-u

See also: -ú and Appendix:Variations of "u"

Languages (30)

Albanian • Chuukese • Darumbal • Esperanto • Estonian • Finnish • French • Gothic • Greenlandic • Hungarian • Icelandic • Ido • Ingrian • Inuktitut • Japanese • Kongo • Latin • Maltese • Māori • Mota • Northern Sami • Old English • Old French • Old Irish • Old Norse • Palula • Polish • Romanian • Turkish • Welsh

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Page categories

Albanian

Etymology

Suffixed definite article attached on nouns ending with g, k, h. From the ending Proto-Indo-European *-osyo. cognate to Messapic -aihi.

Related to Albanian -i (“of the, etc.”), Albanian i (“of, the, to”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [u]

Article

-u m

1. masculine singular nominative and accusative suffixed definite article: the

   ‎zog (“bird”) + ‎-u → ‎zogu (“the bird”)

   ‎treg (“market”) + ‎-u → ‎tregu (“the market”)

   ‎flok (“hair”) + ‎-u → ‎floku (“the hair”)

   ‎plak (“old man”) + ‎-u → ‎plaku (“the old man”)

   ‎gjynah (“sin”) + ‎-u → ‎gjynahu (“the sin”)

   ‎jeh (“echo”) + ‎-u → ‎jehu (“the echo”)

   (note: -u shifts towards -i among some Gheg dialects; zogi instead of zogu)

Related terms

• (suffixed article, suffix): -a, -e, -ë, -i, -o, -ia, -ja, -je, -jë, -at, -et, -ët, -it, -ot, -ut, -të, -ri, -ishte, -ishtja
• (article, preposition): e, i, së, të

Chuukese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-u

1. out, outwards; used to modify verb direction

Darumbal

Suffix

-u

1. Used to form the ergative/instrumental form of nouns ending in ⟨rr⟩

References

• Angela Terrill (2002), Dharumbal: the language of Rockhampton, Australia (Pacific Linguistics; 525)‎^[1], Canberra: Australian National University Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, →ISBN, page 30.

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

Etymology unclear. Perhaps from the Greek -ou imperative (pronounced [u]) of deponent verbs such as dekhou “receive!”, or from the Hebrew imperative -û. It may instead—or also—be connected to the vowel of the Esperanto conditional suffix -us, minus the s of the indicative inflections.

Suffix

-u

1. volitive inflection of verbs, indicating that an action or state is desired, requested, ordered, or aimed for.

   Donu ĝin al mi.

   Give it to me. (expresses a request or command)

   Ni faru tion.

   Let's do that. (expresses a desire or aim)

   Mi iru dormi.

   I ought to go to sleep. (expresses desirability of the action)

   Via infano sukcesu en la vivo.

   May your child be successful in life. (wish or desire)

   Mi volas, ke vi helpu min.

   I want you to help me. (desire)

   Ŝi petas, ke mi silentu.

   She asks that I be silent. (request)

Etymology 2

Apparently connected to the u at the end of unu (“one, a certain”).

Suffix

-u

1. -one. (Ending of the individual correlatives.)

   kiu (“what individual, who”)

   tiu (“that individual, that one”)

   ĉiu (“all individuals, everyone”)

   iu (“some individual, someone”)

   neniu (“no individual, nobody”)

   (unofficial) aliu (“another individual, someone else”)

Further reading

• “-u”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “-u”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Estonian

Etymology

From Proto-Uralic *-w (as applied to stems ending in -e). Cognate with Finnish -u.

Suffix

-u (genitive -u, partitive -u)

1. Derives nouns from verbs or prefixes

   jagama "to divide" → jagu "a part, a share"

   kaduma "to disappear" → kadu "loss, losing"

   sise- "inside" → sisu "content"

   pesema "to wash" → pesu "wash, washing"

Derived terms

Estonian terms suffixed with -u

arutelu

elu

idu

imu

jobu

kiir

lõbu

murd

mälu

mäng

olemasolu

olu

pesu

pidu

segu

sisu

tasu

tähelepanu

unenägu

valu

Finnish

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *-u, from Proto-Uralic *-w (originally as applied to stems ending in -e or -ä). Cognate with Estonian -u.

Suffix

-u (front vowel harmony variant -y, linguistic notation -U)

1. Forms nouns from verbs. Most common with e- and i-stem verbs.

   ‎hyppiä (“to be jumping”) + ‎-u → ‎hyppy (“jump”)

   ‎itkeä (“to cry”) + ‎-u → ‎itku (“cry(ing)”)

   ‎pestä (“to wash”) + ‎-u → ‎pesu (“wash(ing)”)

   ‎potkia (“to kick”) + ‎-u → ‎potku (“kick”)

   ‎urheilla (“to practice sport”) + ‎-u → ‎urheilu (“sport”)

2. Derives a number of nouns from other nouns.

   ‎silmä (“eye”) + ‎-u → ‎silmu (“bud”)

   ‎sisä- (“inside”) + ‎-u → ‎sisu (“determination, perseverance”)

Usage notes

• Somewhat unusually, in words with few syllables, the front-vowel form -y is used only with stems that contain what is considered a front vowel under harmony, i.e. -ä-, -ö- or -y-; if it only contains neutral vowels (e, i), the back-vocalic form -u is used, even though such words or stems have front vowel harmony by default. However, polysyllabic words containing only neutral vowels (e, i) still tend to use -y.

Declension

Inflection of -u (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		-u	-ut
genitive		-un	-ujen
partitive		-ua	-uja
illative		-uun	-uihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-u	-ut
accusative	nom.	-u	-ut
	gen.	-un
genitive		-un	-ujen
partitive		-ua	-uja
inessive		-ussa	-uissa
elative		-usta	-uista
illative		-uun	-uihin
adessive		-ulla	-uilla
ablative		-ulta	-uilta
allative		-ulle	-uille
essive		-una	-uina
translative		-uksi	-uiksi
abessive		-utta	-uitta
instructive		—	-uin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -u (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -uni -uni accusative nom. -uni -uni gen. -uni genitive -uni -ujeni partitive -uani -ujani inessive -ussani -uissani elative -ustani -uistani illative -uuni -uihini adessive -ullani -uillani ablative -ultani -uiltani allative -ulleni -uilleni essive -unani -uinani translative -ukseni -uikseni abessive -uttani -uittani instructive — — comitative — -uineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -usi -usi accusative nom. -usi -usi gen. -usi genitive -usi -ujesi partitive -uasi -ujasi inessive -ussasi -uissasi elative -ustasi -uistasi illative -uusi -uihisi adessive -ullasi -uillasi ablative -ultasi -uiltasi allative -ullesi -uillesi essive -unasi -uinasi translative -uksesi -uiksesi abessive -uttasi -uittasi instructive — — comitative — -uinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -umme -umme accusative nom. -umme -umme gen. -umme genitive -umme -ujemme partitive -uamme -ujamme inessive -ussamme -uissamme elative -ustamme -uistamme illative -uumme -uihimme adessive -ullamme -uillamme ablative -ultamme -uiltamme allative -ullemme -uillemme essive -unamme -uinamme translative -uksemme -uiksemme abessive -uttamme -uittamme instructive — — comitative — -uinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -unne -unne accusative nom. -unne -unne gen. -unne genitive -unne -ujenne partitive -uanne -ujanne inessive -ussanne -uissanne elative -ustanne -uistanne illative -uunne -uihinne adessive -ullanne -uillanne ablative -ultanne -uiltanne allative -ullenne -uillenne essive -unanne -uinanne translative -uksenne -uiksenne abessive -uttanne -uittanne instructive — — comitative — -uinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative -unsa -unsa accusative nom. -unsa -unsa gen. -unsa genitive -unsa -ujensa partitive -uaan -uansa -ujaan -ujansa inessive -ussaan -ussansa -uissaan -uissansa elative -ustaan -ustansa -uistaan -uistansa illative -uunsa -uihinsa adessive -ullaan -ullansa -uillaan -uillansa ablative -ultaan -ultansa -uiltaan -uiltansa allative -ulleen -ullensa -uilleen -uillensa essive -unaan -unansa -uinaan -uinansa translative -ukseen -uksensa -uikseen -uiksensa abessive -uttaan -uttansa -uittaan -uittansa instructive — — comitative — -uineen -uinensa

Inflection of -u (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		-u	-ut
genitive		-un	-ujen -uiden -uitten
partitive		-ua	-uja -uita
illative		-uun	-uihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-u	-ut
accusative	nom.	-u	-ut
	gen.	-un
genitive		-un	-ujen -uiden -uitten
partitive		-ua	-uja -uita
inessive		-ussa	-uissa
elative		-usta	-uista
illative		-uun	-uihin
adessive		-ulla	-uilla
ablative		-ulta	-uilta
allative		-ulle	-uille
essive		-una	-uina
translative		-uksi	-uiksi
abessive		-utta	-uitta
instructive		—	-uin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -u (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -uni -uni accusative nom. -uni -uni gen. -uni genitive -uni -ujeni -uideni -uitteni partitive -uani -ujani -uitani inessive -ussani -uissani elative -ustani -uistani illative -uuni -uihini adessive -ullani -uillani ablative -ultani -uiltani allative -ulleni -uilleni essive -unani -uinani translative -ukseni -uikseni abessive -uttani -uittani instructive — — comitative — -uineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -usi -usi accusative nom. -usi -usi gen. -usi genitive -usi -ujesi -uidesi -uittesi partitive -uasi -ujasi -uitasi inessive -ussasi -uissasi elative -ustasi -uistasi illative -uusi -uihisi adessive -ullasi -uillasi ablative -ultasi -uiltasi allative -ullesi -uillesi essive -unasi -uinasi translative -uksesi -uiksesi abessive -uttasi -uittasi instructive — — comitative — -uinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -umme -umme accusative nom. -umme -umme gen. -umme genitive -umme -ujemme -uidemme -uittemme partitive -uamme -ujamme -uitamme inessive -ussamme -uissamme elative -ustamme -uistamme illative -uumme -uihimme adessive -ullamme -uillamme ablative -ultamme -uiltamme allative -ullemme -uillemme essive -unamme -uinamme translative -uksemme -uiksemme abessive -uttamme -uittamme instructive — — comitative — -uinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -unne -unne accusative nom. -unne -unne gen. -unne genitive -unne -ujenne -uidenne -uittenne partitive -uanne -ujanne -uitanne inessive -ussanne -uissanne elative -ustanne -uistanne illative -uunne -uihinne adessive -ullanne -uillanne ablative -ultanne -uiltanne allative -ullenne -uillenne essive -unanne -uinanne translative -uksenne -uiksenne abessive -uttanne -uittanne instructive — — comitative — -uinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative -unsa -unsa accusative nom. -unsa -unsa gen. -unsa genitive -unsa -ujensa -uidensa -uittensa partitive -uaan -uansa -ujaan -uitaan -ujansa -uitansa inessive -ussaan -ussansa -uissaan -uissansa elative -ustaan -ustansa -uistaan -uistansa illative -uunsa -uihinsa adessive -ullaan -ullansa -uillaan -uillansa ablative -ultaan -ultansa -uiltaan -uiltansa allative -ulleen -ullensa -uilleen -uillensa essive -unaan -unansa -uinaan -uinansa translative -ukseen -uksensa -uikseen -uiksensa abessive -uttaan -uttansa -uittaan -uittansa instructive — — comitative — -uineen -uinensa

Note that if the stem has gradation, it is (almost always) preserved.

Derived terms

Finnish terms suffixed with -u

aaltoilu

aavistelu

ahdistelu

ahmaisu

ahnastelu

aikailu

ailahtelu

aivastelu

ajattelu

ajelu

aju

alihinnoittelu

alku

alu-

ammu

ammuskelu

ampu

anastelu

anelu

anniskelu

annostelu

antelu

arastelu

arkailu

arvailu

arvelu

arvostelu

asettelu

askartelu

astelu

asu

asustelu

aukaisu

autoilu

auttelu

availu

avu

baku

biksut

brassailu

breku

chattailu

deeku

deittailu

dessu

diivailu

doku

ehkäisy

elely

elostelu

elvistely

enteily

epäily

erittely

erottelu

esirippu

esittely

essu

estely

etsiskely

etu

etuilu

fiilistely

flirttailu

fusku

geokätköily

haahuilu

haastattelu

haaveilu

haeskelu

hahmottelu

haihattelu

haikailu

haiku

haistattelu

haistelu

haisu

hajottelu

haju

hakkailu

haku

halailu

halkaisu

halkeilu

halu

hangoittelu

hankailu

hapsu

hapuilu

harhailu

harjoittelu

harju

harmittelu

harrastelu

harsu

hassu

hassuttelu

haukahtelu

haukkaisu

haukku

haukottelu

hauru

hauskuttelu

havittelu

heijastelu

heilahtelu

heiluttelu

heittely

hellittely

hely

hemmottelu

hempeily

henkäisy

hentoilu

heppu

hepsu

herkistely

herkku

herkuttelu

hermoilu

herrastelu

herroittelu

hidastelu

hienostelu

hieroskelu

hifistely

hihittely

hihkaisu

hiihtely

hiippailu

hiiru

hiiviskely

hikky

hikoilu

hikottelu

hilkku

hilseily

hilu

himmailu

hinailu

hinnoittelu

hinttailu

hipaisu

hiplailu

hipsuttelu

hissuttelu

hitailu

hoipertelu

hoitelu

hoku

homostelu

hoppuilu

horjahtelu

hortoilu

hosu

hotaisu

hotkaisu

houkuttelu

hourailu

houru

huhuilu

huiju

huikentelu

huiskaisu

huisku

huitaisu

huljuttelu

hulluilu

hulluttelu

hulmahtelu

hummailu

humputtelu

humu

huoahtelu

huojahtelu

huokailu

huokaisu

huoku

huolittelu

huorittelu

hupailu

huppu

hupsuttelu

hurjastelu

hurskastelu

hurvittelu

hutaisu

huudahtelu

huuhtaisu

huuhtelu

huuleilu

huumeilu

huutelu

huvittelu

hylky

hymistely

hymyily

hymähtely

hypistely

hyppely

• -ukka
• -ula
• -uli
• -ura
• -us

See also

• -o
• -uu

Further reading

• Hakulinen, Lauri. 1941–2000. Suomen kielen rakenne ja kehitys ('The Structure and Development of the Finnish Language'). Helsinki: Otava/Helsingin yliopisto.

French

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -ūtus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /y/

Suffix

-u (adjective-forming suffix, feminine -ue, masculine plural -us, feminine plural -ues)

1. forms adjectives having the sense of ‘having quality of, being provided with’ (the root word)

   ‎barbe (“beard”) + ‎-u → ‎barbu (“bearded”)

   ‎ventre (“belly”) + ‎-u → ‎ventru (“pot-bellied, rounded”)

Derived terms

French terms suffixed with -u

barbu

bossu

boulu

bourru

branchu

chevelu

cornu

cossu

couillu

crépu

fessu

feuillu

glandu

goguelu

goulu

goutu

griffu

lippu

mafflu

mamelu

moussu

moustachu

ossu

pansu

pentu

poilu

pointu

têtu

touffu

trapu

ventru

Gothic

Romanization

-u

1. romanization of -𐌿

Greenlandic

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Nuuk) IPA^(key): /-u/, [-ʊ]

Suffix

-u (n-v^?, truncative^?, uses -j- as interfix^?)

1. be

   ‎ilinniartitsisoq (“teacher”) + ‎-u → ‎ilinniartitsisiuuvugut (“we are teachers”)

   Ukiuuvoq.

   It is winter.

   • 1998 May 7, “Tasiilami efterskoleqalernissaa Jakob Sivertsen-ip sulissutigaa”, in Atuagagdliutit / Grønlandsposten:

     Inatsisartunut ilaasortaq Jakob Sivertsen Atassummeersoq ilungersornertuujuvoq.

     MP Jakob Sivertsen, of Atassut, is diligent.

   • 1992, “Meeqqakka”, in Atuagagdliutit/Grønlandsposten:

     Ernerput anguteqatiminoortartunngorsimavoq (19-inik ukioqarluni paasineqarpoq), niviarsiararlu nukarleq arnaqatiminoortartunngorsimalluni. Akulleq pissusissamisoortuuvoq.

     Our son has become gay (it was discovered when he was 19 years old), and the youngest girl has become a lesbian. The middle [child] is as she should be [i.e. heterosexual].

Usage notes

May become additive after a strong q base.

References

• Bjørnum, S.: Grønlandsk Grammatik, p. 275. Atuagkat 2003.
• Vestgrønlandsk grammatik, p. 81, F.A.J. Nielsen, 2014
• -u in Katersat

Hungarian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [u]

Suffix

-u

2. (diminutive suffix) Added to a noun or a proper noun to form a diminutive.

   apa (“father”) → apu (“dad”)

Derived terms

• -us

Hungarian nouns suffixed with -u

apu

bábu

Etu

See also

• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes

Icelandic

Etymology 1

From Old Norse -u (oblique ending of feminine on-stem nouns).

Suffix

-u (triggers u-mutation of a preceding a)

1. indefinite accusative/dative/genitive singular of -a f (most weak feminine nouns)

   ‎kona (“woman”) + ‎-u → ‎konu

   ‎taska (“bag”) + ‎-u → ‎tösku

Etymology 2

From Old Norse -u (adjective ending).

Suffix

-u (triggers u-mutation of a preceding a)

1. inflection of -ur (most adjectives):
   1. dative singular neuter strong
   2. accusative/dative/genitive singular feminine weak
   3. plural weak

   ‎góður (“good”) + ‎-u → ‎góðu

   ‎latur (“lazy”) + ‎-u → ‎lötu

Etymology 3

From Old Norse -u (third person plural).

Suffix

-u

1. third-person plural past indicative/subjunctive of -a (strong verbs)

   ‎fara (“to go”) + ‎-u → ‎fóru (“(they) went”, past indicative)

   ‎fara (“to go”) + ‎-u → ‎færu (“(they) would go”, past subjunctive; with i-mutation)

Etymology 4

From Old Norse -u (infinitive).

Suffix

-u (triggers u-mutation of a preceding a)

1. infinitive ending of two (preterite-present) modal verbs:

   ‎mun- (“will”, stem) + ‎-u → ‎munu (infinitive)

   ‎skal- (“shall”, stem) + ‎-u → ‎skulu (infinitive)

Etymology 5

From Old Norse -u (ō-stem dative)

Suffix

-u (triggers u-mutation of a preceding a)

1. indefinite accusative and dative singular ending of some strong feminine nouns, especially those that end in -ing and female personal names

   ‎kerling (“old woman”) + ‎-u → ‎kerlingu

   ‎Elísabet + ‎-u → ‎Elísabetu

   ‎Danmörk (“Denmark”) + ‎-u → ‎Danmörku

   ‎sundrung (“discord”) + ‎-u → ‎sundrungu (optional form)

   1. ‎nótt (“night”) + ‎-u → ‎nóttu (petrified dative form of regular nótt)

      að nóttu til ― at night

      í nóttunni ― at night

      fram eftir nóttu ― (deep) into the night

   2. ‎sól (“sun”) + ‎-u → ‎sólu (rare)

      eins og dögg fyrir sólu ― like snow in the sun (literally, “like dew before the sun”)

Etymology 6

From Old Norse -u (masculine plural of u-stem nouns).

Suffix

-u (triggers u-mutation of a preceding a)

1. (archaic, literary or in petrified phrases) indefinite accusative plural of -ur m (some strong masculine nouns); alternative form of (regular) -i
   1. ‎sonur (“son”) + ‎-u → ‎sonu (“sons”) (archaic or literary form of regular syni)

      1875-80, Friðrik Eggerz, Úr fylgsnum fyrri aldar. I. Bjarni Pétursson á Skarði og getið niðja hans. Ævisaga Eggerts prests Jónssonar. II. Ævisaga Friðriks prests Eggerz., published 1950-52:

      Kallaði hann þá á sonu sína.

      He then called to his sons.

      2004, “Kristinn heimur miðalda og Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson”, in Læknablaðið‎^[2], number 90, archived from the original on 10 August 2024, page 169:

      Þau Steinunn Þórðardóttir og Sveinbjörn Bárðarson áttu fimm dætur og tvo sonu.

      Steinunn Þórðardóttir and Sveinbjörn Bárðarson had five daughters and two sons.

   2. ‎vegur (“road, way”) + ‎-u → ‎vegu (“roads, ways”) (petrified form of regular vegi)

      á tvo/marga/ýmsa vegu ― in two/many/various ways

      á þrjá vegu ― on three sides

   3. ‎skjöldur (“shield”) + ‎-u → ‎skjöldu (“shields”) (petrified form of regular skildi)

      ganga fram fyrir skjöldu ― to take control (literally, “to step forward before shields”)

      koma (einhverjum) í opna skjöldu ― to take by surprise (literally, “to get (someone) in open shields”)

   4. ‎stigur (“path”) + ‎-u → ‎stigu (“paths”) (alternative forms of regular stígur and accusative plural stíga)

      kanna ókunna stigu ― to tread new paths (literally, “to explore unknown paths”)

      stemma stigu við (einhverju) ― to put a stop to (something) (literally, “to stem paths against (something)”)

Ido

Etymology

Common vowel found in pronouns in Romance languages: French tu, Italian tu and Spanish tú, also in French vous and as an o in Italian voi and Spanish vos, etc. (Compare tu and vu)

Suffix

-u

1. suffix used to form pronouns indicating a person

   ‎omna (“all, every”) + ‎-u → ‎omnu (“everyone”)

Usage notes

As it is used to form pronouns, you cannot use it to create nouns. Instead, to form an agent from an adjective like felica (“happy”), you just make it a noun: felico (“a happy person”).

Derived terms

Ido terms suffixed with -u

altru

elu

ilu

irgu

nulu

olu

omnu

onu

singlu

su

tu

vu

Ingrian

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *-u. Cognates include Finnish -u and Estonian -u.

Pronunciation

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-u/, [-u]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-u/, [-u]

Suffix

-u (front vowel variant -y)

1. Used to form nouns from verbs.

Declension

Declension of -u (type 4/koivu, no gradation)
	singular	plural
nominative	-u	-ut
genitive	-un	-uin, -uloin
partitive	-ua	-uja, -uloja
illative	-uu	-ui, -uloihe
inessive	-us	-uis, -ulois
elative	-ust	-uist, -uloist
allative	-ulle	-uille, -uloille
adessive	-ul	-uil, -uloil
ablative	-ult	-uilt, -uloilt
translative	-uks	-uiks, -uloiks
essive	-unna, -uun	-uinna, -uloinna, -uin, -uloin
exessive1)	-unt	-uint, -uloint
1) obsolete *) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl) **) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.

Derived terms

Ingrian terms suffixed with -u

alku

alu-

etu-

haisu

hooku

hylky

hyppy

häpy

isku

itku

itu

ity

jooksu

jyry

kipu

korsku

kulu

kutsu

kylpy

kynty

käsky

kävely

lasku

laulu

leekku

Liukupäivä

longuttaa

loukku

luku

lypsylehmä

läsy

muru

Mättyisi

nappu

noisu

nussu

paitulain

paukku

paukuttaa

peeru

pesu

pitkulain

poimu

puru

puruli

raiskuu

ratsu

rooku

silmu

soittu

sopu

suiku

suru

synty

syrjy

tantsu

tappelu

tilkku

tiukku

toittu

toomuin

tuntu

veeru

väry

Inuktitut

Alternative forms

• -ngu (used after double-vowel or long vowel)
• -iu (used after word-final /t/)

Verb

-u (Syllabics -ᐅ)

1. to be (copula)

   angunasuktiujuq.

   He is a hunter.

Usage notes

When used on words ending with /k/ or /q/ the affix deletes the final consonant.

Japanese

Romanization

-u

1. Rōmaji transcription of う

Kongo

Suffix

-u

1. used to form nouns denoting action or result of action

Latin

Suffix

-ū

1. ablative/locative singular of -us for fourth-declension nouns.

Usage notes

This ending is used for all singular forms of neuter fourth-declension nouns except the genitive, which still uses -ūs. It even replaces -uī in the dative; something that does not occur in the other declension patterns.

Maltese

Alternative forms

• -h (after a vowel)

Etymology

Inherited from Arabic ـهُ (-hu).

Suffix

-u

1. 3rd-person masculine singular pronominal suffix: his, him

   Synonym: tiegħu (only in possessive use)

   ‎sħab (“friends”) + ‎-u → ‎sħabu (“his friends”)

   ‎taħt (“under”) + ‎-u → ‎taħtu (“under him”)

   ‎jinsa (“he forgets”) + ‎-u → ‎jinsieh (“he forgets him”)

Related terms

• hu
• huwa

Māori

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-u

1. Used in contractions with particles of possession to mean you

See also

Māori personal pronouns

			singular	dual	plural
1st person			au, ahau	māua (exclusive) tāua (inclusive)	mātou (exclusive) tātou (inclusive)
2nd person			koe	kōrua	koutou
3rd person			ia	rāua	rātou

Mota

Suffix

-u

1. alternative form of -i, used after stem-final -i

Usage notes

• Allomorph of -i, used after possessible nouns whose stem ends in -i:

‎suri (“bone”) + ‎-u → ‎suriu (“a bone (in general)”)

References

• Codrington, Robert Henry; Palmer, John (1896), A dictionary of the language of Mota, Sugarloaf Island, Banks' Islands, with a short grammar and index‎^[3], London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page xiv

Northern Sami

Etymology 1

From Proto-Samic *-ō. Cognate with Finnish -o.

Suffix

-u

1. Forms result or action nouns from verbs.

Usage notes

• This suffix triggers the strong grade on a preceding stressed syllable.

Inflection

Even u-stem, no gradation
Nominative	-u
Genitive	-u -ọ
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	-u	-ut
Accusative	-u	-ūid
Genitive	-u -ọ	-ūid
Illative	-ui	-ūide
Locative	-us	-ūin
Comitative	-ūin	-ūiguin
Essive	-un
Possessive forms Singular Dual Plural 1st person -on -ome -omet 2nd person -ot -ode -odet 3rd person -us -uska -uset

Derived terms

Northern Sami terms suffixed with -u

arvu

astu

atnu

ballu

bargu

buktu

bušku

dahku

dáhttu

dáidu

dápmu

deaddu

deaivu

diehtu

dikšu

doallu

geahčču

gieldu

gohcu

gullu

juohku

máidnu

muitu

riššu

sáhcu

sisdoallu

veadju

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-u

1. Form of the suffix -i used with verbs in -ut.

Usage notes

• This suffix triggers the strongest grade on a preceding stressed syllable.

Inflection

Even u-stem, no gradation
Nominative	-u
Genitive	-u -ọ
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	-u	-ut
Accusative	-u	-ūid
Genitive	-u -ọ	-ūid
Illative	-ui	-ūide
Locative	-us	-ūin
Comitative	-ūin	-ūiguin
Essive	-un
Possessive forms Singular Dual Plural 1st person -on -ome -omet 2nd person -ot -ode -odet 3rd person -us -uska -uset

Derived terms

Northern Sami terms suffixed with -u

arvu

astu

atnu

ballu

bargu

buktu

bušku

dahku

dáhttu

dáidu

dápmu

deaddu

deaivu

diehtu

dikšu

doallu

geahčču

gieldu

gohcu

gullu

juohku

máidnu

muitu

riššu

sáhcu

sisdoallu

veadju

Old English

Alternative forms

• -o

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u/

Etymology 1

From suppletive fusion of ō-stem feminine singular nominative ending -u and Proto-Germanic *-į̄ (“feminine abstract ending”). Akin to Gothic feminine abstracts in -𐌴𐌹 (-ei) (compare 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐌴𐌹 (mikilei, “greatness”); 𐌳𐌹𐌿𐍀𐌴𐌹 (diupei, “depth”)).

Suffix

-u f

1. ending used to form abstract nouns from adjectives (compare Modern English -ness), normally causing i-mutation, and remaining even when preceded by a long syllable

   ‎eald (“old”) + ‎-u → ‎ieldu (“age”)

   ‎hāliġ (“holy, sacred; pious”) + ‎-u → ‎hāliġu (“holiness”)

   ‎hāl (“sound, healthy, intact”) + ‎-u → ‎hǣlu (“wholeness, health”)

   ‎hāt (“hot”) + ‎-u → ‎hǣtu (“heat, warmth”)

   ‎mennisċ (“human, natural, humane”) + ‎-u → ‎mennisċu (“humanity”)

   ‎miċel (“big, large; great”) + ‎-u → ‎miċelu (“greatness, size”)

Usage notes

According to Ringe and Taylor[4], this suffix began as indeclinable *-i in the singular and nominative/accusative plural, before the ō-stem feminine nominative singular was borrowed. In Anglian, the new ending was then extended to the rest of these forms. This same extension was not complete in Early West Saxon, but eventually won out in Late West Saxon. Spellings of these forms with -o, and rarely -a, reflect the merger of unstressed back vowels in later Old English.

Declension

Strong īn-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	-u	-u, -e
accusative	-u, -e	-u, -e
genitive	-u, -e	-a
dative	-u, -e	-um

Derived terms

Old English terms suffixed with -u

bieldu

bierhtu

bisigu

brædu

cieldu

deafu

engu

gerynu

hælu

hætu

haligu

hieltu

hyldu

ieldu

lengu

menigu

micelu

mynecenu

scyldu

snyttro

strengeo

strengo

strengu

þiestru

-þu

wæstmbæru

wlencu

wræþu

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *-u, from Proto-Germanic *-ō. Apocope should have caused the loss of this ending after heavy stems, but the Anglian dialects generally retained it by analogy with short stems, or for its morphological significance. In West Saxon, this apocope led to replacement with the subjunctive singular -e, which was then extended to short stem verbs as well.

Suffix

-u (Anglian)

1. Used to form the first person singular present indicative of strong verbs and class I weak verbs

   ‎beran (“bear”) + ‎-u → ‎beru (“I bear”)

   ‎drīfan (“drive out”) + ‎-u → ‎drīfu (“I drive out”)

   ‎sellan (“give”) + ‎-u → ‎sellu (“I give”)

Etymology 3

From Proto-West Germanic *-u, from Proto-Germanic *-ō

Suffix

-u f

1. Used to form the nominative singular of short ō-stem nouns

   ġiefu (“gift”)

   lufu (“love”)

Etymology 4

From Proto-West Germanic *-u, from Proto-Germanic *-uz

Suffix

-u

1. Used to form the nominative and accusative singular of short u-stem nouns

   sunu (“son”)

   wudu (“forest”)

Etymology 5

From Proto-West Germanic *-u, from Proto-Germanic *-ō

Suffix

-u n

1. Used to form the nominative and accusative plural of short a-stem and all ija-stem neuter nouns

   ‎clif (“cliff”) + ‎-u → ‎clifu (“cliffs”)

   ‎sċip (“ship”) + ‎-u → ‎sċipu (“ships”)

   ‎rīċe (“kingdom”) + ‎-u → ‎rīċu (“kingdoms”)

Etymology 6

Suffix

-u

1. Forms the strong nominative feminine singular and strong nominative/accusative neuter plural of adjectives

   ‎unārīmedlīċ + ‎-u → ‎unārīmedlīċu

Old French

Etymology

From Latin -ūtus.

Suffix

-u

1. suffixed used to form adjectives (oblique masculine singular) from nouns

Derived terms

• boçu
• foillu

Descendants

• Middle French: -u
  • French: -u

Old Irish

Suffix

-u

1. alternative form of -iu (when the preceding consonant (cluster) isn't palatalised)

Old Norse

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Germanic *-unz (u-stem accusative plural), from Proto-Indo-European *-ums (u-stem accusative plural), from *-us (u-stem suffix) +‎ *-ms (accusative plural suffix).

Suffix

-u

1. Forms the indefinite accusative plural of masculine u-stem nouns.

   ‎sunr (“son”) + ‎-u → ‎sunu (“sons”)

Descendants

• Icelandic: -u (archaic)

Etymology 2

Unclear; there are multiple possibilities:

• From Proto-Germanic *-ōi (ō-stem dative singular), from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂ey, from *-eh₂ (eh₂-stem suffix) +‎ *-ey (dative singular suffix), either directly or by analogical restitution of the long vowel into the diphthong from other case forms as it was shortened; parallels to the proposed sound change are lacking, but there are no clear counterexamples either.
• From a supposed Proto-Germanic ō-stem instrumental singular *-ōmi, from late Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂mi, from *-eh₂ (eh₂-stem suffix) +‎ *-mi (instrumental singular suffix), but the posited form has no parallels within Germanic and few elsewhere; furthermore, it could be expected to become *-um, not *-u (compare the Proto-Germanic ō-stem dative plural *-ōmiz).
• From the generally reconstructed Proto-Germanic u-stem instrumental singular *-ō; two explanations have been developed for the failure of this ending to undergo expected apocope:
  • After it had been shortened to -u, it was relengthened by analogy with the other oblique cases, thus rendering it ineligible for apocope.
  • When apocope occured in heavy-stemmed nouns, it was analogically restored on the basis of light-stemmed nouns; in turn, it was restored on the basis of the heavy-stemmed nouns when it was lost in light-stemmed nouns, though the failure of such analogical restoration to operate in other noun paradigms is suspicious.
• From a late analogical extension from the ōn-stem oblique singular, but the ō-stem and ōn-stem paradigms do not particularly resemble each other.

If the ending is inherited, the endingless indefinite dative singular usual to ō-stems would be by analogy with the i-stems.

Suffix

-u

1. Forms the indefinite dative singular of some ō-stem nouns and a few feminine consonant-stem and i-stem nouns, sometimes optionally.

   ‎laug (“bath”) + ‎-u → ‎laugu (“to the bath”)

2. Forms the indefinite accusative singular of a few ō-stem nouns, mainly personal names

Descendants

• Icelandic: -u
• Middle Norwegian: -u, -o
• Old Swedish: -o

References

• Myrvoll, Klaus Johan (7 November 2015), “Zum Ursprung des Dativs Singular auf -u der altwestnordischen ō-Stämme”, in Indogermanische Forschungen, volume 120, Berlin: De Gruyter, →DOI, →OCLC, pages 153-175
• Þórhallsdóttir, Guðrún (2007), “The Dative Singular of ō-Stems in Old Norse”, in Alan J. Nussbaum, editor, Verba Docenti: Studies in historical and Indo-European linguistics presented to Jay H. Jasanoff […] , Ann Arbor, New York: Beech Stave Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, pages 329-341

Palula

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-u, -o/

Suffix

-u

1. Masculine singular agreement suffix

References

• Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-u”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎^[5], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-u, -o/

Suffix

-u

1. Masculine nominative/singular agreement suffix

References

• Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-u”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎^[6], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Polish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u/
• Rhymes: -u
• Syllabification: -u
• Homophones: ó, u, u-, -u-

Suffix

-u

1. (sometimes archaic) forms the masculine dative singular, now used to create adverbs, always used in conjunction with po

   ‎polski + ‎-u → ‎po polsku

2. forms the inanimate masculine genitive singular after soft or historically soft stems

   ‎kowal + ‎-u → ‎kowalu

3. (rare) forms the masculine dative singular in certain words

   ‎chłopiec + ‎-u → ‎chłopcu

4. forms the masculine locative singular

   ‎kowal + ‎-u → ‎kowalu

5. forms the masculine vocative singular

   ‎kowal + ‎-u → ‎kowalu

6. forms the feminine vocative singular after -ś and -ź

   ‎mamusia + ‎-u → ‎mamusiu

7. forms the neuter dative singular in soft and velar stems

   ‎pole + ‎-u → ‎polu

   ‎stoisko + ‎-u → ‎stoisku

8. forms the neuter locative singular in soft and velar stems

   ‎pole + ‎-u → ‎polu

   ‎stoisko + ‎-u → ‎stoisku

Derived terms

Polish terms suffixed with -u

haru

ratunku

Further reading

• “-u”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[7] (in Polish)

Romanian

Etymology

See -ul.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u/

Suffix

-u

1. alternative form of -ul used to form surnames

   ‎vrăjmaș + ‎-u → ‎Vrăjmașu

   ‎boiar + ‎-u → ‎Boiaru

   ‎bulgar + ‎-u → ‎Bulgaru

2. (colloquial) alternative form of -u' (“pronunciation spelling of -ul”)

Derived terms

Romanian terms suffixed with -u

Batogu

Bulgaru

chitru

Coroiu

Mafteiu

magnoliu

-oiu

Saftu

Vrăjmașu

Turkish

preceding vowel
a / ı	e / i	o / u	ö / ü
-ı	-i	-u	-ü

Etymology 1

Accusative suffix.

Suffix

-u

1. Form of -i after the vowels O / U.

   ‎doktor (“doctor”) + ‎-u → ‎doktoru

Etymology 2

Possessive suffix.

Suffix

-u

1. Form of -i after the vowels O / U.

   ‎pantolon (“pants”) + ‎-u → ‎pantolonu (“his/her pants”)

Etymology 3

Derivative suffix.

Suffix

-u

1. Form of -i after the vowels O / U.
   1. Derives nouns from verbs.

      ‎duy- (“to feel, to sense”) + ‎-u → ‎duyu (“sense”)

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh -u, from Proto-Brythonic *-oβ̃.

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ɨ̞/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /i/

Suffix

-u

1. Forms verbnouns from verb stems.

   Synonyms: -a, -ed, -eg, -i, -o, -io

Usage notes

This suffix is mostly used where the vowel in the last syllable is a, ae, e, or y.

Derived terms

Welsh terms suffixed with -u

aberthu

absennu

acennu

achlesu

adeiladu

adeileddu

adfachu

adlewyrchu

addasu

addunedu

addysgu

aeddfedu

aflonyddu

aflywodraethu

afradu

ageru

allanu

amaethu

amcanu

amgylchu

amlinellu

amlygu

amseru

anadlu

analu

anelu

anhedlu

anheddu

annibennu

anrhydeddu

anwadalu

anweddu

anwesu

anwylu

arafu

archebu

argraffu

arolygu

arwahanu

awchlymu

awchu

awgrymu

awyru

bachu

baglu

barnu

bathu

beirniadu

biasu

blaenllymu

blaenu

blasu

blysu

boglynnu

bradu

braenu

bragu

brasamcanu

brathu

brechu

brefu

bustachu

bwriadu

bychanu

byddarol

byddaru

byrlymu

cablu

caledu

camamseru

camryweddu

camu

camweddu

cannu

canu

carcharu

carddu

casgennu

casglu

cecru

cenhedlu

ceryddu

cloriannu

clymu

cofrestru

crafangu

crasu

crebachu

croesawu

cronellu

crychlamu

crymu

cusanu

cyfaddasu

cyfannu

cyfarparu

cyfieithu

cyflafareddu

cyflymu

cyflyru

cyfryngu

cyfundrefnu

cyfyngu

cyffesu

cylchu

cylchynu

cymalu

cymharu

cymhennu

cymhlethu

cymwynasu

cymylu

cynaeafu

cynanu

cynhennu

cynhesu

cynhyrchu

cynhyrfu

cynyddu

cyplu

cyplysu

cyrchu

cysegru

cysgodi

cysgu

cystadlu

cysylltu

chwileru

chwydu

chwyrnu

chwysu

dallu

damcaniaethu

dathlu

deddfu

deisyfu

dibennu

diddymu

diflasu

difyrru

diogelu

dirymu

disgyblu

diwallu

diweddaru

diweddu

diystyru

dosbarthu

drysu

dyblu

dychmygu

dyframaethu

dylanwadu

dylu

dyrnu

ebychu

echrydu

edifaru

efengylu

eglurebu

ehangu

elfennu

erthylu

esgeuluso

esteru

etifeddu

euogfarnu

ewynnu

fectoru

ffaelu

gaeafu

galaru

glasu

glynu

gofalu

gogrynu

goleddfu

golygu

gormesu

gornestu

gorthrechu

gorthrymu

goruchafu

gostegu

graeanu

gronellu

gwaedu

gwahaniaethu

gwahanu

gwamalu

gwaredu

gwasanaethu

gwasgu

gwastraffu

gweinyddu

gweithredu

gwenu

gwerthu

gwerydu

gweu