Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

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Etymology

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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

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-ܘܿ ()

  1. Suffix forming feminine words referring to single inanimate entities, small animals, or words usually associated with smallness; or personal 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 () + ‎ (-w) → ‎ܝܲܠܕܘܿ (yaldō, Male-given name)
    ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ (ḥayyē) + ‎-ܘܿ () + ‎ (-w) → ‎ܚܵܝܘܿ (ḥāyō, term of endearment derived from the word for life)
    ܣܵܒ݂ܬܵܐ (sāḇtā) + ‎-ܘܿ () + ‎ (-w) → ‎ܣܲܒ݂ܬܘܿ (saḇtō, granny, endearing term for a grandmother)
    ܟܲܠܬ݂ܵܐ (kalṯā) + ‎-ܘܿ () + ‎ (-w) → ‎ܟܵܠܘܿ (kālō, bride)

Usage notes

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