-i

English

Etymology 1

From the Arabic nisba suffix ـِيّ (-iyy) or from Hebrew ־י (-i), both sharing a common Semitic root. In English productive from the 19th century.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ē, IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-i

1. Used to form adjectives and nouns describing people of a particular city, region, or country, and the language spoken by these people.

   ‎Iraq + ‎-i → ‎Iraqi

   ‎Israel + ‎-i → ‎Israeli

   ‎Pakistan + ‎-i → ‎Pakistani

   ‎Bengal + ‎-i → ‎Bengali

   ‎Nepal + ‎-i → ‎Nepali

   ‎Desh + ‎-i → ‎Desi

Translations

See also

• -er
• -stan

References

• OED, s.v. "-i, suffix²".

Etymology 2

From Latin -ī, the plural ending of the Latin second declension, whence the plural of Italian nouns in -o and -e.

Pronunciation

• (dependent on the specific lexical item, sometimes variable) enPR: ē, ī, IPA^(key): /i/, /aɪ/

Suffix

-i

1. Used to form the plural of some words of Latin or Italian origin.

   foci, fungi

   concerti, virtuosi

References

• OED, s.v. "-i, suffix¹".

Etymology 3

Variant of -ie or -y.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ē, IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-i

1. Used to form diminutives of given names.

   Becki, Benji, Jimmi, Lexi, Nicki, Sammi, Sandi, Trini, Vicki

Afar

Pronunciation

• (masculine) IPA^(key): /-i/
• (feminine) IPA^(key): /-ˈi/

Suffix

-i or -í

1. Used to create nouns from class I verbs, denoting either the agent or the instrument of the action.

Usage notes

• Used together with the prefix t- to create feminine nouns. The stress will shift to the last syllable.
• Used together with the prefix y- to create masculine nouns. The stress will not be on the last syllable.

References

• Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015) L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎, Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis), page 118

Albanian

Etymology

From the ending Proto-Indo-European *-osyo, from Proto-Indo-European *-os. cognate to Messapic -aihi. Related to Albanian i (“of, the, to”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Article

-i m

1. masculine singular nominative suffixed definite article: the

   ‎malësor (“highlander”) + ‎-i → ‎malësori (“the highlander”)

   ‎mal (“mountain”) + ‎-i → ‎mali (“the mountain”)

Related terms

• (suffixed article, suffix): -a, -e, -ë, -o, -u, -ia, -ja, -je, -jë, -at, -et, -ët, -it, -ot, -ut, -të, -ri, -ishte, -ishtja
• (article, preposition): e, i, së, të

References

Chuukese

Suffix

-i

1. added to intransitive verbs to make them transitive
2. (added to transitive verbs) him, her, it (third person singular indirect object)

Usage notes

• In Chuukese, transitive verbs in their base form already have the third person singular indirect object implied on them, although the suffix -i can be added for emphasis.

Esperanto

Etymology 1

Perhaps from Latin deponent verbs such as loquī (“to speak”). Perhaps from French and Spanish verbs ending in -ir.

Suffix

-i

1. verbal inflection marking the infinitive

Conjugation

Conjugation of -i present past future singular plural singular plural singular plural tense -as -is -os active participle -anta -antaj -inta -intaj -onta -ontaj acc. -antan -antajn -intan -intajn -ontan -ontajn passive participle -ata -ataj -ita -itaj -ota -otaj acc. -atan -atajn -itan -itajn -otan -otajn nominal active participle -anto -antoj -into -intoj -onto -ontoj acc. -anton -antojn -inton -intojn -onton -ontojn nominal passive participle -ato -atoj -ito -itoj -oto -otoj acc. -aton -atojn -iton -itojn -oton -otojn adverbial active participle -ante -inte -onte adverbial passive participle -ate -ite -ote infinitive -i imperative -u conditional -us

Etymology 2

Common to English e (pronounced ) in me, she, he, we and the Italian accusative pronouns mi, ti, vi, li, si.

Suffix

-i

1. common vowel of personal pronouns: mi, ni, ci, vi, li, ŝi, ĝi, oni, ili, si.

Estonian

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *-in.

Suffix

-i

1. Forms nouns from verbs, indicating instruments (tools) are used to perform that verb's action.

Inflection

Declension of -i (ÕS type 1e/veski, no gradation)
		singular	plural
nominative		-i	-id
accusative	nom.
	gen.	-i
genitive			-ite
partitive		-it	-eid
illative		-isse	-itesse -eisse
inessive		-is	-ites -eis
elative		-ist	-itest -eist
allative		-ile	-itele -eile
adessive		-il	-itel -eil
ablative		-ilt	-itelt -eilt
translative		-iks	-iteks -eiks
terminative		-ini	-iteni
essive		-ina	-itena
abessive		-ita	-iteta
comitative		-iga	-itega

Or less commonly:

Declension of -i (ÕS type 5/liige, length gradation)
		singular	plural
nominative		-i	-med
accusative	nom.
	gen.	-me
genitive			-mete
partitive		-it	-meid
illative		-messe	-metesse -meisse
inessive		-mes	-metes -meis
elative		-mest	-metest -meist
allative		-mele	-metele -meile
adessive		-mel	-metel -meil
ablative		-melt	-metelt -meilt
translative		-meks	-meteks -meiks
terminative		-meni	-meteni
essive		-mena	-metena
abessive		-meta	-meteta
comitative		-mega	-metega

Derived terms

Finnish

Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *-i, from Proto-Uralic *-j (specifically its fusion with the stem vowel). Originally allomorphic with -o (< *-oi, in which the *-i- caused labialization of the preceding *a).

Suffix

-i

1. A non-productive nominal suffix deriving nouns from nominal stems.

   ‎ukko (“(old) man”) + ‎-i → ‎ukki (“grandfather”)

2. Forms nouns from some verbs.
3. (archaic) Used to mark the first part of a compound word.

   ‎lehmä (“cow”) + ‎-i → ‎lehmi-

Derived terms

See also

• -kki
• -ri

Etymology 2

Conflated:

• from Proto-Finnic *-i (from Proto-Uralic *-j (lative suffix))
• from *-ik (from earlier *-jek, probably a combination of the aforementioned and Proto-Uralic *-k (lative suffix)).

Suffix

-i

1. Forms lative adverbs.

   ‎aueta (“to open”) + ‎-i → ‎auki (“open”)

   ‎ylä- (“upper, high”) + ‎-i → ‎yli (“over”)

Derived terms

See also

• -lti
• -sti
• -ti

German

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

• Audio

  (file)

Suffix

-i (informal)

1. Forms pet names from given names, kinship terms, and terms of address.

   ‎Hans + ‎-i → ‎Hansi

   ‎Papa (“dad, daddy”) + ‎-i → ‎Papi (“pops”)

   ‎Schatz (“sweetheart, darling”) + ‎-i → ‎Schatzi

2. (endearing, sometimes derogatory) Forms nouns from adjectives and verbs denoting someone characterized by that word.

   ‎schlaff (“slack; weary”) + ‎-i → ‎Schlaffi (“weak, tired person”) (derogatory)

   ‎brummen (“to hum”) + ‎-i → ‎Brummi (“rig, truck”)

3. Forms clippings.

   ‎Pullover + ‎-i → ‎Pulli

   ‎Schokolade + ‎-i → ‎Schoki

Derived terms

See also

• -lein, -chen, -erl

Gothic

Romanization

-i

1. Romanization of -𐌹

Greenlandic

Pronunciation

• (Nuuk) IPA^(key): /-i/,

Suffix

-i (v-v^?, truncative^?)

1. Intransitivizes.

Usage notes

Sometimes additive after r stems.

Many verbs are intransitivized simply by changing the inflectional ending, without changing the stem; of those that do use an affix, it is not predictable which of -i, -nnig, -ller and -si are used. Also, verbs may use more than one of these, with similarly unpredictable results (e.g. errorsivoq (“wash clothes”) vs. erruivoq (“do dishes”), both from errorpaa). If a verb uses one of these affixes, the unaffixed intransitive form may be passive, reciprocal or reflexive w.r.t. the transitive form.

Synonyms

• -nnig, -ller, -si

References

• Bjørnum, S.: Grønlandsk grammatik, pp. 67-68. Atuagkat 2003.
• Vestgrønlands Grammatik, p. 106-107, F.A.J. Nielsen, 2014

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):
• Rhymes: -i

Etymology 1

Adjective-forming suffix.

Suffix

-i

2. (adjective-forming suffix) Added to proper nouns, certain common nouns and postpositions to form adjectives:
   2. names of places (toponyms)

      ‎Amerika (“America”) + ‎-i → ‎amerikai (“American”)

   4. names of people (anthroponyms, thus eponyms)

      ‎Freud (“Freud”) + ‎-i → ‎freudi (“Freudian”)

   5. certain common nouns

      ‎város (“city”) + ‎-i → ‎városi (“urban”)

      ‎kémia (“chemistry”) + ‎-i → ‎kémiai (“chemical”)

   6. postpositions (as part of the phrase in which they occur)

      ‎az ablak alatt (“under the window”) + ‎-i → ‎az ablak alatti szék (“the chair under the window”)

Usage notes

• Final -o and -ö (which only occur in non-Hungarian words) change to -ó and -ő.

  Oslo → oslói (“Oslovian”)

  Malmö → malmői (“Malmö-based”)

  Victor Hugo → Victor Hugó-i (“Hugolian, Hugonian, Hugoesque”)

• If the suffix -i were to follow word-final -i, only one is retained (so one needs to know the original form).

  Helsinki → helsinki (“Helsinkian”)

  Zamárdi (a town in Somogy County, Hungary) → zamárdi (“from Zamárdi”, in theory, it could also derive from a non-existent *Zamárd)

• The other word-final short vowels (a, e, u, ü) remain unchanged (just like long ones and consonants).

  Prága (“Prague”) → prágai (“Praguian”)

  Goethe → goethei (“Goethean”)

  Peru → perui (“Peruvian”)

  Öskü (a village in Veszprém County, Hungary) → ösküi (“from Öskü”)

• The fact that word-final a and e remain short before the adjective-forming -i often becomes distinctive against the multiple-possession possessives of words that end in a and e, e.g. formai (“formal”) and formái (“his/her/its forms”) or megyei (“county-level”) and megyéi (“his/her/its counties”).

• Names with a fleeting vowel: Eger → egri, as well as names ending in -halom, e.g. Szigethalom → szigethalmi.
• Names ending in -falu (e.g. Leányfalu) may be suffixed in three ways: The official way is retaining the full form, e.g. leányfalui; in the vernacular, leányfalusi may be heard; and forms like leányfalvi are increasingly rare.
• Names ending in a possessive suffix such as -falva, -halma, -háza, -földe (outside elements of proper names: földje), -telke: Official usage increasingly prefers retaining the whole name (e.g. nyíregyházai from Nyíregyháza), though in common parlance the word-final a and e tend to be dropped (e.g. nyíregyházi). The drawback of the latter is that the original form cannot be established (as nyíregyházi could theoretically derive from a non-existent *Nyíregyház).
• For non–proper noun elements with a possessive suffix, native speakers often have a hard time trying to add this suffix, e.g. whether the last element of (Erzsébet királyné) útja and (Örs vezér) tere should become úti and téri (losing the mark of the possessive) or útjai and terei (having an ambiguous sense, primarily used for multiple possessions). As a rule of thumb, the former solution may be preferable.

