-a

See also: , , , , , , , , and Appendix:Variations of "a"

Translingual

Etymology

From Latin -a.

Suffix

-a

  1. Used to create genus names from proper nouns
  2. Used to take the form of certain plural Latin-derived taxonomic names

Derived terms

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin -a (nominative second declension neuter plural suffix), plural counterpart to -um (nominative second declension neuter singular suffix).

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ɑ/, /ə/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Homophones: -er, -or (in non-rhotic accents)

Suffix

-a

  1. plural of -um
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Ancient Greek (-a, nominative second declension neuter plural suffix), plural counterpart to -ον (-on, nominative second declension neuter singular suffix).

Pronunciation

Suffix

-a

  1. plural of -on
Derived terms

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Latin -a (nominative first declension neuter singular suffix)

Pronunciation

Suffix

-a (plural -as or -ae)

  1. Marks singular nouns, with a foundation in Greek or Latin, often implying femininity, especially when contrasted with words terminating in -us.
  2. Changes an element or substance into an oxide.
    magnesium + ‎-a → ‎magnesia
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • (antonym(s) of feminine suffix): he-
Derived terms

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Italian -a, Spanish -a and Portuguese -a, all feminine noun suffixes from Latin -a.

Pronunciation

Suffix

-a

  1. Marks nouns, with a foundation in Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, implying femininity.
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • (antonym(s) of female suffix): he-

Etymology 5

Added especially for metrical reasons, or as an empty filler syllable.

Pronunciation

Suffix

-a

  1. Added for metrical reasons to songs, poetry and verse, or as an empty filler syllable to other speech.
    Alternative forms: a, a-
    • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
      A merry heart goes all the day
      Your sad tires in a mile-a
    • 1936 July 18, Leon Schlesinger (producer) / Norman Spencer (music), I Love to Singa:
      I love to sing-a / about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a, / I love to sing-a / about a sky of blue-a, or a tea for two-a.
    • 1980s, Herb Owen, “Wanna”, in Kids Sing Praise[3], performed by Kids Sing Praise:
      I wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna really wanna be just like the Lord
      So every day Im gonna gonna read the Book and rest upon-a God's own holy Word
      Of good in me there's none-a none-a that's okay because I'm gonna trust upon the work that's done-a on the Cross
      and Jesus is the one-a one-a God the Father's Son-a Son-a and my sin He cures!
    • 1981, Colin Hay, Ron Strykert, performed by Men At Work, Down Under:
      Buying bread from a man in Brussels
      He was six-foot-four and full of muscle
      I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
      He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich []
    • 2014, Don Pendleton, California Hit, Open Road Media, →ISBN:
      "I'm-a tell-a you why you better be. I named you in my will, Franco."

Etymology 6

  • Contraction of have.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (slang) Alternative form of 've.

    Etymology 7

    Contraction of of.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (slang) Clitic form of o' (contraction of of).
      buncha, cuppa, kinda, loadsa, lotta, sorta

    Etymology 8

    Contraction of to.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (informal) to (infinitive marker)

    Etymology 9

    Contraction of do.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (informal) do (infinitive marker)
      • 1988, Living Colour, “Funny Vibe”, Epic:
        Yeah, Flav, I'm tired of them dissing brothers in the P.E. out there, we got to do something about this/(What-a we do? What-a we do?)

    See also

    • -er (which, in various non-rhotic dialects, reduces to -a, e.g. fatha, burna), compare -z

    References

    Abau

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. indicates intensity or repetition of a verbal action

    References

    SIL International (2020), “Abau Dictionary”, in Webonary.org[4]

    Akawaio

    Suffix

    -a[1]

    1. alternative form of -ya

    References

    1. ^ Stegeman, Ray; Hunter, Rita (2014), Akawaio-English Dictionary and English-Akawaio Index, SIL International, pages 18–148

    Albanian

    Etymology 1

    Related to e (of, the, to) and -e.

    Article

    -a f

    1. feminine singular nominative suffixed definite article. the
      Coordinate terms: (masculine) -i, -u, (plural and neuter) -të
      ditë f (day) + ‎-a → ‎dita (the day)
      natë f (night) + ‎-a → ‎nata (the night)

    Etymology 2

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

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms the plural forms for many nouns. -s
      burrë m (man) + ‎-a → ‎burra (men)
      vetull f (eyebrow) + ‎-a → ‎vetulla (eyebrows)

    Basque

    Etymology 1

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Absolutive singular suffix.
      Liburua ekarri al duzu?Did you bring the book?
    Usage notes
    • The suffix -a is usually described as an article. However, its usage is not equivalent to that of English the or a. In Basque, every nominal phrase must carry a determiner, which usually takes the final position in the phrase. Although many others exist, -a is the default determiner which introduces no additional meaning. Compare the following sentences. In the first two, the determiners (-a and hau (this)) apply to the noun phrase etxe handi (big house); while in the last two they apply separately to etxe (house) and handi (big):
      Etxe handia da.It is a big house.
      Etxe handi hau da.It is this big house.
      Etxea handia da.The house is big.
      Etxe hau handia da.This house is big.
    • In Standard Basque, nouns ending in -a in their indefinite form (known in Basque as a itsatsia (literally attached a)) don't change when the article is added:
      neska + ‎-a → ‎neska
    Declension
    Basque inflectional suffixes
    indefinite singular plural proximal plural
    absolutive -∅ -a -ak -ok
    ergative -(e)k -ak -ek
    dative -(r)i -ari -ei -oi
    genitive -(r)en -aren -en -on
    comitative -(r)ekin -arekin -ekin -okin
    causative -(r)engatik -arengatik -engatik -ongatik
    benefactive -(r)entzat -arentzat -entzat -ontzat
    instrumental -(e)z -az -ez -oz
    inessive anim -(r)engan -arengan -engan -ongan
    inan -(e)tan -an -etan -otan
    locative anim
    inan -(e)tako -(e)ko -etako -otako
    allative anim -(r)engana -arengana -engana -ongana
    inan -(e)tara -(e)ra -etara -otara
    terminative anim -(r)enganaino -arenganaino -enganaino -onganaino
    inan -(e)taraino -(e)raino -etaraino -otaraino
    directive anim -(r)enganantz -arenganantz -enganantz -onganantz
    inan -(e)tarantz -(e)rantz -etarantz -otarantz
    destinative anim -(r)enganako -arenganako -enganako -onganako
    inan -(e)tarako -(e)rako -etarako -otarako
    ablative anim -(r)engandik -arengandik -engandik -ongandik
    inan -(e)tatik -(e)tik -etik -otik
    partitive -(r)ik
    prolative -tzat

    Further reading

    Etymology 2

    Particle

    -a

    1. (Navarro-Lapurdian) Used to form yes/no questions.
      Liburua ekarri duzuia?Did you bring the book?
    Usage notes
    • It takes different forms depending on the ending of the verb:
      -a + ‎-a → ‎-ea
      -e + ‎-a → ‎-ea
      -o + ‎-a → ‎-oa, -oia
      -u + ‎-a → ‎-uia, -ia
    • Other dialects use the unrelated particle al.

