-k

See also: Appendix:Variations of "k"

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English -ken, -kien, from Old English -cian, from Proto-West Germanic *-ukōn, *-ikōn, from Proto-Germanic *-ukōną, *-ikōną. Cognate with West Frisian -kje, German -chen, Danish -ke, Swedish -ka, Faroese -ka. Perhaps related to Old English diminutive suffix -uc, -oc. More at -ock.

Suffix

-k

(rare, no longer productive) A suffix found in verbs of Middle English, Old English, usually with an intensive or frequentative effect.
tale, talk; steal, stalk; mire, mirk; hear, hark; fare, firk; peer, perk; yare, yark; gaw, gawk

Etymology 2

From Middle English -ke, from Old English -(u)c and -ca (diminutive suffix). More at -ock.

Suffix

-k

(rare, no longer productive) A suffix found in nouns, usually with a diminutive effect.
chine > chink; stale > stalk

Abenaki

Suffix

-k

A suffix used to form the plurals of some animate words.
tmakwa (“beaver”) → tmakwak (“beavers”)

Usage notes

Used to form the plurals of almost all words that end in a, and of some words that end in other vowels or in the semivowel w; not used to form the plurals of words ending in consonants.
See the usage notes at -ak.

Afar

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-k/

Suffix

-k

Marks the ablative case: from
Marks the elative case: out of
Marks the perlative case: via, through
Marks the malefactive case: for ...'s nuisance
Marks the subject of a comparison: than
(+ én) Marks the material from which an object is made: -en

References

Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015) L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎^[1], Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis), page 361

Basque

Alternative forms

-ek (after consonants)

Etymology

Unknown. Unrelated to the adverbial suffixes -ki and -ka.^[1]

Suffix

-k

Ergative indefinite suffix.

Declension

Basque inflectional suffixes
		indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive		-∅	-a	-ak	-ok
ergative		-(e)k	-ak	-ek	-ok
dative		-(r)i	-ari	-ei	-oi
genitive		-(r)en	-aren	-en	-on
comitative		-(r)ekin	-arekin	-ekin	-okin
causative		-(r)engatik	-arengatik	-engatik	-ongatik
benefactive		-(r)entzat	-arentzat	-entzat	-ontzat
instrumental		-(e)z	-az	-ez	-oz
inessive	anim	-(r)engan	-arengan	-engan	-ongan
inessive	inan	-(e)tan	-an	-etan	-otan
locative	anim	―	―	―	―
locative	inan	-(e)tako	-(e)ko	-etako	-otako
allative	anim	-(r)engana	-arengana	-engana	-ongana
allative	inan	-(e)tara	-(e)ra	-etara	-otara
terminative	anim	-(r)enganaino	-arenganaino	-enganaino	-onganaino
terminative	inan	-(e)taraino	-(e)raino	-etaraino	-otaraino
directive	anim	-(r)enganantz	-arenganantz	-enganantz	-onganantz
directive	inan	-(e)tarantz	-(e)rantz	-etarantz	-otarantz
destinative	anim	-(r)enganako	-arenganako	-enganako	-onganako
destinative	inan	-(e)tarako	-(e)rako	-etarako	-otarako
ablative	anim	-(r)engandik	-arengandik	-engandik	-ongandik
ablative	inan	-(e)tatik	-(e)tik	-etik	-otik
partitive		-(r)ik	―	―	―
prolative		-tzat	―	―	―

References

^ R. L. Trask (2008) “-k (2)”, in Max W. Wheeler, editor, Etymological Dictionary of Basque, University of Sussex, page 245.

Chuukese

Suffix

-k

(added to verbs) you (in the singular, indirect object suffix)

Estonian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *-kkoi. Cognate with Finnish -kko.

Suffix

-k (genitive -ku, partitive -kut)

Derives nouns from verbs, or sometimes from other nominals. The derivations can express the following:
1. a single instance of an action
  minema (“to go”) → minek (“a going”)
  
  ründama (“to attack”) → rünnak (“an attack”)
2. the object of an action
  õppima (“to study”) → õpik (“textbook”)

Declension

Declension of -k (ÕS type 2/õpik, no gradation)
		singular	plural
nominative		-k	-kud
accusative	nom.	-k
accusative	gen.	-ku
genitive		-ku	-kute
partitive		-kut	-kuid
illative		-kusse	-kutesse -kuisse
inessive		-kus	-kutes -kuis
elative		-kust	-kutest -kuist
allative		-kule	-kutele -kuile
adessive		-kul	-kutel -kuil
ablative		-kult	-kutelt -kuilt
translative		-kuks	-kuteks -kuiks
terminative		-kuni	-kuteni
essive		-kuna	-kutena
abessive		-kuta	-kuteta
comitative		-kuga	-kutega

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Proto-Finnic *-kkei. Cognate with Finnish -kki.

