-ა

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

Georgian

Etymology 1

Suffix

-ა • (-a)

  1. Suffixed to nouns and adjectives for the purpose of euphony. Separates the final consonant of a suffixed term from the initial consonant of the next word. It may also split a postposition-attached word (see -ა- (-a-)).
    ჩემი ეს გზავნილი ეძღვნება კაცს თუ ქალს
    čemi es gzavnili eʒɣvneba ḳacsa tu kals
    My message is to the man and the woman
Usage notes
  • It can be suffixed to a noun in the dative, instrumental, or genitive case.
  • In sentences where a list of two or more nouns are connected in series, with the last noun preceded by the conjunction და (da, and), this suffix is appended to the noun before და (da, and). For example, მან თქვა რომ არ უღალატებდა სამშობლოს ენასა და სარწმუნოებას (he said that he would never betray his country, language and faith).

Etymology 2

Contraction of არის (aris, is).

Suffix

-ა • (-a)

  1. is
    ის ექიმიis ekimiaShe/he is a doctor
    ლამაზიlamaziaShe/he/it is beautiful

Etymology 3

    Suffix

    -ა • (-a)

    1. Forms verbal nouns from verbs.
    Derived terms
    Georgian terms suffixed with -ა (verbal noun)

    Etymology 4

      Both senses are from Proto-Kartvelian *-a.

      Suffix

      -ა • (-a)

      1. Suffixed to nouns to form privative adjectives
        კუდი (ḳudi, tail) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎კუდა (ḳuda, tailless, short-tailed)
        ფეხი (pexi, leg) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ფეხა (pexa, lame)
      2. Expresses having something
        ცხვირი (cxviri, nose) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ცხვირა (cxvira, (big-)nosed)
        ცალი (cali, one) + ‎თვალი (tvali, eye) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ცალთვალა (caltvala, one-eyed)
      Derived terms
      Georgian terms suffixed with -ა (privative; ironic)

      References

      • Ǯorbenaʒe, B.; Ḳobaiʒe, M.; Beriʒe, M. (1988), “-ა⁷”, in Kartuli enis morpemebisa da modaluri elemenṭebis leksiḳoni [Dictionary of morphemes and modal elements in Georgian] (in Georgian), Tbilisi: Academy Press, page 14

      Etymology 5

      Developed from -ად (-ad).

        Suffix

        -ა • (-a)

        1. Forms adverbs.
          ჩქარი (čkari, quick) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ჩქარა (čkara, quickly)
          ნელი (neli, slow) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ნელა (nela, slowly)
        Derived terms
        Georgian terms suffixed with -ა (adverbial)

        References

        • Fähnrich, Heinz (2012), Die georgische Sprache (Handbook of Oriental Studies; VIII.22) (in German), Leiden and Boston: Brill, page 597
        • Ǯorbenaʒe, B.; Ḳobaiʒe, M.; Beriʒe, M. (1988), “-ა⁹”, in Kartuli enis morpemebisa da modaluri elemenṭebis leksiḳoni [Dictionary of morphemes and modal elements in Georgian] (in Georgian), Tbilisi: Academy Press, page 15
        • Vogt, Hans (1971), Grammaire de la langue géorgienne[1] (in French), Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, page 65

        Etymology 6

        Inherited from Old Georgian -აკი (-aḳi). Doublet of -აკი (-aḳi).

          Alternative forms

          Suffix

          -ა • (-a)

          1. Forms diminutive and affectionate forms
            Synonym: -აკი (-aḳi)
            ქალი (kali, woman) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ქალა (kala)
          2. Forms names of animals and plants
            დაფნა (dapna) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎დაფნა (dapna)
            Old Georgian სირაქლემი (siraklemi) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎სირაქლემა (siraklema)
          Derived terms
          Descendants
          • Bats: -აჸო̆ (-aʾŏ)

          References

          • Ǯorbenaʒe, B.; Ḳobaiʒe, M.; Beriʒe, M. (1988), “-ა¹⁰”, in Kartuli enis morpemebisa da modaluri elemenṭebis leksiḳoni [Dictionary of morphemes and modal elements in Georgian] (in Georgian), Tbilisi: Academy Press, pages 15–16
          • Šaniʒe, Aḳaḳi (1980), Kartuli enis gramaṭiḳis sapuʒvlebi [Basics of Georgian Grammar] (Txzulebani tormeṭ ṭomad; 3) (in Georgian), Tbilisi: University Press, pages 120–121

          Laz

          Etymology 1

            From Proto-Kartvelian *-a.

            Suffix

            -ა • (-a) (Latin spelling -a)

            1. Suffixed to verbs to form nouns
              წკუნ- (ǯǩun-, to ache, hurt) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎წკუნა (ǯǩuna, pain)
              გნ- (gn-, to understand) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎გაგნა (gagna, understanding, perception)
              მწოლ- (mǯol-, to soot) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎მწოლა (mǯola, soot)
              ტრაღოდ- (ťrağod-, to sing) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ტრაღოდა (ťrağoda, song)
            Derived terms

            Etymology 2

              From Proto-Kartvelian *-a.

              Suffix

              -ა • (-a) (Latin spelling -a)

              1. Suffixed to nouns to form privative adjectives
                ყუჯი (quci, ear) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ყუჯა (quca, deaf)
              Derived terms
              Category Laz terms suffixed with -ა (privative) not found

              Mingrelian

              Etymology

                Both senses are from Proto-Kartvelian *-a.

                Suffix

                -ა • (-a)

                1. Suffixed to nouns to form privative adjectives
                  ჸუჯი (ʾuǯi, ear) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ჸუჯა (ʾuǯa, deaf)
                2. Expresses having something
                  ჸუჯი (ʾuǯi, ear) + ‎-ა (-a) → ‎ჸუჯა (ʾuǯa, big-eared)

                Derived terms

                Mingrelian terms suffixed with -ა (privative; ironic)