    Further reading

    Bola

    Suffix

    -a

    1. third person singular object
      A longaI heard it.

    References

    Catalan

    Etymology 1

    Inherited from Latin -a.

    Suffix

    -a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -es)

    1. -ess forms feminine singular nouns
      senyor (gentleman) + ‎-a → ‎senyora (lady)
      cambrer (waiter) + ‎-a → ‎cambrera (waitress)

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms feminine singular adjectives
      fred (cold) + ‎-a → ‎freda (cold)

    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Latin -at, the third-person singular present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs.

    Suffix

    -a (verb)

    1. forms the third-person singular (also used with vostè) present indicative mood of regular -ar verbs
      parlar (to talk) + ‎-a → ‎parla (talks)

    Etymology 3

    Inherited from Latin (second-person singular present active imperative ending of first conjugation verbs).

    Suffix

    -a (verb)

    1. forms the second-person singular imperative mood of -ar verbs
      parlar (to talk) + ‎-a → ‎Parla! (Talk!)

    Cebuano

    Alternative forms

    Etymology

    From Proto-Austronesian *-a (imperative suffix).

    Suffix

    -a

    1. creates imperative forms of verbs

    Cornish

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-Brythonic *-aβ̃, from Proto-Celtic *-a-mā.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Verbal suffix
      Synonyms: -i, -ya
      les (width) + ‎-a → ‎lesa (to expand)
      byw (alive) + ‎-a → ‎bewa (to live)
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    From Proto-Brythonic *-haβ̃, from Proto-Celtic *-isamos. Cognate with Welsh -af.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms superlative adjectives
      gwell (better) + ‎-a → ‎gwella (best)

    Czech

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): [ a]

    Suffix

    -a m anim (noun-forming suffix)

    1. forms agent nouns referring to male people
      posrat (to shit oneself) + ‎-a → ‎posera (coward)
      nafouknout (to inflate, to blow up) + ‎-a → ‎náfuka (bighead, conceited person)

    Suffix

    -a f (noun-forming suffix)

    1. forms nouns referring to results of processes
      radit (to advise) + ‎-a → ‎rada (advice, counsel)
      naladit (to tune in) + ‎-a → ‎nálada (mood)

    Derived terms

    Further reading

    • -a in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

    Dutch

    Pronunciation

    • Audio:(file)

    Suffix

    -a

    1. plural of -um
      Synonym: -ums
    2. feminine of -us

    Esperanto

    Etymology

    From feminine singular adjectives (and nouns) of the Romance languages, such as French ma, Italian mia, Spanish mía, fría.

    Pronunciation

    • Audio:(file)

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Related to, in the manner of, of. Ending for all adjectives in Esperanto.
      belo (beauty) + ‎-a → ‎bela (beautiful)
      dekstro (the right direction) (as opposed to left) + ‎-a → ‎dekstra (to the right)
      vero (truth) + ‎-a → ‎vera (true)
    2. Belonging to, of. Ending for all possessive pronouns in Esperanto.
      mi (I; me) + ‎-a → ‎mia (of me, my)
      vi (you) + ‎-a → ‎via (of you, your)
      ili (they; them) + ‎-a → ‎ilia (of them, their)
    3. Used to form the ordinal numeral.
      unu (one) + ‎-a → ‎unua (first)
      du (two) + ‎-a → ‎dua (second)
      dek tri (thirteen) + ‎-a → ‎dek-tria (thirteenth)
      cent (hundred) + ‎-a → ‎centa (hundredth)
    4. -kind of. Ending of all correlatives of kind in Esperanto.
      ki- + ‎-a → ‎kia (what kind of)
      ti- + ‎-a → ‎tia (that kind of)
      neni- + ‎-a → ‎nenia (no kind of)

    Derived terms

    Ending for all adjectives.
    Ending for all possessive pronouns in Esperanto.
    Ending of all ordinal numerals in Esperanto.
    Ending of all correlatives of kind in Esperanto.

    Faroese

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Used to form verbs from nouns.
      týskur (a German) + ‎-a → ‎týska (Germanize)
    2. Used to form adverbs from adjectives.
      illur (bad) + ‎-a → ‎illa (badly)

    Finnish

    Alternative forms

    • (in words with front vowel harmony)

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-Finnic *-da (variant of *-ta, whence -ta), from the Proto-Uralic ablative case *-ta.

    Suffix

    -a (front vowel harmony variant , linguistic notation -A)

    1. (case suffix) Forms the partitive case of nouns, adjectives, numbers and some pronouns.
    Usage notes
    • This suffix is used after a short vowel or the plural marker -j-.
    • See the appendix on Finnish nominal cases for more information on how the partitive case is used.

    Etymology 2

    From Proto-Finnic *-dak.

    Suffix

    -a (front vowel harmony variant , linguistic notation -A)

    1. (verbal suffix) Forms the short form of the first infinitive of verbs.
    Usage notes
    • The first infinitive, short form, is the citation form of verbs.

    See also

    French

    Etymology

    From Latin -āt, short counterpart to -āvit.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the third-person singular past historic of -er verbs

    Gagauz

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. alternative form of during vowel harmony with back vowels

    Garo

    Suffix

    -a

    1. neutral, unmarked tense-aspect marker

    Usage notes

    In addition to present time, it often shows habitual action, and can also past and future

    Gothic

    Romanization

    -a

    1. romanization of -𐌰

    Hungarian

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): [ɒ]
    • Audio:(file)

    Etymology 1

    From the Proto-Uralic *sᴕ̈ third-person personal pronoun of the ancestor language after it was appended to the word of possession. According to some linguists this attachment happened in the Proto-Uralic era, while others think it happened much later when the Hungarian language became independent.[1]