Suffix

-k (genitive -ki, partitive -kit)

Derives nouns from verbs denoting an instrument of action.
sõitma (“to drive”) → sõiduk (“vehicle”)

hõljuma (“to hover”) → hõljuk (“hovercraft”)

tõstma (“to raise”) → tõstuk (“lift”)

Declension

Declension of -k (ÕS type 2/õpik, no gradation)
		singular	plural
nominative		-k	-kid
accusative	nom.	-k
accusative	gen.	-ki
genitive		-ki	-kite
partitive		-kit	-keid
illative		-kisse	-kitesse -keisse
inessive		-kis	-kites -keis
elative		-kist	-kitest -keist
allative		-kile	-kitele -keile
adessive		-kil	-kitel -keil
ablative		-kilt	-kitelt -keilt
translative		-kiks	-kiteks -keiks
terminative		-kini	-kiteni
essive		-kina	-kitena
abessive		-kita	-kiteta
comitative		-kiga	-kitega

Derived terms

Etymology 3

May be the same as etymology 2.

Suffix

-k (genitive -gi, partitive -ki)

Derives nouns from verbs, or sometimes from other nominals. The derivations can express the following:
1. the result of an action
  jääma (“to remain”) → jääk (“residue, remainder”)
  
  saama (“to receive”) → saak (“yield”)
2. the object of an action
  sööma (“to eat”) → söök (“food”)
  
  jooma (“to drink”) → jook (“drink, beverage”)

Finnish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-k/, [-k]

Particle

-k (dialectal)

(Southwest Finnish, enclitic) Alternative form of -ko
Löytyyk mittä? Are you finding anything?

Synonyms

-ko (standard)

Hungarian

Etymology 1

Probably related to Northern Mansi -ыг (-yg, “dual suffix”).

Suffix

-k

(plural suffix) -s, -es
‎hajó (“ship”) + ‎-k → ‎hajók (“ships”)

‎alma (“apple”) + ‎-k → ‎almák (“apples”)

‎mese (“fairy tale”) + ‎-k → ‎mesék (“fairy tales”)

Usage notes

(plural suffix) Variants:
-k is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.
‎nő (“woman”) + ‎-k → ‎nők (“women”)

‎fa (“tree”) + ‎-k → ‎fák (“trees”)

‎csésze (“cup”) + ‎-k → ‎csészék (“cups”)

-ak is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant:
‎ház (“house”) + ‎-ak → ‎házak (“houses”)

-ok is added to most back-vowel words ending in a consonant:
‎pad (“bench”) + ‎-ok → ‎padok (“benches”)

-ek is added to unrounded (and some rounded) front-vowel words ending in a consonant:
‎kert (“garden”) + ‎-ek → ‎kertek (“gardens”)

‎könyv (“book”) + ‎-ek → ‎könyvek (“books”)

-ök is added to most rounded front-vowel words ending in a consonant:
‎kör (“circle”) + ‎-ök → ‎körök (“circles”)

Note that the plural form is not used after definite and indefinite numerals in Hungarian: három könyv (“three books”), néhány óra múlva (“in a few hours’ time”). There are very few (traditional, archaic) exceptions, including háromkirályok (“the Three Magi”), mindenszentek (“All Saints”), and certain archaic phrases with összes (“all”) and minden (“every”) (see their Usage notes).
The regular plural suffix for back-vowel adjectives is -ak, for example okosak (“smart/clever ones”). On the other hand, ethnonyms take -ok (e.g. olaszok (“Italians”), see the back-vowel terms in their category), as well as some other adjectives, including privative (“…-less”) ones (formed with -talan, -atlan, or -tlan). Rounded front-vowel adjectives normally take -ek, for example zöldek (“green ones”), except for demonyms (see rounded front-vowel terms in their category).
If a word can be both a noun and an adjective, the form of its ending gives information about its function, e.g. játékosok (“players”, noun) and játékosak (“playful”, adjective as part of a plural predicate). The same distinction also exists with words with rounded front vowels, e.g. ismerős: ismerősök (“acquaintances”, noun) and ismerősek (“familiar”, adjective as part of a plural predicate).

