di-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "di"

Languages (24)

English

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Catalan • Danish • Dutch • Esperanto • Finnish • French • German • Indonesian • Italian • Javanese • Kongo • Latin • Malay • Navajo • Northern Sotho • Polish • Portuguese • Sotho • Spanish • Tagalog • Tswana • Welsh • West Makian

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Page categories

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /daɪ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Etymology 1

PIE word
*dwóh₁

Borrowed from Latin di-, from Ancient Greek δι- (di-, “two”).

Prefix

Greek number prefix

2	Previous:	mono-
	Next:	tri-

di-

2. Two.

   diacetate is any salt or ester having two acetate groups, dialkene is any alkene having two double bonds, diarchy is a state under the rule of two people; the form of government of such state, diactinal is having two rays

4. Double, twice the quantity.

   diglossia is the presence of a cleft or doubled tongue, dicatalectic is doubly catalectic, at both the middle and the end of the verse, dichoree is a double choree

6. A pair.

   diblock is of or pertaining to two blocks together, dimeson is a bound pair of mesons, dijet is a pair of jets

8. Both, possessing two distinct (possibly opposing) qualities.

   dikinetic is having both metakinetic and mesokinetic joints, dialetheism is the theory that statements can be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense, dianalytic is describing a function that is analytic or antianalytic with regards to both the domain and codomain

Synonyms

Synonyms: duo-, bi-, bis-

Translations

two, twice, double

• Catalan: di- (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 兩／两 (zh) (liǎng), 二 (zh) (èr), 雙／双 (zh) (shuāng)

• Dutch: di- (nl)
• Finnish: bi-, di- (fi), kaksois- (fi), tupla-
• French: di- (fr)
• Galician: di- (gl)
• German: di- (de), zwei- (de), doppel-
• Hindi: द्वि (hi) (dvi)
• Italian: di-
• Japanese: 二 (ja) (じ, ji), 両 (ja) (りょう, ryō), 双 (ja) (そう, sō)
• Malay: dwi- (ms)
• Polish: di- (pl), dy-
• Portuguese: di- (pt)
• Russian: двух- (dvux-), дву- (dvu-), двое- (dvoje-), ди- (ru) (di-)
• Spanish: di- (es)
• Swedish: di- (sv)

See also

• dwi-
• twi-

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin dis-.

Prefix

di-

2. Alternative form of dis-: split, to split; shortened before l, m, n, r, s (followed by a consonant), and v; also often shortened before g, and sometimes before j.

   divide is to split or separate (something) into two or more parts, diverge is to run apart; to separate; to tend into different directions

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Ancient Greek δῐ- (di-), from Ancient Greek δῐά (diá, “through”).

Prefix

di-

2. Alternative form of dia-: across or through, before a vowel.

   diactinic is capable of transmitting the chemical or actinic rays of light, dielectric is an electrically insulating or nonconducting material considered for its electric susceptibility, ie its property of polarization when exposed to an external electric field

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with di-

terms derived from two

• diarginate
• dianhydride
• diandry
• dianion
• diacetate
• dianilido
• diacetyl
• diamidino
• diarginine
• diactivated
• dialkylated
• dialkylation
• dialkene
• dianhydride
• diamide
• diamidine
• diacetal
• diacetoxylation
• diaromatic
• diangle
• diarchy
• diarch
• diallelic
• diamniotic
• diactinal
• diarchy
• diandry
• diantimony
• diarsenic
• dibarium
• diberyllium
• dicadmium
• dicerium
• didysprosium
• dierbium
• dieuropium
• digadolinium
• digallium
• digermanium
• dihafnium
• dihalo
• dihelium
• diholmium
• dihydro
• diindium
• diiridium
• diiron
• dilanthanum
• dilead
• dilithium
• dilutetium
• dimagnesium
• dimanganese
• dimercury
• dimolybdenum
• dineodymium
• dineptunium
• diniobium
• dialuminium
• dichlorine
• dihydroxo
• diadenosine
• dibutyryl
• dicarbamoyl
• dichloro
• dicyano
• didodecyl
• diepoxy
• diethoxy
• diethylene
• diethynyl
• digalactose
• digalactosyl
• digeranyl
• diglycosyl
• diguanosine
• diheptyl
• dihexyl
• diisobutyl
• diisodecyl
• diisononyl
• dilactyl
• dilauroyl
• dilauryl
• dimethylene
• dimyristoyl
• dimyristyl
• dinonyl
• dilactone
• dilaurate
• dimethacrylate
• dimycocerosate
• diacrylate
• dicarboxamide
• diacridine
• dibesylate
• dicarbamate
• diferulate
• dilactate
• diadenylate
• dialkoxide
• dibehenate
• dicarboxaldehyde
• didecenoate
• diepoxide
• digalacturonate