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Possessive (and genitive) suffix: [from 1055]
      1. (with no possessor or with the 3rd‑person pronoun as possessor, usually construed with the definite article) hisherits …
        ház(a) háza, az ő háza (his/her/its house)élet(az) élete, az ő élete (his/her/its life)barát(a) barátja (his/her/its friend)kapu(a) kapuja (his/her/its gate)palota(a) palotája (his/her/its palace)kert(a) kertje (his/her/its garden)betű(a) betűje (his/her/its letter)vese(a) veséje (his/her/its kidney)
      2. (with a singular possessor)-'s, of … (third-person singular, single possession)
        Anna háza (Anna’s house), a felkelő nap háza (the house of the rising sun)Anna élete (Anna’s life), a város élete (the life of the city)a király palotája (the king’s palace)a ház kapuja (the gate of the house)Anna kertje (Anna’s garden), a tulipán kertje (the garden of the tulip)
      3. (with a plural possessor)-s’, of-s (third-person plural, single possession)
        a szüleim háza (my parents’ house), a trópusi növények háza ([the] house of [the] tropical plants, literally the tropical plants’ house)a szüleim élete (my parents’ lives, literally my parents’ life), a könyvek élete ([the] lives of [the] books, literally the books’ life)az uralkodók palotája (the rulers’ palace)a szüleim kertje (my parents’ garden), Az elágazó ösvények kertje (The Garden of Forking Paths)
      4. (with instantaneous time expressions) … ago (referring to a preceding point in time considered as an instant)
        Egy évszázada / két éve / egy órája / sok/hosszú ideje ment el.S/he left one century / two years / one hour / a long time ago.
        Synonym: -val/-vel ezelőtt (e.g. egy évszázaddal, két évvel ezelőtt)
      5. (with durative time expressions) for … (referring to some duration that precedes the point of time in question)
        Egy évszázada / két éve / egy órája / sok/hosszú ideje várunk rád.We have been waiting for you for a century / two years / an hour / a long time.
        Synonym: óta (less common in this sense; more commonly means “since”)
      6. (mostly with quantities, often following -ik) of …, out of(partitive sense)
        Synonym: (only with countable quantities) közül
        jó (jav-) (the greater/better part)a java még hátravan (the best/bulk is yet to come, literally its best/bulk is…)
        legnagyobbik (the biggest one)a bikák legnagyobbika (the biggest [one] of the bulls, synonymous with a legnagyobb bika)
    2. (personal suffix) [from the end of the 12th century]
      1. Third-person singular personal suffix in back-vowel verbs. Today it can be found in the third-person singular definite forms (indicative past and imperative conjugations) as part of the suffix -ja/-je, -ta/-te.
        tud (to know)tudta (he/she knew it)
        tudtudja (he/she knows it (indicative mood))
        tudtudja (he/she should know it (subjunctive mood))
        kér (to request, ask for sth)kérte (he/she requested it)
        kérkérje (he/she should request it (subjunctive mood))
      2. Third-person singular personal suffix in back-vowel conjugated infinitives and in the declined and postposition forms of the third-person personal pronoun ő (he/she/it).
        tanulni (to study)tanulnia kell (he/she must study, literally it is necessary for him/her to study)
        kérni (to request, ask for)kérnie kell (he/she must request [it], literally it is necessary for him/her to request)
        -ról (about)róla (about him/her/it)
        -től (from)tőle (from him/her/it)
        után (after)utána (after him/her/it)
        fölött (above)fölötte (above him/her/it)
    Usage notes
    • (possessive suffix) Variants:
      -a is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant
      -e is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant
      -ja is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant or a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-; final -o changes to -ó-.
      -je is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant or a vowel. Final -e changes to -é-; final changes to -ő-.
      • This suffix (in all forms) is normally used for the third-person singular possessive (single possession) but, after an explicit plural possessor, it also expresses the third-person plural possessive (single possession), e.g. “the children’s ball” (a gyerekek labdája). If the possessor is implicit (not named, only marked by a suffix), the plural possessive suffix must be used, e.g. “their ball” (a labdájuk, see -juk and its variants).
    • (personal suffix) Variants:
      -a is added to back-vowel words
      -e is added to front-vowel words
    Note that the corresponding (third-person singular) indicative mood of front-vowel verbs is -i, e.g. kéri (s/he requests it).
    Declension
    Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)
    singular plural
    nominative -a
    accusative -át
    dative -ának
    instrumental -ával
    causal-final -áért
    translative -ává
    terminative -áig
    essive-formal -aként
    essive-modal -ául
    inessive -ában
    superessive -án
    adessive -ánál
    illative -ába
    sublative -ára
    allative -ához
    elative -ából
    delative -áról
    ablative -ától
    non-attributive
    possessive – singular
    -áé
    non-attributive
    possessive – plural
    -áéi
    See also
    • Category:Hungarian noun forms
    • Appendix:Hungarian possessive suffixes

    Etymology 2

    First attested in 1055. It can be traced back to Proto-Uralic *-i̮ which with the word-final vowel created the diphthong -ai̮/-ei̮. This had simplified to -á/-é, finally in the Old Hungarian era it had shortened to -a/-e. It was a productive suffix at that time, the back-vowel variant was used even in front-vowel words such as the Old Hungarian female given names Fehéra and Szépa, derived from fehér (light in color) and szép (beautiful), respectively.[1]

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (diminutive suffix) The back-vowel variant of the -a/-e diminutive suffix pair. In the past it could be found in common nouns, as well, but today it is used mostly in given names.
      cic (the sound for calling a cat)cica (kitten)
      Zsigmond (Siegmund)Zsiga (Sig)

    Etymology 3

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

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (personal suffix, archaic) Used to form the third-person singular indicative past indefinite, for back-vowel verbs. The front-vowel version is -e. The suffix currently used in this place is -t, -tt, or -ott. For the full paradigm, see the usage template.

    Etymology 4

    Along with its front-vowel counterpart -e, from the diphthongs -ai̮/-ei̮, developing to -á/-é, then shortened to this form by the end of the early Old Hungarian period. After the participle suffix became fixed as /, the remaining words suffixed with -a/-e underwent conversion; some became adjectives, others, nouns.[1]

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (obsolete participle suffix) synonym of (present-participle suffix) From a synchronic perspective, it can be viewed as a nominal-forming suffix, preserved in some adjectives and nouns (see below). No longer productive. Its front-vowel version is -e.
    Derived terms

    References

    1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 -a in Zaicz, Gábor (ed.). Etimológiai szótár: Magyar szavak és toldalékok eredete (‘Dictionary of Etymology: The origin of Hungarian words and affixes’). Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó, 2006, →ISBN.  (See also its 2nd edition.)

    Icelandic

    Etymology 1

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms verbs from nouns
      spark (a kick) + ‎-a → ‎sparka (to kick)
      mjólk (milk) + ‎-a → ‎mjólka (to milk)
      von (hope) + ‎-a → ‎vona (to hope)
      ávarp (an address) + ‎-a → ‎ávarpa (to address)
      rit (a writ) + ‎-a → ‎rita (to write)
      rass (an ass) + ‎-a → ‎rassa (to spank (on the ass))
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Used to form adverbs from adjectives.
      illur (bad) + ‎-a → ‎illa (badly)

    See also

    Ido

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. suffix denoting adjective.
      arjento (silver, noun) + ‎-a → ‎arjenta (silver, adjective)

    Usage notes

    One may elide the final a of the adjectives, but with the condition not to produce accumulation from the consonants. One advise to use the elision mainly with the derivatived adjectives and particularly when they finish with -al-(a).[1]

    Derived terms

    References

    1. ^ KGD”, in Kompleta gramatiko detaloza[1] (in Ido), 23 December 2015 (last accessed), archived from the original on 27 January 2012

    Ingrian

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-Finnic *-da. Cognates include Finnish -a and Estonian -a.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a (front vowel variant )

    1. Used to form the partitive case: part of
    Inflection
    Possessive forms of -a
    possessor singular plural
    1st person -haan -amme
    2nd person -haas -anne
    3rd person -haa -asse

    Etymology 2

    From Proto-Finnic *-dak. Cognates include Finnish -da.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a (front vowel variant )

    1. First infinitive marker
    Usage notes
    • After stems ending in -n, -l, -r, -s the alternative forms -na, -la, -ra and -sa are used, respectively.