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-k

(personal suffix) Denotes the first-person singular present tense in verb suffixes for all moods (indicative, conditional and subjunctive).
ír (“to write”) →
írok (“I write, I am writing”)

írnék (“I would write”)

írjak (“I should write”)

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-k

(obsolete) Diminutive suffix.
lélek (“soul”)

fészek (“nest”)

Etymology 4

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-k

(obsolete, instantaneous verb-forming suffix) Part of only a few verbs and suffixes, such as reszket, serken, sikolt, szerkeszt, -kol/-kel/-köl, -kod/-ked/-köd, -dokol/-dekel/-dököl.

Ilocano

Pronoun

-k (pronoun-forming suffix)

Alternative form of -ko (used before vowels and suffixes -en and -an)

Ingrian

Alternative forms

-ko

Etymology

Reduced form of -ka. The familiar meaning is probably influenced by Russian -ка (-ka).

Pronunciation

(Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-k/, [-k]
(Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-k/, [-k]

Particle

-k

Added to the indicative of a verb, used to form the interrogative aspect.
- 1936, V. I. Junus, P. L. Maksimov, Inkeroisin keelen oppikirja alkuşkouluja vart (ensimäine osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 29:
  Töötk siä meille hoomukseel?
  Will you come to us tomorrow?
Added to an imperative of a verb, used to form a familiar request.
- 1936, D. I. Efimov, Lukukirja: Inkeroisia alkușkouluja vart (ensimäine osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 7:
  Määk siä șkouluu - sanoi Semon däädä, ilma sinnua saamma aikoo.
  Go to school - said uncle Semon, we'll get by without you.
Added to the indicative or the potential of a verb, used to form the deliberative aspect.
- 1937, V. A. Tetjurev, translated by N. J. Molotsova, Loonnontiito oppikirja alkușkoulua vart (toin osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-Pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 7:
  Näijen kamppanioin hyväst veemisest rippuu se, jot saammak möö täl vootta ohto leipää, ruuhtija ja toisia maatalohusproduktoja, saammakse ohto saahkaraa ja materiaa.
  On the good carrying out of these campaigns depends whether this year we get enough bread, vegetables and other agricultural products, whether we get enough sugar and fabric.
(rare) Alternative form of -ka, -kä (“and not”)
- 1885, “Sprachproben: Der goldene Vogel”, in Volmari Porkka, editor, Ueber den Ingrischen Dialekt mit Berücksichtigung der übrigen finnisch-ingermanländischen Dialekte:
  Se poika mäni vahtii, heittiis makkaamaa eik nähnyt varasta.
  The boy went to the guard, threw himself and didn't see the thief.
  (Note: The spelling has been normalised in accordance with the literary Ingrian language.)

Usage notes

In the interrogative and deliberative functions, when added to a verb form ending in the consonant -t, the full forms -ka and -kä may be used.

Synonyms

(deliberative): -kse

References

Olga I. Konkova, Nikita A. Dyachkov (2014) Inkeroin Keel: Пособие по Ижорскому Языку‎^[2], →ISBN, page 18

Inupiaq

Suffix

-k

dual number in the absolutive case. Numbers vary between singular -q and dual -k depending on whether they modify a noun or are being used for counting

Kankanaey

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /k/ [k̠̚]

Pronoun

-k (pronoun-forming suffix)

Alternative form of -ko

Kashubian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьkъ.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /k/

Suffix

-k

forms masculine diminutive nouns
forms masculine nouns from verbs
‎susac (“to suck”) + ‎-k → ‎susk (“mammal”)

Usage notes

Palatalises a preceding velar:
‎groch + ‎-k → ‎groszk

Derived terms

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъkъ.

Suffix

-k m

used on masculine nouns to form a diminutive

Derived terms

Maltese

Alternative forms

-ek, -ok

Etymology

From Arabic ـكَ m (-ka), ـكِ f (-ki).

Suffix

-k

2nd-person singular pronominal suffix: your, you
Synonym: tiegħek (only in possessive use)

‎sħab (“friends”) + ‎-k → ‎sħabek (“your (singular) friends”)

‎taħt (“under”) + ‎-k → ‎taħtek (“under you (singular)”)

‎jinsa (“he forgets”) + ‎-k → ‎jinsiek (“he forgets you (singular)”)

Related terms

int

Mohawk

Suffix

-k

continuative suffix

References

Nora Deering, Helga H. Delisle (1976) Mohawk: A teaching grammar (preliminary version), Quebec: Manitou College, page 442
Akwiratékha’ Martin (2018) Tekawennahsonterónnion - Kanien’kéha Morphology, Kahnawà:ke: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center, page 92

Northern Ohlone

Etymology

Compare Southern Ohlone -ka.

