-ܘ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Etymology

Derived from -ܘܿܢ -ōn, the absolute state of the diminutive suffix -ܘܿܢܵܐ (-ōnā), with the ending of /n/ being elided as typical in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic.

Suffix

-ܘܿ • (-ō)

1. Suffix forming feminine words referring to single inanimate entities, small animals, or words usually associated with smallness; or names of male animals; or words of endearment or attached to human names to form nicknames and diminutives. (see usage notes)

   ܒܲܠܥܘܿ (balˁō, “whirlpool”)

   ܒܵܛܝܼܒܵܛܘܿ (bāṭībāṭō, “firefly, ladybug”)

   ܚܹܐܦܘܿ (ḥēpō, “mosquito”)

   ‎ܝܲܠܕܵܐ (yaldā) + ‎-ܘܿ (-ō) + ‎-ܘ (-w) → ‎ܝܲܠܕܘܿ (yaldō, “Male-given name”)

   ‎ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ (ḥayyē) + ‎-ܘܿ (-ō) + ‎-ܘ (-w) → ‎ܚܵܝܘܿ (ḥāyō, “term of endearment derived from the word for life”)

   ‎ܣܵܒ݂ܬܵܐ (sāḇtā) + ‎-ܘܿ (-ō) + ‎-ܘ (-w) → ‎ܣܲܒ݂ܬܘܿ (saḇtō, “granny, endearing term for a grandmother”)

   ‎ܟܲܠܬ݂ܵܐ (kalṯā) + ‎-ܘܿ (-ō) + ‎-ܘ (-w) → ‎ܟܵܠܘܿ (kālō, “bride”)

Usage notes

• Other than personal names, all derived nouns are always feminine.
• Derived animal names are always masculine because this is only used for names of male animals.
• For humans, this may be used to form diminutives of human names and terms of endearment for either gender.