    Irish

    Suffix

    -a

    1. plural ending of certain nouns
    2. plural ending of adjectives in the nominative, vocative, dative, and strong genitive cases
    3. genitive singular ending of third-declension nouns

    Italian

    Etymology 1

    Inherited from Latin -a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ (forms action nouns).

    Suffix

    -a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -e)

    1. used with a stem to form a feminine singular noun, usually a deverbal
      Synonym: -o
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    From Latin -at.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. used, with a stem, to form the third-person singular present tense of -are verbs

    Etymology 3

    From Latin .

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. used, with a stem, to form the second-person singular imperative of -are verbs

    Etymology 4

    From Latin -(e/i)am, -(e/i)ās, -(e/i)at.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. used, with a stem, to form the first-person singular, second-person singular and third-person singular present subjunctive of -ere verbs, and of those -ire verbs that do not insert -isc-

    Etymology 5

    From Latin -(e/i)at.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. used, with a stem, to form the third-person singular imperative of -ere verbs, and of those -ire verbs that do not insert -isc-

    Japanese

    Romanization

    -a

    1. Rōmaji transcription of
    2. Rōmaji transcription of

    Javanese

    Javanese writing system
    Carakan -ꦲ
    Pegon -أَ
    Roman -a

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Imperative suffix
      Réné-aCome here!
      Kowé ana-a ing omah baeYou stay home!
    2. Subjunctive suffix
      bisa-a énggal dadiI hope it will be ready soon.
      Bêcike ditutupi bisa-a aja nganti dirubung lalêr
      It should be covered so flies can't get into it.
      Mangsa bisa-aAs if you could do it!
    3. (With doubled adjective) far more so
      Gêdhe-gêdhe-a ikiThis one is much bigger.
    4. (With doubled word) not even
      Aku ora entuk layang siji-siji-aI didn't get a single letter.
    5. (with doubled question word) [what]ever
      Sapa-sapa-a sing arêp mlêbu kudu wisuh dhisik
      Anyone who wants to come in has to wash his hands first.
      Piye-piye-a kae kowe kudu lungaNo matter what, you have to go.

    References

    • "-a" in Elinor Clark Horne, Javanese-English Dictionary. Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1974

    Khalaj

    Suffix

    preceding vowel
    a / i / o / u e / ə / i̇ / ö / ü
    -a

    -a

    1. Form of after the vowels A / I / O / U.

    Latin

    Etymology 1

  • From Proto-Italic *-ā, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ (suffix originally used to form collective nouns, extended in Late PIE to also be a marker of feminine gender). For the use to form masculine agent nouns from verb roots, compare Latin poeta from Ancient Greek ποιητής (poiētḗs).

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. inflection of -us:
      1. nominative/vocative feminine singular
      2. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter plural
    2. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter plural of -s

    Suffix

    -a f or m (genitive -ae); first declension

    1. suffix used to form feminine first-declension nouns
      1. used to form a female counterpart of a masculine noun denoting a male
        equus m (horse) + ‎-a → ‎equa f (female horse, mare)
        flāmen m (flamen) + ‎-a → ‎flāmina f (wife of a flamen)
        magister m (master, instructor) + ‎-a → ‎magistra f (mistress, instructress)
      2. used in substantivised feminine adjective forms, with ellipsis of an implicit feminine head noun
        medicus (doctor) + ‎-īnus (adjective-forming suffix) + ‎-a → ‎medicīna f (medicine), a type of ars f (art)
        cōnferveō + ‎-us (adjective-forming suffix) + ‎-a → ‎cōnferva f, a type of herba f (plant)
        cōnsolidō + ‎-us (adjective-forming suffix) + ‎-a → ‎cōnsolida f, a type of herba f (plant)
      3. (Late Latin) added to the stem of a third-declension noun to adapt its inflection to that of a feminine first-declension noun
        lendis, lendin- f + ‎-a → ‎lendina f
        pūlex, pūlic- m + ‎-a → ‎*pūlica f
    2. suffix used to form (usually masculine) agent nouns from the roots of (usually compound) verbs
      adveniō + ‎-a → ‎advena
      ager + ‎colō + ‎-a → ‎agricola
      caedō + ‎-a → ‎-cīda
      colō + ‎-a → ‎-cola
      scrībō + ‎-a → ‎scrība
    Declension

    First-declension noun.

    1. Certain masculine nouns ending in -a, especially those ending in -cola and -gena, sometimes have a short genitive plural form ending in -um instead of -ārum.

    2. Feminine nouns such as fīlia (daughter) that have a second-declension masculine counterpart sometimes take the ending -ābus instead of -īs in the dative and ablative plural to avoid ambiguity (since fīliīs could be misunderstood as the dative/ablative plural of fīlius (son)). Forms in -ābus are attested earliest for the nouns fīlia and dea (goddess), and later on for others such as līberta (freedwoman), equa (mare) and anima.

    Synonyms
    • (suffixed to the roots of verbs, forms masculine agent nouns): -ō¹
    Derived terms

    References

    Etymology 2

  • From Old Latin -ād, first-declension ablative singular ending.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    1. ablative feminine singular of -us

    Suffix

    (not comparable)

    1. suffixed chiefly to the stems of adjectives terminating in -ter, forms adverbs which are frequently also used as prepositions
      citer + citrā
      exter + extrā
      in- + -ter + intrā
      ulter + ultrā
    Derived terms
    Latin terms suffixed with -a (adverb)

    References

    Etymology 3

    See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    1. second-person singular present active imperative of (first conjugation)

    Latvian

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Used to derive feminine nouns from masculine nouns (like English -ess).
      Synonym: -e

    Derived terms

    Feminine suffixes that include -a

    Lushootseed

    Suffix

    -a

    1. and (attached only to čəd, čəxʷ, čəɬ & čələp)

    Derived terms

    Lushootseed terms suffixed with -a
    • čxʷa
    • čəda
    • čələpa
    • čɬa

    Makasar

    Article

    -a (Lontara spelling )

    1. the (definite article for common nouns)
      Ba'dai uringa.[1]The saucepan is leaking.

    References

    1. ^ Aburaerah Arief (1995), Kamus Makassar–Indonesia, Ujung Pandang: Yayaan Perguruan Islam Kapita, page 29.

