basque, every nominal phrase must carry a determiner, which usually takes the final position in the phrase. Although many others exist, -a is the default determiner which introduces no additional meaning. Compare the following sentences. In the first two, the determiners (-a and hau (“this”)) apply to the noun phrase etxe handi (“big house”); while in the last two they apply separately to etxe (“house”) and handi (“big”):
- Etxe handia da. ― It is a big house.
- Etxe handi hau da. ― It is this big house.
- Etxea handia da. ― The house is big.
- Etxe hau handia da. ― This house is big.
- In Standard Basque, nouns ending in -a in their indefinite form (known in Basque as a itsatsia (literally “attached a”)) don't change when the article is added:
Declension
Basque inflectional suffixes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite | singular | plural | proximal plural | ||
absolutive | -∅ | -a | -ak | -ok | |
ergative | -(e)k | -ak | -ek | ||
dative | -(r)i | -ari | -ei | -oi | |
genitive | -(r)en | -aren | -en | -on | |
comitative | -(r)ekin | -arekin | -ekin | -okin | |
causative | -(r)engatik | -arengatik | -engatik | -ongatik | |
benefactive | -(r)entzat | -arentzat | -entzat | -ontzat | |
instrumental | -(e)z | -az | -ez | -oz | |
inessive | anim. | -(r)engan | -arengan | -engan | -ongan |
inanim. | -(e)tan | -an | -etan | -otan | |
locative | anim. | ― |
― |
― |
― |
inanim. | -(e)tako | -(e)ko | -etako | -otako | |
allative | anim. | -(r)engana | -arengana | -engana | -ongana |
inanim. | -(e)tara | -(e)ra | -etara | -otara | |
terminative | anim. | -(r)enganaino | -arenganaino | -enganaino | -onganaino |
inanim. | -(e)taraino | -(e)raino | -etaraino | -otaraino | |
directive | anim. | -(r)enganantz | -arenganantz | -enganantz | -onganantz |
inanim. | -(e)tarantz | -(e)rantz | -etarantz | -otarantz | |
destinative | anim. | -(r)enganako | -arenganako | -enganako | -onganako |
inanim. | -(e)tarako | -(e)rako | -etarako | -otarako | |
ablative | anim. | -(r)engandik | -arengandik | -engandik | -ongandik |
inanim. | -(e)tatik | -(e)tik | -etik | -otik | |
partitive | -(r)ik | ― |
― |
― | |
prolative | -tzat | ― |
― |
― |
Further reading
- “bat zenbatzailea / -a artikulua (batzuk/-ak)” in Euskara Batuaren Eskuliburua [Handbook of Standard Basque], euskaltzaindia.eus
- “a itsatsia” in Euskara Batuaren Eskuliburua [Handbook of Standard Basque], euskaltzaindia.eus
Particle
-a
- (Navarro-Lapurdian) Used to form yes/no questions.
- Liburua ekarri duzuia? ― Did you bring the book?
Usage notes
- It takes different forms depending on the ending of the verb:
- -a + -a → -ea
- -e + -a → -ea
- -o + -a → -oa, -oia
- -u + -a → -uia, -ia
- Other dialects use the unrelated particle al.
Further reading
- “-a galde-partikula” in Euskara Batuaren Eskuliburua [Handbook of Standard Basque], euskaltzaindia.eus
Czech
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ a]
Suffix
-a m anim (noun-forming suffix)
- forms agent nouns referring to male people
- posrat (“to shit oneself”) + -a → posera (“coward”)
- nafouknout (“to inflate, to blow up”) + -a → náfuka (“bighead, conceited person”)
Suffix
-a f (noun-forming suffix)
Derived terms
Further reading
- -a in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017
Esperanto
Etymology
From feminine singular adjectives (and nouns) of the Romance languages, such as French ma, Italian mia, Spanish mía, fría.
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Suffix
-a
- Related to, in the manner of, of. Ending for all adjectives in Esperanto.
- Belonging to, of. Ending for all possessive pronouns in Esperanto.
- Used to form the ordinal numeral.
- -kind of. Ending of all correlatives of kind in Esperanto.
