Saying Whose It Is

Level 2

Compare qoyskayga, “my family,” and bisaddayda, “my cat.”

How It Works

These full patterns follow the possessed noun’s article alternations; bisad therefore produces dd. “His” and “her” identify the possessor independently of the noun’s gender.

PossessorMasculine / feminine pattern
My-kayga / -tayda
Your, singular-kaaga / -taada
His-kiisa / -tiisa
Her-keeda / -teeda
Our, exclusive-kaayaga / -taayada; also -kayaga / -tayada
Our, inclusive-keenna / -teenna
Your, plural-kiinna / -tiinna
Their-kooda / -tooda

Inclusive “our” includes the listener; exclusive “our” excludes them. The listed exclusive variants are attested and do not license arbitrary vowel shortening. Casual usage often generalises one form across the inclusive/exclusive distinction. Full possessives contain a final article: compare qoyskayga with unfocused subject qoyskaygu. Certain kinship and friendship nouns use shorter possessives; a following modifier requires the full form. Plural possessed nouns follow their plural determiner pattern.

Examples (5)

  1. qoyskayga yar

    my small family

    Non-subject noun-phrase fragment with a masculine linking pattern.

  2. bisaddeeda yar

    her small cat

    Non-subject noun-phrase fragment with a feminine noun and female possessor.

  3. qoyskeenna

    our family, including you

    Inclusive possessive noun form.

  4. qoyskaayaga

    our family, excluding you

    Exclusive possessive noun form with the longer attested variant.

  5. Qoyskaygu waa weyn yahay.

    My family is large.

    The final article carries subject marking; the collective takes singular agreement here.

How It Connects

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

Saying Whose It IsLevel 2

Learn This First

Recognize gender-conditioned definite noun endings before learning possessive suffix series.