u-

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Translingual

Etymology

Typographical substitution for μ, in environments where the correct symbol is not available.

Prefix

u-

  1. (informal, proscribed) alternative form of μ- as an abbreviation of micro-, mikro-, микро- etc.

Basque

Prefix

u-

  1. combining form of ur (water)

Chichewa

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u-

  1. 2nd person singular subject concord. Translates as thou, you singular or informal.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-

Prefix

u-

  1. Class 3 subject concord.

Etymology 3

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *bʊ́-

Prefix

u-

  1. Class 14 subject concord.

Etymology 4

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *bʊ̀-.

Prefix

u-

  1. Class 14 noun prefix.

Etymology 5

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *jʊ̀-.

Prefix

u-

  1. Class 1 pronominal concord.
Derived terms

Chuukese

Prefix

u-

  1. (subject marker for tense modifying pronouns) I

Czech

Etymology

Inherited from Old Czech u-, from Proto-Slavic *u-. Doublet of ú-.

Prefix

u-

  1. (away) from
    u- + ‎stoupit (step) → ‎ustoupit (yield)
  2. (inchoative)
  3. (telicity)
    u- + ‎vidět (see) → ‎uvidět (catch sight out of)
  4. added to mean a bit
    u- + ‎lít (pour) → ‎ulít (pour off a little)
  5. (u- + imperfective base + se) intensification: until exhaustion, expressing final stage of a process. (collocates with k smrti (to death))
    u- + ‎kašlat (have a cough) → ‎ukašlat se (die of coughing)
    u- + ‎smát se (laugh) → ‎usmát se (die of laughing)
    u- + ‎trápit se (grieve) → ‎utrápit se (die of grief)
  6. (on perfective verbs) unintentionally, inadvertently, by mistake
    u- + ‎řeknout (say once) → ‎uřeknout (misspeak, say unintentionally once)
  7. (root modality)
    u- + ‎zvednout (lift) → ‎uzvednout (be able to lift)
    u- + ‎nést (carry) → ‎unést (be able to carry)
  8. to gain by activity
    u- + ‎šetřit (to save) → ‎ušetřit (to save up)
    ušetřit peníze.to save money.

Derived terms

Further reading

  • u-/ú- in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse ú-, ó-, from Proto-Germanic *un-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, a prefix use of the particle *né (not). Doublet of a-.

Prefix

u-

  1. in-, un-, non-; (prefix meaning not, reversing the meaning)

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

Gabadi

Pronunciation

Prefix

u-

  1. marks the second-person plural subject on a verb
    u- + ‎dibaia (to spear) → ‎udibaia (you (pl.) speared it)
Category Gabadi terms prefixed with u- not found

References

  • Oa, Morea and Ma`oni Paul. (2014-02-24). Tentative Grammar Description for the Gabadi Language. . Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: SIL International. Available online: . For the prefix u-, see page 23, section "5.1.1 subject marking".

Hawaiian

Etymology

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

Prefix

u-

  1. dual and plural prefix added to certain verbs
    u- + ‎haele → ‎uhaele
    u- + ‎lawaiʻa (to fish) → ‎ulawaiʻa (to fish {of many person or often))

Further reading

Japanese

Romanization

u-

  1. Rōmaji transcription of

Kamba

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u-

  1. you singular (used for conjugating verbs to the subjective or nominative case of the personal pronoun)

Kambera

Pronoun

u-

  1. alternative form of mu-

See also

Kambera pronominal clitics
nominative genitive accusative dative
singular first person ku- -nggu -ka -ngga
second person mu- (u-) -mu -kau -nggau
third person na- -na -ya -nya
plural first
person
inclusive ta- -nda -ta -nda
exclusive ma- -ma -kama -nggama
second person mi- (i-) -mi -kami (-kai) -nggami (-nggai)
third person da- -da -ha -nja

Northern Ndebele

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

  1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

u-

  1. Class 1a noun prefix.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial ka-)

  1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

  1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Etymology 5

Prefix

u-

  1. Class 11 noun prefix; form of ulu- used before stems of more than one syllable.

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse ú-, ó-, from Proto-Germanic *un-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, a prefix use of the particle *né (not). Doublet of a-.