Pronoun

-k

I (first-person, singular, subject pronoun)
- 1921, María de los Angeles Colós, José Guzman, and John Peabody Harrington, Chochenyo Field Notes‎^[3]:
  nommok roote
  here I am

References

María de los Angeles Colós, José Guzman, and John Peabody Harrington (1930s) Chochenyo Field Notes (Survey of California and Other Indian Langauges)‎^[4], Unpublished

Ojibwe

Suffix

-k

Alternative form of -g in the conjunct form of d-final inanimate instransitive verbs (vii)
A suffix denoting the second-person plural to third person singular imperative form of a transitive animate verb (vta) with a Cw ending

Usage notes

In d-final intransitive inanimate verbs (vii), the final d merges with -g to produce -k.

Old Norse

Alternative forms

ek

Pronoun

-k (enclitic)

enclitic form of ek
‎hafða + ‎-k → ‎hafðak

‎em + ‎-k → ‎emk
- 9th c., Þjóðólfr of Hvinir, Ynglingatal, verse 27:
  Þat veitk bezt / und bláum himni
  kenninafn, / svát konungr eigi […]
  I know that the best / nickname
  under the blue sky / that a king might have […]

Onondaga

Etymology

From Proto-North Iroquoian *h (present suffix).

Suffix

-k

continuative suffix

References

Hanni Woodbury (2018) A Reference Grammar of the Onondaga Language, University of Toronto, page 104

Pipil

Alternative forms

-ku

Suffix

-k

(no longer productive) locative suffix (meaning "in") used after a vowel

Polish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /k/
Rhymes: -k
Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]

Suffix

-k

(dialectal, chiefly Greater Poland, Lesser Poland) extends adverbs
‎bardzo + ‎-k → ‎bardzok

Derived terms

Polish terms suffixed with -k

-yk

Slovincian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьkъ.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /k/

Suffix

-k m

forms masculine diminutive nouns
‎barón + ‎-k → ‎barónk
forms masculine nouns from verbs
‎czwjorty (“fourth”) + ‎-k → ‎susk (“Thursday”)

Derived terms

Slovincian terms suffixed with -k

opk

Turkish

	preceding vowel
	a / ı	e / i	o / u	ö / ü
postconsonantal	-ık	-ik	-uk	-ük
postvocalic	-k

Suffix

-k

Post-vocalic form of -ık.
‎iste- (“to want”) + ‎-k → ‎istek (“request, want”)

‎dile- (“to wish”) + ‎-k → ‎dilek (“wish, desire”)

Upper Sorbian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъkъ.

Suffix

-k m

Used to form diminutives of masculine nouns.

Derived terms

Upper Sorbian terms suffixed with -k

Veps

Particle

-k

Alternative form of -ik

References

Zajceva, N. G., Mullonen, M. I. (2007) “а, ли”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary]‎^[5], Petrozavodsk: Periodika

[1] R. L. Trask (2008) “-k (2)”, in Max W. Wheeler, editor, Etymological Dictionary of Basque, University of Sussex, page 245.

[1]

person / number		class I (single)	class II (transitive actor)	class III (transitive undergoer)
Tripartite split
first	singular	-ak	-ko, -k	sak-en
first	plural	-kami	-mi	dakami
second	singular	-ka	-mo, -m	sik-a
second	plural	-kayo	-yo	dakayo
Accusative split
third	plural	-da		daida
first + second	singular	-ta		daita
first + second	plural	-tako		datako
Ergative split
third	singular	Ø¹ / sisya	-na	Ø¹ / sisya
fourth	impersonal singular/plural	Ø¹	-na	Ø¹ / siya
Blends
first + second	singular -ko + -ka	-naka		–
third + second	singular -na + -ka	-daka		–

	person	subject			object			possessive
	person	disjunctive¹	proclitic	enclitic	disjunctive¹	proclitic	enclitic	possessive
singular	first	kaana	ek-	-ek, -k	kiš, kaaniš	kiš-	-kiš	ek-, kaanak
	second	meene	em-, im-	-em, -im, -m	miš	emiš-, imiš-, miš-	-miš	em-, meenem
	third	waaka	Ø-²	-Ø²	wiš	Ø-², eš-	-Ø², -eš	i-, waakai-
plural	first	makkin	mak-	-mak	makkiš, makkinše	—	—	mak-, makkinmak
	second	makkam	kam-	-kam	makkamše	—	—	kam-, makkam
	third	waakamak	ya-	-ya	yaṭiš	—	—	ya-, waakamak