-ka

See also: ka- and Appendix:Variations of "ka"

Languages (30)

Azerbaijani • Basque • Curripaco • Czech • Finnish • Gagauz • Hungarian • Ilocano • Ingrian • Japanese • Kambera • Kashubian • Lower Sorbian • Lower Tanana • Norwegian Nynorsk • Old Norse • Old Polish • Old Slovak • Pipil • Polish • Serbo-Croatian • Silesian • Slovak • Slovincian • Somali • Swahili • Swedish • Upper Sorbian • Votic • Ye'kwana

Page categories

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian -ка (-ka). Popularized during late 2000s and early 2010s, initially gaining prominence during Soviet period.

Suffix

-ka

(colloquial, proscribed) Diminutive suffix.
Synonyms: -ş, -i, -çik (Russianism)

‎Aynur + ‎-ka → ‎Ayka

‎Nuray + ‎-ka → ‎Nurka

‎Yusif + ‎-ka → ‎Yuska

‎Günay + ‎-ka → ‎Günka

‎şirin (“sweet, cute”) + ‎-ka → ‎şirinka (“sweetie, cutie”)

‎qlamur (“glamour”) + ‎-ka → ‎qlamurka (“a glam girl, diva; a female member of a certain subculture centered around make-up and certain narcissistic attitudes”)

Usage notes

Often added to a diminutive formed with the -ş suffix and/or -i diminutive suffixes:
- ‎Əliş + ‎-ka → ‎Əlişka
- ‎xalaş + ‎-ka → ‎xalaşka
- ‎qaqaş + ‎-ka → ‎qaqaşka
- ‎civiş + ‎-ka → ‎civişka

Basque

Suffix

-ka

Used to form adverbs from nouns.
‎tarte (“gap, interval”) + ‎-ka → ‎tarteka (“intermittently”)
1. looking for
  ‎ote (“gorse, furze”) + ‎-ka → ‎oteka (“looking for gorse”)
2. divided in, distributed in
  ‎talde (“group”) + ‎-ka → ‎taldeka (“in groups”)

Derived terms

Curripaco

Suffix

-ka

progressive tense marker
nuiraka : I am drinking

References

Swintha Danielsen, Tania Granadillo, Agreement in two Arawak languages, in The Typology of Semantic Alignment (edited by Mark Donohue, Søren Wichmann) (2008, →ISBN), page 398

Czech

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Czech -ka

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ ka]

Suffix

-ka f (noun-forming suffix)

appended to words to create a feminine version of a noun, especially a profession, origin, or proper name
‎lékař + ‎-ka → ‎lékařka

Suffix

-ka f or m anim (noun-forming suffix)

appended to words to create a diminutive form of a noun
‎vlna + ‎-ka → ‎vlnka

Derived terms

Czech terms suffixed with -ka

Finnish

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *-ka, from Proto-Uralic *-ka. Originally probably an emphatic particle.

Particle

-ka (front vowel harmony variant -kä, linguistic notation -kA) (enclitic particle)

functionally a conjunction, suffixed to the negation verb to join two main clauses; and (not) (see eikä)
ei → eikä
(unproductive) Used for emphasis or for prosodic purposes
saati → saatikka
(unproductive) Extends monosyllabic stems to avoid words with only a single light syllable.
jo- → joka, ku- → kuka, mi- → mikä

Usage notes

This particle is no longer productive.
In some words the particle may appear as -kka; this is either due to the previous word incurring gemination, or from an earlier -hka (with a preceding -h-).

Derived terms

Finnish terms suffixed with -ka

eikä (the most common usage of this clitic)
-kalainen

Gagauz

Alternative forms

-yka (after vowels)

Etymology

Borrowed from Bulgarian -ка (-ka).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kɑ/
Always unstressed

Suffix

-ka

forms feminine singular nouns from originally masculine or genderless nouns
‎başkan (“president”) + ‎-ka → ‎başkanka (“female president”)
forms nouns from other nouns
‎kuş (“bird”) + ‎-ka → ‎kuşka (“birdcage”)

Usage notes

Unlike most suffixes, this suffix is not subject to vowel harmony.

