kuu / ii / noo

Object and Preposition Contractions

Level 3

i + u → ii; ku + u → kuu; na + u → noo; ina + u → inoo.

How It Works

Object i “me” plus u becomes ii; object ku “you” plus u becomes kuu. Exclusive na plus u gives noo, while inclusive ina plus u gives inoo. Preserve the doubled vowels in ordinary spelling. The inclusive/exclusive distinction is characteristic of standard usage, though many speakers generalize one form casually.

With bringing or telling predicates, these words commonly mark recipients; with actions performed for someone, they can mark beneficiaries. Compare i sug “wait for me” with ii keen “bring it to me.” The first predicate takes i without recipient u. Some verbs, including “give,” take recipients without u, so English “to” is not a universal guide.

A fused pronoun and preposition need not refer to the same participant: u can instead express a relation to another phrase. Read the full clause before assigning a translation.

Examples (4)

  1. Ii keen koob.

    Bring me a cup.

    Ii includes recipient-marking u.

  2. Waan kuu qoray warqad.

    I wrote a letter for you.

    Kuu identifies one listener as beneficiary.

  3. Hooyo waxay noo karisay bariis.

    Mother cooked rice for us, excluding you.

    Noo contains exclusive na.

  4. Hooyo waxay inoo karisay bariis.

    Mother cooked rice for us, including you.

    Inoo contains inclusive ina.

How It Connects

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

kuu / ii / nooLevel 3Object and Preposition Contractions

Learn This First

Identify the object pronoun and the relation expressed by u before reading their combined forms.

Words in This Pattern

nau