    Maltese

    Alternative forms

    • -ja (used after -i, -j; also another ending of different origin)
    • -wa (used after -u, -w)

    Etymology

    From Arabic ـَة (-a), reinforced by Sicilian and Italian -a, which are unrelated but used similarly.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /a/
    • Homophone: -ha (distinct after -h, -ħ, -għ; may also trigger different stem alternations)

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Used to form the feminine forms of most nouns and adjectives.
    2. Used to form the plurals of some nouns and adjectives.
    3. Used to form singulatives from collective nouns.

    Maori

    Suffix

    -a

    1. passive ending (used mainly for verbs with one or two vowels)

    Derived terms

    Maori terms suffixed with -a

    Mbyá Guaraní

    Etymology 1

    Cognate with Guaraní -va.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. nominalizes the action of the verb
      pendeayvua
      that which you say
    2. indicates the place of the verb
      ooa
      where he is going
    3. indicates the time of the action of the verb
      nhama'etỹa ára
      the day in which we planted

    Etymology 2

    Cognate with Guaraní -ha.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms ordinal numbers
      mboapya
      third

    Murui Huitoto

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms nouns denoting the action of the suffixed verb; -ing, -tion

    Derived terms

    Murui Huitoto terms suffixed with -a

    References

    • Katarzyna Izabela Wojtylak (2017), A grammar of Murui (Bue): a Witotoan language of Northwest Amazonia.[5], Townsville: James Cook University press (PhD thesis), page 81

    Northern Sami

    Etymology

    From Proto-Samic *-ëk. Cognate with Finnish -e.

    Pronunciation

    • (Kautokeino) IPA(key): /ˈ-a/

    Suffix

    -a (with odd-syllable stems -at)

    1. Forms nouns from verbs, indicating something used for performing the verb.
      loavdit (to cover the tent) + ‎-a → ‎loavdda (tent cloth)
    2. Forms nouns from verbs, indicating something that results from having the verb's action performed.
      čállit (to write) + ‎-a → ‎čála (writing)

    Usage notes

    • This suffix triggers the weak grade on a preceding stressed syllable in the nominative singular and essive, and the strong grade in the other forms.

    Inflection

    Odd, no gradation
    Nominative -at
    Genitive -aga
    Singular Plural
    Nominative -at -agat
    Accusative -aga -agiid
    Genitive -aga -agiid
    Illative -agii -agiidda
    Locative -agis -agiin
    Comitative -agiin -agiiguin
    Essive -agin
    Possessive forms
    Singular Dual Plural
    1st person -agan -ageamẹ -ageamẹt
    2nd person -agat -ageattẹ -ageattẹt
    3rd person -agis -ageaskkạ -ageasẹt

    Derived terms

    Norwegian Nynorsk

    Etymology

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

    Suffix

    -a

    1. the, Definite marker used for
      Synonym: (only for strong nouns; nonstandard since 2012) -i
      1. the definite singular of (strong) feminine nouns.
      2. the definite plural of strong neuter nouns.
      3. (dialectal) the dative singular case of strong masculine nouns.
      4. (archaic, nonstandard) Used to form definite singular dative case of weak masculine and neuter nouns
    2. -ed, Used for:
      1. the past tense of a-verbs.
      2. the supines of a-verbs and some preterite-present verbs (e.g. har bada, kasta, kunna, skulla, vilja).
      3. the past participles of a-verbs.
      4. adjectives (e.g. grepa, heilhjarta).
    3. Used to form an infinitive form for most verbs. When using split infinitive, this only applies to a select group.
    4. Used to form singular indefinite feminine form of some pronouns and adjectives (e.g. inga, lita, noka etc.).
      Synonym: -i (non-standard since 2012)
    5. plural of -um
    6. plural of -on
    7. Used as an ending of weak nouns and adjectives. Used for:
      1. the singular of weak feminine nouns, indefinite (non-standard since 2012) and definite forms.
      2. the singular of weak neuter nouns, indefinite and definite forms (e.g. auga, hjarta, øyra).
      3. (dated or dialectal) adverbs ((pre-2012) alternative form of -e).
      4. (Landsmål, archaic or dialectal) the singular definite feminine and neuter forms of adjectives.
    8. (Landsmål, archaic, nonstandard) Used to form the feminine indefinite plural of adjectives.
    9. (Landsmål, archaic, nonstandard) Used to form the genitive plural of nouns.
      Synonyms: -a-, -e-

    Anagrams

    Old English

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ɑ/

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô. Cognate with Old High German -o.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. nominative masculine n-stem ending
      ācweornasquirrel
      folafoal
      dracadragon
      grīmamask
      heorradoor hinge
    2. used to form the nominative singular n-stem (weak) adjective and subsequent nominalised form
      eald (old) + ‎-a → ‎(sē) ealda ((the/that) old; (the/that) old one/thing)
    3. used to form masculine agents, usually from verbs
      Synonyms: -end, -ere
      ġiefan (to give) + ‎-a → ‎ġiefa (giver)
      dēman (to judge) + ‎-a → ‎dēma (a judge)
      cuman (to come) + ‎-a → ‎cuma (guest)
    Declension

    Weak:

    Derived terms
    Descendants
    • Middle English: -e

    Etymology 2

    From Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Ending forming adverbs
    Usage notes
    • Though it was common in Proto-Germanic and Proto-West Germanic, in Old English this ending is restricted to only a few adverbs, among them sōna (immediately) and ġeāra (long ago). The competing suffix -e is much more common, along with -līċe.
    Derived terms
    Old English terms suffixed with -a (adverbial)
    Descendants
    • Middle English: -e (fossilised)
      • English: -e (archaic)

    Etymology 3

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms the nominative, accusative, and genitive plural of o-stem feminine nouns and u-stem masculine nouns
      sunu (son) + ‎-a → ‎suna (sons, sons')
      talu (tale) + ‎-a → ‎tala (tales, tales')

    Etymology 4

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms the genitive plural of a-stem nouns
      word (word) + ‎-a → ‎worda (words')

    Etymology 5

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms the genitive and dative singular of u-stem nouns
      sunu (son) + ‎-a → ‎suna (son's, son)

    Old Galician-Portuguese

    Etymology 1

  • Inherited from Latin -am.

    Suffix

    -a f (plural -as)

    1. feminine singular of -o
    Derived terms
    Old Galician-Portuguese terms suffixed with -a
    Descendants
    • Galician: -a
    • Portuguese: -a

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Latin -at, from Proto-Italic *-āt, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. a suffix indicating the second-person singular present indicative of a verb in -ar
      amar (to love) + ‎-a → ‎ama ([he/she/it] loves)
      cantar (to sing) + ‎-a → ‎canta ([he/she/it] sings)
    Descendants
    • Fala: -a
    • Galician: -a
    • Portuguese: -a

    Old Irish

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /-a/

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-Celtic *yo, from Proto-Indo-European *Hyós.