Derived terms

Gagauz terms suffixed with -ka

başkanka

kuşka

romınka

Hungarian

Etymology

From Proto-Finno-Ugric. Compare Finnish -kka and Northern Mansi -кве (-kve).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [kɒ]
Rhymes: -kɒ

Suffix

-ka

(diminutive suffix) Added to a word to express smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment. When added to present participles, it can also express the instrument or place of the action indicated in the base word.
‎cukor (“sugar”) + ‎-ka → ‎cukorka (“candy”)

‎asztal (“table”) + ‎-ka → ‎asztalka (“small table”)

jár (“to walk”) → járó (“walking”) → járóka (“playpen”)

Usage notes

(diminutive suffix) Variants:
-ka is added to back-vowel words

-ke is added to front-vowel words

Derived terms

Hungarian diminutive adjectives suffixed with -ka

nyalka

Hungarian proper nouns suffixed with -ka

Hungarian proper noun clippings suffixed with -ka

Ilocano

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *ka

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka

Ilocano -ka

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Pronoun

-ka

Second-person absolutive enclitic personal pronoun; you
Napankan? ― Did you go already?

Estudianteka. ― You are a student.
Fused enclitic with first-person singular agent and second-person singular patient; fuses -ko (“I, my”) and -ka (“you”)
Ay-ayatenka. ― I love you.

Estudianteka. ― You are my student.

Ingrian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *-ka. Cognates include Finnish -ka.

Pronunciation

(Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-kɑ/, [-kɑ]
(Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-kɑ/, [-kɑ]

Particle

-ka (front-vowel variant -kä)

Used to turn a clause interrogative.
Used after negative verbs to join two verb clauses: neither, nor, and not

Usage notes

In the interrogative function, when added to verbs, -ka is only used after the consonant -t. Otherwise, the reduced form -k or its alternative form -ko/-kö is used.
In the joining function, an alternative -k is (rarely) also used.

Suffix

-ka (front vowel variant -kä)

(unproductive) Used in some words to introduce an interrogative aspect.
‎Proto-Finnic *mi- + ‎-ka → ‎mikä

‎Proto-Finnic *ku- + ‎-ka → ‎kuka
(unproductive) Used in some words to introduce a negative aspect.

Derived terms

Ingrian terms suffixed with -ka

Etymology 2

Akin to dialectal Finnish -kaa and Estonian -ga.

Pronunciation

(Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-kɑː/, [-kɑː]
(Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-kɑ/, [-kɑ]

Suffix

-ka (front vowel variant -kä)

(chiefly Ala-Laukaa) Used to form the comitative case when added to a genitive of a noun.

References

Ruben E. Nirvi (1971), Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 118

Japanese

Romanization

-ka

Rōmaji transcription of か

Kambera

Pronoun

-ka

first person singular accusative enclitic

Particle

-ka

perfective aspect enclitic
Na-mutung-ka.
It burned down.

Kashubian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Kashubian -ka

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Suffix

-ka f

forms feminine nouns, sometimes diminutive in nature
‎bednôrz + ‎-ka → ‎bednôrka

‎czãsc + ‎-ka → ‎cząstka

Derived terms

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Suffix

-ka f

added to masculine nouns to form a feminine
added to feminine nouns to form a diminutive

Derived terms

Lower Tanana

Etymology

From Proto-Athabaskan *-qeˑ. Cognate with Dena'ina -qa, Navajo -ké.

Suffix

-ka

Forms the plural of nouns referring to humans and dogs, especially younger relatives.
Synonyms: -'ina, -na, -yi

Usage notes

Typically refers to two to four people.
Refers to smaller numbers of people than -'ina and -yi.

Derived terms

Lower Tanana terms suffixed with -ka

References

Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 234

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

-ke

Etymology

From Old Norse -ka (“causative verb suffix”), from Proto-Germanic *-ukōną (“intensive, frequentative, or causative verb suffix”).

