-ка

See also: КА, ка, and Appendix:Variations of "ka"

Bulgarian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka and Proto-Slavic *-ьka (the latter causes palatalization of preceding velars).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

• Audio:

  (file)

• This suffix is never stressed.

Suffix

-ка • (-ka) (diminutive -чица)

1. Forms diminutives of feminine nouns, including personal names:

   ‎брой (broj) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎бро́йка (brójka)

   ‎жи́ца (žíca) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎жи́чка (žíčka)

   ‎кни́га (kníga) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎кни́жка (knížka)

   ‎пи́та (píta) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎пи́тка (pítka)

   ‎Снежа́на (Snežána) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎Снежа́нка (Snežánka)

   ‎Мари́я (Maríja) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎Мари́йка (Maríjka)

2. Forms feminine nouns (including personal names) from adjectives:

   ‎бял (bjal) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎бе́лка (bélka)

   ‎горчи́в (gorčív) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎горчи́вка (gorčívka)

   ‎лис (lis) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ли́ска (líska)

   ‎ме́ден (méden) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ме́денка (médenka)

   ‎здрав (zdrav) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎Здра́вка (Zdrávka)

   ‎рад (rad) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎Ра́дка (Rádka)

3. Forms resultant or abstract nouns from verbs:

   ‎гле́дам (glédam) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎гле́дка (glédka)

   ‎ме́ря (mérja) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎мя́рка (mjárka)

   ‎плета́ (pletá) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎пле́тка (plétka)

   ‎стъ́пя (stǎ́pja) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎стъ́пка (stǎ́pka)

4. Forms instrumental nouns from verbs:

   ‎гре́я (gréja) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎гре́йка (gréjka)

   ‎държа́ (dǎržá) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎дръ́жка (drǎ́žka)

   ‎люле́я (ljuléja) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎лю́лка (ljúlka)

   ‎цедя́ (cedjá) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎це́дка (cédka)

5. Forms agent nouns from verbs or participles:

   ‎доя́ (dojá) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎до́йка (dójka)

   ‎ква́кам (kvákam) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ква́чка (kváčka)

   ‎роди́ла (rodíla) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎роди́лка (rodílka)

   ‎хубаве́ла (hubavéla) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎хубаве́лка (hubavélka)

6. Forms feminine counter-parts to masculine agent nouns:

   ‎друг (drug) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎дру́жка (drúžka)

   ‎глупа́к (glupák) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎глупа́чка (glupáčka)

   ‎жетва́р (žetvár) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎жетва́рка (žetvárka)

   ‎селя́нин (seljánin) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎селя́нка (seljánka) (nouns in -анин/-янин lose the ending -ин)

   ‎съсе́д (sǎséd) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎съсе́дка (sǎsédka)

   ‎учи́тел (učítel) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎учи́телка (učítelka)

7. Forms secondary animal names from earlier root-athematic forms (which often have become obsolete):

   ‎въш (vǎš) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎въ́шка (vǎ́ška)

   ‎гъс (gǎs) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎гъска (gǎska)

   ‎кот (kot) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ко́тка (kótka)

   ‎миш (miš) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ми́шка (míška)

8. Creates emphatic forms of certain temporal adverbs.

   ‎днес (dnes) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎дне́ска (dnéska)

   ‎ноще́с (noštés) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ноще́ска (noštéska)

   ‎зимъ́с (zimǎ́s) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎зимъ́ска (zimǎ́ska)

   ‎завча́с (zavčás) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎завча́ска (zavčáska)

Declension

Declension of -ка

	singular	plural
indefinite	-ка -ka	-ки -ki
definite	-ката -kata	-ките -kite

Derived terms

Bulgarian terms suffixed with -ка

Komi-Zyrian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Permic *-ka, from Proto-Uralic *-kka. Cognates include Finnish -kka and Hungarian -ka.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-ka/, [-kä]

Suffix

-ка • (-ka)

1. (unproductive) Forms nouns denoting in-law family members;

   ай (aj, “father”) → айка (ajka, “father-in-law”)

   энь (eń, “mother”) → энька (eńka, “mother-in-law”)

2. (unproductive) Forms nouns with a broader meaning from kinship terms;

   зон (zon, “son”) → зонка (zonka, “boy”)

   ныв (nyv, “daughter”) → нывка (nyvka, “girl”)

3. (archaic) Forms diminutives.