Synonyms

• -beli

Derived terms

Further reading

• On a multifunctional derivational affix: Its use in relational adjectives or nominal modification, and phrasal affixation in Hungarian by István Kenesei (see the Conclusion on page 19)

Etymology 2

Possessive plural.

Suffix

-i

2. possessive suffix for multiple possessions
   1. (with no noun for possessor) his, her, its ……-s (third-person singular; the pronoun ő (“s/he”) being optional for emphasis)

      kapu (“gate”) → a kapui (“his/her/its gates”), az ő kapui (“his/her gates”)

      érme (“coin”) → az érméi (“his/her/its coins”), az ő érméi (“his/her coins”)

   2. (with no noun for possessor, formal) your ……-s (second-person singular, grammatically resembling the third person sg.)

      kapu (“gate”) → a kapui (“your gates”), az ön kapui, a maga kapui (“your gates”)

   3. construed with a noun or certain pronouns as the possessor: ……’s ……-s, ……-s of …… (third-person sg. or pl., depending on the noun or pronoun)

      az ember(nek a) kapui ― the person’s gates

      a gyerek(nek az) érméi ― the child’s coins

      az emberek(nek a) kapui ― the people’s gates

      a gyerekek(nek az) érméi ― the children’s coins

      az önök kapui, a maguk kapui ― your (plural, formal) gates

      azok(nak a) kapui ― the gates of those

      ki(k)nek az érméi? ― whose coins?

Usage notes

• (possessive suffix) Variants:

  -i is added to words ending in a vowel except -i. Final -a changes to -á-; final -e changes to -é-. The latter feature distinguishes it from the -i (adjective-forming suffix), which does not lengthen the preceding -a/-e.

  -ai is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant

  -ei is added to some front-vowel words ending in a consonant

  -jai is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant or the vowel -i

  -jei is added to some front-vowel words ending in a consonant or the vowel -i

  • If the possessed noun is in the plural and the possessor is expressed in English with a possessive pronoun only (rather than a noun), e.g. “their toys” (as opposed to “the children’s toys”), the -ik/-aik/-eik/-jaik/-jeik suffixes are required in Hungarian.

Etymology 3

Personal suffix.

Suffix

-i

2. (personal suffix) Forms the definite third-person singular present tense of verbs (indicative mood).

   ‎kér (“to request”) + ‎-i → ‎kéri (“he/she asks him/her or for that thing, he/she is asking him/her or for that thing”)

Usage notes

• (personal suffix) See harmonic variants in the table below.

Etymology 4

Diminutive suffix.

Suffix

-i

2. (diminutive suffix) Added to nouns or their clipped form; mostly used by the younger generation or in informal conversations.

   fagylalt → fagyi (“ice cream”)

Etymology 5

See -e.

Suffix

-i

2. (dialectal, except for some set forms) Alternative form of -e (third-person singular single-possession possessive suffix)

   se szeri, se száma ― (instead of szere)

3. (dialectal, except for some set forms) Alternative form of -é (combining form of the above)

   íziben a mindenit töviről hegyire jószerivel frissiben dögivel bőviben sebtiben felibe/fölibe köribe közibe ― (instead of standard ízében, a mindenét, tövéről hegyére, jószerével, frissében (uncommon), dögével (uncommon), bővében, sebtében, felébe/fölébe, körébe/​köréje, közébe/​közéje/​közé)

See also

• Category:Hungarian noun forms
• Category:Hungarian verb forms
• Appendix:Hungarian possessive suffixes
• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes

References

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse -i, from Proto-Germanic *-į̄, cognate with Gothic -𐌴𐌹 (-ei).

Suffix

-i

1. a nominal suffix, forming abstract nouns

Derived terms

Ido

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian -i, Russian -и (-i). Also from English -i, used with Latin and Italian borrowings.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-i

1. -s; marks the plural form of nouns, by replacing the -o ending

   ‎libro (“book”) + ‎-i → ‎libri (“books”)

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Etymology 1

From Malay -i, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-i (local transitive suffix). Cognate of colloquial Indonesian -in.

Suffix

-i (active imperative -i, active indicative meng- -i, active jussive/optative -ilah, ordinary accidental passive di- -i, accidental/perfective passive ter- -i)

1. verbal suffix for manipulating, completing, or placing the object from a noun.
2. transitive verbal suffix for causation in surface of the object from an adjective.
3. transitive verbal suffix for doing activity to the object from a transitive verb.
4. transitive locative imperative verbal suffix from a noun:
   1. to apply or give to the object.

      Hormati orang tua! ― honour/respect parent!

   2. to remove from the object.

      kuliti ― (de)skin, peel

5. transitive adverbial imperative verbal suffix from a noun: to act as/be with reference to object

   Sutradarai film ini! ― Direct this movie! (literally, “Become the producer of this film!”)

Usage notes

This suffix is never used after verbs ending in final -i for euphonic reasons and to avoid near-homophony with bare forms (-∅). Thus, beli (“to buy”) does not derive into *belii, although other colloquial suffixes allow violation of the previous rule such as beliin (“buy it!”). Other examples include cari (← *carii) and capai (← *capaii).

Alternative form

• -in (informal)

Etymology 2

From Malay -i, from Arabic nisba suffix ـِيّ (-iyy).

Suffix

-i

1. adjectives suffix (with the meaning “related to ...”)

Alternative forms

• -iah, -ni, -wi, -wiah

Derived terms

Further reading

• “-i” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.

Italian

Etymology 1

Suffix

-i (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

1. used with a stem to form the second-person singular present of regular -are, -ere verbs and those -ire verbs that do not take "isc"
2. used with a stem to form the second-person imperative of -ere verbs
3. used with a stem to form the first-, second- and third-person singular present subjunctive of -are verbs
4. used with a stem to form the third-person singular imperative of -are verbs

Etymology 2

From Latin -ī, nominative plural of masculine nouns in -us.

Suffix

-i (non-lemma form of noun-forming suffix)

1. used to form the plural of nouns ending in -o

Etymology 3

There are two competing theories:

1. Formed analogically by borrowing the -i plural of Italian nouns in -o.
2. Formed phonologically from the expected Latin nominative/accusative plural -ēs according to the sound change -es > -ei > -i.

Suffix

-i (non-lemma form of noun-forming suffix)

1. used to form the plural of nouns ending in -e

Etymology 4

Perhaps from the Latin genitive singular ending -ī of masculine nouns in -us.

Suffix

-i m or f by sense (noun-forming suffix, invariable)

1. forms surnames from proper names, occupations, etc.

   ‎Giacomo (“James, Jacob”) + ‎-i → ‎Giacomi (surname)

   ‎Giacometto (“Jim, Jake”) + ‎-i → ‎Giacometti (surname)

   ‎ferraro (“smith”) + ‎-i → ‎Ferrari (surname)

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /iː/,
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /i/,

Etymology 1

From Proto-Italic *-ai, from unknown origin.

Suffix

-ī

1. Used for the first person present perfect singular form of any regular verb.

Etymology 2

Unknown. Compare Proto-Celtic *-ī (genitive singular ending). Displaced Proto-Italic -osjo (See Proto-Italic *-os.), which was descended from Proto-Indo-European -osyo. (See Proto-Indo-European *-os.)

Suffix

-ī

1. genitive/locative singular of -us for second-declension nouns.
2. genitive masculine/neuter singular of -us for for first/second-declension adjectives.
3. (uncommon) genitive feminine singular of -us for for first/second-declension adjectives.

Etymology 3

From the pronominal declension. Displaced -es except in the third declension.

Suffix

-ī

1. nominative/vocative plural of -us for most second-declension nouns.
2. nominative/vocative masculine plural of -us for first/second-declension adjectives.

Etymology 4

Noun

-ī

1. dative/ablative singular of -ēs

Etymology 5

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Suffix

-ī

1. dative singular of -s
2. ablative neuter singular of -s

References

Lepontic

Suffix

-i

1. Romanization of -𐌉

Livvi

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *-ja. Cognates include Finnish -ja and Estonian -ja.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-i/

Suffix

-i

1. Used to form agent nouns from verbs; -er

Declension

back vowel harmonic

front vowel harmonic

Declension of -i (Type 19/lugii, no gradation) singular plural nominative -i -jat genitive -jan -join, -jiin partitive -jua -joi, -jii illative -jah -joih, -jiih inessive -jas -jois, -jiis elative -jaspäi -joispäi, -jiispäi allative -jale -joile, -jiile adessive -jal -joil, -jiil ablative -jalpäi -joilpäi, -jiilpäi translative -jakse -joikse, -jiikse essive -jannu -joinnu, -jiinnu abessive -jattah -joittah, -jiittah comitative -janke -joinke, -jiinke instructive -join, -jiin prolative -jači

Declension of -i (Type 20/keittäi, no gradation) singular plural nominative -i -jät genitive -jän -jöin, -jiin partitive -jiä -jöi, -jii illative -jäh -jöih, -jiih inessive -jäs -jöis, -jiis elative -jäspäi -jöispäi, -jiispäi allative -jäle -jöile, -jiile adessive -jäl -jöil, -jiil ablative -jälpäi -jöilpäi, -jiilpäi translative -jäkse -jöikse, -jiikse essive -jänny -jöinny, -jiinny abessive -jättäh -jöittäh, -jiittäh comitative -jänke -jöinke, -jiinke instructive -jöin, -jiin prolative -jäči

Derived terms

Lower Sorbian

Alternative forms

• -y (after “hard” consonants)

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *-jь.

Suffix

-i

1. suffix creating an adjective from a noun, denoting ‘of or pertaining to’

Derived terms

Makasar

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-i, from Proto-Austronesian *-i.

Suffix

-i

1. suffix forming transitive verbs

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ia.

Pronoun

-i (absolutive enclitic)

1. he, him, she, it, they, them (third person singular and plural)

See also

Malay

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-i

1. imperative verbal suffix

   Sayangi Kuala Lumpur. ― Love Kuala Lumpur.

   Renangi kolam itu. ― Swim that pool.

2. (before a person, imperative) added to intransitive verbs to make them transitive

   Emak menghadiahi adik sebuah basikal. ― Mother gives the brother a bicycle.

Synonyms

• (before an object) -kan

Derived terms

Maltese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪ/

Etymology 1

From Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy).

Suffix

-i m (feminine -ija, plural -in)

2. a derivational suffix, chiefly creating adjectives from nouns

Usage notes

• Note that Romance adjectives in -i are treated differently and do not inflect.

Derived terms

Related terms

• -ijiet

Etymology 2

From Sicilian -i. Though -i is not used as a plural ending in Arabic, it was integrated fairly easily as a large number of broken plurals happen to end in this vowel, compare tieqa → twieqi, etc.

Suffix

-i

2. a common plural suffix
   1. used in nouns and adjectives in -u

      numru (“number”) → numri (“numbers”)

      illużorju (“illusory”) → illużorji

   2. used in some nouns in -a, chiefly ones of Romance origin

      frawla (“strawberry”) → frawli (“strawberries”)

      qawsalla (“rainbow”) → qawsalli (“rainbows”)

   3. used in some nouns and adjectives in a consonant, chiefly ones of Romance origin

      frisk (“fresh”) → friski

Usage notes

• Adjectives in -iku change to -iċi: demokratiku (“democratic”) → demokratiċi.