Compare Icelandic -ka, Faroese -ka, Swedish -ka, Danish -ke and Norwegian Bokmål -ke. Related to German -chen, Dutch -ken and English -k.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kɑ/

Suffix

-ka

(no longer productive) Used to form causative verbs from adjectives
‎grøn (“green”) + ‎-ka → ‎grønka (“to greenen”)

‎blid (“happy”) + ‎-ka → ‎blidka (“to cheer up”)

‎dyr (“expensive”) + ‎-ka → ‎dyrka (“to worship, cultivate”)
(no longer productive) Used to form inchoative verbs from nouns
‎træl (“slave”) + ‎-ka → ‎trælka (“to subdue”)

‎id (“labour”) + ‎-ka → ‎idka (“to engage in”)
(no longer productive) Used to form iterative verbs from other verbs
‎gnida (“to rub”) + ‎-ka → ‎gnikka (“to rub hard and rapidly”)

‎vrida (“to twist”) + ‎-ka → ‎vrikka (“to wriggle”)

Usage notes

The suffix is not productive in the standard language; its role has been superseded by -e, -a (“infinitive ending”).

Most verbs formed with -ka are conjugated as a-verbs:
- å grønka, grønkar, grønka, har grønka
- å idka, idkar, idka, har idka
- å gnikka, gnikkar, gnikka, har gnikka

Most verbal nouns are formed with -ing f or by dropping the -a:
- å dyrka → ei dyrking
- å seinka → ei seinking
- å vrikka → eit vrikk

Derived terms

Norwegian Nynorsk terms suffixed with -ka

References

“-ka”, in Norsk Ordbok: Ordbok over det Norske Folkemålet og det Nynorske Skriftmålet (in Norwegian Nynorsk), Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget, 1950–2016, →ISBN.

Old Norse

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-ukōną.

Suffix

-ka

turns an adjective into a causative verb
‎víð + ‎-ka → ‎víðka

‎þurr + ‎-ka → ‎þurka
turns a noun into a transitive verb
‎lit + ‎-ka → ‎litka

Descendants

Icelandic: -ka
Faroese: -ka
Norwegian Nynorsk: -ka
Swedish: -ka
Danish: -ke

Old Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Old Polish -ka

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /ka/
IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ka/

Suffix

-ka f

feminine noun suffix
‎ambroże + ‎-ka → ‎ambrożka

Derived terms

Descendants

Polish: -ka
Silesian: -ka

Suffix

-ka n

inflection of -ko:
1. genitive singular
2. nominative/vocative plural

Old Slovak

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Old Slovak -ka

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Prefix

-ka

suffix used to form feminine nouns
1. forming feminine counterparts to masculine nouns (motionals): -ess, -er, -ist
  ‎prať (“washerman”) + ‎-ka → ‎práčka (“washerwoman”)
  
  ‎robotník (“worker”) + ‎-ka → ‎robotníčka (“female worker”)
2. forming diminutives or expressing endearment: -ie, -let, -y
  ‎ruka (“hand”) + ‎-ka → ‎rúčka (“little hand”)
  
  ‎dcéra (“daughter”) + ‎-ka → ‎dcérka (“little daughter”)

Derived terms

Category Old Slovak terms prefixed with -ka not found

Descendants

Slovak: -ka

Pipil

Suffix

-ka

Forms nouns from verbs or adjectives

Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Old Polish -ka

Polish -ka

Inherited from Old Polish -ka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/
Audio: (file)
Rhymes: -a
Syllabification: -ka

Suffix

-ka f

feminine noun suffix
Synonym: -na

‎Azjata + ‎-ka → ‎Azjatka
diminutive noun suffix
‎część + ‎-ka → ‎cząstka

Declension

Declension of *-ka*
	singular	plural
nominative	-ka	-ki
genitive	-ki	-ek
dative	-ce	-kom
accusative	-kę	-ki
instrumental	-ką	-kami
locative	-ce	-kach
vocative	-ko	-ki

Derived terms

Polish terms suffixed with -ka

Suffix

-ka n

inflection of -ko:
1. genitive singular
2. nominative/vocative plural

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Suffix

-ka (Cyrillic spelling -ка)

Suffix appended to words to create a feminine noun, denoting a part, profession, feature, membership, origin, social status, complexion, proper name, abstract noun or animal's name.