terms derived from pair

• dileucine
• dilepton
• dielectron
• digluon
• diboson
• dihadron
• dimorph
• diblock
• dikinetid
• dicluster
• dimeson
• dijet

terms derived from double

• dihaploid
• dibenzyl
• diglossia
• dicatalectic
• diallyl
• dichoree
• diheteromeric

terms derived from both

• dikinetic
• dialetheism
• dianalytic
• dichromatic
• dialetheia

terms derived from across

• diactinic
• dielectric

terms derived from split

• divide
• diverge

See also

• Thesaurus:number

References

• “di-”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “di-”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Anagrams

• Id, I'd, id., I-D, id, I.D., -id, ID

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek δίς (dís, “twice”).

Prefix

di-

1. di-

Derived terms

Catalan terms prefixed with di-

Danish

Prefix

di-

1. two

Derived terms

Danish terms prefixed with di-

Dutch

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δίς (dís, “twice”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di/

• Audio:

  (file)

Prefix

di-

1. meaning two, twice, or double

   dioxide

   dioxide

   dipool

   diople

Esperanto

Etymology

Derived from Latin di-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [di]
• Hyphenation: di

Prefix

di-

1. di-

Derived terms

Esperanto terms prefixed with di-

Finnish

Etymology

Internationalism (see English di-), ultimately from Ancient Greek δι- (di-).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdi-/, [ˈdi-]

Prefix

di-

1. di- (double, twin)

   Synonyms: bi-, kaksois-

Derived terms

Finnish terms prefixed with di-

compounds

• dihiilimonoksidi
• dikloorimetaani
• kalsiumdinatriumetyleenidiamiinitetra-asetaatti

 

French

Prefix

di-

1. di-

Derived terms

French terms prefixed with di-

German

Etymology

Ultimately from Ancient Greek δίς (dís, “twice”).

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Prefix

di-

1. di-

Derived terms

German terms prefixed with di-

Further reading

• “di-” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay di-, from Classical Malay di-, from Late Old Malay di-, from Early Old Malay ni-, from Proto-Malayic *ni-, a metathesis of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-in-, from Proto-Austronesian *-in- (“verb perfective infix for object focus”). Doublet of -in-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di/

• Audio:

  (file)

Prefix

di-

1. Used to form passive voice or "patient focus" (in some analysis) on a verb, usually used in an OVA sentence.

   dimakan ― to be eaten

Derived terms

Indonesian terms prefixed with di-

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di/
• Hyphenation: di-

Etymology 1

From Latin de- (“indicating removal or descent”).

Prefix

di-

1. de-

Derived terms

Italian terms prefixed with di-

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek δίς (dís, “twice”).

Prefix

di-

1. di-

Derived terms

Italian terms prefixed with di-

Javanese

Romanization

di-

1. Romanization of ꦢꦶ-

Kongo

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *di-.

Prefix

di- (plural ma-)

1. class 5 prefix
2. class 5 subject prefix

Latin

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /diː/, [d̪iː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /di/, [d̪i]

Prefix

dī-

1. Alternative form of dis-

Usage notes

Occurs before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, sc, sp, st, v, and occasionally before consonantal i.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Ancient Greek δῐ- (di-), from δίς (dís, “twice, doubly”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /di/, [d̪ɪ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /di/, [d̪i]

Prefix

di-

1. Two, double; di-.

Derived terms

Latin terms prefixed with di-

Descendants

→ English: di-

Malay

Etymology

From Late Old Malay ni-, from Early Old Malay ni-, from Proto-Malayic *ni-, a metathesis of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-in-, from Proto-Austronesian *-in- (“verb perfective infix for object focus”). Doublet of -in-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di/
  • (with consonant-initial stem) IPA^(key): [di-]
  • (with vowel-initial stem) IPA^(key): [diʔ-]

Prefix

di- (Jawi spelling before consonant-initial stems د-, Jawi spelling before vowel-initial stems دأ-)

1. (third person) Patient focus or passive voice marker of a verb.

