-(i)m / -ma

Nouns from Verbs: -(i)m and -ma

Level 5

-(i)m and -ma turn some verbs into nouns: bil- (know) → bilim (knowledge), kiy- (wear) → kiyim (clothes), qovur- (fry) → qovurma (a fried dish).

How It Works

-(i)m. After a consonant add -im; after a vowel add -m. The noun often names a result or a thing:

  • bil- (know) → bilim (knowledge)
  • kiy- (wear) → kiyim (clothes)
  • bos- (press) → bosim (pressure)
  • bit- (be completed) → bitim (agreement, deal)
  • toʻpla- (collect) → toʻplam (collection)
  • chida- (endure) → chidam (endurance)

-ma. -ma makes nouns for things, and especially for dishes:

  • qovur- (fry) → qovurma (a fried meat dish)
  • suz- (strain) → suzma (strained yogurt)
  • qiy- (mince) → qiyma (minced meat)
  • dimla- (braise) → dimlama (a braised dish)
  • tug- (tie) → tugma (button)
  • koʻrsat- (show) → koʻrsatma (instruction)

Not the negative. The noun ending -ma looks like the negative -ma- and the negative command -ma. Suzma can be a noun (strained yogurt) or a command (don't swim!). The rest of the sentence shows which one it is.

Not free. Unlike -ish, these endings do not go on every verb. Bilish means knowing as an action; bilim means the knowledge you have. -uv is another ending that makes fixed nouns.

Examples (6)

  1. Uning tarixdan bilimi juda chuqur.

    His knowledge of history is very deep.

    Word by Word: His history-from knowledge-his very deep.

  2. Bolalarga qishki kiyim sotib oldik.

    We bought winter clothes for the children.

    Word by Word: Children-to winter clothes buying took-we.

  3. Onam kechki ovqatga qovurma qildi.

    My mother made a fried meat dish for dinner.

    Word by Word: Mother-my evening meal-to fried-dish made.

  4. Nonushtaga suzma va non yedik.

    We had strained yogurt and bread for breakfast.

    Word by Word: Breakfast-to strained-yogurt and bread ate-we.

  5. Ikki davlat savdo bitimini imzoladi.

    The two countries signed a trade agreement.

    Word by Word: Two state trade agreement-its-(acc) signed.

  6. Uning yangi sheʼrlar toʻplami chiqdi.

    Her new poetry collection has come out.

    Word by Word: Her new poems collection-its came-out.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the -ish action noun for the thing you have (meant: his knowledge of history is very deep).

    Uning tarixdan bilishi juda chuqur.
    Uning tarixdan bilimi juda chuqur.

    Bilish is the act of knowing. The knowledge a person has is bilim.

  • Adding -im after a vowel.

    Bu ishga katta chidaim kerak.
    Bu ishga katta chidam kerak.

    After a vowel, add only -m: chida- gives chidam, and toʻpla- gives toʻplam.

How It Connects

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

-(i)m / -maLevel 5Nouns from Verbs: -(i)m and -ma

Learn This First

Builds on Action Nouns With -uv.