See also

• -ejn
• -iet
• -ijiet
• -in

Middle English

Etymology 1

Suffix

-i

1. Alternative form of -y.

Etymology 2

Suffix

-i

1. Alternative form of -yf

Mokilese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-i/

Suffix

-i

1. Used to form transitive verbs from intransitive verbs or nouns

Derived terms

Namuyi

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Suffix

-i

1. Used to give the prospective aspect to verbs

Derived terms

Norman

Etymology

From Latin -īre, the ending of the present active infinitive form of fourth conjugation verbs.

Suffix

-i

1. (Jersey) A suffix forming infinitives of many verbs.

Derived terms

Northern Sami

Pronunciation

• (Kautokeino) IPA^(key): /ˈ-i/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Samic *-jē. Cognate with Finnish -ja.

Suffix

-i (with odd-syllable stems -eaddji)

2. Forms agent nouns from verbs.

Usage notes

• This suffix triggers the strongest grade on a preceding stressed syllable.

When attached to verbs in -ut, the suffix becomes -u.

Inflection

Even i-stem, no gradation
Nominative	-i
Genitive	-i -ẹ
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	-i	-it
Accusative	-i	-iid
Genitive	-i -ẹ	-iid
Illative	-ái	-iide
Locative	-is	-iin
Comitative	-iin	-iiguin
Essive	-in
Possessive forms Singular Dual Plural 1st person -án -áme -ámet 2nd person -át -áde -ádet 3rd person -is -iska -iset

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Proto-Samic *-jëj.

Suffix

-i

2. Forms adjectives indicating an abundance of something.

   ‎geađgi (“stone”) + ‎-i → ‎geađgái (“stony”)

   ‎vuodja (“fat”) + ‎-i → ‎vuddjii (“rich in fat”)

Usage notes

• This suffix triggers the strongest grade on a preceding stressed syllable.

Phonologically, the suffix is actually the consonant j, and so it forms a diphthong with the final vowel of the base word's stem rather than replacing that vowel. Thus, the resulting word is essentially identical to the illative singular form. The noun declines as a contracted stem, with the inflectional stem lacking the -i.

Inflection

Odd, no gradation
Nominative	-i
Genitive	-ja
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	-i	-jat
Accusative	-ja	-jiid
Genitive	-ja	-jiid
Illative	-jii	-jiidda
Locative	-jis	-jiin
Comitative	-jiin	-jiiguin
Essive	-jin
Possessive forms Singular Dual Plural 1st person -jan -jeamẹ -jeamẹt 2nd person -jat -jeattẹ -jeattẹt 3rd person -jis -jeaskkạ -jeasẹt

Derived terms

Etymology 3

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

Suffix

-i

1. The ending of the illative singular case.

Usage notes

• This suffix triggers the strong grade on a preceding stressed syllable.

When possessive suffixes are attached, the suffix changes to the form -s- (for even-syllable stems) or -sa- (for odd-syllable stems).

Norwegian Nynorsk

Suffix

-i

1. (non-standard since 2012) Used to form past participle of strong verbs.
2. (non-standard since 2012) Used to form singular definite form for strong feminine nouns.
3. (non-standard since 2012) Used to form plural definite form for neuter nouns.
4. (non-standard since 2012) Used to form feminine singular indefinite form for many adjectives.
5. (non-standard since 2012) Used to form neuter singular indefinite form for many adjectives.

Ojibwe

Final

-i

1. be such a number, such an amount

Derived terms

• dashi

Final

-i

1. occurs after initials to form animate intransitive verbs (vai)

Derived terms

• niibawi

Final

-i

1. occurs in inanimate intransitive verbs (vii)

Derived terms

• dagwaagin

Final

-i

1. occurs in some uninflected words, including preverbs

Derived terms

• ingoji
• onji-

References

• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/i-final-644943
• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/i-final-644942
• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/i-final-644856
• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/word-part/i-final-654844
• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/i-final-3a8bda4a-247f-4fae-96ad-c8054d2a5525

Old High German

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *-ī, from Proto-Germanic *-į̄.

Suffix

-ī

1. productive suffix used to form abstract nouns from adjectives

   ‎manag (“many”) + ‎-i → ‎menigī, managī (“crowd, amount”)

   ‎tiuf (“deep”) + ‎-i → ‎tiufī (“depth”)

   ‎finstar (“dark”) + ‎-i → ‎finstrī, finstarī (“darkness”)

   ‎hōh (“high”) + ‎-i → ‎hōhī (“height”)

   ‎lang (“long”) + ‎-i → ‎lengī (“length”)

   ‎breit (“broad”) + ‎-i → ‎breitī (“breadth”)

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Middle High German: -e
  • German: -e

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *-īniz. Cognate to Gothic -𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (-eins).

Suffix

-ī

1. non-productive suffix used to form action nouns from weak verbs

   ‎toufen (“to baptise”) + ‎-i → ‎toufī (“baptism”)

   ‎wellen (“to choose”) + ‎-i → ‎welī (“choice”)

Usage notes

In Old High German, this suffix is neither frequent nor productive. Many weak verbs have action nouns with -unga instead.

Declension

Female n-declension

Old Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-i (suffixed pronoun)

1. him
2. it (object pronoun)

Usage notes

This suffix is used only after third-person singular forms. After 1st person singular forms in -(e)a, 1st person plural forms in -mi, and 3rd person plural forms in -(a)it, the suffix -it is sometimes used.

Derived terms

See also

Old Norse

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *-į̄, cognate with Gothic -𐌴𐌹 (-ei).

Suffix

-i f

2. -th. Forms abstract nouns from adjectives which represent 'the state, quality or measure of' the adjective.

Declension

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *-ô, cognate with Gothic -𐌰 (-a).

Suffix

-i m

2. Forms agent nouns, often from the zero-grade form of the base.

   Synonym: -ari

Declension

Derived terms

Old Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьjь.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /iː/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /i/

Suffix

-i

1. forms adjectives from nouns, usually possessive

Derived terms

Descendants

• Polish: -i

Phalura

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-i/

Suffix

-i

1. Feminine agreement suffix

References

• Liljegren, Henrik, Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎, Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Etymology 2

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-i/

Suffix

-i

1. Feminine agreement suffix

References

• Liljegren, Henrik, Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎, Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish -i, from Proto-Slavic *-ьjь.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -i
• Syllabification: i
• Homophone: i

Suffix

-i m

1. forms masculine adjectives meaning "belonging to", especially for animals

   ‎koza + ‎-i → ‎kozi

   ‎kot + ‎-i → ‎koci

   ‎pies + ‎-i → ‎psi

2. forms masculine adjectives derived from prepositional phrases

   ‎noga + ‎-i → ‎beznogi

Declension

Derived terms

Further reading

• -i in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Suffix

-i

1. a suffix indicating the inflection of -ir:
   1. first-person singular preterite indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

Related terms

• -ei (affirmative imperative for 2nd-conjugation verbs)
• -ai (affirmative imperative for 1st-conjugation verbs and negative imperative for 3rd-conjugation verbs)

Romani

Suffix

-i

1. Forms the nominative singular of vocalic oikoclitic feminine nouns
2. Forms the nominative feminine singular of vocalic oikoclitic adjectives
3. Attaches to the perfective stem to form the third-person singular feminine past tense of intransitive verbs

Romanian

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -ī (“second-declension plural ending”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʲ/, /j/, /i/

Suffix

-i

2. Used to form plurals

Usage notes

• This form of the plural is indefinite, and used for masculine nouns in the nominative/accusative and genitive/dative cases, regardless of singular form. The suffix may cause phonetic changes or vowel deletion (or both):
• ‎lup + ‎-i → ‎lupi
• ‎tată + ‎-i → ‎tați
• ‎fiu + ‎-i → ‎fii
• ‎frate + ‎-i → ‎frați

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin illī, nominative masculine plural of ille.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /j/, /i/

Suffix

-i m

2. (definite article) the (masculine plural, nominative and accusative)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for masculine plural nouns in the nominative and accusative cases (as attached to the indefinite plural, which always ends in a vowel):

• ‎lupi + ‎-i → ‎lupii
• ‎tați + ‎-i → ‎tații
• ‎fii + ‎-i → ‎fiii
• ‎frați + ‎-i → ‎frații
• ‎copii + ‎-i → ‎copiii

The suffix is also used with masculine and neuter singular plural adjectives in the nominative and accusative cases to make the articulated definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies.

Derived terms

Related terms

Etymology 3

Inherited from Latin -īre, the ending of the present active infinitive form of fourth conjugation verbs. Cognate with Spanish and French -ir, Italian -ire, etc.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-i

2. A suffix forming infinitives of many verbs.

Usage notes

• Most verbs with infinitives in -i are marked by the once-inchoative infix -esc- in many parts of their conjugation, as well as in various derived words; two such verbs are vorbi (“to say”) and iubi (“to love”).
• A sizable group of verbs have infinitives in -i but do not use the infix -esc-, and are otherwise fairly regular; these include, among others, the common verb dormi (“sleep”), simți (“feel”), auzi (“hear”).
• There is a variant form, -î, derived from the same Latin source.

Conjugation

Derived terms

See also

• -ea
• -î
• -e
• -a

Etymology 4

From e (“is”).

Suffix

-i

2. is

Derived terms

Skolt Sami

Etymology 1

From Proto-Samic *-jē.

Suffix

-i

2. Forms agent nouns from verbs.

Inflection

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Proto-Samic *-jëj.

Suffix

-i

2. Forms adjectives indicating an abundance of something.

Usage notes

Phonologically, the suffix is actually the consonant j, and so it forms a diphthong with the final vowel of the base word's stem rather than replacing that vowel.

Inflection

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

Swahili

Etymology 1

Suffix

-i

1. (without TAM infix) general negative marker

   sijui ― I don't know

   • 18th century, Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir, Al-Inkishafi‎, translation from R. Allen (1946) “Inkishafi—a translation from the Swahili”, in African Studies, volume 5, number 4, →DOI, pages 243–249, stanza 11:

     مُيُ وَاغُ نِنِ هُزُدُكَانِ ، لِكُغُرِيِلُ هِيْلَ نِنْنِ ،

     Moyo wangu nini huzundukani, likughuriyelo hela ni-n'ni?

     Soul, why not awake? Hi! what is it that cheats you?

Usage notes

Borrowed verbs with indicative form not ending in -a do not take this suffix.

See also

Swahili TAM markers
Initial
Positive infinitive	ku-/kw-1
Negative infinitive	kuto-
Habitual	hu-1
Telegrammic	ka-1
Final
General (positive indicative)	-a
Positive subjunctive	-e
Negative present	-i
Second person plural	-ni
Infix position positive subject concord
Positive past	-li-
Positive present	-na-
Positive future	-ta-
Negative subjunctive	-si-1
Positive present conditional	-nge-
Negative present conditional	-singe-
Positive past conditional	-ngali-
Negative past conditional	-singali-
Gnomic	-a-1
Perfect	-me-
"Already" past	-lisha-
"Already" present	-mesha-/-sha-
"If/When"	-ki-1
"If not"	-sipo-
Consecutive	-ka-1
Infix position negative subject concord
Negative past	-ku-1
Negative future	-ta-
"Not yet"	-ja-1
Negative present conditional	-nge-
Negative past conditional	-ngali-
Relative
Past	-li-
Present	-na-
Future	-taka-
Negative	-si-
1 Can take stress and therefore does not require -ku-/-kw- in monosyllabic verbs.

