-ka / -ga / -ha / -a

Masculine Definite Articles

Level 1

The main masculine definite suffixes are -ka, -ga, -ha, -a.

How It Works

EnvironmentResult
Many consonantsqalin → qalinka
g, aa, i, y, w-ga; buug → buugga
Singular final ee becomes a before -ha; fure → furaha
c, h, x, kh, q, retained glottal stop-a; libaax → libaaxa

These are ordinary non-subject-marked forms. When a definite noun alone is an unfocused subject, final a becomes u: buugga becomes buuggu. With -aha, the u also assimilates the preceding a across h, giving -uhu: furaha becomes furuhu. A following modifier can carry subject marking instead.

Definite forms also commonly refer to whole categories; they need not identify one particular object. Lexical exceptions require complete attested forms. The examples are noun-phrase fragments illustrating the four suffix shapes, including obligatory written gg.

Examples (4)

  1. qalinka cusub

    the new pen

    Fragment illustrating -ka.

  2. buugga yar

    the small book

    Fragment preserving gg.

  3. furaha cusub

    the new key

    Fragment with e-to-a before -ha.

  4. libaaxa weyn

    the big lion

    Fragment with -a after x.

How It Connects

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-ka / -ga / -ha / -aLevel 1Masculine Definite Articles

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Use masculine noun gender before choosing the masculine definite article's attested allomorph.

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