Derived terms
Faroese
Finnish
Alternative forms
- -ä (in words with front vowel harmony)
Etymology 1
From Proto-Finnic *-da, from the Proto-Uralic ablative case *-ta. A variant form *-ta (whence Finnish -ta) was used after a syllable with secondary stress (suffixal gradation).
Suffix
-a (front vowel harmony variant -ä, linguistic notation -A)
- (case suffix) Forms the partitive case of nouns, adjectives, numbers and some pronouns.
Usage notes
- This suffix is used after a short vowel or the plural marker -j-.
- See the appendix on Finnish nominal cases for more information on how the partitive case is used.
Etymology 2
From Proto-Finnic *-dak.
Suffix
-a (front vowel harmony variant -ä, linguistic notation -A)
- (verbal suffix) Forms the short form of the first infinitive of verbs.
Usage notes
- The first infinitive, short form, is the citation form of verbs.
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Audio (file)
Garo
Suffix
-a
- neutral, unmarked tense-aspect marker
Usage notes
In addition to present time, it often shows habitual action, and can also past and future
Gothic
Hungarian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ɒ]
Audio (file)
Etymology 1
From the *sᴕ̈ third-person personal pronoun of the ancestor language after it was appended to the word of possession. According to some linguists this attachment happened in the Proto-Uralic era, while others think it happened much later when the Hungarian language became independent.[1]
Suffix
-a
- Possessive (and genitive) suffix: [from 1055]
- (with no possessor or with the 3rd‑person pronoun as possessor, usually construed with the definite article) his, her, its …
- ház → (a) háza, az ő háza (“his/her/its house”) élet → (az) élete, az ő élete (“his/her/its life”) barát → (a) barátja (“his/her/its friend”) kapu → (a) kapuja (“his/her/its gate”) palota → (a) palotája (“his/her/its palace”) kert → (a) kertje (“his/her/its garden”) betű → (a) betűje (“his/her/its letter”) vese → (a) veséje (“his/her/its kidney”)
- (with a singular possessor) …-'s, of … (third-person singular, single possession)
- Anna háza (“Anna’s house”), a felkelő nap háza (“the house of the rising sun”) Anna élete (“Anna’s life”), a város élete (“the life of the city”) a király palotája (“the king’s palace”) a ház kapuja (“the gate of the house”) Anna kertje (“Anna’s garden”), a tulipán kertje (“the garden of the tulip”)
- (with a plural possessor) …-s’, of …-s (third-person plural, single possession)
- a szüleim háza (“my parents’ house”), a trópusi növények háza (“[the] house of [the] tropical plants”, literally “the tropical plants’ house”) a szüleim élete (“my parents’ lives”, literally “my parents’ life”), a könyvek élete (“[the] lives of [the] books”, literally “the books’ life”) az uralkodók palotája (“the rulers’ palace”) a szüleim kertje (“my parents’ garden”), Az elágazó ösvények kertje (“The Garden of Forking Paths”)
- (with instantaneous time expressions) … ago (referring to a preceding point in time considered as an instant)
- (with durative time expressions) for … (referring to some duration that precedes the point of time in question)
- Egy évszázada / két éve / egy órája / sok/hosszú ideje várunk rád. ― We have been waiting for you for a century / two years / an hour / a long time.
- (mostly with quantities, often following -ik) of …, out of … (partitive sense)
- Synonym: (only with countable quantities) közül
- jó (jav-) (“the greater/better part”) → a java még hátravan (“the best/bulk is yet to come”, literally “its best/bulk is…”)
- legnagyobbik (“the biggest one”) → a bikák legnagyobbika (“the biggest [one] of the bulls”, synonymous with a legnagyobb bika)
- (with no possessor or with the 3rd‑person pronoun as possessor, usually construed with the definite article) his, her, its …
- (personal suffix) [from the end of the 12th century]
- Third-person singular personal suffix in back-vowel verbs. Today it can be found in the third-person singular definite forms (indicative past and imperative conjugations) as part of the suffix -ja/-je, -ta/-te.
- Third-person singular personal suffix in back-vowel conjugated infinitives and in the declined and postposition forms of the third-person personal pronoun ő (“he/she/it”).