    Pronoun

    -a

    1. combines with prepositions to form a relative pronoun
      ar (for the sake of) + ‎-a → ‎ara (for the sake of whom/which)
    Derived terms
    Old Irish terms suffixed with -a (relative)

    Etymology 2

    An allomorph of -iu. It derives from Proto-Celtic *-is, the neuter of *-yūs. -is was extended to -ais thanks to a rebracketing of Proto-Celtic *mais (more) from *ma-is to *m-ais (neuter of *māyūs from which Old Irish ).[1]

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms the comparative degree of some adjectives
      Synonym: -iu
      lethan (broad) + ‎-a → ‎letha (broader)
    Usage notes

    Used with a relatively small number of adjectives to form an irregular comparative. The regular, productive comparative suffix is -iu.

    Derived terms
    Old Irish terms suffixed with -a (comparative)

    References

    1. ^ Jasanoff, Jay (1988–1990), “The origin of the Celtic comparative type OIr. tressa, MW trech ‘stronger’”, in Die Sprache[2], volume 34, published 1991, pages 171–89

    Further reading

    Old Norse

    Etymology 1

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

    Alternative forms

    Suffix

    -a

    1. indicates negation; does not (Can we add an example for this sense?)

    Etymology 2

    From Proto-Germanic *-ōną.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. creates denominative verbs from nouns
    2. creates factitive verbs from adjectives
    Conjugation
    Conjugation of -a — active (weak class 2)
    infinitive -a
    present participle -andi
    past participle -aðr
    indicative subjunctive
    present past present past
    1st person singular -a -aða -a -aða
    2nd person singular -ar -aðir -ir -aðir
    3rd person singular -ar -aði -i -aði
    1st person plural -um -uðum -im -aðim
    2nd person plural -ið -uðuð -ið -aðið
    3rd person plural -a -uðu -i -aði
    imperative present
    2nd person singular -a
    1st person plural -um
    2nd person plural -ið
    Derived terms
    Old Norse class 2 weak verbs
    Descendants
    • Icelandic: -a
    • Faroese: -a
    • Norwegian Nynorsk: -a, -e; (dialectal, in verbs with jamvekt)
    • Old Swedish: -a
      • Swedish: -a
    • Danish: -e
      • Norwegian Bokmål: -e

    Etymology 3

    From Proto-Germanic *-ê and *-ô.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. used to make adverbs from adjectives
      gjarn + ‎-a → ‎gjarna
    Descendants
    • Icelandic: -a

    Etymology 4

    From Proto-Germanic *-ǭ or *-ô.

    Suffix

    -a f or n

    1. occurs in the nominative singular of feminine on-stem nouns
    2. occurs in the singular of neuter an-stem nouns
    Declension
    Declension of -a (weak ōn-stem)
    feminine singular plural
    indefinite definite indefinite definite
    nominative -a -an -ur -urnar
    accusative -u -una -ur -urnar
    dative -u -unni -um -unum
    genitive -u -unnar -na -nanna
    Declension of -a (weak an-stem)
    neuter singular plural
    indefinite definite indefinite definite
    nominative -a -at -u -un
    accusative -a -at -u -un
    dative -a -anu -um -unum
    genitive -a -ans -na -nanna

    Etymology 5

    Different noun forms.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. indefinite genitive plural (of nouns)
    2. inflection of -i (masculine an-stem nouns):
      1. indefinite oblique singular
      2. indefinite accusative plural
    3. indefinite accusative plural of -r (masculine a-stem nouns)

    Old Swedish

    Etymology

    From Old Norse -a.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Creates denominative verbs from nouns
    2. Creates factitive verbs from adjectives
      sighia
      to say
      hælgha
      to celebrate

    Conjugation

    Conjugation of -a (weak)
    present past
    infinitive -a
    participle -andi, -e -aþer
    active voice indicative subjunctive imperative indicative subjunctive
    iæk -ar -i, -e -aþi, -e -aþi, -e
    þū -ar -i, -e -a -aþi, -e -aþi, -e
    han -ar -i, -e -aþi, -e -aþi, -e
    vīr -um, -om -um, -om -um, -om -aþum, -om -aþum, -om
    īr -in -in -in -aþin -aþin
    þēr -a -in -aþu, -o -aþin
    mediopassive voice indicative subjunctive imperative indicative subjunctive
    iæk -as -is, -es -aþis, -es -aþis, -es
    þū -as -is, -es -aþis, -es -aþis, -es
    han -as -is, -es -aþis, -es -aþis, -es
    vīr -ums, -oms -ums, -oms -aþums, -oms -aþums, -oms
    īr -ins -ins -aþins -aþins
    þēr -as -ins -aþus, -os -aþins

    Descendants

    • Swedish: -a

    Old Tupi

    Etymology

  • Possibly from Proto-Tupi-Guarani *-aβ, making it a doublet of -sab. Cognate with Guajajára, Kamayurá, Mbyá Guaraní, and Tapirapé -a.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /a/ (unstressed)

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms nouns from a word's stem
      porang (beautiful, adjective) + ‎-a → ‎poranga (beauty, noun)
      nhe'eng (to speak, verb) + ‎-a → ‎nhe'enga (language, noun)
    2. forms the gerund of verbs ending in a consonant
      mim (to hide) + ‎-a → ‎mima (hiding)

    Derived terms

    References

    Phalura

    Etymology 1

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

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Third person singular suffix
    Alternative forms
    • -íi (With e-ending verb stems)
    • -óo (With a-ending verb stems)
    • -e (Biori)
    • -úu (With a-ending verb stems in Biori)

    References

    • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-a”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[6], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

    Etymology 2

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

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Plural suffix (with a-declension nouns)
    Alternative forms
    • (With accent-shifting nouns)
    • -ée (Alternation with ái-a for ai-ending nouns)

    References

    • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-a”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[7], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

    Etymology 3

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

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Oblique case suffix (with a-declension nouns)
    Alternative forms
    • (With accent shifting nouns)
    • -ée (Alternation with ái-a for ai-ending nouns)

    References

    • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-a”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[8], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

    Etymology 4

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

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Masculine plural agreement suffix

    References

    • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-a”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[9], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

    Etymology 5

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

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Masculine non-nominative and non-singular agreement suffix

    References

    • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-a”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[10], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

    Polish

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /a/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Rhymes: -a
    • Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]
    • Homophones: a, a-

    Etymology 1

  • Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a.

    Suffix

    -a f

    1. forms nominative feminine nouns
    2. forms feminine names from masculine names
      Zdzisław + ‎-a → ‎Zdzisława
    3. (obsolete) forms feminine nominative and vocative forms of short forms of adjectives
      rad + ‎-a → ‎rada.
    Declension

    Suffix

    -a m pers (feminine -yni)

    1. forms masculine personal agent nouns
    Declension

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Old Polish , from Proto-Slavic *-aja.

    Suffix

    -a f

    1. forms feminine nominative and vocative forms of adjectives
      główny + ‎-a → ‎główna

    Etymology 3

  • Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьja. Doublet of -ia.

