ge-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ge"

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /χə/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Dutch ge-, from Middle Dutch ge-, ghe-, from Old Dutch gi-, ge-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm.

Prefix

ge-

1. Used to form the past participle

   Ek het die koek geëet — I have eaten the cake.

Usage notes

• The participle prefix ge- is not used before the verbal prefixes be-, er-, ver-, ont- and her-, nor with inseparable prefixed adverbs or prepositions, except in a few exceptional cases or very colloquial speech.
• For verbs with the stressed suffix -eer, the participle prefix may be omitted optionally. This is common in disyllabic verbs, less so in longer verbs (because these latter have a secondary stress on the first syllable). Even in disyllabic verbs the prefix is seldom omitted in attributive past participles, however.
• Other cases of an apparently missing ge- arise when the active of the perfect tense is formed with the infinitive instead of the past participle. This is the case when two verbs are connected to each other without om te, as in hy het leer lees (“he learned to read”). When two verbs describing a simultaneous action are connected with en (“and”), the first verb may be in the participle or the infinitive, whereas the second is always in the infinitive: sy het (ge)lê en lees (“she lay reading”), ons het (ge)loop en sing (“we walked singing”).

Etymology 2

Inherited from Dutch ge-, from Middle Dutch ge-.

Prefix

ge-

1. Used with a verb stem to create an uncountable noun referring to an action or its result, seen as a single collective whole.

Usage notes

• The deverbal prefix ge- is not used before the verbal prefixes be-, er-, ver-, ont- and her-, nor with inseparable prefixed adverbs or prepositions, except in a few exceptional cases or very colloquial speech.

Derived terms

Afrikaans terms prefixed with ge- (collective)

geveg

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɣə/
• (Netherlands) IPA^(key): [χə], [xə], [ɣə]
• (Belgium) IPA^(key): [ʝə], [ɣə], [xə]

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle Dutch ge-, ghe-, from Old Dutch gi-, ge-, from Proto-West Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm.

Cognate with German Low German ge-, Dutch Low Saxon ge-, German ge-, Old English ġe- (obsolete English y-, i-, a-), Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).

Prefix

ge-

1. Used for forming the past participle.
3. (obsolete, no longer productive) Forms perfective verbs from other verbs with a sense of completeness, or simply as an intensifier.

Usage notes

• The participle prefix ge- is not used before the verbal prefixes be-, er-, ver-, ont- and her-, nor with inseparable prefixed adverbs or prepositions.

Derived terms

Category Dutch terms prefixed with ge- (perfective) not found

Etymology 2

From the prefix above with an 'empty' suffix originating from Old Dutch *-i, from Proto-Germanic *-ją.

Prefix

ge-

2. Used with a verb stem to create a neuter uncountable noun referring to an action or its result, seen as a single collective whole. Comparable to English -ing (although that forms countable nouns, as it does in Dutch).

Usage notes

• The deverbal prefix ge- is not used before the verbal prefixes be-, er-, ver-, ont- and her-, nor with inseparable prefixed adverbs or prepositions.
• Sometimes, especially in older formations, shows the effect of ablaut, as in gelag (from liggen).

Derived terms

Dutch terms prefixed with ge- (action noun)