- tanulni (“to study”) → tanulnia kell (“he/she must study”, literally “it is necessary for him/her to study”)
- kérni (“to request, ask for”) → kérnie kell (“he/she must request [it]”, literally “it is necessary for him/her to request”)
- -ról (“about”) → róla (“about him/her/it”)
- -től (“from”) → tőle (“from him/her/it”)
- után (“after”) → utána (“after him/her/it”)
- fölött (“above”) → fölötte (“above him/her/it”)
Usage notes
- (possessive suffix) Variants:
- -a is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -e is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -ja is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant or a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-; final -o changes to -ó-.
- -je is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant or a vowel. Final -e changes to -é-; final -ö changes to -ő-.
- This suffix (in all forms) is normally used for the third-person singular possessive (single possession) but, after an explicit plural possessor, it also expresses the third-person plural possessive (single possession), e.g. “the children’s ball” (a gyerekek labdája). If the possessor is implicit (not named, only marked by a suffix), the plural possessive suffix must be used, e.g. “their ball” (a labdájuk, see -juk and its variants).
- (personal suffix) Variants:
Declension
Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony) | ||
---|---|---|
singular | plural | |
nominative | -a | — |
accusative | -át | — |
dative | -ának | — |
instrumental | -ával | — |
causal-final | -áért | — |
translative | -ává | — |
terminative | -áig | — |
essive-formal | -aként | — |
essive-modal | -ául | — |
inessive | -ában | — |
superessive | -án | — |
adessive | -ánál | — |
illative | -ába | — |
sublative | -ára | — |
allative | -ához | — |
elative | -ából | — |
delative | -áról | — |
ablative | -ától | — |
non-attributive possessive - singular |
-áé | — |
non-attributive possessive - plural |
-áéi | — |
See also
- Category:Hungarian noun forms
- Appendix:Hungarian possessive suffixes
Etymology 2
First attested in 1055. It can be traced back to Proto-Uralic *-i̮ which with the word-final vowel created the diphthong -ai̮/-ei̮. This had simplified to -á/-é, finally in the Old Hungarian era it had shortened to -a/-e. It was a productive suffix at that time, the back-vowel variant was used even in front-vowel words such as the Old Hungarian female given names Fehéra and Szépa, derived from fehér (“light in color”) and szép (“beautiful”), respectively.[1]
Suffix
-a
Etymology 3
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix
-a
Etymology 4
Along with its front-vowel counterpart -e, from the diphthongs -ai̮/-ei̮, developing to -á/-é, then shortened to this form by the end of the early Old Hungarian period. After the participle suffix became fixed as -ó/-ő, the remaining words suffixed with -a/-e underwent conversion; some became adjectives, others, nouns.[1]
Suffix
-a
Derived terms
- borissza, bornemissza
- cafka
- (csala)finta (dubious)
- csóka
- csusza
- duda
- furcsa
- gyagya
- handa(banda)
- (hepe)hupá(s)
- hinta
- hulla
- huzavona
- illa (berek)
- inga
- kajla
- kába
- koca
- kósza
- kuka (“dumb”)
- kusza
- kutya (debated)
- léha
- morzsa (debated)
- pala
- pecá(zik)
- pilla
- pofa (debated)
- pongyola (debated)
- potya
- puha
- ronda (dubious)
- rozoga
- satra(fa)
- sima
- (zene)bona
References
- -a in Zaicz, Gábor (ed.). Etimológiai szótár: Magyar szavak és toldalékok eredete (‘Dictionary of Etymology: The origin of Hungarian words and affixes’). Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó, 2006, →ISBN. (See also its 2nd edition.)
Icelandic
Suffix
-a
- Used to form verbs from nouns.
- Used to form adverbs from adjectives.
Derived terms
See also
- -ari
- -ingi
Ido
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Suffix
-a
Usage notes
One may elide the final a of the adjectives, but with the condition not to produce accumulation from the consonants. One advise to use the elision mainly with the derivatived adjectives and particularly when they finish with -al-(a).[1]
Derived terms
References
- “KGD”, in Kompleta gramatiko detaloza (in Ido), 2015 December 23 (last accessed), archived from the original on 27 January 2012
Ingrian
Etymology 1
From Proto-Finnic *-da. Cognates include Finnish -a and Estonian -a.