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• (after a vowel) -zi

Suffix

-i

1. (often with spirantization of the preceding consonant) suffix used in nominal forms of verbs, in conjunction with a noun class prefix

   ‎-penda (“to love”) + ‎-i → ‎mpenzi (“lover”)

   ‎-andika (“to write”) + ‎-i → ‎maandishi (“writing, script”)

See also

Swedish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈiː/

Suffix

-i

1. -y; when added to one noun, creates a new one that indicates the use or activity of the first. See also -eri.

Derived terms

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• -e — colloquial

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /i/,
• Rhymes: -i
• Syllabification: -i

Suffix

-i (verb-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ᜒ) (Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque)

1. imperative suffix, usually equals to "-in/-an mo" in Standard Tagalog and other dialects

   Buksi yung pinto!

   Open the door!

Derived terms

• Category Tagalog terms suffixed with -i not found

Turkish

Etymology 1

From Ottoman Turkish ـی (-i), from Proto-Turkic *-ni (“accusative suffix”).

Suffix

-i

1. Accusative suffix.

   ‎gelin + ‎-i → ‎gelini

Usage notes

• It is used only when the word's last vowel is "e" or "i". It may change into "-ı", "-u" and "-ü" according to the last vowel of the word. (possession suffix)

  ‎kız + ‎-i → ‎kızı (the last vowel is "a" or "ı")

  ‎yol + ‎-i → ‎yolu (the last vowel is "o" or "u")

  ‎yüz + ‎-i → ‎yüzü (the last vowel is "ö" or "ü")

• If the word ends in "p", "ç", "t", "k", "nk", "g", or "f", they may change into "b", "c", "d", "ğ", "ng", "bb", "tt", "kk", "ff".

  ‎sebep + ‎-i → ‎sebebi

  ‎çekiç + ‎-i → ‎çekici

  ‎senet + ‎-i → ‎senedi

  ‎çiçek + ‎-i → ‎çiçeği

  ‎renk + ‎-i → ‎rengi

  ‎psikolog + ‎-i → ‎psikoloğu

  ‎tıp + ‎-i → ‎tıbbı

  ‎hat + ‎-i → ‎hattı

  ‎hak + ‎-i → ‎hakkı

  ‎af + ‎-i → ‎affı

• Some words may lose their final vowel when this suffix is attached.

  ‎gönül + ‎-i → ‎gönlü

  ‎metin + ‎-i → ‎metni

  ‎akıl + ‎-i → ‎aklı

  ‎fikir + ‎-i → ‎fikri

• If the word ends in a vowel, it is used with an auxiliary consonant "y":

  ‎kedi + ‎-i → ‎kediyi

• It must be used with an apostrophe if it is appended to a proper noun.

  ‎Zafer + ‎-i → ‎Zafer'i

  ‎Ali + ‎-i → ‎Ali'yi

Etymology 2

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ـی (-i), from Proto-Turkic *-si (“third-person singular possessive suffix”).

Suffix

-i

2. Third-person singular possessive suffix denoting singular possession.

   ‎ev (“house”) + ‎-i → ‎evi (“his/her/its house”)

   ‎ofis (“office”) + ‎-i → ‎ofisi (“his/her/its office”)

Usage notes

The preceding usage notes also apply to this suffix, with one difference only:

• If the word ends in a vowel, it is used with the auxiliary consonant "s" (not "y"):

  ‎kedi + ‎-i → ‎kedisi

  ‎Ali + ‎-i → ‎Ali'si

Derived terms

Etymology 3

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ی (-i), from Proto-Turkic *-ig.

Suffix

preceding vowel
A / I	E / İ	O / U	Ö / Ü
-ı	-i	-u	-ü

-i

2. Suffix creating nouns out of verbs

   ‎ver- (“to give”) + ‎-i → ‎veri (“data”)

   ‎diz- (“to align”) + ‎-i → ‎dizi (“sequence, set, series”)

Derived terms

Etymology 4

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ـی (-î), from Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy)

Alternative forms

• -î

Suffix

-i

2. The nisba suffix, an extremely productive suffix used to derive adjectives (with the meaning “related to ...”) or nouns (with the meaning “person related to ...”) from other nouns.

Derived terms

Etymology 5

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ـی (-i), from Persian ـی.

Suffix

-i

2. Persian suffix creating abstract nouns from nouns or adjectives

Derived terms

Etymology 6

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ـِ (-i), from Classical Persian ـِ (-i).

Suffix

-i

1. The ezafe particle.

Further reading

• https://www.nisanyansozluk.com/ek/%2B%C4%AB

Uzbek

Suffix

-i

1. Third-person singular possessive suffix. Used after a noun ending in a consonant. It has the same meaning as uning (“its”) placed before a noun. Also used to form definite accusative forms of nouns.

   Bu kitobi.

   This is its book.

Veps

Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *-ja.

Suffix

-i

1. -er; forms agent nouns from verbs.

Usage notes

When attached to a verb with a stem in -e-, this becomes -ii.

