-ܘ
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
editEtymology
editDerived 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
edit-ܘܿ • (-ō)
- 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 (-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
edit- 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.