    Suffix

    -a f (neuter -e)

    1. forms collective nouns, causes palatalization

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms some plural forms, causes palatalization
      brat + ‎-a → ‎bracia

    Etymology 4

    Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-éad, the thematic ablative suffix.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. used to create the masculine genitive singular, usually of animate nouns, but also of some inanimate nouns
      Zdzisław + ‎-a → ‎Zdzisława
      but + ‎-a → ‎buta
    2. forms genitive singular of neuter nouns
      zdanie + ‎-a → ‎zdania
    3. used in some adverbial constructions
      od dawna
      zgoła

    Etymology 5

    Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. forms the nominative plural of neuter nouns
      zdanie + ‎-a → ‎zdania
    Derived terms
    Polish terms suffixed with -a

    Further reading

    • -a in Polish dictionaries at PWN

    Portuguese

    Pronunciation

    Etymology 1

  • Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -am, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂, from *-h₂.

    Suffix

    -a f (plural -as)

    1. feminine singular of -o
      uruguaio (Uruguayan (masculine)) + ‎-a → ‎uruguaia (Uruguayan (feminine))

    Suffix

    -a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)

    1. forms feminine nouns from adjectives, indicating people having the quality of the source adjective
      Uruguai (Uruguay) + ‎-o → ‎uruguaio (Uruguayan) + ‎-a → ‎uruguaia (Uruguayan woman or girl)
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -at.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. a suffix indicating the third-person singular present indicative of a verb in -ar
      amar (to love) + ‎-a → ‎ama ([he/she/it] loves)
      cantar (to sing) + ‎-a → ‎canta ([he/she/it] sings)
    See also

    Etymology 3

    From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin .

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the second-person singular affirmative imperative of verbs ending in -ar
      João, conta-nos o teu apelido.John, tell us your last name.

    Etymology 4

    From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -am, -eam.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the first-person singular present subjunctive of verbs ending in -er and -ir
      É importante que eu coma carne.It is important that I eat meat.

    Etymology 5

    From Old Galician-Portuguese -a, from Latin -at, -eat.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the third-person singular present subjunctive of verbs ending in -er and -ir
      É importante que ele coma carne.It is important that he eat meat.
    2. forms the third-person singular affirmative imperative of verbs ending in -er and -ir
      Ei você aí, coma carne.Hey you there, eat meat.
    3. forms the third-person singular negative imperative of verbs ending in -er and -ir
      Ei você aí, não coma carne.Hey you there, don’t eat meat.
    Usage notes
    • The third-person imperative is not used with third person pronouns but rather with você, which is a second-person pronoun but always takes third-person conjugation.

    Etymology 6

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

    Suffix

    -a m or f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)

    1. (Brazil, slang) used in the end of shortenings
      vestibular + ‎-a → ‎vestiba (university admittance test)
      vagabundo + ‎-a → ‎vagaba (loafer)

    Romani

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms the nominative plural of consonantal oikoclitic nouns
      phral (brother) + ‎-a → ‎phrala (brothers)
      ćhaj (daughter) + ‎-a → ‎ćhaja (daughters)
    2. Forms the accusative singular of unjotated oikoclitic animate feminine nouns
      daj (mother) + ‎-a → ‎daja
    3. Forms the feminine singular oblique of consonantal oikoclitic nouns. Displaced by -e in most dialects
      phuro (old (animate)) + ‎-a → ‎phura

    Derived terms

    References

    • Yaron Matras, Anton Tenser, editors (August 2020), The Palgrave Handbook of Romani Language and Linguistics, Palgrave Macmillan, →ISBN, pages 30, 166

    Romanian

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /a/

    Etymology 1

    Inherited from Latin illa, nominative feminine singular of ille.

    Alternative forms

    • -uaused for feminine nouns ending in a stressed vowel or diphthong

    Suffix

    -a f

    1. (definite article) the (feminine singular, nominative and accusative)
    Usage notes

    This form of the definite article is used for feminine nouns in the nominative and accusative cases which end in or in an unstressed vowel:

    The suffix is also used with feminine adjectives in the nominative and accusative cases to make the articulated definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies:

    • -ei (feminine singular genitive and dative)
    • -i (masculine/neuter plural nominative and accusative)
    • -l (masculine/neuter singular nominative and accusative)
    • -le (feminine plural nominative and accusative)
    • -lor (plural genitive and dative)
    • -lui (masculine/neuter singular genitive and dative)

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Latin -āre, the ending of the present active infinitive form of first conjugation verbs. Cognate with Spanish -ar, French -er, Italian -are, etc.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. A suffix forming infinitives of many verbs.
    Conjugation
    See also

    Derived terms

    Romanian terms suffixed with -a

    Serbo-Croatian

    Etymology 1

    Suffix

    -a f (Cyrillic spelling , noun-forming suffix)

    1. suffix appended to words (usually verbal stems) to create a feminine noun, usually denoting a relation or to form a proper noun

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-ōd, the thematic ablative ending.

    Suffix

    -a (Cyrillic spelling )

    1. forms the genitive singular of masculine and neuter nouns and indefinite adjectives

    Slovak

    Alternative forms

    Etymology

    Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ę.

    Suffix

    -a n

    1. forms nouns for young animals and other diminutives

    Usage notes

    • After labio-dental and bilabial consonants is used instead.

    Declension

    Spanish

    Etymology 1

    Inherited from Latin -am.

    Suffix

    -a f (noun-forming suffix, plural -as)

    1. -ess forms feminine singular nouns
      señor (gentleman) + ‎-a → ‎señora (lady)
      camarero (waiter) + ‎-a → ‎camarera (waitress)

    Suffix

    -a f (non-lemma form of adjective-forming suffix)

    1. forms feminine singular adjectives
      frío (cold) + ‎-a → ‎fría (cold)

    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    Inherited from Latin -at, the third-person singular present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the third-person singular (also used with usted) present indicative mood of regular -ar verbs
      hablar (to talk) + ‎-a → ‎habla (talks)

    Etymology 3

    Inherited from Latin -eam, Latin -am, and Latin -iam the first-person singular present active subjunctive endings of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively; and from Latin -eat, Latin -at, and Latin -iat, the third-person singular present active subjunctive ending of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively.

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the first- and third-person singular (also used with usted) singular present subjunctive mood of '-er and -ir verbs, also used for the imperative mood of usted
      comer (to eat) + ‎-a → ‎aunque yo coma (even if I ate)
      salir (to leave) + ‎-a → ‎por favor, salga Ud. (please leave) (formal)

    Etymology 4

    Inherited from Latin (second-person singular present active imperative ending of first conjugation verbs).

    Suffix

    -a (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

    1. forms the second-person singular imperative mood of -ar verbs
      hablar (to talk) + ‎-a → ‎¡Habla! (Talk!)

    Swahili

    Suffix

    -a

    1. positive indicative ending for verbs of Bantu origin

    Usage notes

    Several tenses (such as the ones which historically derive from auxiliary + main verb) keep their ending -a even in the negative.

