Armenian

Suffix

-ու • ‎(-u)

1. forming adjectives

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Suffix

-ու • ‎(-u)

1. the future converb I ending of verbs

   սիրելու‎ ― sirelu ― future converb I of սիրել ‎(sirel)

Etymology 3

From Old Armenian -ու ‎(-u).

Suffix

-ու • ‎(-u)

1. the singular dative case ending of u-declension nouns

   ձիու‎ ― jiu ― dative singular case of ձի ‎(ji)

   մարդու‎ ― mardu ― dative singular case of մարդ ‎(mard)

See also

• -ի ‎(-i)

Old Armenian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Indo-European *-usyā, the feminine form of the participle suffix *-wes. See also -ուք ‎(-ukʿ).

Suffix

-ու • ‎(-u)

1. Forming adjectives.

   հատանեմ‎ ― hatanem ― I cut

   հատու‎ ― hatu ― sharp, cutting

   կծանեմ‎ ― kcanem ― I bite

   կծու‎ ― kcu ― tart, pungent

   աղ‎ ― ał ― salt

   աղու‎ ― ału ― agreeable

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Contamination of Proto-Indo-European *-u stem vowel with the Proto-Indo-European *-yo, *-yā suffix.

Suffix

-ու • ‎(-u)

1. found in few words, such as արու ‎(aru), եղջերու ‎(ełǰeru), մեղու ‎(mełu), ուրջու ‎(urǰu)

Derived terms

References

• J̌ahukyan, Geworg (1998), “-ու”, in Hin hayereni verǰacancʿneri cagumə [The Origin of Old Armenian Suffixes] (Hayocʿ lezvi hamematakan kʿerakanutʿyan harcʿer; 2) (in Armenian), Yerevan: Anania Širakacʿi, pages 5–48

Etymology 3

According to Godel, is identical with the -ու- ‎(-u-) stem vowel. The remaining stem, standing in contrast to the nominative/accusative singular (which lost its stem), was apt to function as a full-fledged case form.

Suffix

-ու • ‎(-u)

1. singular genitive/dative/instrumental/locative marker for u-declension words

   ծովու‎ ― covu ― genitive/dative/instrumental/locative singular of ծով ‎(cov)

References

• Godel, Robert (1975) An introduction to the study of classical Armenian, Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, page 104