-(I)mız/-(I)miz/-(I)muz/-(I)müz

First Person Plural Possessive Suffix

Level 1

The suffix -(ı)mız / -(i)miz / -(u)muz / -(ü)müz is the primary way to say 'our' in Azerbaijani. It attaches directly to the noun being possessed.

How It Works

This suffix follows the rules of vowel harmony (4-way harmony) and changes based on the last vowel of the noun root:

  • -ımız: after a, ı (e.g., adımız)
  • -imiz: after e, ə, i (e.g., evimiz)
  • -umuz: after o, u (e.g., dostumuz)
  • -ümüz: after ö, ü (e.g., gözümüz)

Special Rules:
1. Vowel-ending words: Usually, the first vowel of the suffix is dropped (e.g., ata + ımız = atamız). However, for su and nə, a buffer 'y' is used (suyumuz, nəyimiz).
2. Consonant Mutation: In multi-syllable words, if a noun ends in q, it changes to ğ (uşaq → uşağımız). If it ends in k, it changes to y (çiçək → çiçəyimiz). Note that most single-syllable words (like tük or eşq) do not change.
3. Vowel Dropping: Some two-syllable nouns (like ağız, burun, şəkil) drop their second root vowel when this suffix is added (ağzımız, burnumuz, şəklimiz).
4. Suffix Order: The possessive suffix comes after the plural marker (kitab-lar-ımız) and before any case endings (ev-imiz-də).

Examples (5)

  1. Bu bizim evimizdir.

    This is our house.

    Word by Word: This our house-our-is.

    Here, 'ev' (house) takes '-imiz' because of the vowel 'e'. The pronoun 'bizim' is used for emphasis.

  2. Uşağımız məktəbə gedir.

    Our child is going to school.

    Word by Word: Child-our school-to goes.

    Notice the consonant mutation: 'uşaq' (child) ends in 'q', which changes to 'ğ' before the vowel-starting suffix '-ımız'.

  3. Yeməyimiz çox dadlıdır.

    Our food is very delicious.

    Word by Word: Food-our very delicious-is.

    The word 'yemək' (food) ends in 'k', which changes to 'y' when adding '-imiz'.

  4. Ağzımızda nə var?

    What is in our mouth?

    Word by Word: Mouth-our-locative what exists?

    The word 'ağız' (mouth) is a two-syllable noun that drops its last vowel ('ı') when a possessive suffix is added, becoming 'ağzımız'.

  5. Suyumuz soyuqdur.

    Our water is cold.

    Word by Word: Water-our cold-is.

    The word 'su' (water) is an exception; it uses a buffer 'y' before the suffix, resulting in 'suyumuz'.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting consonant mutation (k/y and q/ğ).

    Çiçəkimiz
    Çiçəyimiz

    When a noun ends in 'k' or 'q', these letters usually change to 'y' or 'ğ' when a suffix starting with a vowel is added.

  • Incorrectly dropping the vowel in 'su' or 'nə'.

    Sumuz
    Suyumuz

    While most vowel-ending nouns just drop the suffix's first vowel (like 'atamız'), the words 'su' (water) and 'nə' (what) require a buffer 'y' instead.

  • Using the possessive suffix on verbs.

    Biz gəlirimiz.
    Biz gəlirik.

    In Azerbaijani, verbs use the personal ending -ıq/-ik for 'we'. The suffix -(I)mız is strictly for nouns.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-(I)mız/-(I)miz/-(I)muz/-(I)müzLevel 1First Person Plural Possessive Suffix

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.