ka-

Forms a noun that denotes partnership or companionship; co-
‎ka- + ‎kawat (“play”) → ‎kakawat (“playmate”)

‎ka- + ‎iwal (“fight”) → ‎kaiwal (“enemy”)

Derived terms

Cebuano

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/ [kɐ]

Etymology 1

Compare Tagalog ka-.

Prefix

ka- (Badlit spelling ᜃ)

(added to adjectives) denotes a state of being; -ness
Synonyms: pagka-, ka- -an

‎ka- + ‎linaw (“calm”) → ‎kalinaw (“calmness”)

‎ka- + ‎bugnaw (“cold”) → ‎kabugnaw (“coldness”)
(added to an adjective) used in exclamations; how...
Synonyms: -a, ka- -a

‎ka- + ‎init (“hot”) → ‎kainit! (“how hot!”)
(added to nouns or verbs) denotes partnership or companionship; co-
Synonym: isigka-

‎ka- + ‎klase (“class”) → ‎kaklase (“classmate”)

‎ka- + ‎away (“to fight”) → ‎kaaway (“enemy”)

Derived terms

Cebuano terms prefixed with ka-

Related terms

Etymology 2

Prefix

ka- (Badlit spelling ᜃ)

Short for maka-.

Chichewa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *kà-

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

noun class 12 prefix, used with a diminutive or depreciative meaning

Gabadi

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

marks the first-person plural inclusive ("we, including you") subject on a verb
‎ka- + ‎dibaia (“to spear”) → ‎kadibaia (“we (incl.) speared it”)

‎ka- + ‎mai (“to come”) → ‎kamai (“we (incl.) came”)

Derived terms

Category Gabadi terms prefixed with ka- 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 ka-, see page 23, section "5.1.1 subject marking".

Japanese

Romanization

ka-

Rōmaji transcription of か

Javanese

Romanization

ka-

Romanization of ꦏ-

Kangean

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka- (verb base)

accidental aspect of the passive intransitive verb
‎ka- + ‎gibe (“bring”) → ‎kagibe (“(accidentally) taken along”)

Kapampangan

Etymology

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

Prefix

ka-

implies companionship or partnership when prefixed to a root
‎ka- + ‎abe (“to accompany”) → ‎kayabe (“partner”)

‎ka- + ‎lagyu (“name”) → ‎kalagyu (“namesake”)
implies similarity or interaction when prefixed to a root noun
‎ka- + ‎lupa (“face”) → ‎kalupa (“someone/something similar; look-alike”)

‎ka- + ‎pate (“fight”) → ‎kapate (“enemy”)
implies repeated action when prefixed to a root that repeats the first syllable
‎ka- + ‎gulisak (“shout”) → ‎kagugulisak (“repeatedly shouting”)

‎ka- + ‎isip (“mind, thought”) → ‎kaiisip (“thinking a lot”)
implies causing or producing something in an extreme degree when prefixed to a root that repeats the first two syllables
‎ka- + ‎dapat (“should”) → ‎karapat-dapat (“deserving”)

‎ka- + ‎santing (“handsome”) → ‎kasanting-santing (“wonderful”)
implies recent action when prefixed to a root that repeats the first syllable and followed by pamu
‎ka- + ‎datang (“come”) → ‎kadaratang (“recently arrived”)

‎ka- + ‎punta (“go”) → ‎kapupunta (“recently went”)
implies emphatic, before an adjective, non-productive and followed by na, da or ta
‎ka- + ‎timyas (“cute”) → ‎katimyas (“so cute”)

‎ka- + ‎yumi (“innocence; pure”) → ‎kayumi (“how pretty”)

Derived terms

Kapampangan terms prefixed with ka-

Kimbundu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *kà-.

