-нуть

Russian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-nǫti.

Pronunciation

• -нуть: IPA^(key):
• -ну́ть: IPA^(key):

Suffix

-нуть or -ну́ть • (-nutʹ or -nútʹ)

1. Suffix used to create primary imperfective intransitive verbs.
2. Suffix used to create derived perfective verbs, most of which are semelfactive.

Usage notes

• There are two related verbal suffixes. One variant suffix forms primary verbs (i.e. verbs formed directly from a root), and the other variant forms secondary verbs (i.e. verbs originally derived from other terms, although this may no be longer be obvious), usually with a semelfactive meaning, i.e. with the meaning "to do something once". The properties and conjugations of the two variants are distinct:
  • The primary (type-1) suffix is always unstressed. It forms verbs that are imperfective when unprefixed (perfective when prefixed, as usual), and are usually intransitive. The -н of the suffix tends to disappear in the past tense. Examples:
    • ги́бнуть (gíbnutʹ, “to die, to perish”)
    • мёрзнуть (mjórznutʹ, “to freeze”)
    • блёкнуть (bljóknutʹ, “to fade, to pale”)
    • ли́пнуть (lípnutʹ, “to stick”)
    • сты́нуть (stýnutʹ, “to wither, to cool down”)
    • -ве́ргнуть (-vérgnutʹ, “to throw”) (only prefixed)
  • The secondary (type-2) suffix may be stressed or unstressed. It forms intransitive and transitive verbs, which are perfective when unprefixed. The -н of the suffix is present in all tenses. Examples:
    • дви́нуть (dvínutʹ, “to move (something)”)
    • тяну́ть (tjanútʹ, “to pull”)
    • хлебну́ть (xlebnútʹ, “to swallow a mouthful of (something)”)
• Note, for example, the following contrasts:

Conjugation

primary:

secondary (often semelfactive):

Derived terms