-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)

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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)

(unproductive) Forms nouns denoting in-law family members;
ай (aj, “father”) → айка (ajka, “father-in-law”)

энь (eń, “mother”) → энька (eńka, “mother-in-law”)
(unproductive) Forms nouns with a broader meaning from kinship terms;
зон (zon, “son”) → зонка (zonka, “boy”)

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

(in compounds) dwelling

Derived terms

керка (kerka)

References

Bubrikh, Dmitry V. (1949) Грамматика литературного коми языка [Grammar of the literary Komi language] (in Russian), Leningrad: Zhdanov Leningrad State University, page 61

Macedonian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ka]

Suffix

-ка • (-ka) f

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.
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)

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)

(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")
(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”)
(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”)
(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”)
(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)

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka.

Suffix

-ка (Latin spelling -ka)

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.

Solombala English

Etymology

Inherited from Russian -ка (-ka).

Suffix

-ка (-ka)

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

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.
Appended to feminine nouns creates diminutive forms.

Derived terms

Ukrainian terms suffixed with -ка