Pronunciation
- (Ala-Laukaa) IPA(key): /-ɑ/, [-ɑ]
- (Soikkola) IPA(key): /-ɑ/, [-ɑ]
Inflection
Possessive forms of -a | ||
---|---|---|
possessor | singular | plural |
1st person | -haan | -amme |
2nd person | -haas | -anne |
3rd person | -haa | -asse |
Etymology 2
From Proto-Finnic *-dak. Cognates include Finnish -da.
Pronunciation
- (Ala-Laukaa) IPA(key): /-ɑ/, [-ɑ]
- (Soikkola) IPA(key): /-ɑ/, [-ɑ]
Irish
Suffix
-a
- plural ending of certain nouns
- plural ending of adjectives in the nominative, vocative, dative, and strong genitive cases
- genitive singular ending of third-declension nouns
Italian
Etymology 1
Inherited from Latin -a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ (forms action nouns).
Suffix
-a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -e)
- used with a stem to form a feminine singular noun, usually a deverbal
- Synonym: -o
Derived terms
Suffix
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- used, with a stem, to form the third-person singular present tense of -are verbs
Suffix
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- used, with a stem, to form the second-person singular imperative of -are verbs
Suffix
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- used, with a stem, to form the first-person singular, second-person singular and third-person singular present subjunctive of -ere verbs, and of those -ire verbs that do not insert -isc-
Suffix
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- used, with a stem, to form the third-person singular imperative of -ere verbs, and of those -ire verbs that do not insert -isc-
Khalaj
Latin
Etymology 1
From Proto-Italic *-ā, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ (suffix originally used to form collective nouns, extended in Late PIE to also be a marker of feminine gender). For the use to form masculine agent nouns from verb roots, compare Latin poeta from Ancient Greek ποιητής (poiētḗs).
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /a/, [ä]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /a/, [ä]
Suffix
-a
Suffix
-a f or m (genitive -ae); first declension
- suffixed to the root of a masculine noun denoting a male, forms a feminine noun denoting a female counterpart.
- suffixed to the roots of (usually compound) verbs, forms (usually masculine) agent nouns
Declension
First-declension noun.
Case | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Nominative | -a | -ae |
Genitive | -ae | -ārum |
Dative | -ae | -īs |
Accusative | -am | -ās |
Ablative | -ā | -īs |
Vocative | -a | -ae |
1. Certain masculine nouns ending in -a, especially those ending in -cola and -gena, sometimes have a short genitive plural form ending in -um instead of -ārum.
2. Feminine nouns such as fīlia (“daughter”) that have a second-declension masculine counterpart that takes the ending -īs in the dative and ablative plural (fīlius (“son”), with the dative and ablative plural fīliīs) sometimes take the ending -ābus instead of -īs in the dative and ablative plural to avoid ambiguity. Forms in -ābus are attested earliest for the nouns fīlia and dea (“goddess”), and later on for others such as līberta (“freedwoman”), equa (“mare”) and anima.
Synonyms
- (suffixed to the roots of verbs, forms masculine agent nouns): -ō¹
Derived terms
References
- “-a¹” on page 1/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /aː/, [äː]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /a/, [ä]
Suffix
-ā (not comparable)
Derived terms
References
- “-ā²” on page 1/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
Etymology 3
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /aː/, [äː]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /a/, [ä]
Latvian
Derived terms
Lushootseed
Derived terms
- čxʷa
- čəda
- čələpa
- čɬa
Makasar
References
- Aburaerah Arief (1995) Kamus Makassar–Indonesia, Ujung Pandang: Yayaan Perguruan Islam Kapita, page 29.
Maltese
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Arabic ـَة (-a), reinforced by Sicilian and Italian -a, which are unrelated but used similarly.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
- Homophone: -ha (distinct after -h, -ħ, -għ; may also trigger different stem alternations)
Suffix
-a
- Used to form the feminine forms of most nouns and adjectives.
- Used to form the plurals of some nouns and adjectives.
- Used to form singulatives from collective nouns.
Maori
Derived terms
Mbyá Guaraní
Suffix
-a
Northern Sami
Etymology
From Proto-Samic *-ëk. Cognate with Finnish -e.
Pronunciation
- (Kautokeino) IPA(key): /ˈ-a/
Suffix
-a (with odd-syllable stems -at)
Usage notes
- This suffix triggers the weak grade on a preceding stressed syllable in the nominative singular and essive, and the strong grade in the other forms.
