Repeating a Word
Repeating part of a word shows repetition, or a number of things.
How It Works
Repeating is a quick way to say that something happens over and over, or to count many things.
| What repeats | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a verb | ombotambota | he knocks and knocks |
| a verb with a noun inside | jajepohéipohéi | we wash our hands over and over |
| a number | mokõimokõi, peteĩteĩ | two by two, one each |
| a describing word | ikyrakyra | all fat |
The repeat most often takes the last syllable or the last two syllables of the word. The meaning depends on the word: it can be “over and over”, “some”, “all” or “each”.
The ending -jevy “again” has its own repeat, -jevyvy, which means “again and again”.
Examples (4)
- Jajepohéipohéi.
We wash our hands over and over.
Pohéi “wash the hands” is said twice, so the washing happens again and again.
- Oñepyrũ ombotambota.
He began to knock and knock.
The repeat shows that the knocking does not stop.
- Haʼekuéra hoʼu mbohapy kagua peteĩteĩ.
They drank three glasses each.
The number peteĩ “one” is said twice and means “one each”.
- Chupekuéra ndoipyʼapýi mbaʼeve, ikyrakyra ha hesãijoa.
Nothing worries them, they are all fat and all healthy.
The repeat in ikyrakyra means “all fat”.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Repeating a word grows out of saying a number twice.
Related Patterns
- -jevy / jeyAgain: -jevy
-jevy says again, and its repeat -jevyvy says again and again.
Level 2 - peteĩ / mokõi / mbohapy / irundyCounting to Four
Repeating one of these numbers means each, as in peteĩteĩ.
Level 1 - memeAlways and All: Meme
Meme also means always and all.
Level 4 - All: -pa / -mbaAll: -pa
-pa also means all, but it goes on the verb.
Level 2
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