Prefix

ka- (plural tu-)

noun class prefix, used with a diminutive meaning

Derived terms

Kimbundu terms prefixed with ka-

kambunda

Minangkabau

Prefix

ka-

Used to form ordinal numbers

Mohawk

Prefix

ka-

third person feminine/neuter agent pronominal prefix

Alternative forms

-	Initial consonant
Environment	t/s/h/k	n/r/w/’	a	e/en	o/on	i	y
Word-Initial	ka-	ka-	w-	w-	i-	ken-	ka-

Prefix

ka-

noun prefix

References

Gunther Michelson (1973) A thousand words of Mohawk, University of Ottawa Press, page 9
Nora Deering, Helga H. Delisle (1976) Mohawk: A teaching grammar (preliminary version), Quebec: Manitou College, page 173

Mokilese

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈka-/

Etymology 1

Prefix

ka-

Used to form causative verbs

Usage notes

This prefix sometimes takes the forms koa-, ke- and ko-.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Prefix

ka-

Used to form ordinal numbers

Northern Ndebele

Etymology

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

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Old High German

Prefix

ka-

(Bavarian) Alternative form of gi-

Old Javanese

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

passive verb-forming prefix

Derived terms

Descendants

Javanese: k-, ꦏ- (ka-), ꦏꦼ- (ke-)

Phuthi

Etymology

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

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Phuthi terms prefixed with ka-

kadze

kakgulu

kamunadzi

South Efate

Etymology

Probably related to South Efate go

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

and (forms dependent verbs)

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

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

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Sundanese

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-.

Prefix

ka- (Sundanese script ᮊ-)

verb-forming prefix
1. accidental aspect of the passive transitive verb
  ‎ka- + ‎tijek (“to step on”) → ‎katijek (“(accidentally) stepped on”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎bedil (“gun”) → ‎kabedil (“(accidentally) shot”)
2. perfective aspect of the passive transitive verb
  ‎ka- + ‎déngé (“to hear”) → ‎kadéngé (“to be heard”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎baca (“to read”) → ‎kabaca (“to be read”)
3. implies that the action can be done
  ‎ka- + ‎harti (“meaning”) → ‎kaharti (“(can be) understood”)
noun-forming prefix
1. abstract noun-forming prefix
  ‎ka- + ‎rugi (“loss”) → ‎karugi (“loss”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎hayang (“to want”) → ‎kahayang (“desire, want”)

Usage notes

Not all roots can be prefixed with ka- only. Some verbs, due to semantic reasons, must feature the suffix -an.^[1] For example:
‎ka- + ‎merdika (“free, independent”) + ‎-an → ‎kamerdikaan (“independence”)

‎ka- + ‎kalangkang (“shadow”) + ‎-an → ‎kakalangkangan (“to become overshadowed”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ika-, from Proto-Austronesian *Sika-. Compare Malay ke-, Tagalog ika-

Prefix

ka-

numeral-forming prefix
1. ordinal number forming prefix; -th
  ‎ka- + ‎hiji (“one”) → ‎kahiji (“first”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎sapuluh (“ten”) → ‎kasapuluh (“tenth”)

References

^ Prof. Dr. T. Fatimah Djajasudarma (2013) Fonologi dan Gramatika Sunda [Sundanese Phonology and Grammar] (in Indonesian), Bandung: PT Refika Aditama, →ISBN

Swahili

Pronunciation

Audio (Kenya): (file)

Etymology 1

Prefix

ka-

third-person singular animate (m class_(I)) recent-past perfective marker
Near-synonyms: a li-, a me-
- 1973, Mohammed S. Abdulla, Duniani kuna watu, page 5:
  Nimefanya jitihada mwenyewe na Mungu kanisaidia, […]
  I have worked hard on my own and God has helped me, […]
- 2013, “Rais Obama kaondoka, tusirudie maisha ya aibu”, in Mwananchi‎^[2]:
  Rais Obama kaondoka, tusirudie maisha ya aibu
  President Obama has left, let us not return to a life of shame

Etymology 2

Ultimately from Proto-Bantu *kà-.

Prefix

ka-

(colloquial or dialect, nonstandard) noun class 12 prefix, used with a diminutive or depreciative meaning

Swazi

Etymology 1

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

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Swazi terms prefixed with ka-

kahle

kakhulu

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Tagalog

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-, from Proto-Austronesian *ka-.

