-a
Translingual edit
Etymology edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Used to create genus names from proper nouns
- Used to take the form of certain plural Latin-derived taxonomic names
Derived terms edit
English edit
Etymology 1 edit
From the homographic case endings of the nominative, accusative, and vocative forms of numerous Latin neuter second declension nouns.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ɑ/, /ə/
Audio (US) (file)
- Homophones: -er, -or (in non-rhotic accents)
Suffix edit
-a
Usage notes edit
- 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.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
See also edit
Etymology 2 edit
Representing the nominative singular case ending of Latin first-declension feminine nouns.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: ə, IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
- Marks singular nouns, with a foundation in Greek or Latin, often implying femininity, especially when contrasted with words terminating in -us.
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
- (feminine suffix): he-
Derived terms edit
Etymology 3 edit
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
-a
Etymology 4 edit
Shortened version of verb have.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
-a
Etymology 5 edit
Equivalent to Etymology 2, representing Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish feminine nouns.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
-a
- Marks nouns, with a foundation in Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, implying femininity.
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
- (female suffix): he-
Etymology 6 edit
Added especially for metrical reasons, or as an empty filler syllable. Also used to imitate an Italian accent.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
-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[2], 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."
Alternative forms edit
Etymology 7 edit
Shortened version of preposition of.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
-a
- (slang) Clitic form of o' (contraction of of).
- 1946, Elizabeth Metzger Howard, Before the Sun Goes Down, page 31:
Etymology 8 edit
Shortened version of verb to.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ə/
Suffix edit
-a
See also edit
References edit
- 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 edit
Etymology 1 edit
Related to e (“of, the, to”) and -e.
Article edit
-a f
Etymology 2 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix edit
-a
Basque edit
Etymology 1 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Absolutive singular suffix.
- Liburua ekarri al duzu? ― Did you bring the book?
Usage notes edit
- 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 edit
Further reading edit
- “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
Etymology 2 edit
Particle edit
-a
- (Navarro-Lapurdian) Used to form yes/no questions.
- Liburua ekarri duzuia? ― Did you bring the book?
Usage notes edit
- 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 edit
- “-a galde-partikula” in Euskara Batuaren Eskuliburua [Handbook of Standard Basque], euskaltzaindia.eus
Czech edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-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 edit
-a f (noun-forming suffix)
- forms nouns referring to results of processes
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- -a in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017
Dutch edit
Pronunciation edit
Audio (file)
Suffix edit
-a
Esperanto edit
Etymology edit
From feminine singular adjectives (and nouns) of the Romance languages, such as French ma, Italian mia, Spanish mía, fría.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (file)
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Faroese edit
Suffix edit
-a
Finnish edit
Alternative forms edit
- -ä (in words with front vowel harmony)
Etymology 1 edit
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 edit
-a (front vowel harmony variant -ä, linguistic notation -A)
- (case suffix) Forms the partitive case of nouns, adjectives, numbers and some pronouns.
Usage notes edit
- 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 edit
From Proto-Finnic *-dak.
Suffix edit
-a (front vowel harmony variant -ä, linguistic notation -A)
- (verbal suffix) Forms the short form of the first infinitive of verbs.
Usage notes edit
- The first infinitive, short form, is the citation form of verbs.
See also edit
French edit
Etymology edit
From Latin -āt, short counterpart to -āvit.
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- forms the third-person singular past historic of -er verbs
Garo edit
Suffix edit
-a
- neutral, unmarked tense-aspect marker
Usage notes edit
In addition to present time, it often shows habitual action, and can also past and future
Gothic edit
Romanization edit
-a
- Romanization of -𐌰
Hungarian edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
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 edit
-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 edit
- (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:
- Note that the corresponding (third-person singular) indicative mood of front-vowel verbs is -i, e.g. kéri (“s/he requests it”).
Declension edit
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 edit
Etymology 2 edit
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 edit
-a
- (diminutive suffix) The back-vowel variant of the -a/-e diminutive suffix pair. In the past it could be found in common nouns, as well, but today it is used mostly in given names.
Etymology 3 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix edit
-a
- (personal suffix, archaic) Used to form the third-person singular indicative past indefinite, for back-vowel verbs. The front-vowel version is -e. The suffix currently used in this place is -t, -tt, or -ott. For the full paradigm, see the usage template.
Etymology 4 edit
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 edit
-a
- (obsolete participle suffix) Synonym of -ó (present-participle suffix) From a synchronic perspective, it can be viewed as a nominal-forming suffix, preserved in some adjectives and nouns (see below). No longer productive. Its front-vowel version is -e.
Derived terms edit
- 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 edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 -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 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Used to form verbs from nouns.
