t-eko-

Qualities with T-eko-

Level 5

T-eko- makes a noun for a quality. The middle part, eko, is a root that means “life, character, way of being”.

How It Works

The prefix t-eko- makes a noun that names a quality or a way of living. The middle part, eko, is a root for “life, character, way of being”.

RootWith t-eko-
irũ “friend”tekoirũ “comradeship”
ayhu “love”tekoayhu “friendship”
asy “pain”tekoasy “suffering”
guapy “sit”tekoguapy “calm”
mboʼe “teach”tekomboʼe “education”

English uses many different endings for these words, such as “-ship”, “-ing” and “-ness”. In Guarani one prefix does the job.

These nouns sound formal. They are common in News, speeches and legal texts. One example is tekoruvicharenda “dignity”, in a formal sentence about all people being free and equal.

Examples (4)

  1. Mayma yvypóra ou ko yvy ári iñapytĩʼỹre ha peteĩcha tekoruvicharenda.

    Every person comes into this world free and equal in dignity.

    This formal sentence uses tekoruvicharenda “dignity”, built with t-eko-.

  2. Tekoayhu iporã.

    Friendship is good.

    Tekoayhu “friendship” is ayhu “love” with t-eko-.

  3. Ápe ndaipóri tekoasy.

    There is no suffering here.

    Tekoasy “suffering” is asy “pain” with t-eko-.

  4. Emeʼẽ chéve tekoguapy.

    Give me some calm.

    Tekoguapy “calm” is guapy “sit” with t-eko-. Emeʼẽ chéve is “give me”.

How It Connects

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

t-eko-Level 5Qualities with T-eko-

Learn This First

T-eko- names a quality in a second way after -kue, and its first letter changes like other t- roots.

Words in This Pattern

tekoayhutekoasy