あー

See also: ああ

Japanese

Alternative forms

• ラー

Etymology

Probably borrowed from English -er. Since c.1994.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aː/

Suffix

あー • (-ā) 

1. Used to denote fanatics, adepts or devotees of a certain product, artist, fashion style or famous person

   ‎シャネル (“Chanel”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎シャネラー (“someone who likes to use Chanel products”)

   ‎浜田 (“Hamada”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎ハマダー (“a fan of Masatoshi Hamada, of his style”)

Okinawan

Etymology 1

Unclear. Its role as a suffix is similar to Okinawan うー (ū) and Okinawan いー (ī).Some said that borrowed from English -er. Compare Japanese 屋 (ya).

Alternative forms

• あ, やー

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aː/

Suffix

あー (-ā) 

1. (sometimes derogatory) A suffix or ending used to indicate the subject of an adjective, noun or nominalized verb, akin to "-man", "-er" or "person" in English.

   ‎っくゎ (kkwa, “child”) + ‎むい (mui, “babysitting”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎っくゎむやー (kkwamuyā, “babysitter”)

   ‎たんち (tanchi, “short temper”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎たんちゃー (tanchā, “a person who has short temper”)

2. (derogatory) Used to indicate the provenance of a person

   ‎あぐに (“Aguni”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎あぐなー (Agunā, “people from Aguni”)

   ‎アミリカ (Amirika, “America”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎アミリカー (Amirikā, “American”)

3. A suffix attached to warabi-naa (Okinawan traditional given name) of samuree (Ryukyuan aristocracy) to indicate the name of hyakushoo (Ryukyuan commoner).

   ‎たるー (Tarū, “masculine given name (lit, "first son")”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎たらー (Tarā)

   ‎ちるー (Chirū, “feminine given name (lit, "crane")”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎ちらー (Chirā)

   ‎うしー (Ushī, “unisex given name (lit, "cattle")”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎うさー (Usā)

4. A suffix attached to words for animals. Sometimes, the original, non-suffixed form is not used.

   ‎あふぃる (afiru, “domestic duck”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎あふぃらー (afirā, “domestic duck”)

   ‎あたびち (atabichi, “frog”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎あたびちゃー (atabichā, “frog”)

   ‎がらし (garashi, “crow”) + ‎あー (-ā) → ‎がらさー (garasā, “crow”)

Usage notes

• Note that this suffix may coalesce or replace the vowel of the preceding term

Derived terms

Okinawan terms suffixed with あー

See also

• うー (ū)
• いー (ī)
• んちゅ (nchu)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Ryukyuan *awa, from Proto-Japonic *awa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaː/

Noun

あー (ā) 

1. 泡: bubble

Etymology 3

Probobly from Proto-Ryukyuan *awa, from Proto-Japonic *awa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaː/

Proper noun

あー (Ā) 

1. 安和: Awa

Etymology 4

Cognate with Japanese ああ (ā, literally “oh”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaː/

Interjection

あー (ā) 

1. あー: oh! ah! (voice you make when you feel deeply about something)

References

• “あー・あ・やー” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.