-'ĩ

Old Tupi

Alternative forms

• -ĩ (after consonants).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔĩ/
• Rhymes: -ĩ
• Hyphenation: 'ĩ

Suffix

-'ĩ

1. forms the diminutive of nouns; -ie; -y; -ling; -let
   1. indicates smallness in size
   2. indicates smallness in quantity
   3. indicates uniqueness or loneliness

      — Mobype abá remirekóne?
      — Oîepe'ĩ.

      — How many spouses shall a man have?
      — Only one.

2. indicates approximation or imprecision of adjectives; -ish

   Turusu'ĩ.

   He is biggish.

3. indicates the action of making something smaller or thinner

   Amopo'i'ĩ.

   I thinned it very thinly.

4. indicates the action is done without purpose, intention or wanting someting in return

   Aîmonhangĩ nhẽ.

   I've done it because reasons.

Usage notes

The glottal stop is dropped when the suffix follows a consonant, becoming -ĩ.

Derived terms

Old Tupi terms suffixed with -'ĩ

Descendants

• Nheengatu: -ĩ, -i

See also

• mirĩ

References

• Eduardo de Almeida Navarro (2013) “-'ĩ”, in Dicionário de tupi antigo: a língua indígena clássica do Brasil [Dictionary of Old Tupi: the classical indigenous language of Brazil] (overall work in Portuguese), São Paulo: Global, →ISBN, page 250, columns 1–2