- Used to form adverbs from adjectives.
Derived terms edit
See also edit
Ido edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
Usage notes edit
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 edit
References edit
- ^ “KGD”, in Kompleta gramatiko detaloza[1] (in Ido), accessed 2015-12-23, archived from the original on 2012-01-27
Irish edit
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Etymology 1 edit
Inherited from Latin -a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ (forms action nouns).
Suffix edit
-a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -e)
Derived terms edit
Etymology 2 edit
Suffix edit
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- used, with a stem, to form the third-person singular present tense of -are verbs
Etymology 3 edit
Suffix edit
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- used, with a stem, to form the second-person singular imperative of -are verbs
Etymology 4 edit
From Latin -(e/i)am, -(e/i)ās, -(e/i)at.
Suffix edit
-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-
Etymology 5 edit
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Suffix edit
preceding vowel | |
---|---|
A / I / O / U | E / Ə / İ / Ö / Ü |
-a | -ə |
-a
- Form of -ə after the vowels A / I / O / U.
Latin edit
Etymology 1 edit
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 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- inflection of -us:
- nominative/accusative/vocative neuter plural of -s
Suffix edit
-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 edit
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 edit
- (suffixed to the roots of verbs, forms masculine agent nouns): -ō¹
Derived terms edit
References edit
- “-a¹” on page 1/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
Etymology 2 edit
From Old Latin -ād, first-declension ablative singular ending.
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-ā
Suffix edit
-ā (not comparable)
- suffixed chiefly to the stems of adjectives terminating in -ter, forms adverbs which are frequently also used as prepositions
Derived terms edit
References edit
- “-ā²” on page 1/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
Etymology 3 edit
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-ā
- second-person singular present active imperative of -ō (first conjugation)
Latvian edit
Suffix edit
-a
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Lushootseed edit
Suffix edit
-a
Derived terms edit
Makasar edit
Article edit
-a
References edit
- ^ Aburaerah Arief (1995) Kamus Makassar–Indonesia, Ujung Pandang: Yayaan Perguruan Islam Kapita, page 29.
Maltese edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Arabic ـَة (-a), reinforced by Sicilian and Italian -a, which are unrelated but used similarly.
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): /a/
- Homophone: -ha (distinct after -h, -ħ, -għ; may also trigger different stem alternations)
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- passive ending (used mainly for verbs with one or two vowels)
Derived terms edit
Mbyá Guaraní edit
Etymology 1 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- nominalizes the action of the verb
- pendeayvua
- that which you say
- indicates the place of the verb
- ooa
- where he is going
- indicates the time of the action of the verb
Etymology 2 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- forms ordinal numbers
- mboapya
- third
Murui Huitoto edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
Derived terms edit
References edit
- Katarzyna Izabela Wojtylak (2017) A grammar of Murui (Bue): a Witotoan language of Northwest Amazonia.[3], Townsville: James Cook University press (PhD thesis), page 81
Northern Sami edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Samic *-ëk. Cognate with Finnish -e.
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a (with odd-syllable stems -at)
- Forms nouns from verbs, indicating something used for performing the verb.
- Forms nouns from verbs, indicating something that results from having the verb's action performed.
Usage notes edit
- 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 edit
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 edit
Norwegian Nynorsk edit
Etymology edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix edit
-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.).
- 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).
- (Landsmål, archaic or dialectal) the singular definite feminine and neuter forms of adjectives.
- (Landsmål, archaic, nonstandard) Used to form the feminine indefinite plural of adjectives.
- (Landsmål, archaic, nonstandard) Used to form the genitive plural of nouns.
Anagrams edit
Old English edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô. Cognate with Old High German -o.
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
- Middle English: -e
Etymology 2 edit
From Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô.
Suffix edit
-a
- Ending forming adverbs
Usage notes edit
- Though it was common in Proto-Germanic and Proto-West Germanic, in Old English this ending is restricted to only a few adverbs, among them sōna (“immediately”) and ġeāra (“long ago”). The competing suffix -e is much more common, along with -līċe.
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
- Middle English: -e (fossilised)
Old Galician-Portuguese edit
Etymology edit
Inherited from Latin -at, from Proto-Italic *-āt, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti.
Suffix edit
-a
- a suffix indicating the second-person singular present indicative of a verb in -ar
Descendants edit
Old Irish edit
Pronoun edit
-a
- combines with prepositions to form a relative pronoun
Derived terms edit
Suffix edit
-a
- forms the comparative degree of some adjectives
- Synonym: -iu
Usage notes edit
Used with a relatively small number of adjectives to form an irregular comparative. The regular, productive comparative suffix is -iu.[1]
Derived terms edit
References edit
- ^ Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2003), D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, § 375, pages 236–37
Old Norse edit
Etymology 1 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Alternative forms edit
Suffix edit
-a
- indicates negation; does not (Can we add an example for this sense?)
