leʼbaʼ

See also: leba, Leba, Léba, lêba, lēba, lĕba, Łeba, and Łebą

Makasar

Etymology

Compare Mandar leqbaq (“exacty, clear, precise”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈleʔbaʔ]

Adjective

leʼbaʼ (Lontara spelling ᨒᨙᨅ)

1. done, finished, completed, or past

   Inai leʼbaʼ? ― Who's done?

   Kamma rileʼbaka ― As in the past

   Na ia leʼbaʼnamo ballaʼna, ... ― And when her house was finished, ...

2. former, previous (e.g., a past state or role).

   Leʼbaʼ ballakku ― My former house

   Leʼbaʼ bainengku ― My former wife

   Leʼbaʼ otoku ― My previous car

3. exact, precise

   Synonyms: tantu, nassa, assa

4. definite, absolute, decisive

   Kana leʼbaʼ ― Absolute decision

Adverb

leʼbaʼ (Lontara spelling ᨒᨙᨅ)

1. exactly, absolutely

   Kamma leʼbaʼ ― Exactly as

   Sanrupa leʼbaʼ ― Exactly the same in appearance

2. (with negation) absolutely not, completely not

   Taena leʼbaʼ kulleanna

   It is absolutely not possible

   Teái leʼbakkai kanangku

   I didn't say that at all

Verb

leʼbaʼ (Lontara spelling ᨒᨙᨅ)

1. (intransitive) to end, to finish

Affixations

• kaleʼbakkang
• leʼbakkang
• leʼbakki
• leʼbaʼ-leʼbaʼ
• paleʼbaʼ
• paʼleʼbakkang

 

Usage notes

Leʼbaʼ is commonly used as a marker of completive aspect and often can be translated simply as 'already', especially in combination with the perfective clitic -mo. E.g. Leʼbaʼmaʼ annganre 'I have already eaten' (lit. 'I have finished eating').

Further reading

• A. A. Cense (2024) Makassaars-Nederlands woordenboek‎^[1], Brill, →DOI