Inflection
Odd, no gradation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | -at | |||||||||||||||||||||
Genitive | -aga | |||||||||||||||||||||
Singular | Plural | |||||||||||||||||||||
Nominative | -at | -agat | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accusative | -aga | -agiid | ||||||||||||||||||||
Genitive | -aga | -agiid | ||||||||||||||||||||
Illative | -agii | -agiidda | ||||||||||||||||||||
Locative | -agis | -agiin | ||||||||||||||||||||
Comitative | -agiin | -agiiguin | ||||||||||||||||||||
Essive | -agin | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Derived terms
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix
-a
- the, Definite marker used for
- Synonym: (only for strong nouns; nonstandard since 2012) -i
- the definite singular of (strong) feminine nouns.
- the definite plural of strong neuter nouns.
- (dialectal) the dative singular case of strong masculine nouns.
- (archaic, nonstandard) Used to form definite singular dative case of weak masculine and neuter nouns
- -ed, Used for:
- Used to form an infinitive form for most verbs. When using split infinitive, this only applies to a select group.
- Used to form singular indefinite feminine form of some pronouns and adjectives (e.g. inga, lita, noka etc.).
- Synonym: -i (non-standard since 2012)
- plural of -um
- plural of -on
- Used as an ending of weak nouns and adjectives. Used for:
- the singular of weak feminine nouns, indefinite (non-standard since 2012) and definite forms.
- the singular of weak neuter nouns, indefinite and definite forms (e.g. auga, hjarta, øyra).
- (dated or dialectal) adverbs ((pre-2012) alternative form of -e).
- (pre-1901 (Landsmål), archaic or dialectal) the singular definite feminine and neuter forms of adjectives.
- (pre-1901 (Landsmål), archaic, nonstandard) Used to form the feminine indefinite plural of adjectives.
- (pre-1901 (Landsmål), archaic, nonstandard) Used to form the genitive plural of nouns.
Old English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɑ/
Etymology 1
From Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô. Cognate with Old High German -o.
Suffix
-a
- nominative masculine n-stem ending
- used to form the nominative singular n-stem (weak) adjective and subsequent nominalised form
- eald (“old”) + -a → (sē) ealda (“(the/that) old; (the/that) old one/thing”)
- used to form masculine agents, usually from verbs
Declension
Derived terms
Descendants
- Middle English: -e
Etymology 2
From Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô.
Suffix
-a
- Ending forming adverbs
Usage notes
Derived terms
Descendants
- Middle English: -e (fossilised)
Old Galician-Portuguese
Etymology
Inherited from Latin -at, from Proto-Italic *-āt, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti.
Old Irish
Pronoun
-a
Derived terms
Usage notes
Used with a relatively small number of adjectives to form an irregular comparative. The regular, productive comparative suffix is -iu.[1]
Derived terms
References
- Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2017) D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, § 375, pages 236–37
Old Norse
Etymology 1
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix
-a
- indicates negation; does not (Can we add an example for this sense?)
Etymology 2
From Proto-Germanic *-ōną.
Conjugation
infinitive | -a | |
---|---|---|
present participle | -andi | |
past participle | -aðr | |
indicative | present | past |
1st-person singular | -a | -aða |
2nd-person singular | -ar | -aðir |
3rd-person singular | -ar | -aði |
1st-person plural | -um | -uðum |
2nd-person plural | -ið | -uðuð |
3rd-person plural | -a | -uðu |
subjunctive | present | past |
1st-person singular | -a | -aða |
2nd-person singular | -ir | -aðir |
3rd-person singular | -i | -aði |
1st-person plural | -im | -aðim |
2nd-person plural | -ið | -aðið |
3rd-person plural | -i | -aði |
imperative | present | |
2nd-person singular | -a | |
1st-person plural | -um | |
2nd-person plural | -ið |
Derived terms
Descendants
Etymology 3
From Proto-Germanic *-ê and *-ô.
Descendants
- Icelandic: -a
Etymology 4
From Proto-Germanic *-ǭ or *-ô.
Suffix
-a f or n
- Occurs in the nominative singular of feminine on-stem nouns
- Occurs in the singular of neuter an-stem nouns
Declension
Etymology 5
Different noun forms.
