-kume

Basque

Etymology

From ume (“child”) with an expressive /k/. The noun kume (“pup, youngling”) is derived from the suffix and not the other way round.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kume/, [ku.me̞]

Suffix

-kume

1. Forms names for the young of various animals, -ling, -let

   ‎azeri (“fox”) + ‎-kume → ‎azerikume (“fox cub”)

   ‎txerri (“pig”) + ‎-kume → ‎txerrikume (“piglet”)

   ‎ahate (“duck”) + ‎-kume → ‎ahatekume (“duckling”)

2. Forms pejorative names for the children of people who engage in socially reproachable activities.

   ‎puta (“whore”) + ‎-kume → ‎putakume (“son of a bitch”)

   ‎lapur (“thief”) + ‎-kume → ‎lapurkume (“son/daughter of a thief”)

Derived terms

• kume (“pup, youngling”)

 

Basque terms suffixed with -kume

References

• “-kume” in Etymological Dictionary of Basque by R. L. Trask, sussex.ac.uk