Prefix

u-

  1. un-, (in certain cases) im-
  2. an abbreviation of certain words beginning with "u"

Derived terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse ú- or ó-, English un-, German un-. With the intensifying function probably influenced by ov-.

Pronunciation

Prefix

u-

  1. un- (not)
    flaksuflaks
    luck → bad luck
  2. used to create an undesired version of the following noun
    vêruvêr
    weather → severe weather
    tidutid
    time → inconvenient time
  3. used to strengthen/intensify the following noun
    talutal
    number → huge number
  4. an abbreviation of certain words beginning with "u"

Derived terms

References

Old Polish

Etymology

    Inherited from Proto-Slavic *u-.

    Pronunciation

    Prefix

    u-

    1. perfective prefix
      u- + ‎wiązać → ‎uwiązać

    Derived terms

    Phuthi

    Etymology 1

    From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

    Prefix

    u- (medial wu-)

    1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

    Etymology 2

    From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

    Prefix

    u- (medial ka-)

    1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

    Etymology 3

    From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

    Prefix

    u- (medial wu-)

    1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

    Polish

    Etymology

      Inherited from Old Polish u-.

      Pronunciation

      Prefix

      u-

      1. appears in front of some verbs meaning: to make something behave in a certain way, en-, be-, make
        Synonym: o-
        u- + ‎łatwy → ‎ułatwiać
      2. perfective prefix
        u- + ‎bóść → ‎ubóść
      3. added to mean "a bit"
        u- + ‎lać → ‎ulać
      4. added to mean away
        u- + ‎iść → ‎ujść
      5. (rare) added to mean successfully, often without an imperfective counterpart
        u- + ‎ciągnąć → ‎uciągnąć
        u- + ‎rzucić → ‎urzucić

      Derived terms

      Further reading

      • u- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

      Slovene

      Etymology

      From Proto-Slavic *u-. Prefixed form of the preposition u.

      Pronunciation

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Forms perfective verbs with the following meanings:
        1. (no change in meaning)
          u- + ‎branīti (to defend) → ‎ubranīti (to defend)
        2. away
          u- + ‎téči (to run) → ‎utéči (to run away, escape)
        3. (reflexive) to make a mistake while
          u- + ‎štẹ́ti (to count) → ‎uštẹ́ti (to miscount)

      Derived terms

      Southern Ndebele

      Etymology 1

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

      Etymology 2

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial ka-)

      1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

      Etymology 3

      From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

      Swahili

      Other scripts
      Ajami اُـ

      Alternative forms

      • w- (before a vowel)

      Etymology 1

      From Proto-Bantu *dʊ̀- and Proto-Bantu *bʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u- (plural n- or ma-)

      1. u class(XI) noun prefix, denoting natural objects, extensions, abstract qualities, or collections of small things.
        ulimi mrefua long tongue
        1. -ness, -ity
          u- + ‎-chafu (dirty) → ‎uchafu (dirtiness)
          u- + ‎mtoto (child) → ‎utoto (childhood)
          u- + ‎binafsi (self) → ‎ubinafsi (individualism)
        2. forms names of countries
          u- + ‎French France (France) → ‎Ufaransa (France)
      Usage notes

      Swahili merged the Bantu classes XI and XIV into one u class(XI), having its adjective agreement in m class(III).

      Derived terms

      See also

      Etymology 2

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u-

      1. you, 2nd person singular subject concord
        Antonym: hu-
      See also
      Swahili personal pronouns (m-wa class(I/II))
      person independent subject concord object
      concord
      combined forms possessive
      affirmative negative na ndi- si-
      singular first mimi ni- si- -ni- nami, na mimi ndimi, ndiye simi, siye -angu
      second wewe u- hu- -ku- nawe, na wewe ndiwe, ndiye siwe, siye -ako
      third yeye a-, yu- ha-, hayu- -m-, -mw-, -mu- naye, na yeye ndiye siye -ake
      plural first sisi tu- hatu- -tu- nasi, na sisi ndisi, ndio sio -etu
      second ninyi m-, mw-, mu- ham-, hamw-, hamu- -wa- nanyi, na ninyi ndinyi, ndio sinyi, sio -enu
      third wao wa- hawa- -wa- nao ndio sio -ao
      reflexive -ji-
      For a full table including other classes, see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns.

