-vu

Gun

Alternative forms

• -ví

Etymology

From Proto-Gbe *-ví (literally “child”) stems from same root as òví (“child”). Cognates include Fon -ví, Fon -vú, Saxwe Gbe -ví, Adja -vi, Ewe -vi

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vú/

Suffix

-vú

1. Forms a diminutive noun.

   onyì (“cow”) → onyìvú (“calf”, literally “little cow”)

   lɛ̀ngbɔ́ (“sheep”) → lɛ̀ngbɔ́vú (“lamb”, literally “little lamb”)

   gbɔ̀gbwɛ́ (“goat”) → gbɔ̀gbwɛ́vú (“kid”, literally “little goat”)

Derived terms

• gbɔ̀gbwɛ́vú (“kid”)
• gbọ̀gbọẹ́vú (“kid”)
• lɛ̀ngbɔ́vú (“lamb”)
• lẹ̀ngbọ́vú (“lamb”)
• onyìvú (“calf”)
• oyìnvú (“calf”)
• yɔ̀kpɔ́vú (“child”)
• yọ̀pọ́vú (“child”)

 

Swahili

Alternative forms

• -fu

Suffix

-vu

1. suffix used to derive a noun or adjective from a verb with stem ending in a vowel

   ‎-legea (“to be loose”) + ‎-vu → ‎-legevu (“loose”)

   ‎-lemaa (“to be disabled”) + ‎-vu → ‎ulemavu (“disability”)

See also

Swahili terms suffixed with -vu