-iyya

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Hausa

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Borrowed from Arabic ـِيَّة (-iyya).

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /-íj.jàː/
    • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [-ɪ́j.jàː]

Suffix

[edit]

-iyyā̀ f

  1. Used as a nisba suffix to form abstract nouns, often for systems or periods of time.

Usage notes

[edit]

This suffix is largely nonproductive, but has been extended to some words, both derived from Arabic and not. The tone pattern it sets is low-high-low.