Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-u

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

Possibly from Pre-Germanic *-we, from Proto-Indo-European *-wē, which would make it cognate to Latin -ve, Ancient Greek ἤ (ḗ), Tocharian B wa and Sanskrit वा (vā).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /u/

Particle

*-u

Added to the end of a word in a phrase (usually the first word) to make it a question.

Usage notes

This suffix was used when asking yes/no questions or, based on Gothic usage, to present a binary choice between two options. It was attached to the first word in a clause. If the first word was a compound or had a prefix, this suffix was infixed after the first part of a compound or after the prefix, effectively splitting the word in two.

Descendants

(possibly) Gothic: -𐌿 (-u)