Old Swedish
Suffix
-a
- Creates denominative verbs from nouns
- Creates factitive verbs from adjectives
- sighia
- to say
- hælgha
- to celebrate
Conjugation
present | past | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
infinitive | -a | — | |||
participle | -andi, -e | -aþer | |||
active voice | indicative | subjunctive | imperative | indicative | subjunctive |
iæk | -ar | -i, -e | — | -aþi, -e | -aþi, -e |
þū | -ar | -i, -e | -a | -aþi, -e | -aþi, -e |
han | -ar | -i, -e | — | -aþi, -e | -aþi, -e |
vīr | -um, -om | -um, -om | -um, -om | -aþum, -om | -aþum, -om |
īr | -in | -in | -in | -aþin | -aþin |
þēr | -a | -in | — | -aþu, -o | -aþin |
mediopassive voice | indicative | subjunctive | imperative | indicative | subjunctive |
iæk | -as | -is, -es | — | -aþis, -es | -aþis, -es |
þū | -as | -is, -es | — | -aþis, -es | -aþis, -es |
han | -as | -is, -es | — | -aþis, -es | -aþis, -es |
vīr | -ums, -oms | -ums, -oms | — | -aþums, -oms | -aþums, -oms |
īr | -ins | -ins | — | -aþins | -aþins |
þēr | -as | -ins | — | -aþus, -os | -aþins |
Descendants
- Swedish: -a
Old Tupi
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Derived terms
Phalura
Etymology 1
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /-a/
Suffix
-a
- Third person singular suffix
Alternative forms
References
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /-a/
Suffix
-a
- Plural suffix (with a-declension nouns)
References
Etymology 3
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /-a/
Suffix
-a
- Oblique case suffix (with a-declension nouns)
References
Etymology 4
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /-a/
Suffix
-a
- Masculine plural agreement suffix
References
Etymology 5
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /-a/
Suffix
-a
- Masculine non-nominative and non-singular agreement suffix
Polish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -a
- Syllabification: a
Etymology 1
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂.
Suffix
-a f
Declension
Declension
Etymology 2
Inherited from Old Polish -á, from Proto-Slavic *-aja.
Etymology 3
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьja. Doublet of -ia.
Etymology 4
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éad, the thematic ablative suffix.
Suffix
-a
Etymology 5
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a.
Derived terms
Further reading
- -a in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Portuguese
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɐ/
Etymology 1
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -am.
Suffix
-a f (plural -as)
Suffix
-a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)
Etymology 2
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -at.
See also
Etymology 3
From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -ā.
Suffix
-a
- forms the second-person singular affirmative imperative of verbs ending in -ar
- João, conta-nos o teu apelido. ― John, tell us your last name.
Etymology 4
From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -am, -eam.
Suffix
-a
- forms the first-person singular present subjunctive of verbs ending in -er and -ir
- É importante que eu coma carne. ― It is important that I eat meat.
Etymology 5
From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -at, -eat.
Suffix
-a
- forms the third-person singular present subjunctive of verbs ending in -er and -ir
- É importante que ele coma carne. ― It is important that he eat meat.
- forms the third-person singular affirmative imperative of verbs ending in -er and -ir
- Ei você aí, coma carne. ― Hey you there, eat meat.
- forms the third-person singular negative imperative of verbs ending in -er and -ir
- Ei você aí, não coma carne. ― Hey you there, don’t eat meat.
Usage notes
- The third-person imperative is not used with third person pronouns but rather with você, which is a second-person pronoun but always takes third-person conjugation.
Etymology 6
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Romani
Suffix
-a
Derived terms
References
- Yaron Matras, Anton Tenser, editors (2020 August), The Palgrave Handbook of Romani Language and Linguistics, Palgrave Macmillan, →ISBN, pages 30, 166
Romanian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Alternative forms
- -ua — used for feminine nouns ending in a stressed vowel or diphthong
Usage notes
This form of the definite article is used for feminine nouns in the nominative and accusative cases which end in -ă or in an unstressed vowel:
The suffix is also used with feminine adjectives in the nominative and accusative cases to make the articulated definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies:
Related terms
Etymology 2
Inherited from Latin -āre, the ending of the present active infinitive form of first conjugation verbs. Cognate with Spanish -ar, French -er, Italian -are, etc.
