Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/-ci

This Proto-Finnic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Finnic

Etymology

From Proto-Uralic *-te, *-nte.

Suffix

*-ci

1. The second-person singular possessive ending.

Usage notes

• This is the form used in the nominative singular. The oblique form *-nci (with initial *-n re-extracted from other inflectional suffixes, such as the genitive *-n) is used with all other cases and numbers.
• In some cases, the bare stem *-ci may surface as *-ti when preceded by e.g. *-t- in consonant stems.
• The possessive suffix follows the case suffix.

Coordinate terms

Proto-Finnic possessive suffixes

Person	Nominative singular	Oblique or plural
1st sing	*-mi	*-ni
2nd sing	*-ci	*-nci
3rd sing	*-sa	*-nsa
1st plur	*-mak	*-nak
2nd plur	*-dak	*-ndak
3rd plur	*-sak	*-nsak
Reference: Petri Kallio (2021) “Kaksikko aina kaunihimpi? Itämerensuomalaisten possessiivisuffiksien taustaa”, in Taina Saarikivi, Janne Saarikivi, editors, Turhan tiedon kirja: Tutkimuksista pois jätettyjä sivuja (Kirjokansi; 291) (in Finnish), pages 157-173

Descendants

• Finnish: -si, (dialectal) -ns (< *-nci; Kymenlaakso)
• Ingrian: -s
• Karelian:
  • North Karelian: -š
  • South Karelian: -š
• Livvi: -s
• Veps: -iž, -ič