Derived terms

Silesian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Old Polish -ka

Silesian -ka

Inherited from Old Polish -ka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/
Rhymes: -a
Syllabification: -ka

Suffix

-ka f

forms feminine nouns, sometimes diminutive in nature
‎bednŏrz + ‎-ka → ‎bednŏrka

‎kość + ‎-ka → ‎kostka

Derived terms

Slovak

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Old Slovak -ka

Slovak -ka

Inherited from Old Slovak -ka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/, [ka]

Suffix

-ka

suffix used to form feminine nouns
1. forming feminine counterparts to masculine nouns (motionals): -ess, -er, -ist
  ‎žiak (“male student”) + ‎-ka → ‎žiačka (“female student”)
  
  ‎lekár (“doctor”) + ‎-ka → ‎lekárka (“female doctor”)
2. forming diminutives or expressing endearment: -ie, -let, -y
  ‎ruka (“hand”) + ‎-ka → ‎rúčka (“little hand”)
  
  ‎dcéra (“daughter”) + ‎-ka → ‎dcérka (“little daughter”)
3. forming nouns denoting tools, objects, or results of an action
  ‎písaný (“written”) + ‎-ka → ‎písanka (“exercise book/copybook”)
  
  ‎rezaný (“cut”) + ‎-ka → ‎rezanka (“chopped straw”)
  
  ‎čítaný (“read”) + ‎-ka → ‎čítanka (“reader/reading book”)
4. forming colloquial or shortened names for objects or concepts
  ‎občiansky (“civil/citizen's”) + ‎-ka → ‎občianka (“ID card (colloquial)”)
5. denoting a number or a specific unit: -er
  ‎päť (“five”) + ‎-ka → ‎päťka (“number five/the figure 5”)
  
  ‎sto (“hundred”) + ‎-ka → ‎stovka (“a hundred/100-euro bill”)

Declension

Declension of *-ka*
(pattern *žena*)
	singular	plural
nominative	-ka	-ky
genitive	-ky	-iek, -ok
dative	-ke	-kám, -kam
accusative	-ku	-ky
locative	-ke	-kách, -kach
instrumental	-kou	-kami

Derived terms

Slovak terms suffixed with -ka

Chminianskonovovešťanka

Drienovskonovovešťanka

Lakšárskonovovešťanka

Opatovskonovovešťanka

Slovenskonovovešťanka

Turnianskonovovešťanka

Tušickonovovešťanka

Slovincian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Slovincian -ka

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Suffix

-ka f

forms feminine nouns, sometimes diminutive in nature
‎bednorz + ‎-ka → ‎bednorka

‎jagôda + ‎-ka → ‎jagódka

Derived terms

Slovincian terms suffixed with -ka

Somali

Article

-ka (feminine -ta)

Suffixation of ka.

Usage notes

This form is used after the consonants -b, -d, -f, -l, -n, -r, -s and -sh.
After words ending in -g, -aa, -i, -y and -w, the form -ga is used.

Swahili

Suffix

-ka

alternative form of -ika used in some verbs ending in -ia, in all verbs ending in -e, in conversive verbs ending in -oa, or -ua, in all words ending in -i, and in nouns and adjectives ending in -u
‎-sikia (“to hear”) + ‎-ka → ‎-sikika (“to audible”)

‎-fungua (“to open”) + ‎-ka → ‎-funguka (“to be opened”)

‎shughuli (“occupation, trade”) + ‎-ka → ‎-shughulika (“to be busy”)

Derived terms

Swahili stative verbs

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse -ka, from Proto-Germanic *-ukōną, *-ikōną.

Suffix

-ka

(no longer productive) Used to form nouns from adjectives
‎hal (“slippery”) + ‎-ka → ‎halka (“slipperiness”)
(no longer productive) Used to form verbs from adjectives, nouns or other verbs
‎blid (“mild”) + ‎-ka → ‎blidka (“to placate”)

‎ja (“a yes”) + ‎-ka → ‎jaka (“to say yes”)

‎stöna (“to moan”) + ‎-ka → ‎stånka (“to huff and puff”)

References

-ka in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)

Upper Sorbian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-keh₂

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-kāˀder.

Proto-Slavic *-ъka

Upper Sorbian -ka

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Suffix

-ka f

added to masculine nouns to form a feminine
added to feminine nouns to form a diminutive

Derived terms

Upper Sorbian terms suffixed with -ka

Votic

Etymology

From kaaz, kaa. Compare Estonian -ga, Ingrian -ka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-kɑː/
(Luutsa, Liivčülä) IPA^(key): [-kɑ]

Suffix

-ka

Forms the comitative case to mean "with" (accompanying, implement, etc.); added to the genitive forms.

Usage notes

This suffix is not subject to vowel harmony.