gebabbel

gebak

gebit

geblaf

geblaat

gebrabbel

gebroed

gebrom

gebrul

gebuitel

geding

gedoe

gedonder

gedram

gedruis

gefilosofeer

geflikflooi

gefluister

gefluit

gefonkel

gedrag

gegeit

gegiechel

gegil

gehannes

gehijg

gehoor

gejengel

gejoel

gejuich

gekerm

gekeuvel

geklaag

geklets

gekletter

geklungel

geknoei

gekoeterwaal

gekrakeel

gekwaak

gekwebbel

gelach

geleuter

gelieg

gelag

gelui

geluid

gelul

gemaal

gemekker

gemiauw

gemis

gemompel

geneuzel

gepeins

geplaag

geprevel

gereken

geroddel

geroep

geroezemoes

geruis

geschal

gescheld

geschenk

geschil

geschuifel

gesjirp

gesjouw

gesnater

gesnurk

gesprek

gesteun

gestommel

getik

getouwtrek

gevang

gevecht

gevest

gevloek

gevoel

gevoos

gewacht

gewas

gewelf

geweer

gezanik

gezag

gezeik

gezemel

gezeur

gezwel

Etymology 3

Prefix

ge-

1. See ge- -te.

See also

Dutch terms prefixed with ge-

gebaren

geboorte

gebeuren

gebieden

gebruiken

ge- -d

gedenken

gedienstig

gedogen

gedragen

gedulden

geduren

gedurig

gehechtheid

geheel

geheugen

gehucht

gehorig

gekunsteld

gelasten

geleiden

gelid

gelieven

gelijken

gelopen

gemet

gemoed

genaken

genieten

gouw

gepeupel

geraken

gerucht

geschrift

gestaag

gestreng

getal

getijde

gemoeder

gevader

gevallen

gevangen

gevlucht

gevoelen

gevolg

gewennen

gewoon

geweten

gezegen

gezicht

Esperanto

Etymology

Derived from German ge-. The German prefix is used to form collective nouns, but generally has nothing to do with gender. However, there is one word in which the force of German ge- is very similar to that in Esperanto, namely Geschwister, a plurale tantum derived from Schwester (“sister”) but meaning “siblings of either sex”. The Esperanto use might be based chiefly on this word.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Prefix

ge-

1. (plural only) used with a plural (gendered) noun to indicate multiple genders together

   ‎ge- + ‎patro (“father”) → ‎gepatroj (“mother(s) and father(s)”)

   ‎ge- + ‎frato (“brother”) → ‎gefratoj (“sister(s) and brother(s)”)

   ‎ge- + ‎nepo (“grandson”) → ‎genepoj (“granddaughter(s) and grandson(s)”)

   ‎ge- + ‎avo (“grandfather”) → ‎geavoj (“grandmother(s) and grandfather(s)”)

2. (unoffically, by extension) used with a gendered noun to indicate unspecified gender

   patro (“father”) → gepatroj (“parents”) → gepatro (“a parent”)

   frato (“brother”) → gefratoj (“siblings”) → gefrato (“a sibling”)

   nepo (“grandson”)→ genepoj (“grandchildren”) → genepo (“a grandchild”)

   avo (“grandfather”) → geavoj (“grandparents”) → geavo (“a grandparent”)

3. (unoffically, by extension, often humorous) with or among mixed genders

   lernejo (“school”) → gelernejo (“co-educational school”)

   ĝui (“enjoy”) → geĝui (“to have fun (in a mixed-gender group); to have (heterosexual) sex”) (jocular)

Derived terms

Esperanto terms prefixed with ge-

geamantoj

geamikoj

geavoj

geedzoj

gefiloj

gefratoj

geĝui

geĝuo

gejunuloj

geknabo

gekokoj

gekuzo

gekuzoj

gelernejo

genepoj

genevoj

geonklo

geonkloj

gepatro

gepatroj

gepraavoj

prageavoj

gereĝo

gesinjoro

gesinjoroj

• gea
• geumi

Gabadi

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡe/

Prefix

ge-

2. marks the third-person plural subject on a verb

   ‎ge- + ‎dibaia (“to spear”) → ‎gedibaia (“they speared it”)

   ‎ge- + ‎vaiaku (“to fight”) → ‎gevaiaku (“they fought”)

   ‎ge- + ‎ukuna (“to cut”) → ‎geukuna (“they cut it”)

Derived terms

Category Gabadi terms prefixed with ge- not found

References

• Oa, Morea and Ma`oni Paul. (2014-02-24). Tentative Grammar Description for the Gabadi Language. [Working paper, draft created November 2013; Editor: Eileen Gasaway]. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: SIL International. Available online: [1]. For the prefix ge-, see page 23, section "5.1.1 Subject Marking".

Garo

Etymology

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

Classifier

ge-

1. classifier for any object which does not have a special classifer for itself

German

Alternative forms

• g-

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German ge-, from Old High German ga-, gi-, from Proto-West Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm.

Cognate with Low German ge-, e-, je- (Ermländisch), Yiddish גע־ (ge-), Dutch ge-, Old English ġe- (obsolete English y-, i-, a-), Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).