Prefix

ka- (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

implies companionship or partnership
‎ka- + ‎sama (“to accompany”) → ‎kasama (“partner”)

‎ka- + ‎opisina (“office”) → ‎kaopisina (“coworker”)
implies similarity or interaction
‎ka- + ‎mukha (“face”) → ‎kamukha (“someone/something similar; look-alike”)

‎ka- + ‎away (“fight”) → ‎kaaway (“enemy”)
(with initial syllable repetition) implies repeated action
‎ka- + ‎sigaw (“shout”) → ‎kasisigaw (“repeatedly shouting”)

‎ka- + ‎isip (“mind, thought”) → ‎kaiisip (“thinking a lot”)
(with initial syllable repetition, followed by lang or lamang) implies recent action
‎ka- + ‎punta (“going”) → ‎kapupunta (“recently went”)

‎ka- + ‎luto (“cooking, cuisine”) → ‎kaluluto (“recently cooked”)
(with initial two syllables repetition) implies causing or producing something in an extreme degree
‎ka- + ‎galang (“respect”) → ‎kagalang-galang (“inspiring great respect”)

‎ka- + ‎paniwala (“belief”) → ‎kapani-paniwala (“very plausible”)

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with ka-

Tooro

Alternative forms

(before /e/) ke-
(before /o/) ko-

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *ká-.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka-/

Prefix

ka-

class 12 pronominal concord
‎ka- + ‎-nu (“this, these”) → ‎kanu (“this (class 12)”)
they; class 12 subject concord
‎ka- + ‎-kora (“to do”) → ‎kakora (“it (class 12) does”)
positive imperative form of -ka- (“it; class 12 object concord”)
‎ka- + ‎-ha (“to give”) → ‎kaha (“give it (class 12)”)

References

Kaji, Shigeki (2007) A Rutooro Vocabulary‎^[3], Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), →ISBN, page 414

Xhosa

Etymology 1

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

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Xhosa terms prefixed with ka-

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Zulu

Etymology 1

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

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Zulu terms prefixed with ka-

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

ká-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Etymology 3

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

Prefix

ka-

Alternative form of ma- (hortative)

References

C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “ka-”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ka-”

[1] Prof. Dr. T. Fatimah Djajasudarma (2013) Fonologi dan Gramatika Sunda [Sundanese Phonology and Grammar] (in Indonesian), Bandung: PT Refika Aditama, →ISBN

[1]

class	person	independent	possessive	subject concord	object concord	combined forms
class	person	independent	possessive	subject concord	object concord	na	ni
class 1	first	nyowe, nye	-ange	n-	-n-	nanyowe, nanye	ninyowe, ninye
	second	iwe	-awe	o-	-ku-	naiwe	niiwe
	third	uwe	-e	a-	-mu-	nawe	nuwe
class 2	first	itwe	-aitu	tu-	-tu-	naitwe	niitwe
	second	inywe	-anyu	mu-	-ba-	nainywe	niinywe
	third	abo	-abo	ba-	-ba-	nabo	nubo
class 3		gwo	-agwo	gu-	-gu-	nagwo	nugwo
class 4		yo	-ayo	e-	-gi-	nayo	niyo
class 5		lyo	-alyo	li-	-li-	nalyo	niryo
class 6		go	-ago	ga-	-ga-	nago	nugo
class 7		kyo	-akyo	ki-	-ki-	nakyo	nikyo
class 8		byo	-abyo	bi-	-bi-	nabyo	nibyo
class 9		yo	-ayo	e-	-gi-	nayo	niyo
class 10		zo	-azo	zi-	-zi-	nazo	nizo
class 11		rwo	-arwo	ru-	-ru-	narwo	nurwo
class 12		ko	-ako	ka-	-ka-	nako	nuko
class 13		two	-atwo	tu-	-tu-	natwo	nutwo
class 14		bwo	-abwo	bu-	-bu-	nabwo	nubwo
class 15		kwo	-akwo	ku-	-ku-	nakwo	nukwo
class 16		ho	-aho	ha-	-ha-	naho	nuho
class 17		(kwo)	N/A	ha- (...-yo)	-ha-	N/A	nukwo
class 18		(mwo)	-amwo	ha- (...-mu)	-ha-	N/A	numwo
reflexive		-enyini, -onyini	—		-e-	—