-അ

Malayalam

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-ɐ/

Etymology 1

From Old Tamil -𑀐 (-ai), from Proto-Dravidian *-ay. Cognate with Tamil -ஐ (-ai).

Alternative forms

• -ന (-na) (after another vowel), -എ (-e) (standard suffix)

Suffix

-അ • (-a) (dialectal, Judeo Malayalam, Central)

1. accusative case ending

   ‎അവള് (avaḷŭ, “she (distal)”) + ‎-അ (-a) → ‎അവള (avaḷa, “her”) (standard അവളെ (avaḷe))

Etymology 2

Compare Tamil -அது (-atu). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Alternative forms

• -ന (-na) (after another vowel)

Suffix

-അ • (-a) (dialectal, Judeo Malayalam)

1. genitive case ending

   ‎അവള് (avaḷŭ, “she (distal)”) + ‎-അ (-a) → ‎അവള (avaḷa, “her”) (standard അവളുടെ (avaḷuṭe))

Etymology 3

Inherited from Proto-Dravidian *-ay. Cognate with Tamil -ஐ (-ai).

Suffix

-അ • (-a)

1. noun formative

   ‎വിൽക്കുക (vilkkuka, “to sell”) + ‎-അ (-a) → ‎വില (vila, “price”)

Etymology 4

Cognate with Tamil -அ (-a). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Alternative forms

• -ഇയ (-iya) (after another vowel)

Suffix

-അ • (-a)

1. adjective formative

   ‎നൽ- (nal-, “goodness”) + ‎-അ (-a) → ‎നല്ല (nalla, “good”)

References

• Gamliel, Ophira (2013), Voices Yet to be Heard: On Listening to the Last Speakers of Jewish Malayalam‎^[1], Jerusalem: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem