-ა

See also: ა-, -ა-, ა, Ⴀ, and Appendix:Variations of "a"

Georgian

Etymology 1

Suffix

-ა • (-a)

1. Suffixed to nouns and adjectives for the purpose of euphony. Separates the final consonant of a suffixed term from the initial consonant of the next word. It may also split a postposition-attached word (see -ა- (-a-)).

   ეს ჩემი მესიჯი ეძღვნება კაცსა თუ ქალს

   es čemi mesiǯi eʒɣvneba ḳacsa tu kals

   My message is to the man and the woman

Usage notes

• It can be suffixed to a noun in the dative, instrumental, or genitive case.
• In sentences where a list of two or more nouns are connected in series, with the last noun preceded by the conjunction და (da, “and”), this suffix is appended to the noun before და (da, “and”). For example, მან თქვა რომ არ უღალატებდა სამშობლოს ენასა და სარწმუნოებას (he said that he would never betray his country, language and faith).

Etymology 2

Contraction of არის (aris, “is”).

Suffix

-ა • (-a)

1. is

   ის ექიმია ― is ekimia ― She/he is a doctor

   ლამაზია ― lamazia ― She/he/it is beautiful

Etymology 3

Suffix

-ა • (-a)

1. Forms verbal nouns from verbs.

Etymology 4

Suffix

-ა • (-a)

1. Expresses having something. For example ცხვირა (cxvira), where ცხვირ (cxvir) is the stem of the word for nose, and with -ა as suffix, means one who has a (large) nose.