Inflection

Inflection of -i (inflection type 7/pedai)
nominative sing.	-i
genitive sing.	-jan
partitive sing.	-jad
partitive plur.	-jid
	singular	plural
nominative	-i	-jad
accusative	-jan	-jad
genitive	-jan	-jiden
partitive	-jad	-jid
essive-instructive	-jan	-jin
translative	-jaks	-jikš
inessive	-jas	-jiš
elative	-jaspäi	-jišpäi
illative	-jaha	-jihe
adessive	-jal	-jil
ablative	-jalpäi	-jilpäi
allative	-jale	-jile
abessive	-jata	-jita
comitative	-janke	-jidenke
prolative	-jadme	-jidme
approximative I	-janno	-jidenno
approximative II	-jannoks	-jidennoks
egressive	-jannopäi	-jidennopäi
terminative I	-jahasai	-jihesai
terminative II	-jalesai	-jilesai
terminative III	-jassai	—
additive I	-jahapäi	-jihepäi
additive II	-jalepäi	-jilepäi

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Adjectival/participal use of the agent noun suffix above.

Suffix

-i

1. -ing; forms the present active participle of verbs.

Usage notes

When attached to a verb with a stem in -e-, this becomes -ii.

Inflection

Inflection of -i (inflection type 7/pedai)
nominative sing.	-i
genitive sing.	-jan
partitive sing.	-jad
partitive plur.	-jid
	singular	plural
nominative	-i	-jad
accusative	-jan	-jad
genitive	-jan	-jiden
partitive	-jad	-jid
essive-instructive	-jan	-jin
translative	-jaks	-jikš
inessive	-jas	-jiš
elative	-jaspäi	-jišpäi
illative	-jaha	-jihe
adessive	-jal	-jil
ablative	-jalpäi	-jilpäi
allative	-jale	-jile
abessive	-jata	-jita
comitative	-janke	-jidenke
prolative	-jadme	-jidme
approximative I	-janno	-jidenno
approximative II	-jannoks	-jidennoks
egressive	-jannopäi	-jidennopäi
terminative I	-jahasai	-jihesai
terminative II	-jalesai	-jilesai
terminative III	-jassai	—
additive I	-jahapäi	-jihepäi
additive II	-jalepäi	-jilepäi

Derived terms

Volapük

Suffix

-i

1. A morpheme used to mark the accusative singular of a word (such as a noun or pronoun).

   Dog beiton mani. / Mani beiton dog

   The dog bites the man.

   Mot löfof omi. / Omi löfof mot. (a.s., hicili, soni, u higaaporn).

   The mother loves him. (e.g. the (male) child, son, or (male) lovebird).

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Brythonic *-i, from Proto-Celtic *-esa, plural ending of neuter s-stems like *tegos (“house”) (whence Welsh tŷ, plural tai < *tegos, plural *tegesa). Cognate with Cornish -i.

Suffix

-i

1. Pluralisation suffix

   Synonyms: -aid, -aint, -au, -ed, -edd, -en, -iadau, -iaid, -iau, -ion, -od, -oedd, -on, -ydd, -yr, -ys

   ‎plwyf (“parish”) + ‎-i → ‎plwyfi (“parishes”)

   ‎maen (“stone”) + ‎-i → ‎meini (“stones”)

   ‎toiled (“toilet”) + ‎-i → ‎toiledi (“toilets”)

Etymology 2

From Old Welsh -im, from Proto-Brythonic *-iβ̃.

Suffix

-i

1. Forms verbnouns from verb stems.

   Synonyms: -o, -u

Usage notes

This suffix is mostly used for verbs where the stem ends in the consonant w (though for some such verbs, such as cadw, the verbnoun is given by the stem without a suffix) or the vowel in the last syllable is o, oe, or sometimes a.

Etymology 3

Suffix

-i

1. forming abstract nouns, -ness, -ment

   ‎diog (“lazy”) + ‎-i → ‎diogi (“laziness”)

   ‎truan (“poor, wretched”) + ‎-i → ‎trueni (“pity, shame”)

   ‎tlawd (“poor”) + ‎-i → ‎tlodi (“poverty”)

Usage notes

-i causes i-affection of internal vowels.

Etymology 4

Suffix

-i

1. used to form pet names

   ‎Wil + ‎-i → ‎Wili

   ‎Siân + ‎-i → ‎Siani

   ‎mam (“mother, mum”) + ‎-i → ‎mami (“mummy”)

Etymology 5

Suffix

-i

1. (literary) verb suffix for the second-person singular present indicative/future
2. (colloquial) verb suffix for the second-person singular future

Usage notes

In the literary language, -i causes i-affection of internal vowels, for example, ‎canu (“to sing”) + ‎-i → ‎ceni (“you sing, you will sing”).

Derived terms

References

Ye'kwana

Etymology 1

Unknown; unlike the other possessive suffixes found in the language, -i has no known cognates in any other Cariban language.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Suffix

-i

1. Marks a noun as possessed; used mostly with nouns referring to instruments, technologies, and manufactured products, and also with all loanwords.

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• -∅ (allophone after diphthongal i)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Suffix

-i

1. Forms the singular of the recent past perfective tense.
2. Forms the singular of the distant past perfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.

Usage notes

This suffix does not cause syllable reduction. When it attaches to a stem that ends in a vowel followed by i, this suffix is unrealized (disappears).

The second sense can be readily distinguished from the first because it requires the distant-past third-person marker kün- instead of ordinary person markers.

Derived terms

• -icho

Etymology 3

Possibly of the same origin as the previous suffix.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Suffix

-i

1. Forms the prohibitive mood.

Usage notes

When the patient/object of a verb with this suffix is third-person, or when the object/patient is first-person and the subject/agent is second-person, it must also take the prefix ön- (or one of its allomorphs) after the person marker. However, this prefix is not found when the object/patient is first-person and the subject/agent is third-person.

References

• Cáceres, Natalia (2011) “-i”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎, Lyon, pages 112–113, 204–206, 213–222, 233

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-ì.

Suffix

-i

1. Forms agent nouns from verbs.

Usage notes

The suffix replaces the -a inherent in the verb stem.

Derived terms