The umlaut in the collective nouns formed with this affix reflects the presence of the collective suffix *-ją at the Proto-Germanic level.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡə/, [ɡə], (Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland) [ɡ̊e]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Dialectal forms which are often retained also in standard-near colloquial:
  • IPA^(key): /jə/ (northern Rhineland, south-eastern Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin)
  • IPA^(key): /ɡ/, [ɡ̊] (Southern Germany)

Prefix

ge-

1. Forms collective nouns, almost always neuter gender. Whenever possible, the root vowel is modified as well.

   ‎ge- + ‎Ader (“vein”) → ‎Geäder (“veins collectively”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Ast (“branch”) → ‎Geäst (“all the branches of a tree”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Berg (“mountain”) → ‎Gebirge (“mountain range”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Busch (“bush”) → ‎Gebüsch (“brush”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Rippe (“rib”) → ‎Gerippe (“skeleton”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Stein (“stone”) → ‎Gestein (“rock”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Strauch (“bush, shrub”) → ‎Gesträuch (“shrubbery”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Wasser (“water”) → ‎Gewässer (“body of water”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Wolke (“cloud”) → ‎Gewölk (“cloud formation”) (modern: Wolkenformation)

2. Forms action nouns, usually with a sense of repetition or continuation. All of these nouns are neuter and have no plural.

   ‎ge- + ‎ächzen (“groan (verb)”) → ‎Geächze (“groan (noun)”)

   ‎ge- + ‎heulen (“to cry like a wolf”) → ‎Geheule (“the howl of a wolf”)

   ‎ge- + ‎reden (“talk”) → ‎Gerede (“chatter”)

   ‎ge- + ‎seufzen (“sigh (verb)”) → ‎Geseufze (“sigh (noun)”)

3. Forms nomina rei actae, verbal nouns that refer to the result of an action, always of neuter gender.

   ‎ge- + ‎schenken (“to gift”) → ‎Geschenk (“gift”)

   ‎ge- + ‎legen (“to lay”) → ‎Gelege (“clutch of eggs”)

   ‎ge- + ‎prägen (“to stamp a coin”) → ‎Gepräge (“the pattern on a coin”)

4. Forms past participles in combination with a suffix -en or -(e)t. Nouns are frequently made from the past participle.

   ‎ge- + ‎schlafen (“to sleep”) → ‎geschlafen (“slept”)

   ‎ge- + ‎denken (“to think”) → ‎gedacht (“thought”)

   ‎ge- + ‎retten (“to rescue, save”) → ‎gerettet (“rescued, saved”)

5. Forms verbs with terminative aktionsart. This is hardly productive after Early New High German and outside of dialects.

   ‎ge- + ‎leiten (“to lead”) → ‎geleiten (“to escort”)

   ‎ge- + ‎nießen (“to use”) → ‎genießen (“to enjoy”)

   ‎ge- + ‎Middle High German bëren (“to bear, carry”) → ‎gebären (“to give birth”)

   ‎ge- + ‎langen (“to reach for”) → ‎gelangen (“to achieve”)

6. Indicates association or togetherness; co-.

   ‎ge- + ‎Brüder (“brothers”) → ‎Gebrüder (“Brothers”) For example, Gebrüder Grimm, the Brothers Grimm.

   ‎ge- + ‎Fahrt (“journey”) → ‎Gefährte (“fellow-travellers”)

Synonyms

(past participle):

• ge- -en (different analysis or view)
• ge- -t (different analysis or view)
• -t (for verbs not stressed on the very first syllable)

