Prefixes are morphemes that can be attached to the beginning of a word in order to change its structure and meaning. Some prefixes can be productively added to words to create new words, and some cannot and are exclusively used to create words on an approval basis through the LEP and Paul Frommer. Productive prefixes will be marked with pro. while unproductive prefixes will be un-marked. Prefixes that cause lenition will be marked with +.
Prefix |
Purpose |
Produced Word |
Example |
-a- |
Adjective Attribution (pro.) |
Adjective |
Trr amip, new day |
ay+ |
Unspecified Plural for Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Ayewll, plants |
fay+ |
These Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Faysute, these people |
fì- |
This Noun (pro.) |
Noun |
Fì'u, this thing |
fne- |
Type of Noun (pro.) |
Noun |
Fnepamrel, type of writing |
fra- |
Every Noun (pro.) |
Noun |
Frapo, everyone |
fray+ |
All of These Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Fraytseng, all of these places |
kaw- |
Not One Noun (pro.) |
Noun |
Kaw'it, not one bit |
ketsuk- |
Unable to Verb (pro.) |
Adjective |
Tsaw ketsukinan lu, that's unreadable |
le- |
Adjective Prefix |
Adjective |
Letam, sufficient |
me+ |
Two Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Menga, you two |
munsa- |
Pair of Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Munsahawnven, a pair of shoes |
nì- |
Adverb Prefix (pro. on adj.) |
Adverb |
Nìlun, clearly |
pay+ |
What Nouns? (pro.) |
Noun |
Paynumeyu, what learners? |
-pe+ |
What Noun? (pro.) |
Noun |
Pefya, what way? |
pxe+ |
Three Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Pxefuk, three books |
sä- |
Instance of a Noun |
Noun |
Säomum, (a piece of) knowledge |
sna- |
Group of Nouns (pro. w/ fauna) |
Collective Noun |
Snayerìk, herd of yerìk |
tì- |
Noun Deriving Affix |
Abstract Noun |
Tìpawm, question |
tsa- |
That Noun (pro.) |
Noun |
Tsalì'u, that word |
tsay+ |
Those Nouns (pro.) |
Plural Noun |
Tsayeylan, those friends |
tsuk- |
Able to Verb (pro.) |
Adjective |
Tsaw tsuktslam lu, that's understandable |