Etymology 2 edit
From Proto-Germanic *-ōną.
Suffix edit
-a
- Creates denominative verbs from nouns
- Creates factitive verbs from adjectives
Conjugation edit
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 edit
Descendants edit
Etymology 3 edit
From Proto-Germanic *-ê and *-ô.
Suffix edit
-a
Descendants edit
- Icelandic: -a
Etymology 4 edit
From Proto-Germanic *-ǭ or *-ô.
Suffix edit
-a f or n
- Occurs in the nominative singular of feminine on-stem nouns
- Occurs in the singular of neuter an-stem nouns
Declension edit
Etymology 5 edit
Different noun forms.
Suffix edit
-a
- indefinite genitive plural (of nouns)
- inflection of -i (masculine an-stem nouns):
- indefinite accusative plural of -r (masculine a-stem nouns)
Old Swedish edit
Etymology edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Creates denominative verbs from nouns
- Creates factitive verbs from adjectives
- sighia
- to say
- hælgha
- to celebrate
Conjugation edit
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 edit
- Swedish: -a
Old Tupi edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- nominalizer suffix (atonic morpheme added at the end of a word's stem to form a noun)
Derived terms edit
Phalura edit
Etymology 1 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Third person singular suffix
Alternative forms edit
- -íi (With e-ending verb stems)
- -óo (With a-ending verb stems)
- -e (Biori)
- -úu (With a-ending verb stems in Biori)
References edit
- Liljegren, Henrik; Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)[4], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN
Etymology 2 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Plural suffix (with a-declension nouns)
Alternative forms edit
References edit
- Liljegren, Henrik; Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)[5], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN
Etymology 3 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Oblique case suffix (with a-declension nouns)
Alternative forms edit
References edit
- Liljegren, Henrik; Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)[6], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN
Etymology 4 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Masculine plural agreement suffix
References edit
- Liljegren, Henrik; Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)[7], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN
Etymology 5 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Masculine non-nominative and non-singular agreement suffix
References edit
Polish edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂.
Suffix edit
-a f
- forms nominative feminine nouns
- forms feminine names from masculine names
- (obsolete) forms feminine nominative and vocative forms of short forms of adjectives
Declension edit
Suffix edit
-a m pers (feminine -yni)
- forms masculine personal agent nouns
Declension edit
Etymology 2 edit
Inherited from Old Polish -á, from Proto-Slavic *-aja, from *-a + *-ja.
Suffix edit
-a f
Etymology 3 edit
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьja. Doublet of -ia.
Suffix edit
-a f (neuter -e)
- forms collective nouns, causes palatalization
Suffix edit
-a
Etymology 4 edit
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éad, the thematic ablative suffix.
Suffix edit
-a
- used to create the masculine genitive singular, usually of animate nouns, but also of some inanimate nouns
- forms genitive singular of neuter nouns
- used in some adverbial constructions
Etymology 5 edit
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a.
Suffix edit
-a
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- -a in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Portuguese edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -am.
Suffix edit
-a f (plural -as)
Suffix edit
-a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)
- forms feminine nouns from adjectives, indicating people having the quality of the source adjective
Etymology 2 edit
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -at.
Suffix edit
-a
- a suffix indicating the third-person singular present indicative of a verb in -ar
See also edit
Etymology 3 edit
From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -ā.
Suffix edit
-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 edit
From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -am, -eam.
Suffix edit
-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 edit
From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -at, -eat.
Suffix edit
-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 edit
- 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 edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Suffix edit
-a m or f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)
Romani edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Forms the nominative plural of consonantal oikoclitic nouns
- Forms the accusative singular of unjotated oikoclitic animate feminine nouns
- Forms the feminine singular oblique of consonantal oikoclitic nouns. Displaced by -e in most dialects
Derived terms edit
References edit
- Yaron Matras; Anton Tenser, editors (August 2020) The Palgrave Handbook of Romani Language and Linguistics, Palgrave Macmillan, →ISBN, page 30, 166
Romanian edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
Inherited from Latin illa, nominative feminine singular of ille.
Alternative forms edit
- -ua — used for feminine nouns ending in a stressed vowel or diphthong
Suffix edit
-a f
- (definite article) the (feminine singular, nominative and accusative)
Usage notes edit
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:
- fata bună + -a → buna fată (both meaning "the good girl")
- câmpia întinsă + -a → întinsa câmpie (both meaning "the wide/extensive plain")
Related terms edit
Etymology 2 edit
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 edit
-a
- A suffix forming infinitives of many verbs.
Conjugation edit
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 |
Related terms edit
See also edit
Derived terms edit
Serbo-Croatian edit
Etymology 1 edit
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-ōd, the thematic ablative ending.
Suffix edit
-a (Cyrillic spelling -а)
- Forms the genitive singular of masculine and neuter nouns and indefinite adjectives.
Slovak edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ę.
Suffix edit
-a n
- forms nouns for young animals and other diminutives
Usage notes edit
- After labio-dental and bilabial consonants -ä is used instead.
Declension edit
Spanish edit
Etymology 1 edit
Suffix edit
-a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)
Suffix edit
-a f (non-lemma form of adjective-forming suffix)
Derived terms edit
Etymology 2 edit
Inherited from Latin -at, the third-person singular present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs.
Suffix edit
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
Etymology 3 edit
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 edit
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
- forms the first and third-person singular (also used with usted) singular present subjunctive mood of -er and -ir verbs, also used for the imperative mood of usted
Etymology 4 edit
Inherited from Latin -ā (second-person singular present active imperative ending of first conjugation verbs).
Suffix edit
-a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)
Swahili edit
Suffix edit
-a
- positive indicative ending for verbs of Bantu origin
Usage notes edit
Several tenses (such as the ones which historically derive from auxiliary + main verb) keep their ending -a even in the negative.
See also edit
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 edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Old Swedish -a, from Old Norse -a, from Proto-Germanic *-ōną.
Suffix edit
-a
- A verb-building suffix that can be added to nouns or adjectives.
Conjugation edit
- 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 edit
Etymology 2 edit
The language noun sense originally comes from the definite adjective + tunga (“tongue; language”). Thus svenska (“Swedish”) was originally svenska tungan (the Swedish tongue)
Suffix edit
-a
- (on a positive adjective) Weak (definite) singular suffix, historically feminine
- Transform an adjective describing a people speaking a language into the noun for that language.
Usage notes edit
- 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.
Etymology 3 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Definite plural suffix for neuter nouns of the fourth declension with regular plurals in -n, e.g. äpplen (“apples”) + -a → äpplena (“the apples”); see also -na.
Usage notes edit
- In informal/dialectal usage, -a may be used instead of -en to form the definite plural of the irregular fourth-declension nouns öron (“ears”), ögon (“eyes”).
Etymology 4 edit
Suffix edit
-a
Tokelauan edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Proto-Polynesian *-a. Cognates include Tuvaluan -a and Samoan -a.
Suffix edit
-a
- Creates a verb denoting an abundancy of the suffixed noun; -ful
Derived terms edit
Etymology 2 edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Added to transitive verbs when preceded by the subject pronoun.
References edit
- R. Simona, editor (1986) Tokelau Dictionary[9], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 1
Turkish edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
preceding vowel | ||
---|---|---|
A / I / O / U | E / İ / Ö / Ü | |
postconsonantal | -a | -e |
postvocalic | -ya | -ye |
From Proto-Turkic *-ka (“dative case”).
Suffix edit
-a (in words with back vowel harmony)
- Used to form the dative case
Etymology 2 edit
preceding vowel | ||
---|---|---|
A / I / O / U | E / İ / Ö / Ü | |
postconsonantal | -a | -e |
postvocalic | -ya | -ye |
From Proto-Turkic *-ü (“gerundive suffix”).
Suffix edit
-a (in words with back vowel harmony)
Etymology 3 edit
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 edit
-a (in words with back vowel harmony)
References edit
- Çağbayır, Yaşar (2007), “-a¹, -a², -a³”, in Ötüken Türkçe Sözlük (in Turkish), volume 1, Istanbul: Ötüken Neşriyat, page 73
Volapük edit
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having the sense of 'tool, object for a specific purpose'.
Derived terms edit
Welsh edit
Alternative forms edit
- -af (colloquial first-person singular future)
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From -ha.
Suffix edit
-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 edit
Etymology 2 edit
From -ha.
Suffix edit
-a
- (literary) verb suffix for the third-person singular present indicative/future
Etymology 3 edit
From -ha.
Suffix edit
-a
- (literary) verb suffix for the second-person singular present imperative
- (colloquial) verb suffix for the second-person singular present imperative
Etymology 4 edit
From -af.
Suffix edit
-a
- (colloquial) verb suffix for the first-person singular future
Ye'kwana edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-a
- Forms the nonpast tense.
- Marks imperfective aspect in both the recent and distant past tenses.
Usage notes edit
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.
Derived terms edit
References edit
- Cáceres, Natalia (2011) Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana[10], Lyon, page 213–224