      Etymology 3

      From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́- and Proto-Bantu *dʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u-

      1. it, m class(III)/u class(XI) subject concord
        Antonym: hau-
        • 18th century, Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir, Al-Inkishafi, stanza 13:
          هُنُ اُلِمِغُ بَحَرِ تِيْسِ ، اُنَ مَتُبَوِ نَمَغِ مَاسِ،
          Hunu ulimwengu baḥari tesi, una matumbawe na-mangi masi,
          This world is a troubled sea, it has corals and much wickedness;
      2. verb-initial form of -u- (it, m class(III)/u class(XI) object concord)
      See also
      Swahili verbal concords (third person)
      class subject concord object concord relative
      affirmative negative
      m(I) a-, yu- ha-, hayu- -m-, -mw-, -mu- -ye
      wa(II) wa- hawa- -wa- -o
      m(III) u- hau- -u- -o
      mi(IV) i- hai- -i- -yo
      ji(V) li- hali- -li- -lo
      ma(VI) ya- haya- -ya- -yo
      ki(VII) ki- haki- -ki- -cho
      vi(VIII) vi- havi- -vi- -vyo
      n(IX) i- hai- -i- -yo
      n(X) zi- hazi- -zi- -zo
      u(XI) u- hau- -u- -o
      ku(XV/XVII) ku- haku- -ku- -ko
      pa(XVI) pa- hapa- -pa- -po
      mu(XVIII) m-, mw-, mu- ham-, hamw-, hamu- -mu- -mo

      For a full table including first and second person,
      see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns

      Swazi

      Etymology 1

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

      Etymology 2

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial ka-)

      1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

      Etymology 3

      From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

      Taos

      Pronunciation

      Prefix

      u-

      1. (transitive) Third person singular subject + third person duoplural object.

      Tlingit

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Marks the irrealis mood

      Tumbuka

      Etymology 1

      Inherited from Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u-

      1. 2nd person singular subject concord. Translates as thou or you (singular or informal).

      Etymology 2

      Inherited from Proto-Bantu *bʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Class 14 noun prefix.#

      Etymology 3

      Inherited from Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-

      1. alternative of wu-

      Xhosa

      Etymology 1

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

      Etymology 2

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

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Class 1a noun prefix.

      Etymology 3

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial ka-)

      1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

      Etymology 4

      From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

      Etymology 5

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Class 11 noun prefix; form of ulu- used before stems of more than one syllable.

      Yao

      Etymology

      Inherited from Proto-Bantu *bʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Class 14 noun prefix.

      Ye'kwana

      Pronunciation

      Prefix

      u-

      1. Allomorph of y- (first-person prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants and have a first vowel u.

      Inflection

      Yoruba

      Etymology 1

      Alternative forms

      Pronunciation

      IPA(key): /ù/

      Prefix

      ù-

      1. (CY, SEY) abstract or instrument nominalizing prefix
      Usage notes

      Forms both abstract and concrete nouns:

      Derived terms

      Etymology 2

      Alternative forms

      Pronunciation

      IPA(key): /ū/

      Prefix

      u-

      1. (CY, SEY) non-gerundive nominalizing prefix
        u- + ‎ (to die) → ‎ukú (death)
      Derived terms

      Zulu

      Etymology 1

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      u- (medial wu-)

      1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

      Etymology 2

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-. This noun class is marked simply with the class 1 augment and a null prefix.

      Prefix

      ú-

      1. Class 1a noun prefix.

      Etymology 3

      From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

      Prefix

      ú- (medial ká-)

      1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

      Etymology 4

      From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

      Prefix

      ú- (medial wú-)

      1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

      Etymology 5

      Contracted from earlier úlu-, from Proto-Bantu *dʊ́-dʊ̀-.

      Prefix

      û-

      1. Class 11 noun prefix.

      References