Suffix
-a
- A suffix forming infinitives of many verbs.
Conjugation
infinitive | a -a | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gerund | -ând | ||||||
past participle | -at | ||||||
number | singular | plural | |||||
person | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | |
indicative | eu | tu | el/ea | noi | voi | ei/ele | |
present | - | -i | -ă | -ăm | -ați | -ă | |
imperfect | -am | -ai | -a | -am | -ați | -au | |
simple perfect | -ai | -ași | -ă | -arăm | -arăți | -ară | |
pluperfect | -asem | -aseși | -ase | -aserăm | -aserăți | -aseră | |
subjunctive | eu | tu | el/ea | noi | voi | ei/ele | |
present | să - | să -i | să -e | să -ăm | să -ați | să -e | |
imperative | — | tu | — | — | voi | — | |
affirmative | -ă | -ați | |||||
negative | nu -a | nu -ați |
See also
Derived terms
Serbo-Croatian
Suffix
-a (Cyrillic spelling -а)
- Suffix appended to words (usually verbal stems) to create a feminine noun, usually denoting a relation or to form a proper noun.
Etymology 2
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-ōd, the thematic ablative ending.
Suffix
-a (Cyrillic spelling -а)
- Forms the genitive singular of masculine and neuter nouns and indefinite adjectives.
Slovak
Alternative forms
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ę.
Suffix
-a n
- forms nouns for young animals and other diminutives
Usage notes
- After labio-dental and bilabial consonants -ä is used instead.
Spanish
Suffix
-a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)
Suffix
-a f (non-lemma form of adjective-forming suffix)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Inherited from Latin -at, the third-person singular present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs.
Suffix
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
Etymology 3
Inherited from Latin -eam, Latin -am, and Latin -iam the first-person singular present active subjunctive endings of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively; and from Latin -eat, Latin -at, and Latin -iat, the third-person singular present active subjunctive ending of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively.
Suffix
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
Swahili
Suffix
-a
- positive indicative ending for verbs of Bantu origin
Usage notes
Several tenses (such as the ones which historically derive from auxiliary + main verb) keep their ending -a even in the negative.
See also
Swahili TAM markers | |
---|---|
Initial | |
Positive infinitive | ku-/kw-1 |
Negative infinitive | kuto- |
Habitual | hu-1 |
Telegrammic | ka-1 |
Final | |
General (positive indicative) | -a |
Positive subjunctive | -e |
Negative present | -i |
Second person plural | -ni |
Infix position positive subject concord | |
Positive past | -li- |
Positive present | -na- |
Positive future | -ta- |
Negative subjunctive | -si-1 |
Positive present conditional | -nge- |
Negative present conditional | -singe- |
Positive past conditional | -ngali- |
Negative past conditional | -singali- |
Gnomic | -a-1 |
Perfect | -me- |
"Already" past | -lisha- |
"Already" present | -mesha-/-sha- |
"If/When" | -ki-1 |
"If not" | -sipo- |
Consecutive | -ka-1 |
Infix position negative subject concord | |
Negative past | -ku-1 |
Negative future | -ta- |
"Not yet" | -ja-1 |
Negative present conditional | -nge- |
Negative past conditional | -ngali- |
Relative | |
Past | -li- |
Present | -na- |
Future | -taka- |
Negative | -si- |
1 Can take stress and therefore does not require -ku-/-kw- in monosyllabic verbs. |
Swedish
Etymology 1
From Old Swedish -a, from Old Norse -a, from Proto-Germanic *-ōną.