   ‎di- + ‎buka (“to open”) → ‎dibuka (“was opened”)

   Pintu itu dibuka (oleh) ayah.

   That door was opened by dad.

Usage notes

• According to the DBP's prescriptive grammar, this prefix is to be exclusively used in the third person.
  • Patient focus sentences in the first and second persons are formed by following the subject of a sentence with the stem form of a verb.
  • The difference mentioned above is as so:
    • Third person

      Makanan itu ditelan (oleh) dia.

      That food was swallowed by him/her.

    • First/Second person

      Aku/Kamu telan makanan itu.

      That food was swallowed by me/you.

  • The first/second person form of the so-called "patient focus" or "passive voice" sentence is regularly used in informal or everyday speech with an "agent focus" or "active voice" meaning so the example first/second person sentence above can be interpreted as so:

    Aku/Kamu telan makanan itu.

    I/You swallowed that food.

• When the sentence agent appears right after the verb as in "The homework was completed by Adam in three minutes.", it can optionally be preceded by the preposition oleh, so the aforementioned sentence can be translated in the two ways shown below:

  Kerja sekolah itu disiapkan Adam dalam tiga minit.

  Kerja sekolah itu disiapkan oleh Adam dalam tiga minit.

  That homework was completed by Adam in three minutes.

• If the sentence agent does not appear right after the verb as in "The homework was completed in three minutes by Adam.", the oleh preposition is now compulsory, as in the sentence below:

  Kerja sekolah itu disiapkan dalam tiga minit oleh Adam.

  That homework was completed in three minutes by Adam.

Derived terms

Malay terms prefixed with di-

See also

• di- -kan (passive causitive or locative)
• di- -i (passive causitive or benefactive)
• meng- (active)

Navajo

Etymology 1

Represents multiple homophonous thematic and aspectual prefixes of position I and VI, whose exact meaning and etymology remain mostly speculative.

Prefix

di- (position I)

1. fire, near or into it

   • diidiłjeeh ― to make a fire

► Navajo verbs with disjunct prefix di-

di- (position VI)

Young and Morgan (1987) identify 14 or so thematic prefixes, among others:

1. fire, light

   • diidiłjeeh ― to make a fire

2. arms and legs

   • dilʼéés ― to step, to place one's foot

3. extension, elongated shape
4. noise, sound, oral, food, sensory

   • dilwosh ― to shout
   • disééh ― to belch
   • yidiitsʼį́į́h ― to hear it

5. color (see also dini-)

   • dinilgai ― whitish

6. relinquishment, relief

   • yą́ą́ʼdíłgééd ― to uncover it by digging
   • bidizóóh ― to subtract it

7. sanctity

   • diyin ― holy

8. Unclassified, often entering in the formation of other prefix compounds

   • kʼiidilé ― to plant it
   • yidiséí ― to crumble it
   • hadii- ― from end to end
   • díní- (prolongative)
   • tádi- (diversative)
   • bibadi- ― to exhaustion

Four modal-aspectual uses are also distinguished:

1. Forms a number of inceptive verbs, with a (∅/si) paradigm.

   • dighááh ― to start to go

2. Forms a number of inchoative verbs, with prepounded dah and a transitional (yii/yii) paradigm.

   • dah diighááh ― to start off, to set out, to leave

3. Forms the future mode of all active verbs along with the progressive yi-.

   • doogááł ― he will go
   • didoogááł ― he will start to go
   • dah didoogááł ― he will start off

4. Forms a number of neuter adjectivals.

   • dijool ― spherical, chubby

► Navajo verbs with prefix di-

Etymology 2

Probably cognate with a prefix of similar shape occurring in other Athabascan languages a reflexive possessive pronoun.

