-neq

Greenlandic

Suffix

-neq (v-n^?, additive^?)

1. the act of [verb]ing; the quality of having [verb]ed

   ikinngut (“friend”) -> ikinngutigiipput (“they are friends”) -> ikinngutigiinneq (“friendship”)

Derived terms

Greenlandic terms suffixed with -neq

Usage notes

This suffix is often called the "abstract participle", because it can create abstract nouns out of verbs. It also behaves in the following ways with other suffixes:

• With -u (“to be”): -neq + -u becomes -neru, e.g. pit
• When used with possessive endings it means "the [verb]ing of the possessor"
• With -ssaq (“future”) and a possessive ending it means "to possessor's [verb]ing"
• With a possessive locative ending it means "while", e.g. nerinisinni ("while we eat"), and if preceded by -nngit (“negative”) it means "before", e.g. nerinnginnitsinni ("before we eat").

Suffix

-neq (v-n^?, additive^?)

1. more, the most [verb]ing

   pissaavoq (“be strong”) -> pissaaneq (“strongest”)

References

• Lybech, S. (2020) A List of Greenlandic Affixes, oqa.dk
• Vestgrønlands Grammatik, p. 140, F.A.J. Nielsen, 2014
• -neq in Katersat