Suffix
-a
Conjugation
- For weak verbs with a voiceless ending stem:
Active | Passive | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Infinitive | - | -s | ||
Supine | -t | -ts | ||
Imperative | - | — | ||
Imper. plural1 | -en | — | ||
Present | Past | Present | Past | |
Indicative | -er | -te | -s, -es | -tes |
Ind. plural1 | - | -te | -s | -tes |
Subjunctive2 | -e | -te | -es | -tes |
Participles | ||||
Present participle | -nde | |||
Past participle | -t | |||
1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs. |
- For weak verbs with a voiced ending stem:
Active | Passive | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Infinitive | - | -s | ||
Supine | -t | -ts | ||
Imperative | - | — | ||
Imper. plural1 | -en | — | ||
Present | Past | Present | Past | |
Indicative | -er | -de | -s, -es | -des |
Ind. plural1 | - | -de | -s | -des |
Subjunctive2 | -e | -de | -es | -des |
Participles | ||||
Present participle | -nde | |||
Past participle | -d | |||
1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs. |
Derived terms
Etymology 2
The language noun sense originally comes from the definite adjective + tunga (“tongue; language”). Thus svenska (“Swedish”) was originally svenska tungan (the Swedish tongue)
Suffix
-a
Usage notes
- On adjectives: Traditionally, if the noun is in the definite singular form it should not refer to a male human if it uses the suffix -a. If it refers to such a person, the suffix should instead be -e, but one should note that this rule is not universally adhered to – in particular dialects of northern Sweden do not recognize the -e suffix at all, but use -a in all instances.
Suffix
-a
Usage notes
Tokelauan
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [-a]
Etymology 1
From Proto-Polynesian *-a. Cognates include Tuvaluan -a and Samoan -a.
Suffix
-a
Derived terms
Suffix
-a
- Added to transitive verbs when preceded by the subject pronoun.
Turkish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɑ/
Etymology 1
preceding vowel | ||
---|---|---|
A / I / O / U | E / İ / Ö / Ü | |
postconsonantal | -a | -e |
postvocalic | -ya | -ye |
From Proto-Turkic *-ka (“dative case”).
Suffix
-a (in words with back vowel harmony)
Etymology 2
preceding vowel | ||
---|---|---|
A / I / O / U | E / İ / Ö / Ü | |
postconsonantal | -a | -e |
postvocalic | -ya | -ye |
From Proto-Turkic *-ü (“gerundive suffix”).
Suffix
-a (in words with back vowel harmony)
Etymology 3
preceding vowel | ||
---|---|---|
A / I / O / U | E / İ / Ö / Ü | |
postconsonantal | -a | -e |
postvocalic | -ya | -ye |
From Proto-Turkic *-gey (“optative-predictive future case”).
Suffix
-a (in words with back vowel harmony)
References
- Çağbayır, Yaşar (2007) “-a¹, -a², -a³”, in Ötüken Türkçe Sözlük (in Turkish), volume 1, Istanbul: Ötüken Neşriyat, page 73
Volapük
Suffix
-a
- A morpheme used to mark the genitive singular of a word (such as a noun, adjective or pronoun). It is also the most common morpheme used in creating innumerable compound words, some of which can be very long
- pledadinaselidöp ― toy store, toy shop
- tanoganilamedin ― antibiotic
- taglumaladälamedin ― anti-depressant
- natrinakarbatazüd telik ― bicarbonate of soda
- Elaf Tyrannosaurus rex älifon in taledadil, kel nu binon dil Nolüda-Meropa.
- Tyrannosaurus rex lived in an area of the earth, which is now a part of North America.
- Buks binons stumem lärnazilana (/ lärnazilanastumem / stumem lärnazilanik).
- Books are a scholar's tools.
Walloon
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Suffix
-a
- Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having the sense of 'tool, object for a specific purpose'.
Derived terms
Welsh
Alternative forms
- -af (colloquial first-person singular future)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a/
Etymology 1
From -ha.
Suffix
-a
- Forms verbnouns from verb stems. Usually denotes an action that is often repeated, e.g. frequenting a certain place or gathering a certain item.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From -ha.
Etymology 3
From -ha.
Suffix
-a
- (literary) verb suffix for the second-person singular present imperative
- (colloquial) verb suffix for the second-person singular present imperative
Etymology 4
From -af.
Ye'kwana
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [-a]
Suffix
-a
- Forms the nonpast tense.
- Marks imperfective aspect in both the recent and distant past tenses.
Usage notes
This suffix can cause syllable reduction. The suffix takes the form -ka when the preceding syllable is reducible and has an onset of k, -ya when the preceding syllable ends in i, and -a in other contexts.
When marking the past imperfective, this suffix never occurs alone but is always accompanied by other suffixes bearing tense/aspect or at least number information. Conversely, when marking the nonpast tense, it occurs alone without other tense/aspect markers, though it can form a plural -aato.