Derived terms

Komi-Zyrian terms suffixed with -ка

Etymology 2

From Proto-Permic *kwo-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-ka/, [-kä]

Noun

-ка • (-ka)

1. (in compounds) dwelling

Derived terms

• керка (kerka)

 

References

• Bubrikh, Dmitry V. (1949) Грамматика литературного коми языка (in Russian), Leningrad: Zhdanov Leningrad State University, page 61

Macedonian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

Suffix

-ка • (-ka) f

1. Suffix appended to words to create a feminine noun, denoting a part, profession, feature, membership, origin, social status, complexion, proper name, abstract noun or animal's name.
2. Appended to feminine nouns creates diminutive forms.

Derived terms

Macedonian terms suffixed with -ка

Russian

Etymology 1

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

Particle

-ка • (-ka)

1. now, just (usually appended to an imperative verb to express a pressing request)

   Иди́те-ка сюда́ ― Idíte-ka sjudá ― Just come here!

   Послу́шай-ка, па́рень ― Poslúšaj-ka, párenʹ ― Now listen, lad!

Descendants

• Solombala English: -ка (-ka)
• → Ingrian: -k

Etymology 2

From a conflation of two suffixes Proto-Slavic *-ьka and Proto-Slavic *-ъka. The former always came to be used after velars (hence the occurrence of the Slavic first palatalization), while the latter always came to be used after -л- (hence the lack of palatalization of -л- before -ка).

Suffix

-ка • (-ka)

1. (added to (normally feminine) nouns, forms diminutives, sometimes with a further change in meaning)

   ‎жи́ла (žíla, “vein”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎жи́лка (žílka, “veinlet, small vein”)

   ‎моги́ла (mogíla, “grave”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎моги́лка (mogílka, “small grave”)

   ‎бума́га (bumága, “paper, document”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎бума́жка (bumážka, “small document”)

   ‎ку́кла (kúkla, “doll, puppet”) (genitive plural ку́кол (kúkol)) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ку́колка (kúkolka, “small doll, pupa”)

   ‎пчела́ (pčelá, “bee”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎пчёлка (pčólka, “small bee”)

   ‎вода́ (vodá, “water”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎во́дка (vódka, “vodka”) (originally, "something diluted with water")

2. (added to nouns denoting classes of people, forms the feminine equivalent; replaces the suffix -ец (-ec) if present)

   ‎ленингра́дец (leningrádec, “resident of Leningrad”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ленингра́дка (leningrádka, “female resident of Leningrad”)

3. (added to verbs, forms abstract nouns or nouns indicating the result of the action)

   ‎закали́ть (zakalítʹ, “to temper, to harden”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎зака́лка (zakálka, “tempering, hardening; training (for endurance)”)

   ‎мочи́ть (močítʹ, “to soak, to wet”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎мо́чка (móčka, “soaking, wetting”)

   ‎отде́лать (otdélatʹ, “to finish, to trim”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎отде́лка (otdélka, “finishing, trimming; finish, trim”)

   ‎подде́лать (poddélatʹ, “to counterfeit, to fake”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎подде́лка (poddélka, “counterfeit, imitation, fake, forgery”)

   ‎блоки́ровать (blokírovatʹ, “to block”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎блокиро́вка (blokiróvka, “blocking, blockage”)

4. (added to verbs, forms instruments or tools)

   ‎заколо́ть (zakolótʹ, “to attach with a pin”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎зако́лка (zakólka, “barrette”)

   ‎пили́ть (pilítʹ, “to saw”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎пи́лка (pílka, “fretsaw; fingernail file”)

5. (added to adjectives or numerals, forms colloquial nouns with the meaning of a carrier of the adjective's or numeral's properties)

   ‎минера́льный (minerálʹnyj, “mineral (relational)”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎минера́лка (minerálka, “mineral water (colloquial); mineral fertilizer (colloquial)”)

