-ऊ

See also: -ऊँ

Hindi

Etymology

Inherited from Sauraseni Prakrit -𑀉𑀕 (-uga) from Sanskrit -उक (-uka) from Proto-Indo-European *-u-kos.

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /uː/

Suffix

-ऊ • (-ū)

1. (added to verbal stems) forms adjectives and nouns of agentive force, sometimes with diminutive, endearing, or pejorative meaning

   ‎झाड़ना (jhāṛnā, “to sweep”) + ‎-ऊ (-ū) → ‎झाड़ू (jhāṛū, “broom”)

   ‎खाना (khānā, “to eat”) + ‎-ऊ (-ū) → ‎खाऊ (khāū, “glutton”)

   ‎ढालना (ḍhālnā, “to pour”) + ‎-ऊ (-ū) → ‎ढालू (ḍhālū, “sloping”)

2. (added to adjectives or nouns) a person characterized by (often with diminutive, endearing, or pejorative meaning)

   ‎पतला (patlā, “thin”) + ‎-ऊ (-ū) → ‎पतलू (patlū, “(endearing) skinny one”)

   ‎चिपकना (cipaknā, “to stick”) + ‎-ऊ (-ū) → ‎चिपकू (cipkū, “(slang, derogatory) a clingy person”)

Derived terms

Hindi terms suffixed with -ऊ

References

• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “-ऊ”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press