Probably cognate with classifier d- marking passive and reflexive verbs.

Prefix

di- (position IV)

1. Personal prefix used in combination with the prefix of position I à-, marking the reflexive verbs. It always triggers a classifier shift (∅ → d, ł → l).

   yishchʼid ― I'm scratching it

   nishchʼid ― I'm scratching you

   ádíshchʼid ― I'm scratching myself

   ánáádíshchʼid ― I'm scratching myself again

Northern Sotho

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *bì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.

Prefix

di-

1. Class 8 noun prefix.

Polish

Alternative forms

• dy-

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin dī-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -i
• Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]

Prefix

di-

1. di-

   Synonyms: bi-, dwu-

   ‎di- + ‎chromatyczny → ‎dichromatyczny

Derived terms

Polish terms prefixed with di-

Further reading

• di- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek δίς (dís, “twice”).

Prefix

di-

1. di- (two, twice or double)

Derived terms

Portuguese terms prefixed with di-

Sotho

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *bì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.

Prefix

di-

1. Class 8 noun prefix.

Spanish

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek δίς (dís, “twice”).

Prefix

di-

1. di-

   Synonyms: bi-, duo-

Derived terms

Spanish terms prefixed with di-

Etymology 2

From Latin dis or Latin di.

Prefix

di-

1. dis-

Derived terms

Spanish terms prefixed with di-

Further reading

• “di-”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28

Tagalog

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *di.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈdiʔ/ [ˈd̪iʔ]
• Rhymes: -iʔ
• Syllabification: di-

Prefix

dî- (Baybayin spelling ᜇᜒ)

1. non-; un-; de-

Derived terms

• di-maaari
• di-maabot
• di-maalam
• di-mabasa
• di-mabata
• di-makaugaga
• di-makauwi
• di-makaya
• di-makilala
• di-nabubulok
• di-pagkakaunawaan
• di-pangkaraniwan
• diigkasin
• disaluyan

 

Tagalog terms prefixed with di-

Related terms

• 'di
• hindi

Tswana

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *bì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.

Prefix

di-

1. Class 8 noun prefix.

Welsh

Etymology

Proto-Celtic *dī- (“from, of”), from Proto-Indo-European *de. Cognate with Cornish di-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌdiː/, /dɪ/

Prefix

di-

1. intensifying prefix

   ‎di- + ‎goddef → ‎dioddef

   ‎di- + ‎golwch → ‎diolch

2. without, -less, de-, a-, negative prefix

   Synonyms: af-, an-, dis-

   ‎di- + ‎enw (“name”) → ‎dienw (“anonymous”)

   ‎di- + ‎paid (“pause, respite”) → ‎di-baid (“ceaseless, incessant”)

   ‎di- + ‎swydd (“job, office”) + ‎-o → ‎diswyddo (“dismiss, discharge, sack, make redundant”)

Usage notes

The negative prefix di- indicates a lack of something and is most often attached to a noun in a similar manner to English -less, e.g. dienw (“anonymous, nameless”), di-waith (“unemployed (“workless”)”), diobaith (“hopeless”). In contrast, af- and an- simply denote the negative form of the following root rather than the lack of it.

Derived terms

Welsh terms prefixed with di-

Mutation

Mutated forms of di-

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
di-	ddi-	ni-	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “di-”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

West Makian

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d̪i/

Pronoun

di-

1. third-person plural possessive prefix, their

   di oma ― their children

2. (polite) third-person singular possessive prefix, his, her

   mene de ti deto di musala ― this is my grandmother's mat

Etymology 2

Pronoun

di-

1. (inanimate) alternative form of da- (“its”) when preceded by a root-initial i

See also

West Makian personal pronouns

	independent	possessive prefix
1st person singular	de	ti
2nd person singular	ni	ni
3rd person singular	me	mVan., dVinan.
1st person plural inclusive	ene	nV
1st person plural exclusive	imi	mi
2nd person plural	ini	fi
3rd person plural	eme	di

• V indicates the expected assimilated vowel of the following noun, following standard West Makian vowel harmony.

References

• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[1], Pacific linguistics