ka

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ka"

Languages (96)

Translingual • English

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Page categories

Translingual

Etymology 1

Abbreviation of English kiloannum.

Symbol

ka

2. kyr: kiloannum(s): kiloyear(s)

   Holonyms: Ma < Ga

4. kya: kiloannum(s) ago: kiloyear(s) ago: thousand(s) of years ago

Etymology 2

Clipping of Georgian ქართული (kartuli).

Symbol

ka

2. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Georgian.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Georgian terms

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑː/
• Rhymes: -ɑː
• Homophones: car, carr, Carr, Karr (non-rhotic)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Egyptian kꜣ.

Noun

ka (plural kas)

1. (Egyptian mythology) The aspect of a person’s soul or being that sustains their existence, roughly the life-force, sometimes pictured as a double of the person.

   Antonym: ha

   • 1983, Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings:

     Then, I wondered how long I must wait before seeing my Double, but if I recalled, the Ka was not supposed to appear before the seventy days of embalming were done.

   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     Hence Dorian's portrait is like the ka or double of the deceased in Egyptian tombs, heaped with toys and furniture.

   • 2011, Neil Gaiman, American Gods (Tenth Anniversary Edition), William Morrow 2013, p. 179:

     ‘You could bind the ka of a man to his body for five thousand years,’ said Jaquel.

Derived terms

• ka-door

Etymology 2

Origin uncertain.

Verb

ka

1. (transitive, obsolete) To serve or help; used only in the phrase "Ka me, ka thee" or variants thereof.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, Essays, III.5:

     Now nature stood ever on this point, Kæ mee Ile kæ thee, and ever ready to bee even alwaies on recompences and vicissitude of things, and to give as good as one brings.

   • 1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC:

     Ka me, ka thee, is a proverb all over the world.

References

• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

Etymology 3

Noun

ka (plural kas)

1. The name of the Cyrillic script letter К / к.

See also

• gwo ka
• ish ka bibble
• ka-boom
• ka-ching
• ka pai

Anagrams

• AK, Ak

Acehnese

Adverb

ka

1. already

Achang

Pronunciation

• (Myanmar) /ka˧/

Particle

ka

1. Nominative particle?

Usage notes

Overridden by the topic particle gas.

Afar

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/ [ˈkʌ]
• Hyphenation: ka

Pronoun

ká

1. he, him

Usage notes

• The form káa is used when the pronoun isn't followed by a clitic.

See also

Afar personal pronouns

		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
				m	f
subject	singular	anú	atú	úsuk	ís
	plural	nanú	isín	úsun
object	singular	yó	kó	ká	tét
	plural	né	sín	kén

References

• E. M. Parker; R. J. Hayward (1985), “ka”, in An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN

Ahtna

Alternative forms

• ika, uka

Etymology

Compare Lower Tanana uko.

Postposition

ka

1. for, in quest of

References

• Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 234

Ainu

Etymology

Likely a loan word from Nivkh ӿа (ha) (bearing the same meaning), given that the traps were of the same type and that sable hunting was taken up on Sakhalin for export to Qing China, to whom the Nivkh were nearer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

Noun

ka

1. sable trap

References

• Bugaeva, Anna. Handbook of the Ainu Language, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501502859

Akan

Etymology 1

Verb

kã (transitive past kaa) (Twi)

1. to say

Etymology 2

Verb

ka (transitive past kaa) (Twi)

1. to bite

Etymology 3

Verb

ka (transitive past kaa) (Twi)

1. to ride

Etymology 4

Verb

ka (Twi)

1. (stative) (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) to be compatible

   Synonym: fa

Etymology 5

Verb

ka (Twi)

1. to remain

Derived terms

• ka anim (“to scold, rebuke”)
• ka ano tom (“to shut up”)
• ka bom (“to reconcile”)
• ka bɔ mu (“to coalesce”)
• ka fra (“to knead”)
• ka hwe mu (“to slam, bang”)
• ka hyɛ

Albanian

Alternative forms

• nga — Tosk, standard
• na — Gheg, Tosk
• kah — Gheg
• koh/ko (rare form) — Gheg

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka] (Gheg)

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

From older kah, from *kah ~ ngah (compare Tosk Albanian nga), from Proto-Albanian *en kaxa, from Proto-Indo-European *en kʷod so (“wherein, wherefrom”), literally ‘in which this’. Cognate with Old Church Slavonic къ (kŭ, “to”).

Preposition

ka (+ nominative)

1. from, out, out of, to

   Jo, unë nuk jam ka Shqipëria.

   No, I am not from Albania.

2. who, whom

Etymology 2

From earlier *kaha, inherited from Proto-Albanian *koso, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁s- (“scratch, cut”). For sense development, compare Slavic *volь - ox, from *valiti - to throw down, castrate. Alternatively, the plural form qe suggests an earlier *kʷē, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (“ox, cow”) via an unidentified Indo-European language.

Pronunciation

• singular: IPA^(key): [kaː]
• singular: IPA^(key): [qɒ] (Gheg)
• plural: IPA^(key): [ceː]

Noun

ka m (plural qe, definite kau, definite plural qetë)

1. ox
2. steer

Declension

Declension of ka

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	ka	kau	qe	qetë
accusative		kaun
dative	kau	kaut	qeve	qeve
ablative			qesh

Hyponyms

• kau i hullisë (“stronger ox (of a team) that walks in the furrow”)
• ka i kularit (“yoke ox”)

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

ka

1. third-person singular present indicative of kam

Further reading

• “ka”, in FMGJSH: Fjalor i madh i gjuhës shqipe (in Albanian), 2026

Amanab

Pronoun

ka

1. I (first person singular nominative)

Ambonese Malay

Etymology

From Malay ke.

Preposition

ka

1. to, towards

References

• D. Takaria, C. Pieter (1998), Kamus Bahasa Melayu Ambon-Indonesia‎^[3], Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa

Anambé

Verb

ka

1. sleep

References

• Maria Risolêta Silva Julião, L'expression de personne en Anambé du Cairari (2010)

Bahnar

Etymology

From Proto-Bahnaric *kaː, from Proto-Mon-Khmer *kaʔ; cognate with Sedang ká, Vietnamese cá, Mon က (kaʔ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaː/

Noun

ka

1. fish

Bambara

Particle

ka

1. possessive marker

   an ka jamana

   our country

Particle

ka

1. particle linking subject and predicative adjective

   A ka ɲi

   It's good

   Kidali ka jan

   Kidal is far away

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/ [ka]
• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: ka

Noun

ka inan

1. The name of the Latin script letter K/k.

Declension

Declension of ka (inan a-stem)

	indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive	ka	ka	kak	kok
ergative	kak	kak	kek	kok
dative	kari	kari	kei	koi
genitive	karen	karen	ken	kon
comitative	karekin	karekin	kekin	kokin
causative	karengatik	karengatik	kengatik	kongatik
benefactive	karentzat	karentzat	kentzat	kontzat
instrumental	kaz	kaz	kez	kotaz
inessive	katan	kan	ketan	kotan
locative	katako	kako	ketako	kotako
allative	katara	kara	ketara	kotara
terminative	kataraino	karaino	ketaraino	kotaraino
directive	katarantz	karantz	ketarantz	kotarantz
destinative	katarako	karako	ketarako	kotarako
ablative	katatik	katik	ketatik	kotatik
partitive	karik	—	—	—
prolative	katzat	—	—	—

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) a, be, ze, de, e, efe, ge, hatxe, i, jota, ka, ele, eme, ene, eñe, o, pe, ku, erre, ese, te, u, uve, uve bikoitz, ixa, i greko, zeta

Further reading

• “ka”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “ka”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Bole

Etymology

Cognate with Maaka kè and Karekare ka. Compare with Hausa ka.

Pronunciation 1

• IPA^(key): /ká/
• Hyphenation: ka

Pronoun

ka m (plural ku)

1. subject of kai

Pronunciation 2

• IPA^(key): /káː/
• Hyphenation: ka

Pronoun

kā m (plural ma)

1. object of kai

See also

Bole personal pronouns

independent pronouns
		singular	plural
1st person		inà	mimmù
2nd person	m	kai	mǎ
	f	shì
3rd person	m	ishì	màte
	f	ità
object pronouns
		singular	plural
1st person		nā	mū
2nd person	m	kā	kū
	f	shī
3rd person	m	nī	sū
	f	tā
subject pronouns
		singular	plural
1st person		ìn	mu
2nd person	m	ka	mǎ
	f	shi

References

• Gimba, Alhaji M.; Ali, Malam B.; Bah, Madu (2009), Schuh, Russell G., editor, Bole-English-Hausa Dictionary‎^[4], 2nd edition, Potiskum: Ajami Press, page 65

Central Pomo

Noun

ka

1. water

Chungli Ao

Etymology

Chungli Ao numbers ^(edit)

		10
		1	2  →	10  →
Cardinal: ka

From Proto-Central Naga *khaj.

Numeral

ka

1. one

Further reading

• Bruhn, Daniel Wayne (2014), A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Central Naga‎^[5], Berkeley: University of California, page 235
• Gowda, K. S. Gurubasave (1985), Ao-English-Hindi Dictionary, Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages, page 24
• Clark, Mary M. (1893), Ao Naga grammar with illustrative phrases and vocabulary, Molung: Assam Secretariat Printing Office, page 44

Chuukese

Pronoun

ka

1. you (singular)

Adjective

ka

1. you are

Related terms

			present and past tense	negative tense	future	negative future	distant future	negative determinate
singular	first person		ua	use	upwe	usap	upwap	ute
	second person		ka ke	kose kese	kopwe kepwe	kosap kesap	kopwap kepwap	kote kete
	third person		a	ese	epwe	esap	epwap	ete
plural	first person	exclusive	aua	ause	aupwe	ausap	aupwap	aute
		inclusive	sia	sise	sipwe	sisap	sipwap	site
	second person		oua	ouse	oupwe	ousap	oupwap	oute
	third person		ra re	rese	repwe	resap	repwap	rete

Cimbrian

Etymology

Shortened form of kan.

Preposition

ka

1. alternative form of kan, used before words starting with s

Further reading

• “ka” in Martalar, Umberto Martello; Bellotto, Alfonso (1974), Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo

Drung

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ka.

Noun

ka

1. word

References

• Ross Perlin (2019), A Grammar of Trung‎^[6], Santa Barbara: University of California

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaː/
• Hyphenation: ka
• Rhymes: -aː

Etymology 1

From kade.

Noun

ka f (plural kaden or kades or ka's, diminutive kaatje n)

1. alternative form of kade

Etymology 2

Uncertain. Possibly from Catharina Mulder or "Kaat Mossel".

Noun

ka f (plural ka's, diminutive kaatje n)

1. (Netherlands, derogatory) dominant woman

Synonyms

• kenau

Etymology 3

Related to kauw.

Noun

ka f (plural ka's or kauwen, diminutive kaatje n or kauwtje n)

1. alternative form of kauw

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Egyptian kꜣ.

Noun

ka c (plural ka's, no diminutive)

1. ka (ancient Egyptian notion of the soul, with raised arms, signfying an embrace(see Isis and Horus/Maria and Jesus)

Estonian

Etymology

Derived from kaasas.

Adverb

ka (not comparable)

1. also, too

   Tema läks ka metsa.

   He also went to the forest.

Ewe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Noun

kà (plural kawo)

1. cord
2. line
3. rope
4. string

Verb

kà

1. to bite
2. to break
3. to chip
4. to rummage

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɑ/, [ˈkɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑ
• Syllabification^(key): ka
• Hyphenation^(key): ka

Etymology 1

Variant of kaa, both shortenings of kanssa.

Adverb

ka (rare, dialectal)

1. also, too

   Minä menin kauppaan ka.

   I went to a shop as well.

Etymology 2

A dialectal or colloquial 2nd person imperative present of katsoa (“to look”).

Verb

ka

1. (dialectal, colloquial) look!

   Ka!

Synonyms

• katso
• kato (colloquial)

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/ ~ /kɑ/

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑ

Noun

ka m (plural kas)

1. kay, The name of the Latin script letter K/k.

Fula

Preposition

ka

1. to, in, at

Suffix

ka

1. Noun class indicator for nouns (singular) including abstractions and borrowed words

Usage notes

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

Article

ka

1. (definite) the (when it follows the noun)

   taasa ka ― the bowl

Usage notes

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

Determiner

ka

1. (used in indicating something)

   ka taasa ― this/that bowl

Usage notes

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

References

• Oumar Bah, Dictionnaire Pular-Français, Avec un index français-pular, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2014.
• M. Niang (1997), Pulaar–English English–Pulaar Standard Dictionary, New York: Hippocrene Books

Futuna-Aniwa

Verb

ka

1. (Aniwa) to squeal

References

• Capell, Arthur (1984), “ka”, in Futuna-Aniwa dictionary, with grammatical introduction, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, Australian National University, →ISBN, page 111

German

Phrase

ka

1. (Internet slang) no idea (alternative spelling of k. A. – abbreviation of keine Ahnung)
   • 2005 December 10, Alexander Jede, “einfrierende Maus bei xine”, in linux.debian.user.german‎^[7] (Usenet):

     Kann mir da einer helfen? ich hab absolut ka woran es liegt. AUs der config von xine bin ich zum nicht schlauer geworden.

     Can someone help me with this? I have absolutely no idea where the problem is. The config of xine left me none the wiser.

   • 2006 January 12, Alexander Jede, “einfrierende Maus bei xine”, in linux.debian.user.german‎^[8] (Usenet):

     irgendwo hab ich aufgeschnappt das mitte Februar neue Dual Core CPU´s auf den Markt kommen.Bitte nicht fragen wo ich das her hab,ka vieleicht bilde ich mir das ja auch nur ein ;-)

     I heard somewhere that new Dual Core CPU's will come onto the market in mid-February. Please don't ask where I go that, no idea I might just be imagining it. ;-)

Ghomara

Etymology

Borrowed from Moroccan Arabic كا (ka), a variant of لوكان (lūkān), from Arabic لَوْ كَانَ (law kāna, literally “if it were”).

Pronunciation

• (Iɛraben) IPA^(key): [kɛ]

Particle

ka

1. used to introduce a yes-or-no question

   Synonym: wac

   Ka hezzenzat-tet? ― Did you sell it?

Conjunction

ka

1. if (counterfactual)

References

• Mourigh, Khalid (2015) A Grammar of Ghomara Berber (Thesis)‎^[9], Leiden

Guinea-Bissau Creole

Etymology

From African origin. Cognate with Kabuverdianu ka.

Adverb

ka

1. not

Haitian Creole

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Etymology 1

From French cas (“case”).

Noun

ka

1. case, instance

Etymology 2

Contraction of kapab, from French capable

Verb

ka

1. (auxiliary) can, be able to

References

• Targète, Jean; Urciolo, Raphael (1993), Haitian Creole-English Dictionary‎^[10], Dunwoody Press, →ISBN, page 84

Hanunoo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/ [ˈka]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka (2sg. subject pronoun).

Pronoun

ka (Hanunoo spelling ᜣ)

1. you (singular)

   Synonyms: kawo, (rare) kam

   Naan ka pamag-uli?

   Where do you live?

See also

Hanunoo personal pronouns

Person	Number	Direct	Indirect	Oblique
First	singular	ako	niko	kangko, kang
	plural inclusive	kita	nita	kanta
	plural exclusive	kami	nimi	kanmi
Second	singular	kawo, ka	nimo	kanmo
	plural	kamo	niyo	kanyo
Third	singular	siya	niya	kanya
	plural	sida	nida	kanda

Etymology 2

Particle

ka (Hanunoo spelling ᜣ)

1. connective used between a cardinal numeral and that which is enumerated

   duwa ka bilog sab-a ― two of saba bananas

Etymology 3

Particle

ka (Hanunoo spelling ᜣ) (literary)

1. a connective

   Synonyms: pag, pagka

   Kang ka idu, si Migra. ― My dog, Migra.

Further reading

• Conklin, Harold C. (1953), Hanunóo-English Vocabulary (University of California Publications in Linguistics), volume 9, London, England: University of California Press, →OCLC, page 131

Hausa

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /káː/
  • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [káː]

Adverb

kā

1. (with dà or à) in or on

References

• Newman, Paul (2007), A Hausa-English Dictionary (Yale Language Series), New Haven; London: Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 102.

Hawaiian

Alternative forms

• ke (before words that begin with 'k', 'a', 'e', or 'o')

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *te.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/, [kə]

Article

ka sg (plural nā)

1. the

Hokkien

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 家 (“home; family; household; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 家).

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 鳩 (“pigeon; dove (family; to gather; to assemble; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 鳩).

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 鉸 (“scissors; to cut with scissors; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 鉸).

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 加 (“to put on top of another object; to add; to put in; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 加).

Iban

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /käʔ̚/

Verb

ka

1. (informal, modal auxiliary) contraction of deka

   Aku ka makai asi.

   I want to eat rice.

Ido

Etymology

See kad. Decision no. 16, Progreso II. Based on the apocopic forms a, e, and o.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Particle

ka

1. apocopic form of kad (used before a consonant)

   Ka tu amoras me? ― Do you love me?

References

• Progreso II (in Ido), 1909–1910, page 15, 357, 579

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/, [ˈka]
• Homophone: Ka

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Dutch K, k.

Noun

ka (plural ka-ka)

1. The name of the Latin script letter K/k.

Synonyms

• ke (Standard Malay)

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) huruf; a, be, ce, de, e, ef, ge, ha, i, je, ka, el, em, en, o, pe, ki, er, es, te, u, ve, we, eks, ye, zet

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Egyptian kꜣ.

Noun

ka (plural ka-ka)

1. (Egyptian mythology) ka (the aspect of a person’s soul or being that sustains their existence, roughly the life-force, sometimes pictured as a double of the person)

Further reading

• “ka”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Isu

Noun

ka

1. monkey

References

• Isu orthography guide

Japanese

Romanization

ka

1. The hiragana syllable か (ka) or the katakana syllable カ (ka) in Hepburn romanization.

Javanese

Etymology

Clipping of ika.

Determiner

ka

1. (colloquial) yonder

Kabuverdianu

Etymology

From Portuguese (nun)ca. Early linguists have compared it with the negative particle ka found in several West African languages, which may have reinforced the form, although a direct inheritance from these languages is generally not accepted.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɐ/

Adverb

ka

1. not

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

• ca (Súlat Bacúlud, Ámung Sámson)

Etymology 1

Shortened form of ika. From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka (“2sg. subject pronoun”). Compare Tagalog ka, Hanunoo ka, Cebuano ka, Ilocano -ka, Chuukese ka / ke.

Pronoun

ka

1. you (second person singular)

   Kaluguran daka.

   I love you.

   Mamun ka kang inda.

   Say goodbye to your mother.

Usage notes

• The word ka usually replaces ika when in the middle of a sentence.
• When speaking to be polite, use the plural form kayu, ikayu.

See also

Kapampangan personal pronouns

		absolute		ergative	oblique
		disjunctive	enclitic
first person	singular	aku/i aku/yaku	ku		kanaku
	plural inclusive	ikatamu	katamu/tamu	tamu/ta	kekatamu
	plural exclusive	ikami, ike	kami/ke	mi	kekami/keke
second person	singular	ika	ka	mu	keka
	plural	ikayu/iko	kayu/ko	yu	kekayu/keko
third person	singular	iya/ya	ya	na	keya/kaya
	plural	ila	la	da/ra	karela

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka, from Proto-Austronesian *qa₂. Compare Malay -kah / ke, Indonesian -kah / ke, Ambonese Malay ka, Tetum ka, Niuean ka, Makasar ka, Buginese ga, Tagalog baga / ga, Thao qa, Ilocano kadi. See also Kapampangan ka- / baga.

Particle

ka

1. marks a sentence as interrogative

   Mangabayatan ka? Mayan ka?

   Is it heavy? Is it light?

   Dapat daka? Alina siguru.

   Should I? Probably not.

   Tara bisa ka?

   Shall we go?

   • 1617, Francisco Coronel, Arte y reglas de la lengua Pampanga:

     Sucat mo casing bitasan quing micabucasan ca?

     Can you by chance assure us that you will arrive tomorrow?

2. whether (or not)

   X ka Y ka?

   Are you an X or Y?

   Munta ka alika?

   Are you going or not?

3. used with o to mark list and to connect choices being considered with uncertainty

   Ini ka o ita ka, sanu kareni.

   This or that? Which one of these?

   Magpasta ka o magpitsa ka?

   Are you gonna eat pasta or pizza?

4. (uncommon) adverbial marking indefiniteness

   Synonyms: man, mo, pa, ya, na

   Ninukang kakatuk, pakipanenayan.

   Whoever's knocking, please wait.

   Nanukang panintunan.

   Looking for something.

   Maging nanuka o ninuka.

   Becoming something or someone else.

   Ayba, nandaka. Basta yaku nandakata.

   Hell no, whatever. As for me, none of my business.

Usage notes

• When speaking to be polite, use the plural form kayo, as ka can have a commanding tone, e.g.

  Patugut nakayo ― Would you please stop.

  Patugut naka ― Stop it!

See also

• kana
• kanu
• kaya
• kayi
• uari

Konso

Conjunction

ka

1. and

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈkaː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈkaː]

Noun

kā n or f (indeclinable)

1. The name of the letter K.

Coordinate terms

• (Latin-script letter names) littera; ā, bē, cē, dē, ē, ef, gē, hā / *acca, ī, kā, el, em, en, ō, pē, kū, er, es, tē, ū, ix / īx / ex, ȳ / ī graeca / ȳpsīlon, zēta

References

• Arthur E. Gordon, The Letter Names of the Latin Alphabet (University of California Press, 1973; volume 9 of University of California Publications: Classical Studies), part III: “Summary of the Ancient Evidence”, page 32
  Clearly there is no question or doubt about the names of the vowels A, E, I, O, U. They are simply long A, long E, etc. (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū). Nor is there any uncertainty with respect to the six mutes B, C, D, G, P, T. Their names are bē, cē, dē, gē, pē, tē (each with a long E). Or about H, K, and Q: they are hā, kā, kū — each, again, with a long vowel sound.

Latvian

Etymology

Originally an old neuter nominative singular form of kas (“who, what”) that acquired the function of a conjunction. Cognates include Old Prussian ka (“who, what”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

• Audio:

  (file)

Conjunction

ka

1. that; used to link a subordinate clause to the main clause, sometimes with a pronominal antecedent (tas, tāds, tik, tādēļ, tāpēc), with various different functions:

   (a) subject:

   labi, ka darbs padarīts ― (it is) good that the work is done

   viņam nepatika, ka tagad viņi ar Plienu bija palikuši tikai divi ― he didn't like that now only he and Pliens had remained

   aplam darīts arī tas, ka divās dienās nopļāva visu Spilvas pļavu ― wrongly done was also that (= the fact) that (he) mowed the entire Spilva meadow in two days

   tveice bija tāda, ka šķita - tīrums smaržo kā liela rudzu kalte ― the heat was such that one felt (as if) the field smelled like a big rye drier

   (b) attributive complement, (secondary) predicate

   pienāca ziņa, ka tēvs saslimis ― there is news that father is sick

   viņi nolaida karogus per zīmi, ka demonstrācija beigusies ― they lowered the flags as a sign that the protest was over

   vēl vairāk sirdi nospeiž sāpes, / ka atkal apkārt tikai mežs ― even more the heart is oppressed by the pain / that again (there is) only forest around

   ir tāds karstums, ka pat putniņi paslēpušies ― (there) is such a heat that even the little birds are hiding

   (c) direct object

   viņš teica, ka varam iet ― he said that we could go

   Ģirts redzēja, ka Artūrs nekā neapjēdz, ka labāk runāt par ko citu ― Ģirts saw that Artūrs would never realize that it would be better to talk about something else

   Krančelis izrādīja visu savu nemieru ar to, ka nevarēja meiteni iepriecināt ― Krančelis showed all his concern with that (= the fact) that he could not cheer up the girl

   kas gan var būt vēl skaistāks pasaulē par to, ka cilvēks palīdz cilvēkam un draugs - draugam! ― what can be more beautiful in (this) world than that (= the fact) that a person helps (another) person and a friend - (another) friend!

   (d) adverbial complement (manner)

   viņpus upes krastā Preimanis lādējās, ka visa pamale skanēja ― on the shore, on the other side of the river, Preimanis cursed (in such a way) that the whole horizon resounded (with his curses)

   Saulītis krāca tā, ka ārā varēja dzirdēt ― Saulītis snored so (= in such a way) that one could hear it outside

   (e) adverbial complement (cause)

   (often tāpēc ka, tādēļ ka, less frequently tamdēļ ka, tālab ka, “for the reason that”)

   viņai kļūst kauns par sevi, ka pat domās pieļāvusi salīdzinājumu ― she felt ashamed of herself, that (= because) she had allowed herself (to make) this comparison even in thought

   publicisti uzbruka rakstniekiem, ka tie bez īstas kvēles un dedzības ķeras pagatavot lugas ― the publishers attacked the writers that (= because) they tried to prepare (= write) plays without real fervor and zeal

   “bet varbūt tāpēc līst, ka man sāp zobs”, viņš iedomājās ― “but maybe it is raining for that reason, that (= because) my tooth hurts,” he thought

   krievu valoda mums jāprot tādēļ, ka tā ir mūsu kaimiņu un draugu valoda ― we must know Russian for that reason, that (= because) it is the language of our neighbors and friends

   Ješka nepaguva atbildēt, tāpēc ka papriekš gribēja iedzert ― Ješka couldn't answer, because he first wanted to drink

   tu, tēvoc, daudz ko nedzirdi, tādēļ ka kurls esi palicis ― you, uncle, haven't heard much, because you have become deaf

   (f) adverbial complement (consequence)

   (often tā kā “so that”)

   otrā rītā sāp mugura, ka tīri vai jāraud ― the next morning (his) back was in pain, (so much) that (he) simply had to cry

   visi bija tik satraukti, ka nemanīja, vai viņš atsveicinās vai ne ― everybody was so excited that (they) did not noticed whether or not he said goodbye

   Ainas acis vērāas tik mierīgas un vēas, ka viņš atmeta šādu domu ― (but) Aina's eyes were so peaceful and cool (= calm) that he abandoned such thought(s)

   dejotāju kājas bija noru noblietējušas tā, ka zeme sāka skanēt ― the dancers' feet had stomped the (forest) glade so (= in such a way) that the earth began to resound

   vējš gaudoja aizvien stiprāk, tā ka sāka jau drebēt majas jumts ― the wind howled more and more strongly, so that the house roof began to shake

   vecais zvirbulis bija ļoti noskumis un kļuva pat neuzmanīgs, tā ka to gandrīz noķēra pelēkais Minka ― the old sparrow had become very sad and even inattentive, so that the gray Minka (= cat) almost caught him

   (g) adverbial complement (purpose)

   pēc malkas ej, ka var kurināt tam akmenim virsū! ― go find wood, (so) that we can burn it on (top of) that rock

   skrien kā traks, ka tikai izraut lielāku normu ― I run (= work) like crazy, (so) that I may get a larger margin (= advantage)

   (h) adverbial complement (measure, proportion)

   tūlīt pēc kara pievairojis bija pelēču, ka mudž ― immediately after the war the grays (= landowners) became many, (so much) that (they) were swarming

   viņa steidzās tik ļoti, ka neievēroja vaļējās klēts durvis un tajās sēdošo cilvēku ― she hurried so much that (she) did not notice the open barn door and the person sitting in(side of) it

   vai tik daudz sāpju sevī pārvarēji, / ka tikai prieku spēsi citiem sniegt? ― have you overcome so much pain in yourself / that you will be able to give only joy to others?

   (i) adverbial complement (condition)

   kas tas par draugu, ka nevar palīdzēt? ― what kind of friend is he, that (= if) he can't help?

   kur gan esat, zilie ceriņi, ka nekur vairs nesatieku jūs? ― where are you, blue lilac, that (= if) I don't find you anywhere?

Particle

ka

1. used to add a nuance of probability or doubt to a, usually negative, utterance, to make it optative, expressive of a desire (cf. kaut); may...

   jāsagrābj siens, ka neuznāk lietus ― (we) have to rake the hay together, may rain not come (i.e., maybe there will be rain)

   vispirms gādājiet, lai rudzi tiek statos; ka neuznāk krusa ― first of all make sure that the rye is in heaps; may hail not come (= i.e., maybe there will be hail)

   ka tik viņš neaizietu! ― may he only not leave! if only he wouldn't leave!

   “ka nenositas”, Nikolajs ieminas, bet onkulis atmet at roku: “liels puisietis, nenositīsies” ― “may he not get himself killed” (i.e., he probably won't get himself killed), Nikolas said, and uncle gestured with his hand: “(he is) a big boy, he won't get himself killed”

   “ak, ka tak viss neietu tik lēnām... tos, kas nomirs, tos tak ielaidīs jūrā?” “laikam”

   “oh, may everything not go so slowly (= if only everything didn't go so slowly)... those who died, they will be thrown into the sea?” “maybe”

   pagája labs brīdis, bet necēlās neviens no pakritušajiem skrējējiem... ka viņu vilks, nu būs abi divi beigti ― a good while went by, but none of the fallen runners stood up... may (the devil) take him, they now will be (= probably are) both finished (= dead)

2. used to reinforce the intensity of an action or activity, usually with a repeated verb; ... and ...

   māte tik naigi dur ka dur - šuj savu šujamo ― mother so quickly pierced and pierced - she sows her sowing (= what she needs to sow, i.e. she is certainly carrying out her task)

Livonian

Etymology

Reduced from forms of Proto-Finnic *kansa (e.g. the inessive). Compare Estonian ka, Finnish kanssa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɑ/, [ˈkɑ]

Adverb

ka

1. too, also

References

• Tiit-Rein Viitso; Valts Ernštreits (2012–2013), “ka”, in Līvõkīel-ēstikīel-lețkīel sõnārōntõz [Livonian-Estonian-Latvian Dictionary]‎^[11] (in Estonian and Latvian), Tartu, Rīga: Tartu Ülikool, Latviešu valodas aģentūra

Lower Sorbian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Noun

ka m inan

1. The name of the Latin script letter k/K.

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) a, bej, cej, čet, ćej, dej, ej, ět, ef, gej, ha, cha, i, jot, ka, eł, el, em, en, ejn, o, pej, er, ejŕ, es, eš, śej, tej, u, wej, y, zet, žet, źej

Lower Tanana

Etymology 1

From Proto-Athabaskan *qeˑ. Cognate with Ahtna kae.

Root

ka

1. to paddle, dig

Stem set

Aspect	Imperfective	Perfective	Future	Optative
Momentaneous	kayh	kanh	kaɬ	kaɬ
Perambulative	kayh	kanh	—	—
Continuative	ka'	kanh	ka'	ka'
Customary	kayh	kayh	kayh	kayh
Repetitive	kax	kax	kax	kax
Progressive	kaɬ	—	—	—

Derived terms

• Ch'etitadhkanenh (“a legendary culture hero”)
• eɬkax (“he is shovelling”)
• ghekaɬ (“he/she is paddling along”)
• niko'ikayh (“he/she is landing a boat”)
• xukali (“shovel”)
• xwɬkaghi (“snowplow”)

Etymology 2

Cognate with Navajo -KÉ (“two actors sit”).

Root

ka

1. (rare) multiple granular objects fall

Stem set

Aspect	Imperfective	Perfective	Future	Optative
Momentaneous	kayh	kanh	kaɬ	kaɬ

References

• Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, pages 234-237

Lutuv

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kə̀ə̀]

Verb

ka

1. to shoot

References

• Kelly Harper Berkson, Amanda Bohnert, Sui Hnem Par (2022), “Consonant Sounds in Hnaring Lutuv”, in Indiana Working Papers in South Asian Languages and Cultures‎^[12], volume 3, number 1

Malay

Etymology 1

from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka, cognate with Old Sundanese ka

Noun

ka

1. (Old Malay) to, towards

Descendants

• Malay: ke
  • Indonesian: ke

Etymology 2

Noun

ka (uncountable)

1. abbreviation of kaki (“foot (unit of measurement)”)

Further reading

• "ka" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017
  (also see "ka" at PRPM first version)

Mandarin

Romanization

ka

1. nonstandard spelling of kā
2. nonstandard spelling of kǎ
3. nonstandard spelling of kà

Usage notes

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Mangas

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kā/

Pronoun

ka

1. second person singular personal pronoun, you

References

• Blench, Robert; Bulkaam, Michael (2021) An Introduction to Mantsi, a South Bauchi language of Central Nigeria. University of Cambridge.

Māori

Particle

ka

1. Marks an event as occurring at some time or as existing
2. when; used before a verb to indicate the start of an action or state
3. Marks a verb as being in future tense
4. Used when counting numbers

   Ka tahi, ka rua, ka toru...

   One, two, three...

5. Used in commands with taua and tātou

   ātou ka haere

   let's go

6. now (for the first time); when used after kātahi anō

References

• "ka" - Maori Dictionary

Mapudungun

Adverb

ka (Raguileo spelling)

1. too; also

Synonyms

• kafey

Conjunction

ka (Raguileo spelling)

1. and

Determiner

ka (Raguileo spelling)

1. another; not the same

Mizo

Etymology

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *kaj ~ kaj-maʔ , from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ka (“I; me”).

Pronoun

ka (plural kan, accusative mi or min)

1. I, my (first-person singular clitic pronoun)

See also

Mizo personal pronouns

Person	Clitic		Free
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
1st person	ka	kan	kei	keini
2nd person	i	in	nang	nangni
3rd person	a	an	ani	anni

Mizo verb agreement pronouns

Subject →		1st person		2nd person		3rd person
↓ Object		Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
1st person	Singular	—		mi ... min ...
	Plural
2nd person	Singular	ka ... che	kan ... che	—		a ... che	an ... che
	Plural	ka ... che u	kan ... che u			a ... che u	an ... che u
3rd person	Singular	ka ...	kan ...	i ...	in ...	a ...	an ...
	Plural

• mi and min, despite being originally singular and plural respectively, have been completely interchangeable since the early 20th century.
• The ellipses (...) indicate the location of the verb in relation to the agreement pronouns surrounding it.

References

• Lorrain, J. Herbert (1940), “ka”, in Dictionary of the Lushai language, Calcutta: Asiatic Society

Momina

Pronoun

ka

1. you (second person singular)

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Momuna

Pronoun

ka

1. you (second person singular)

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Moriori

Etymology

Cognate with Māori ngā.

Noun

ka

1. plural definite article the.

References

• Shand, Alexander (1894), “The Moriori People of the Chatham Islands: Their Traditions and History”, in The Journal of the Polynesian Society‎^[13]

Naxi

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kaʔ.

Adjective

ka

1. bitter

References

• Naxi Dictionary by T.M. Pinson, Lijiang 2012

Ngarla

Verb

ka

1. A verbaliser

Inflection of ka

function	form
present	karri
past	karnu
future/imperative	kan
purposive/hortative	kalu
immediate past	kanmayinyu
remote past	karnta
undoubtedly	karnamarta
general aspect	kantangu
nominaliser	karnanguru

References

• Westerlund, T. (2007). A grammatical sketch of Ngarla: A language of Western Australia. Uppsala University.

Northern Pomo

Etymology

From Proto-Pomo *ʔahqʰá (“water”).

Noun

ka

1. water

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronoun

ka

1. form removed with the spelling reform of 1959; superseded by hva

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑː/

Pronoun

ka

1. (dialectal, Trøndelag, Nordnorsk, Vestlandet, non-standard since 1959) alternative form of kva (“what”)

   Ka e da du gjere på?

   What are you doing?

Nǀuu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑ́/, /kə́/

Verb

ka

1. to say

   Gǀa kaǀî dyee ka?

   What is your name?

   (literally, “How do you say your name?”)

References

• Shah, Sheena & Brenzinger, Matthias. (2017). Writing for Speaking: The Nǀuu Orthography. 10.1017/9781316562949.006.
• Sands, Bonny & Jones, Kerry & Esau, Katrina & Collins, Chris & Witzlack-Makarevich, Alena & Job, Sylvanus & Miller, Amanda & Steyn, Betta & Zaanen, Menno & Namaseb, Levi & Berg, Dietloff & Mantzel, Dotty & Damarah, Willem & Snyman, Claudia & Wyk, David & Brugman, Johanna & Exter, Mats & Vaalbooi, Antjie & Westhuizen, Mietjie. (2022). Nǀuuki Namagowab Afrikaans English ǂXoakiǂxanisi/Mîdi di ǂKhanis/Woordeboek/Dictionary
• Exter, Mats. “Properties of the Anterior and Posterior Click Closures in N|uu.” (2008).

Old Khmer

Verb

ka

1. Latin script form of ក (“to begin, to start; etc”)

Conjunction

ka

1. Latin script form of ក (“so, thus, hence, then”)

Old Prussian

Alternative forms

• kha

Etymology

Derived from Proto-Balto-Slavic *kas.

Pronoun

ka

1. (interrogative) what
2. (relative) what

References

• Mažiulis, Vytautas (1988–1997), “ka”, in Prūsų kalbos etimologijos žodynas [Etymological Dictionary of Old Prussian]‎^[14] (in Lithuanian), Vilnius
• W. R. Schmalstieg (1971) “New Look at the Old Prussian Pronoun”, in Baltistica VII(2), Vilnius: Vilniau Universitetas

Old Sundanese

Etymology

from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka, cognate with Old Malay ka

Noun

ka

1. to, towards

Descendants

• Sundanese: ka

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• 𑀓 (Brahmi script)
• क (Devanagari script)
• ক (Bengali script)
• ක (Sinhalese script)
• က or ၵ (Burmese script)
• ก or กะ (Thai script)
• ᨠ (Tai Tham script)
• ກ or ກະ (Lao script)
• ក (Khmer script)
• 𑄇 (Chakma script)

Etymology 1

From the masculine and neuter respectively of Sanskrit क (ká), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kás, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷós.

Pronoun

ka m

1. (interrogative) who
2. (interrogative) what
3. (interrogative) which
   • 2006, The First Book in the Suttanta-Pitaka: Dīgha-Nikāya (I)‎^[15], page 82:

     කන‍්නු ඛ‍්වජ‍්ජ සමණං වා බ්‍රාහ‍්මණං වා පයිරුපාසෙය්‍යාම යන‍්නො පයිරුපාසතො චිත‍්තං පසීදෙය්‍යා!"ති

     kannu khvajja samaṇaṃ vā brāhmaṇaṃ vā payirupāseyyāma yanno payirupāsato cittaṃ pasīdeyyā!"ti

     Indeed now which ascetic or Brahmin should we visit today who, for us visiting him, will soothe the heart?

Usage notes

The pronoun may function as an interrogative adjective.

Declension

Declension table of "ka" (masculine)

Case / Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	ko	ke
Accusative (second)	kaṃ	ke
Instrumental (third)	kena	kehi or kebhi
Dative (fourth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	kasmā or kismā	kehi or kebhi
Genitive (sixth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Locative (seventh)	kasmiṃ or kamhi or kismiṃ or kimhi	kesu

Derived terms

• kā (“who (f)”)

Pronoun

ka n

1. (interrogative) what
2. (interrogative) which

Usage notes

The pronoun may function as an interrogative adjective.

Declension

Declension table of "ka" (neuter)

Case / Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	kiṃ	kāni
Accusative (second)	kiṃ	kāni
Instrumental (third)	kena	kehi or kebhi
Dative (fourth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	kasmā or kismā	kehi or kebhi
Genitive (sixth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Locative (seventh)	kasmiṃ or kamhi or kismiṃ or kimhi	kesu

Derived terms

• kāpurisa

Etymology 2

Probably from the pronunciation of a syllable consisting only of the letter.

Noun

ka m

1. the Pali letter 'k'
   • c. 500 AD, Kaccāyana, Pālivyākaraṇaṃ [Pali Grammar]‎^[16] (overall work in Pali), page 4; republished as Satish Chandra Acharyya Vidyabhusana, editor, Kaccayana's Pali Grammar (edited in Devanagari character and translated into English), Calcutta, Bengal: Mahabodhi Society, 1901:

     क, ख, ग, घ, ङ, च, छ, ज, झ, ञ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, त, थ, द, ध, न, प, फ, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, स, ह, ळ, ं। इति व्यञ्जन नाम होन्ति।

     Ka, kha, ga, gha, ṅa, ca, cha, ja, jha, ña, ṭa, ṭha, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa, ta, tha, da, dha, na, pa, pha, ba, bha, ma, ya, ra, la, va, sa, ha, ḷa, aṃ, iti vyañjanā nāma honti.

     'k', 'kh', 'g', 'gh', 'ṅ', 'c', 'ch', 'j', 'jh', 'ñ, 'ṭ', 'ṭh', 'ḍ', 'ḍh', 'ṇ', 't', 'th', 'd', 'dh', 'n', 'p', 'ph', 'b', 'bh', 'm', 'y', 'r', 'l', 'v', 's', 'h', 'ḷ' and 'ṃ', these are the consonants by name.

   • c. 500 AD, Kaccāyana, Pālivyākaraṇaṃ [Pali Grammar]‎^[17] (overall work in Pali), page 12; republished as Satish Chandra Acharyya Vidyabhusana, editor, Kaccayana's Pali Grammar (edited in Devanagari character and translated into English), Calcutta, Bengal: Mahabodhi Society, 1901:

     को यस्स यथा-सको।

     Ko yassa yathā-sako.

     'K' from 'y' as in 'sako'.

Declension

Declension table of "ka" (masculine)

Case / Number	Singular
Nominative (first)	ko
Accusative (second)	kaṃ
Instrumental (third)	kena
Dative (fourth)	kassa or kāya or katthaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	kasmā or kamhā or kā
Genitive (sixth)	kassa
Locative (seventh)	kasmiṃ or kamhi or ke
Vocative (calling)	ka

Synonyms

• kakāra

References

• Pali Text Society (1921–1925), “ka˚”, in Pali-English Dictionary‎, London: Chipstead, page 173

Picuris

Verb

ka

1. to wash

Further reading

• Dominic Yu, Comparative Phonology of Picurís and Taos (2008)

Pipil

Preposition

ka

1. to, at

Further reading

• Campbell, L. (1985). The Pipil Language of El Salvador. Mouton De Gruyter. p. 59

Pitjantjatjara

Conjunction

ka

1. and (switching)

   Watingku maḻu nyangu ka wirtjapakaṉu.

   The man saw the kangaroo and the kangaroo ran away.

Usage notes

• Ka is a switching conjunction. When it links two clauses or sentences, it conveys that the second clause has a different subject from the first. In cases where the subject remains the same, the conjunction munu is used. In the example above, the subject of the second clause need not be "the kangaroo", although that seems the most likely possibility from context. The ku simply tells us that someone or something other than wati (the subject of the first clause) ran away.
• Although ka is spelt with a short a, the vowel is actually long (kaa). The misleading spelling exists for historical reasons.

Polish

Etymology

Phonetic spelling of the letter.

Pronunciation

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

Noun

ka n (indeclinable)

1. The name of the Latin script letter K/k.

Further reading

• “ka”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[18] (in Polish)

Portuguese

Interjection

ka!

1. alternative form of kakaka

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *ka-, *ka. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻa- and Māori ka.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/
• Hyphenation: ka

Particle

ka

1. Used to indicate the future tense.
2. Used to indicate the imperative mood.
3. Used to indicate the jussive mood.
4. Used to indicate the temporal contiguity of an action.
5. Used to indicate the conditional mood of a relative clause.
6. Used to form a counting form from of the following numeral.

   Ka tahi, ka rua, ka toru. ― One, two, three.

Interjection

¡ka!

1. Intensifies the following verb; how! what a!

   ¡Ka ma'itaki 'ō! ― How very beautiful!

Usage notes

• Ka is often used to convey an objective intensification, while ko is used when one has a strong emotion towards the subject.

References

• Paulus Kieviet (2017), A grammar of Rapa Nui‎^[19], Berlin: Language Science Press, →ISBN, pages 153, 330, 477, 491

Rawang

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kʰɑ˧/

Etymology 1

Compare Burmese ကြက် (krak).

Noun

ka

1. chicken.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kaʔ (“bitter”). Cognate with Burmese ခါး (hka:), Old Chinese 苦 (OC *kʰaːʔ, *kʰaːs).

Adjective

ka

1. bitter.

Scots

Alternative forms

• kae

Etymology

Of imitative origin, similar to Old High German kā (“crow, jackdaw”), Middle Low German kâ (“crow, jackdaw”), English caw.

Noun

ka (plural kas)

1. jackdaw

Senhaja de Srair

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Arabic لَوْ كَانَ (law kāna)

Moroccan Arabic لوكان (lūkān)bor.

Senhaja de Srair ka

Borrowed from Moroccan Arabic لوكان (lūkān), from Arabic لَوْ كَانَ (law kāna, literally “if it were”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Particle

ka (Tifinagh spelling ⴽⴰ)

1. used to introduce a yes-or-no question

   Synonym: wac

   Ka ikk-as-ten? ― Did he give them to her?

Conjunction

ka (Tifinagh spelling ⴽⴰ)

1. if (counterfactual)

Alternative forms

• luka, lukan (Ketama, Taghzut)
• kʷa (Hmed)
• uka (Zerqet)

Etymology 2

Clipping of kamek.

Adverb

ka (Tifinagh spelling ⴽⴰ)

1. Ketama form of amek: (interrogative) how

References

• Gutova, Evgeniya; Byler, Jonathan (2025), “Senhaja de Srair - English Dictionary”, in Webonary‎^[20], retrieved 2025
• Gutova, Evgeniya (2021) Senhaja Berber Varieties: Phonology, Morphology, and Morphosyntax (Thesis)‎^[21], Paris, France: HAL

Serbo-Croatian

Preposition

ka (Cyrillic spelling ка)

1. alternative form of k

Synonyms

• k

Adverb

ka (Cyrillic spelling ка)

1. (Chakavian, Montenegro) as, like

Synonyms

• kao

Conjunction

ka

1. (Chakavian, Montenegro) as, like

Synonyms

• kao

Pronoun

ka ? (Cyrillic spelling ка)

1. (Chakavian, Kajkavian, interrogative) which (feminine)
2. (Chakavian, Kajkavian, relative) which, that, who (feminine)
3. (Chakavian, Kajkavian, indefinite) some (feminine)

Synonyms

• koja

Skou

Particle

ka

1. not - negative particle

   Ke bà fue a bápánenì ne ka.

   That person is not my friend.

References

• Donohue, Mark. A Grammar of the Skou Language of New Guinea (2004).

Somali

Pronunciation 1

• IPA^(key): /kɑ́/

Preposition

ká (instrumental ku, comitative la, allative u)

1. from

   Geeskuu ka soo galay. ― He entered from the side.

Usage notes

• In Somali, prepositions fall before the verb and not before the noun they modify:

  Ka imow. ― To come from.

  Ka keen. ― To bring from.

Pronunciation 2

• IPA^(key): /kɑ̄/

Article

ka (suffixation -ka)

1. the

   Garaash ka fur. ― Open the garage.

Inflection

declension of ka
	masculine
absolutive	ka
nominative	ku
genitive	-
vocative	-

Determiners

		m	f
definite	non-remote	ka	ta
	remote	kii	tii
demonstrative	proximal	kan	tan
	medial	kaas	taas
	distal	keer	teer
	far distal	koo	too
interrogative		kee	tee
possessive	mine	kayga	tayga
	yours	kaaga	taaga
	his	kiisa	tiisa
	hers	keeda	teeda
	ours (excl.)	kayaga	tayaga
	ours (incl.)	keena	teena
	yours (pl.)	kiinna	tiinna
	theirs	kooda	tooda

References

• “ka”, in Qaamuuska Af-Soomaaliga, 2012

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/ [ˈka]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka
• Homophone: ca

Noun

ka f (plural kas)

1. Name of the letter k

Further reading

• “ka”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Sumerian

Romanization

ka

1. romanization of 𒅗 (ka)

Sundanese

Etymology 1

From Old Sundanese ka, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka.

Preposition

ka (Sundanese spelling ᮊ)

1. to, towards

   Synonym: kana

   ka kalér ― to the north

   ka Bandung ― to Bandung

   ka pasar ― to the market

Etymology 2

From Hokkien 膠 / 胶 (ka, “glue”).

Noun

ka (Sundanese spelling ᮊ)

1. buffalo hide glue

Derived terms

• ngaka

Etymology 3

Clipping of aka.

Noun

ka (Sundanese spelling ᮊ)

1. term of address for an older brother

   Synonyms: a, kang

Further reading

• "ka" in Maman Sumantri; Atjep Djamaludin; Achmad Patoni; R.H. Moch. Koerdie; M.O. Koesman; Epa Sjafei Adisastra. (1985), Kamus Sunda-Indonesia [Sundanese-Indonesian Dictionary] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Department of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia

Swahili

Etymology

From the -ka- consecutive tense marker.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Adverb

ka

1. and then (used between a series of actions that happened soon closely together)

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Influenced by Baybayin character ᜃ (ka).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ka/ [k̠ɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka

Noun

ka (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

1. the name of the Latin script letter K/k, in the Abakada alphabet

   Synonym: (in the Filipino alphabet) key

2. (historical) the name of the Latin script letter K/k, in the Abecedario

   Synonym: (in the Filipino alphabet) key

See also

• Ka
• ka-
• kaka

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *ka

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka

Tagalog ka

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka (“2sg. subject pronoun”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ka/ [k̠ɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka

Pronoun

ka (Baybayin spelling ᜃ) (postpositive)

1. you (second person singular)

Usage notes

• The word ka usually replaces ikaw when in the middle of a clause.
• When speaking to be polite, use the plural form kayo.

Alternative forms

• ca — obsolete, Spanish-based spelling
• k — Internet and text messaging slang

Derived terms

• halika
• parika
• teka
• tika

See also

Tagalog personal pronouns

Person	Number	Direct (ang)	Indirect (ng)	Oblique (sa)
First	singular	ako	ko	akin
	dual1	kita, kata	nita, nata, ta	kanita, kanata, ata
	plural inclusive	tayo	natin	atin
	plural exclusive	kami	namin	amin
First & Second	singular	kita2
Second	singular	ikaw, ka	mo	iyo
	plural	kayo, kamo	ninyo, niyo	inyo
Third	singular	siya	niya	kaniya
	plural	sila	nila	kanila

¹ First person dual pronouns are not commonly used in Standard Tagalog.
² Replaces ko ikaw.

Etymology 3

Etymology tree

Sanskritbor.?

Tagalog wikaclip.

Tagalog ka

Clipping of wika.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈkaʔ/ [ˈk̠aʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: ka

Noun

kâ (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

1. alternative spelling of 'ka

Derived terms

• kako
• kamo
• kaniya

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English car.

Noun

ka

1. car

Traveller Norwegian

Etymology

Borrowed from Romani xal. The conjugation follows a common pattern for Traveller Norwegian verbs having their root ending with a vowel (like pi (“drink”) or ja (“go”)) - it is very similar to standard Norwegian (see e.g. conjugation of Norwegian Nynorsk ha (“to have”)). However, this verb has an unusual present participle ending -enes instead of -anes, probably because the root is ending on -a.

Verb

ka (present tense kar, past tense kadde, past participle kadd, present participle kaenes, imperative ka)

1. to eat

References

• Ragnvald Iversen (1944), Secret languages in Norway, volume 1, pages 81 and 241

Tuvaluan

Particle

ka

1. future tense marker, inserted immediately before the relevant verb

Ujir

Numeral

ka

1. four

References

• Antoinette Schapper, Marian Klamer, Numeral systems in the Alor-Pantar languages

Veps

Etymology

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

Adverb

ka

1. yes
2. certainly, absolutely
3. naturally, of course
4. let's [with first-person plural imperative]

Conjunction

ka

1. but
2. then (in "if...then" constructions)

References

• Zajceva, N. G.; Mullonen, M. I. (2007), “безусловно, да, давать, естественно, конечно, но”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary]‎^[22], Petrozavodsk: Periodika

Volapük

Conjunction

ka

1. than (used for comparisons)

Ye'kwana

Alternative forms

• cha (allomorph after i)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

Particle

ka

1. Forms a polar (yes/no) question.

Usage notes

In most circumstances this particle is found in the second position in a sentence (immediately after the first constituent). Occasionally, for unclear reasons, it may appear elsewhere.

References

• Cáceres, Natalia (2011), “ka”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎^[23], Lyon, pages 158–159

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Cognate with Igala káà

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Verb

kà

1. (intransitive, transitive) to count
2. (intransitive, transitive) to read

Usage notes

• ka before a direct object

Derived terms

• kíkà (“reading, counting”)
• ìkà (“the act of reading”)
• òǹkà (“number”)

Etymology 2

Likely cognate with Igala kà (“to tell”) and Igbo kà (“to speak”), perhaps related to Nupe gàn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Verb

kà

1. (transitive) to confess (literally, "to recount previous misdeeds involuntarily or under duress")

Usage notes

• ka before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìkà (“the act of confession”)

Related terms

• jẹ́wọ́ (“to confess”)

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Verb

kà

1. to buy things in the hundreds

Usage notes

• ka before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìkà

Etymology 4

Cognate with Igala ká

Alternative forms

• kán (Igbomina)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ká/

Verb

ká

1. (transitive) to pluck fruit (from a tree)
2. to break something; to knock off something
3. (idiomatic) to become snapped under pressure

Derived terms

• ká ìbó (“euphemism for a child dying literally "to pluck the fruit of the ibo tree"”)
• káléyín
• késo
• ìká

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ká/

Verb

ká

1. (transitive) to curl or fold something

   Fọlá, wá bá mi ká aṣọ! ― Fọla, come and help me fold the clothes

2. (intransitive) to become curled or folded
3. to constrain someone (often via supernatural means)
4. (idiomatic) to get something under control

   apá àtẹ́lẹwọ́ kì í ká ilé ― The arm of the palm cannot control the house (Yoruba incantation)

Derived terms

• kápá
• ìká

Etymology 6

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ká/

Verb

ká

1. to be everywhere

Usage notes

• Used especially in the V2 position

Derived terms

• kárí (“around”)
• káàkiri (“around”)
• rìnká (“to wander, walk around”)
• yíká (“to surround”)
• Yímiká (“a shortened name form meaning "surrounds me"”)
• Yín̄ká (“a shortened name form meaning "surrounds me"”)
• àyíká (“around”)
• ìká

Zou

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kʌ̄]
• Hyphenation: ka

Particle

ka

1. The first-person verbal concord: I, we
   • 2018, “Thuhilna 6:1”, in Laisiangtho [Bible]‎^[24], Bible Society of Myanmar, page 1182:

     Leitungah gitlona khat ka mu a, tua khu mite tungah gih mama hi:

     I have seen an evil in the world, which is very frequent in people:

See also

Zou personal pronouns

	singular			plural
	I	II	III	I incl.	I excl.	II	III
subject/object	kéi	náng	amà	éi	kóu kóuté	nóu nóuté	amóu amàté
indirect object	éi	néi
verbal concord	ka	na	a	i	ka	na	a

References

• Philip Thangliènmâng (2010), Minimal dictionary and Self-tutor Functional Grammar in Zo-English-Hindi, New Delhi: Zoculsin, →ISBN, page 131
• Lukram Himmat Singh (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou (PhD thesis), Canchipur: Manipur University, page 71