-அம்

From Old Tamil -𑀅𑀫𑁆 (-am), from Proto-Dravidian *-am.

• IPA^(key): /ɐm/

-அம் • (-am) (productive)

1. noun formative suffix.
2. forms verbal nouns. (final consonant is doubled when the verb ends in a plosive)

   ‎நீள் (nīḷ, “to elongate”) + ‎-அம் (-am) → ‎நீளம் (nīḷam, “length”)

   ‎மாறு (māṟu, “to change”) + ‎-அம் (-am) → ‎மாற்றம் (māṟṟam, “change”)

3. forms abstract nouns.

• Removal of the m makes the word an adjective.
  • Ex: மரம் (maram, “tree”) → மர (mara, “wooden”)

• University of Madras (1924–1936), “அம்”, in Tamil Lexicon, Madras [Chennai]: Diocesan Press