-елка

Bulgarian

Alternative forms

• -ялка (-jalka), -алка (-alka) — in palatal environment

Etymology 1

Diminutive form of Bulgarian -ело (-elo) + -ка (-ka), built upon the instrumental suffix Proto-Slavic *-dlo.

Occasionally, the suffix can be applied on loanwords ending on -ел-, e.g.:

Latin cappella → Bulgarian капела (kapela, “type of hat, cape”) → Bulgarian капелка (kapelka, “small hat, cape”).

Suffix

-елка • (-elka) f

1. Deverbal, forming feminine instrumental or effect nouns.

   горя (gorja, “to burn”) (ě/i-conj.) → горелка (gorelka, “torch, flamethrower”)

Related terms

• -лка (-lka), -лица (-lica)
• -алка (-alka), -алица (-alica)
• -илка (-ilka)
• -улка (-ulka)

Etymology 2

Diminutive form of Bulgarian -ел (-el)/-еля (-elja) + -ка (-ka), built upon the agentative/actionis suffix Proto-Slavic *-ělь.

Suffix

-елка • (-elka) f

1. Denominal, forming feminine instrumental or resultant nouns with prolonged aspect.

   къделя (kǎdelja, “spindle, distaff”) → къделка (kǎdelka, “small spindle”)

   хубавел (hubavel, “handsome man/boy”) → хубавелка (hubavelka, “pretty woman/girl”)