-ь

Russian

Etymology

Inherited from Old East Slavic -ь (-ĭ), from Proto-Slavic *-ь.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ʲ]

Suffix

-ь • (-ʹ) f

(forms nouns denoting objects or (usually) abstract concepts from verbs, or occasionally from adjectives)
‎связа́ть (svjazátʹ, “to tie, to bind”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎связь (svjazʹ, “tie, bond”)

‎-речь (-rečʹ, “to speak”) (root рек- (rek-)) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎речь (rečʹ, “speech”)

‎записа́ть (zapisátʹ, “to write down”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎за́пись (zápisʹ, “writing down, record”)

‎накипе́ть (nakipétʹ, “to form a scum”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎на́кипь (nákipʹ, “scum”)

‎но́вый (nóvyj, “new”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎новь (novʹ, “novelty; virgin, unplowed land”)

‎зелёный (zeljónyj, “green”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎зе́лень (zélenʹ, “greenery, verdure”)

‎высо́кий (vysókij, “high”) (root выс- (vys-), cf. comparative вы́ше (výše)) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎высь (vysʹ, “height(s), high place”)

Usage notes

In multisyllabic words, the stress retracts onto the first syllable.
Velars turn into palatals as a result of the Slavic first palatalization, as expected with what was originally a front vowel.

Declension

Declension of -ь (inan fem-form 3rd-decl accent-a)

	singular	plural
nominative	-ь -ʹ	-и -i
genitive	-и -i	-ей -ej
dative	-и -i	-ям -jam
accusative	-ь -ʹ	-и -i
instrumental	-ью -ʹju	-ями -jami
prepositional	-и -i	-ях -jax

Derived terms

Ukrainian

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-is

Proto-Slavic *-ь

Ukrainian -ь

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ь. Via Old East Slavic -ь (-ĭ).

Suffix

-ь • (-ʹ) f

(forms nouns denoting objects or (usually) abstract concepts from verbs, or occasionally from adjectives)
‎зелений (zelenyj, “green”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎зе́лень f inan (zélenʹ, “greenery, verdure”)

Declension

Declension of -ь
(inan 3rd-decl fem-form)
	singular	plural
nominative	-ь -ʹ	-і -i
genitive	-і -i	-ей^* -ej*
dative	-і -i	-ям -jam
accusative	-ь -ʹ	-і -i
instrumental	-!!ю -!!ju	-́ями -́jamy
locative	-і -i	-ях -jax
vocative	-е -e	-і -i

^*Etymology 2
^!!Stem end doubling

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-yós

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-jas

Proto-Slavic *-jь (/⁠Suffix 2⁠/)

Ukrainian -ь

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-jь (/⁠Suffix 2⁠/), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *-jas, from Proto-Indo-European *-yós. Via Old East Slavic -и (-i).

Suffix

-ь • (-ʹ) m

(forms nouns denoting objects or (usually) abstract concepts from nouns, or occasionally from adjectives)
‎кролик (krolyk, “rabbit”) + ‎-ь (-ʹ) → ‎кріль m anim (krilʹ, “rabbit”)

Declension

Declension of *-́ь*
(inan/animal soft masc-form accent-a)
	singular	plural
nominative	-́ь -́ʹ	-і́ -í
genitive	-я́ -já	-і́в -ív
dative	-е́ві, -ю́ -évi, -jú	-я́м -jám
accusative	-́ь, -я́ -́ʹ, -já	-і́, -і́в -í, -ív
instrumental	-е́м -ém	-я́ми -jámy
locative	-ю́, -і́, -е́ві -jú, -í, -évi	-я́х -jáx
vocative	-ю́ -jú	-і́ -í

Derived terms

Ukrainian terms suffixed with -ь (masc)

Usage notes

In multisyllabic words, the stress retracts onto the first syllable.
Velars turn into palatals as a result of the Slavic first palatalization, as expected with what was originally a front vowel.

Derived terms

Ukrainian terms suffixed with -ь

Іваньки

мудь

пердь

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Suffix

-ь • (-ʹ) m or f or n (o-stem)

genitive/accusative plural of -я (-ja)

Related terms

-ль (-lʹ)
-нь (-nʹ)

References

“ль”, in Горох – Словозміна [Horox – Slovozmina, Horokh – Inflection]‎^[1]
“нь”, in Горох – Словозміна [Horox – Slovozmina, Horokh – Inflection]‎^[2]