-습네까

Korean

Etymology

See the main entry.

Suffix

습네까 • (-seumnekka)

1. (Pyongan, Northern Hwanghae, areas of Hamgyong, potentially dated) Alternative form of 습니까 (-seumnikka, formal polite interrogative suffix)

   Synonym: (Hwanghae) 시꺄 (-sikkya)

Usage notes

While some North Korean defectors claim that this is an exaggerated or even a made-up form used to disparage North Koreans, most defectors are Yukjin or Hamgyong speakers from Northern Hamgyong or Yanggang Province, and thus use, 슴둥 (-seumdung), 슴두 (-seumdu) or 슴까 (-seumkka) forms instead. Among defectors from Pyongan speaking areas, some appear to consider this form old fashioned or quaint.