Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/-in

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 1

Originally diminutive Proto-Uralic *-ma, *-i- extracted from other stems (or by epenthesis, cf. etymology 2), final vowel elided and suffix turned into an e-stem by analogy with other consonantal stems, final *-m > *-n is regular

Suffix

*-in

1. Forms nouns from verbs, indicating instruments (tools) are used to perform that verb's action.
2. Forms some diminutive nouns.

Inflection

Inflection of *-in

Note: The Proto-Finnic declension system is yet to be reconstructed in detail. What is presented here is only one possibility.
		singular	plural
nominative		*-in	*-imet
accusative		*-imen	*-imet
genitive		*-imen	*-inden *-imiden
partitive		*-intä	*-imitä
inessive		*-imessä *-imehnä	*-imissä *-imihnä
elative		*-imestä	*-imistä
illative		*-imesen	*-imisen
adessive		*-imellä	*-imillä
ablative		*-imeltä	*-imiltä
allative		*-imelen *-imelek	*-imilen *-imilek
essive		*-imenä	*-iminä
translative		*-imeksi	*-imiksi
instructive		*-imen	*-imin
comitative		*-imenek	*-iminek
abessive		*-imettä	*-imittä

Derived terms

Proto-Finnic terms suffixed with *-in (instrumental)

Descendants

• Estonian: -i
• Finnish: -in
• Ingrian: -in
• Karelian: -in
• Livonian: -īm
• Livvi: -in
• Veps: -im
• Võro: -i

Etymology 2

From earlier *-jmi < *-ma, through a change in the final vowel as in *-pi and *-mpi, and epenthesis. The final vowel was eventually elided. Ultimately from Proto-Uralic *-ma.

Suffix

*-in

1. Superlative suffix.

Inflection

Inflection of *-in

Note: The Proto-Finnic declension system is yet to be reconstructed in detail. What is presented here is only one possibility.
		singular	plural
nominative		*-in	*-imet
accusative		*-imen	*-imet
genitive		*-imen	*-inden *-imiden
partitive		*-intä	*-imitä
inessive		*-imessä *-imehnä	*-imissä *-imihnä
elative		*-imestä	*-imistä
illative		*-imesen	*-imisen
adessive		*-imellä	*-imillä
ablative		*-imeltä	*-imiltä
allative		*-imelen *-imelek	*-imilen *-imilek
essive		*-imenä	*-iminä
translative		*-imeksi	*-imiksi
instructive		*-imen	*-imin
comitative		*-imenek	*-iminek
abessive		*-imettä	*-imittä

In some descendants, later reformed by influence with the inflected forms of the comparative ending *-mpi (stem *-mpA).

Descendants

• Estonian: -im (no longer usually productive)
• Finnish: -in
• Karelian: -in
• Veps: -im (no longer productive)