    See also

    Swedish

    Etymology 1

    From Old Swedish -a, from Old Norse -a, from Proto-Germanic *-ōną.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. A verb-building suffix that can be added to nouns or adjectives.
      disk (dishes) + ‎-a → ‎diska (to do the dishes)
      mjölk (milk) + ‎-a → ‎mjölka (to milk)
      öl (beer) + ‎-a → ‎öla (to drink beer)
    Conjugation
    • For weak verbs with a voiceless ending stem:
    Conjugation of - (weak)
    active passive
    infinitive - -s
    supine -t -ts
    imperative -
    imper. plural1 -en
    present past present past
    indicative -er -te -s, -es -tes
    ind. plural1 - -te -s -tes
    subjunctive2 -e -te -es -tes
    present participle -nde
    past participle -t

    1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

    • For weak verbs with a voiced ending stem:
    Conjugation of - (weak)
    active passive
    infinitive - -s
    supine -t -ts
    imperative -
    imper. plural1 -en
    present past present past
    indicative -er -de -s, -es -des
    ind. plural1 - -de -s -des
    subjunctive2 -e -de -es -des
    present participle -nde
    past participle -d

    1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

    Derived terms
    Swedish terms suffixed with -a

    Etymology 2

    The language noun sense originally comes from the definite adjective + tunga (tongue; language). Thus svenska (Swedish) was originally svenska tungan (the Swedish tongue)

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (on a positive adjective) Weak (definite) singular suffix, historically feminine
    2. Transform an adjective describing a people speaking a language into the noun for that language.
      engelsk (English) + ‎-a → ‎engelska (the English language)
    Usage notes
    • On adjectives: Traditionally, if the noun is in the definite singular form it should not refer to a male human if it uses the suffix -a. If it refers to such a person, the suffix should instead be -e, but one should note that this rule is not universally adhered to – in particular dialects of northern Sweden do not recognize the -e suffix at all, but use -a in all instances.

    Etymology 3

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Definite plural suffix for neuter nouns of the fourth declension with regular plurals in -n, e.g. äpplen (apples) + ‎-a → ‎äpplena (the apples); see also -na.
    Usage notes
    • In informal/dialectal usage, -a may be used instead of -en to form the definite plural of the irregular fourth-declension nouns öron (ears), ögon (eyes).

    Etymology 4

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Creates a noun from a numeral.
      tre (three) + ‎-a → ‎trea (a bronze medalist; a three-room apartment, literally a three)

    Tokelauan

    Pronunciation

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-Polynesian *-a. Cognates include Tuvaluan -a and Samoan -a.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Creates a verb denoting an abundancy of the suffixed noun; -ful
      aiha (ice)aihā (to be icy)
      manava (belly)manavā (to be big-bellied)
    Derived terms
    Tokelauan terms suffixed with -a

    Etymology 2

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Added to transitive verbs when preceded by the subject pronoun.

    References

    • R. Simona, editor (1986), Tokelau Dictionary[11], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 1

    Turkish

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ɑ/

    Etymology 1

    preceding vowel
    a / ı / o / u e / i / ö / ü
    postconsonantal -a -e
    postvocalic -ya -ye

    From Proto-Turkic *-ka (dative case).

    Suffix

    -a (in words with back vowel harmony)

    1. Used to form the dative case
      İstanbul + ‎-a → ‎İstanbul’a (to Istanbul)
      Ankara + ‎-a → ‎Ankara’ya (to Ankara)
      İzmir + ‎-a → ‎İzmir’e (to Izmir)
      babası + ‎-a → ‎babasına (to his father)
      suyu içtikten sonra suyu geri buzdolabına koydum
      I put the water back in the fridge after drinking it

    Etymology 2

    preceding vowel
    a / ı / o / u e / i / ö / ü
    postconsonantal -a -e
    postvocalic -ya -ye

    From Proto-Turkic *-ü (gerundive suffix).

    Suffix

    -a (in words with back vowel harmony)

    1. Used to form gerunds
      Synonyms: -erek, -ip
      yürümek + ‎-a → ‎yürüye (by walking)

    Etymology 3

    preceding vowel
    a / ı / o / u e / i / ö / ü
    postconsonantal -a -e
    postvocalic -ya -ye

    From Proto-Turkic *-gey (optative-predictive future case).

    Suffix

    -a (in words with back vowel harmony)

    1. Used to form the optative mood of verbs
      olmak (to happen) + ‎-a → ‎ola (may it happen)

    References

    Volapük

    Suffix

    -a

    1. A morpheme used to mark the genitive singular of a word (such as a noun, adjective or pronoun). It is also the most common morpheme used in creating innumerable compound words, some of which can be very long
      pledadinaselidöptoy store, toy shop
      tanoganilamedinantibiotic
      taglumaladälamedinanti-depressant
      natrinakarbatazüd telikbicarbonate of soda
      Elaf Tyrannosaurus rex älifon in taledadil, kel nu binon dil Nolüda-Meropa.
      Tyrannosaurus rex lived in an area of the earth, which is now a part of North America.
      Buks binons stumem lärnazilana (/ lärnazilanastumem / stumem lärnazilanik).
      Books are a scholar's tools.

    Walloon

    Etymology

    Inherited from Latin -āculum.

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having the sense of 'tool, object for a specific purpose'.

    Derived terms

    Walloon terms suffixed with -a

    Welsh

    Alternative forms

    • -af (superlative; colloquial first-person singular future)

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /a/

    Etymology 1

    From -ha.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms verbnouns from verb stems. Usually denotes an action that is often repeated, e.g. frequenting a certain place or gathering a certain item.
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    From -ha.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (literary) verb suffix for the third-person singular present indicative/future

    Etymology 3

    From -ha.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (literary) verb suffix for the second-person singular present imperative
    2. (colloquial) verb suffix for the second-person singular present imperative

    Etymology 4

    From -af.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (colloquial) used to form the superlative of an adjective of one or two syllables.
    Usage notes

    Like the more formal -af, this triggers causes final b, d and g to mutate to p, t and c, respectively. For example, the superlative of teg (fair) is teca.

    Etymology 5

    From -af.

    Suffix

    -a

    1. (colloquial) verb suffix for the first-person singular future

    Ye'kwana

    Variant orthographies
    ALIV -a
    Brazilian standard -a
    New Tribes -a

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    Suffix

    -a

    1. Forms the nonpast tense.
    2. Marks imperfective aspect in both the recent and distant past tenses.

    Usage notes

    This suffix can cause syllable reduction. The suffix takes the form -ka when the preceding syllable is reducible and has an onset of k, -ya when the preceding syllable ends in i, and -a in other contexts.

    When marking the past imperfective, this suffix never occurs alone but is always accompanied by other suffixes bearing tense/aspect or at least number information. Conversely, when marking the nonpast tense, it occurs alone without other tense/aspect markers, though it can form a plural -aato.

    Derived terms

    References

    • Cáceres, Natalia (2011), Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana[12], Lyon, pages 213–224