Ye'kwana

Variant orthographies
ALIV	-ka
Brazilian standard	-ka
New Tribes	-ca

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [-ka]

Etymology 1

Cognate to Kari'na ka (“to take away, to deprive of”, verb), Trió -ka (privative verbalizer).

Alternative forms

-kkwa (allomorphs)

Suffix

-ka

forms privative transitive verbs from nouns, with a meaning of ‘to deprive of X’, ‘to extract X from’, ‘to X away’: dis-, ex-

Usage notes

This suffix exists in related languages but is rare in spontaneous speech and possibly non-productive in Ye'kwana. When it does occur, it can trigger syllable reduction and in some cases become -kkwa.

Derived terms

Ye'kwana terms suffixed with -ka

Etymology 2

From Proto-Cariban *-ka (suffix forming allative postpositions).

Suffix

-ka

forms allative or locative postpositions: to, at

Derived terms

Ye'kwana terms suffixed with -ka (allative)

aka

Etymology 3

Suffix

-ka

allomorph of -a (nonpast or past imperfective suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k

References

Cáceres, Natalia (2011), “-ka”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎^[2], Lyon, page 148
Douglas, Jordan A. G. (2019) A Formal and Semantic Reconstruction of Cariban Postpositions, page 34–36

Person	Number	Absolutive		Ergative	Oblique	Possessive
Person	Number	Disjunctive	Enclitic	Enclitic³	Oblique	bági form	kukua form
First	singular	siak	-ak	-ko, -k	kaniak	bagik	kukuak, kuak
	dual	data, sita¹	-ta		kaniata, kadata	bagita	kukuata
	plural inclusive	datayo, sitayo¹	-tayo, -tay		kaniatayo, kadatayo	bagitayo	kukuatayo
	plural exclusive	dakami, sikami¹	-kami, -kam	-mi	kaniami, kadakami	bagimi	kukuami
Second	singular	sika	-ka	-mo, -m	kaniam, kenka	bagim	kukuam
Second	plural	dakayo, sikayo¹	-kayo, -kay	-yo	kaniayo, kadakayo	bagiyo	kukuayo
Third	singular	isu, isuna	Ø²	-na	kaniana, kenkuana	bagina	kukuana
Third	plural	isuda	-da		kaniada, kadakuada	bagida	kukuada

Actor	Patient
Actor	siak	data	datayo	dakami	sika	dakayo	isu⁵	isuda
siak	bagik⁴	—	—	—	-ka	-kayo	-ko, -k	-ko ida, -k ida
data	—	bagita⁴	—	—	—	—	-ta	-ta ida
datayo	—	—	bagitayo⁴	—	—	—	-tayo	-tayo ida
dakami	—	—	—	bagimi⁴	-daka	-dakayo	-mi	-mi ida
sika	-nak	—	—	-nakami	bagim⁴	—	-mo, -m	-mo ida, -m ida
dakayo	-dak	-data	—	-dakami	—	bagiyo⁴	-yo	-yo ida
isu	-nak	-nata	-natayo	-nakami	-naka	-nakayo	bagina⁴, -na	-na ida
isuda	-dak	-data	-datayo	-dakami	-daka	-dakayo	-da	bagida⁴, -da ida

			nominative	genitive	accusative	dative
singular	first person		ku-	-nggu	-ka	-ngga
	second person		mu- (u-)	-mu	-kau	-nggau
	third person		na-	-na	-ya	-nya
plural	first person	inclusive	ta-	-nda	-ta	-nda
	first person	exclusive	ma-	-ma	-kama	-nggama
	second person		mi- (i-)	-mi	-kami (-kai)	-nggami (-nggai)
	third person		da-	-da	-ha	-nja

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Suffix

Usage notes

Basque

Suffix

Derived terms

Curripaco

Suffix

References

Czech

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Suffix

Derived terms

Further reading

Finnish

Etymology

Particle

Usage notes

Derived terms

Further reading

Gagauz

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

Further reading

Hungarian

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

See also

Ilocano

Etymology

Pronunciation

Pronoun

See also

Ingrian

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Particle

Usage notes

Suffix

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Suffix

References

Japanese

Romanization

Kambera

Pronoun

Particle

See also

Kashubian

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

Suffix

Derived terms

Lower Tanana

Etymology

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix