hiy

Mwotlap

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hij/

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *(u)suʀi.

Postverb

hiy

1. indicates that an action is oriented towards something
2. down: encodes a downward movement
3. encodes a motionless posture
4. indicates that an action is oriented, spatially or mentally, towards a specific purpose
5. indicates that an action is carried out in a careful way, focused on a specific purpose

Locative

hiy

1. establishes a direction in reference to an element already mentioned: over there, there
2. (figurative) continuing in the same direction, hence more, even more
3. (rare) happening later, either coming closer (me) or moving away (van) from the speaker

Preposition

hiy

1. points to an external element towards which the action is directed
2. (rare) to: encodes the place or object to which the action applies
3. (archaic) for, about: denotes the psychological cause of an action
4. in the direction of; next to, at someone's house
5. to, dative form. Introduces the beneficiary or addressee of verbs such as speak, give, buy, send, etc.
6. (such and such) for someone, as perceived by someone

References

• François, Alexandre. 2026. Online Mwotlap–English–French cultural dictionary. Electronic files. Paris: CNRS (Pdf version). → entry hiy.