Derived terms

German terms prefixed with ge-

Geächze

Geäder

Geäfter

Ganerbe

angelangen

geartet

Geäse

Geäst

Gebälk

Gebäu

Gebein

Gebell

Gebirge

Gebresten

gebieten

Gebrammel

gebrauchen

Gebrüder

Gebrüll

Gebrumm

gebuchtet

gebuckelt

Gebund

Gebüsch

gedenken

gedulden

ge- -en

Gegesse

Gefach

Gefährte

gefallen

Gefälle

gefangen

Gefasel

Gefäß

Gefecht

gefleckt

Geflirre

geflügelt

Geflüster

gefrieren

Gefühl

Gegaffe

Gelumpe

Geschichtsschreiber

Gestrüpp

gegiebelt

Gehalt

Gehämmer

Gehänge

geharnischt

geheim

gehenkelt

Gehirn

Gehölz

Gehör

Gehöre

gehören

Gejammer

Gekicke

Geklapper

geköpert

Gekrächze

Gekreische

Gekritzel

Gelaber

Gelände

Gelaufe

gelaunt

Geläut

Gelege

geleiten

gelinde

geloben

gelüsten

Gemälde

Gemäuer

Gemecker

Gemetzel

Gemüt

genießen

gepfeffert

Gepolter

Gepränge

gepunktet

Geputze

Gequassel

Gerangel

geraten

geraum

Geräusch

Gereiße

gereuen

gerinnen

Gerippe

gerötet

Gerümpel

Gesäuge

Gesäusel

gescheckt

Geschenk

Geschnatter

Geschoss

Geschreibe

Geschrei

Geschreie

Geschwader

Geschwafel

Geschwätz

Geschwister

Geschwuchtel

Geschwurbel

Geseufze

Gesicht

Gesims

Gesinge

gesinnt

gespalten

Gespann

Gespür

gestehen

Gestein

Gestirn

gestirnt

gestiefelt

gestielt

Gestöber

Gestöhn

Gestotter

Gesträuch

gestreift

Gestreite

Gestühl

ge- -t

Getanze

Getier

getigert

Getrampel

Getränk

getrauen

Getrete

Getrinke

getrost

Getümmel

Getue

Gevatter

Gevögel

gewalmt

gewarten

Gewässer

geweckt

Gewehr

Gewerk

Gewitter

Gewieher

gewillt

gewillkürt

Gewimmel

Gewand

Gewirk

Gewissen

Gewölk

Gewürm

Gewürz

Gewusel

Gezeit

Gezerre

geziemen

Gezücht

Gezweig

Further reading

• J. C. Adelung (1796) “ge-”, in Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart (in German), 2nd edition, volume 2, page 439

• Jörg Meibauer, Ulrike Demske, Jochen Geilfuß-Wolfgang, Jürgen Pafel, Karl Heinz Ramers, Monika Rothweiler and Markus Steinbach, Einführung in die germanistische Linguistik, 2nd edition, 2007, p. 32: "[..] Zirkumfixe [...] ge...t bei schwachen Verben und ge...en bei starken Verben (z. B. gespielt, gelaufen)"
• Michael Schäfer and Werner Schäfke, Sprachwissenschaft für Skandinavisten: Eine Einführung, Narr Verlag, 2014, p. 110: "Zirkumfix-Ableitungen [...]:   [..] dt. spiel-en > ge-spiel-t   Das lexikalische Morphem {spiel} wird hier umschlossen vom Zirkumfix {ge- -t}, um das Partizip der Vergangenheit zu bilden."

Ido

Etymology

Derived from Esperanto ge-, from German ge-.

Prefix

ge-

1. prefix used with the plural to indicate both sexes together

   avi (“grandparents, grandfathers and/or grandmothers”) → geavi (“grandfathers and grandmothers”)

Derived terms

Ido terms prefixed with ge-

geavi

gefilii

gefrati

gekuzi

genepoti

genevi

geonkli

gespozi

Limburgish

Etymology

From earlier gè-, from Middle Dutch ge-, ghe-, from Old Dutch gi-, ge-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm. Cognate with Old Saxon gi- (Low German e-, ge-), Dutch ge-, Old English ġe-, Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).

Prefix

ge-

1. When used in combination with the suffix -dje, forms neuter collective nouns.
2. When attached to verbal nouns, forms nouns denoting repetition or continuation. All of these nouns are neuter and have no plural. For example: kalle/gekal.
3. Forms past participles of verbs: wèrke/gewèrk.
4. Used as an intensifier for verbs. wèrke/gewèrke.

Ojibwe

Preverb

ge-

1. form of da- or daa- used in the changed conjunct order

References

• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/ge-pv-tns

Old English

Alternative forms

• i- — Late West Saxon
• gæ- — Anglian
• gi- — Northumbrian
• ie- — Kentish
• ᚷᛁ- (ġi-), ᚸᛖ- (ge-) (runic spelling)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ḱe-?

Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm

Proto-Germanic *ga-

Proto-West Germanic *ga-

Old English ge-

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm. Cognate with Latin cum (“with”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /je/

Prefix

ġe-

1. used as an intensifier for verbs, indicating completeness or perfection
2. forms nouns or adjectives of association or similarity; co-
3. forms nouns and verbs with the sense of "result" or "process"
4. forms past participles or participle adjectives from verbs

Usage notes

• This prefix was always unstressed, in both nouns and verbs.
• Although on paper this prefix has specific meanings, in practice it was used very inconsistently. On occasion, it may be fully optional and make no meaningful difference, and within that category, sometimes both the prefixed and unprefixed forms are common, and sometimes only one is common. Other times, two verbs have very distinct meanings with the only distinguisher being the prefix. Additionally, its precise definitions are rarely, but not never, clearly reflected in the definition. For example, and this list is far from exhaustive:
  • The verbs cweþan and ġecweþan feature no meaningful difference, and both forms are common.
  • The verbs cnawan and ġecnawan are the same in meaning between the prefixed and unprefixed forms, but in practice, the unprefixed form is almost non-existent in the extant corpus. Similarly, seon and ġeseon feature no meaningful differences, but seon is almost completely unattested in the prose corpus (though it is noticeably more common in poetry).
  • The verbs hieran and ġehieran differ only in the prefix, and while both can technically have the same meanings, in practice, hieran is mostly used to mean to obey, and ġehieran is mostly used to mean to hear.
  • The verbs stincan and ġestincan differ significantly in meaning, with the former meaning to give off an odor (often a bad one, like the modern descendant stink), and the latter meaning to sense things using one's sense of smell, reflecting the third definition.
  • The noun ġeþeode invariably always has the prefix, with an unprefixed form unattested. Likewise, ġedwimor is almost invariably attested with the prefix, with the unprefixed form occurring exactly once with the same meaning. Notice also that most uses of the prefix thus far do not clearly reflect any of the above four definitions.
  • Some adjectives like ġecealf and ġeean, which mean "pregnant with a calf" and "pregnant with a lamb" respectively, reflect the second definition. The second definition can also be seen in the plurals of broþor and sweostor — ġebroþor and ġesweostor (and various alternate forms), respectively — though usage of the prefix is not consistent across dialects or eras.
  • The prefix was almost always found on past participles in prose, but in poetry it was occasionally left off, mainly for metrical reasons. Verbs with any prefix other than ġe- (except for un-) will not take the prefix in the past participle, although some exceptions exist (e.g. ġeednīewod).

Derived terms

Old English terms prefixed with ge-

æg-

æghwelc

geagnian

geanian

geanlæcan

geascian

gebæc

gebannan

gebasnian

gebaswian

gebaþian

gebeagian

gebedda

gebedde

gebennian

gebeodan

gebeon

gebeor

gebeorc

gebeorg

gebeotian

geberan

gebetan

gebeterian

gebidan

gebiddan

gebiegan

gebiergan

gebilod

gebindan

gebland

geblandan

geblendan

geblissian

geblodgian

geblowan

gebocian

gebod

gebodian

gebrecan

gebregd

gebringan

gebrot

gebrucan

gebugan

gebur

gebygu

gebyht

gebyhþ

gebyrd

gebyrdan

gebyrian

gecanc

gecealf

gecegan

gecelnes

gecennan

geceosan

gecepan

gecid

gecidan

geciegan

gecigan

gecierran

geclænsian

geclifian

geclipian

gecnawan

gecneatian

gecnyccan

gecnyssan

gecnyttan

gecocsian

gecocnian

gecoronian

gecow

gecræftan

gecræftgian

gecuman

gecweman

gecweme

gecweþan

gecwician

gecygan

gecynd

gecynde

gecyþan

gedæfte

gedælan

gedafen

gedafenian

gedal

gedeaðian

gediegan

gedelf

gediht

gedihtan

gedon

gedreogan

gedrif

gedrinca

gedritan

gedruncnian

gedryht

gedufan

gedwild

gedwimor

gedwomer

geealdian

geeardian

geearnian

geeaþmedan

geeaþmodian

geedcwician

geedfreolsian

geedniewian

geefenlæcan

geegsian

geendebyrdan

geendian

geendung

geoc

geeofolsian

geerian

geetan

gefadian

gefædera

gefær

gefæstnian

gefangian

gefara

gefaran

gefea

gefealdan

gefeallan

gefearh

gefeaxe

gefeaxen

gefegan

gefelan

gefeoht

gefeohtan

gefer

gefera

geferan

gefere

gefetian

gefieldan

gefiend

gefindan

geflæscnes

geflieman

geflit

geflowan

gefege

gefog

gefol

gefolgian

gefon

geforþian

gefræge

gefrætwian

gefragian

gefrasian

gefredan

gefrefran

gefremman

gefreogan

gefriend

gefrignan

gefullian

gefyllan

gefyrn

gegaderian

gegaderung

gegædere

gegaf

gegan

gegang

gegangan

gegearcian

gegearwian

gebæran

gebann

gebleod

gecrymman

gecrympan

geean

gefæd

gefeg

gefic

gegegnian

gehnad

gehruxl

gelær

genog

gerendrian

geryd

gespan

geswelg

Descendants

• Middle English: ge-, ȝe-, i-, y-
  • English: a-, y-, i- (obsolete)

Old Saxon

Prefix

ge-

1. Alternative form of gi-