   ‎зени́тный (zenítnyj, “zenith (relational); anti-aircraft (relational)”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎зени́тка (zenítka, “anti-aircraft gun (colloquial)”)

   ‎полтора́ (poltorá, “one and a half”) (oblique cases полу́тора (polútora)) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎полу́торка (polútorka, “small apartment consisting of a medium-sized room and a small room (colloquial); GAZ-AA-brand truck with a 1.5-ton payload (colloquial)”)

   ‎запрещённый (zapreščónnyj, “forbidden”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎запрещёнка (zapreščónka, “something forbidden (colloquial)”)

Usage notes

• When -ка (-ka) is used in the end of someone's name (for example: "Ava-shka"), it's a way of saying "cutie" and it shows endearment.

Note the following properties:

• If the stress is on the ending, it is drawn onto the preceding syllable. Unstressed е may turn into ё when stressed.

  ‎вода́ (vodá, “water”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎во́дка (vódka, “vodka”)

  ‎бечева́ (bečevá, “twine”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎бечёвка (bečóvka, “twine”) (originally, "small twine")

• If the stress is not on the ending, it generally remains in the same place, but when added onto verbs ending in -и́ровать (-írovatʹ), the stress moves onto -ов-.

  ‎блоки́ровать (blokírovatʹ, “to block”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎блокиро́вка (blokiróvka, “blocking, blockage”)

• A velar may turn into a palatal as a result of the Slavic first palatalization. This is due to the *ь that was formerly present at the beginning of one variant of the suffix.

  ‎апте́ка (aptéka, “pharmacy”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎апте́чка (aptéčka, “medicine box”)

  ‎бума́га (bumága, “paper”) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎бума́жка (bumážka, “small document”)

• If the noun is feminine or neuter and reducible, the unreduced stem (as found in the genitive plural) is used. This happens frequently when the suffix is added onto a noun already in diminutive form.

  ‎ку́кла (kúkla, “doll, puppet”) (genitive plural ку́кол (kúkol)) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎ку́колка (kúkolka, “small doll, pupa”)

  ‎бу́дка (búdka, “booth”) (genitive plural бу́док (búdok)) + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎бу́дочка (búdočka, “small booth”)

Declension

Declension of -ка (inan fem-form velar-stem accent-a irreg) 

	singular	plural
nominative	-ка -ka	-ки -ki
genitive	-ки -ki	-ок△, -ек△ -ok△, -ek△
dative	-ке -ke	-кам -kam
accusative	-ку -ku	-ки -ki
instrumental	-кой, -кою -koj, -koju	-ками -kami
prepositional	-ке -ke	-ках -kax

^△ Irregular.

Derived terms

Russian terms suffixed with -ка

Related terms

• -о́к (-ók)
• -очка (-očka), -ечка (-ečka)
• -ишка (-iška)

See also

• -то (-to)

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Suffix

-ка (Latin spelling -ka)

1. Suffix appended to words to create a feminine noun, denoting a part, profession, feature, membership, origin, social status, complexion, proper name, abstract noun or animal's name.

See also

• -инка
• -енка
• -овка

Solombala English

Etymology

Inherited from Russian -ка (-ka).

Suffix

-ка (-ka)

1. Forms colloquial adverbs.

   ‎English much + ‎-ка (-ka) → ‎мачка (mačka, “much”)

Derived terms

Solombala English terms suffixed with -ка

References

• Broch, Ingvild (1996) “Solombala-English in Archangel”, in Jahr, Ernst Håkon, Broch, Ingvild, editors, Language Contact in the Arctic: Northern Pidgins and Contact Languages (Trends in Linguistics. Studies and Monographs (TiLSM); 88)‎^[1], reprint edition, Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton, published 2011, →DOI, →ISBN, page 95 of 93–98

Ukrainian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ ka]

Suffix

-ка • (-ka) f

1. Suffix appended to words to create a feminine noun, denoting a part, profession, feature, membership, origin, social status, complexion, proper name, abstract noun or animal's name.
2. Appended to feminine nouns creates diminutive forms.

Derived terms

Ukrainian terms suffixed with -ка