Mongolian

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Pronunciation

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Suffix

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(-ja)

  1. Alternative form of -ъя (-ʺja) following vowel and diphthong stems.

Inflection

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Russian

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Alternative forms

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  • (-a)used after a hard consonant

Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ę.

Pronunciation

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Suffix

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(-ja)

  1. Noun-forming diminutive suffix used after a soft (palatalized) consonant.

Derived terms

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Ukrainian

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Alternative forms

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  • (-a)used after a hard consonant

Etymology 1

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Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ę.

Suffix

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-я́ (-já) (diminutive -я́тко)

  1. Forms nouns for young animals and other diminutives.
    Synonym: -еня́ (-enjá)
    звір (zvir, animal) + ‎-я́ (-já) → ‎звіря́ (zvirjá, baby animal)
    смере́ка (smeréka, spruce) + ‎-я́ (-já) → ‎смереча́ (smerečá, young spruce tree)
    со́кіл (sókil, falcon) + ‎-я́ (-já) → ‎соколя́ (sokoljá, falconet)
    птах (ptax, bird) + ‎-я́ (-já) → ‎пташа́ (ptašá, fledgling)
    соба́ка (sobáka, dog) + ‎-я́ (-já) → ‎собача́ (sobačá, puppy)
Usage notes
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Being derived from a front nasal vowel, this suffix has the following properties:

  • When added onto a stem ending in a velar consonant, the Slavic first palatalization applies.
  • When added onto a stem ending with /r/, it is palatalized to /rʲ/.
  • The stress usually falls on the suffix.

Etymology 2

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Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьje.

Suffix

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(-ja) (diminutive -ячко)

  1. Denominal, forming collective nouns
    звір (zvir, animal) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎звір'я́ (zvirʺjá, animals)
    смере́ка (smeréka, spruce) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎смері́ччя (smeríččja, spruces) or
    смере́ка (smeréka, spruce) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎смере́ччя (smeréččja, spruces)
    паву́к (pavúk, spider) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎паву́ччя (pavúččja, spiders)
    гора́ (horá, mountain) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎гі́р'я (hírʺja, mountains)
    ка́мінь (káminʹ, stone) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎камі́ння (kamínnja, rocks)
  2. Deverbal (from past participle), forming action nouns
    сра́ти (sráty, to shit)сра́тий (srátyj) / сра́ний (srányj) ("shitty") → сраття́ (srattjá) / срання́ (srannjá) ("shitting")
  3. Denominal, forming nouns denoting various concepts
    уста́ (ustá, mouth, lips) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎у́стя (ústja, mouth, estuary)
  4. Deadjectival, forming nouns denoting a property, state or condition
    здоро́вий (zdoróvyj, healthy) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎здоро́в'я (zdoróvʺja, health)
    весе́лий (vesélyj, happy) + ‎ (-ja) → ‎весі́лля (vesíllja, *happiness → wedding)
  5. Denominal, forming nouns denoting location or time
    по (po) +‎ ріка́ (riká, river) +‎ (-ja)порі́ччя (poríččja, region near, along a river)
    над (nad) +‎ ве́чір (véčir, eve) +‎ (-ja)надвечі́р'я (nadvečírʺja, time before dawn)
Usage notes
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Being derived from an ьjV cluster, this suffix has the following properties:

  • When added onto a stem ending in a velar consonant, the Slavic first palatalization applies.
  • When added onto a stem ending with /r/, it is not palatalized.
  • When added onto a stem ending in a single palatalizable consonant, that consonant is geminated.
  • /o/→/i/ and /e/→/i/ shifts in the stem may or may not occur.

Derived terms

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