ka-

Compare Babine-Witsuwit'en ha- (“up, out”), Chipewyan xá- (“out”), Lower Tanana xo- (“upwards”), Koyukon ho- (“up”), Navajo ha- (“up (and out)”).

Prefix

ka-

up, up and out, up a slope, ascending
With the d-qualifier: randomly, completely, into pieces

Derived terms

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, pages 233-234

Etymology 2

Possibly equivalent to ko- (areal prefix) +‎ gha- (“from”).

Prefix

ka-

adjacent; the next place

Usage notes

This is one of nine directional prefixes used in Ahtna.

Derived terms

Ahtna terms prefixed with ka- (next)

kadaadzeʼ

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 243

Bende

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà- (“Class 12 noun prefix”)

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix.

References

Yuko Abe (2006), A Bende Vocabulary‎^[1], Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, page v

Cebuano

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/ [kɐ]

Etymology 1

Compare Tagalog ka-.

Prefix

ka- (Badlit spelling ᜃ)

(added to adjectives) denotes a state of being; -ness
Synonyms: pagka-, ka- -an

‎ka- + ‎linaw (“calm”) → ‎kalinaw (“calmness”)

‎ka- + ‎bugnaw (“cold”) → ‎kabugnaw (“coldness”)
(added to an adjective) used in exclamations; how...
Synonyms: -a, ka- -a

‎ka- + ‎init (“hot”) → ‎kainit! (“how hot!”)
(added to nouns or verbs) denotes partnership or companionship; co-
Synonym: isigka-

‎ka- + ‎klase (“class”) → ‎kaklase (“classmate”)

‎ka- + ‎away (“to fight”) → ‎kaaway (“enemy”)

Derived terms

Cebuano terms prefixed with ka-

Related terms

Etymology 2

Prefix

ka- (Badlit spelling ᜃ)

short for maka-

Central Bikol

Etymology

Compare kaka and ka.

Prefix

ka-

Forms a noun that denotes partnership or companionship; co-
‎ka- + ‎kawat (“play”) → ‎kakawat (“playmate”)

‎ka- + ‎iwal (“fight”) → ‎kaiwal (“enemy”)

Derived terms

Chichewa

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà-.

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix, used with a diminutive or depreciative meaning

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *ká-

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 subject concord.

Etymology 3

Perhaps from ka- (“Class 12 noun prefix”), since a lot of class 1a nouns are animals, this could be from animals being put in Class 12 for stories in folklore.

Prefix

ka-

Class 1a noun prefix.

References

Steven Paas (2016), Oxford Chichewa-English/English - Chichewa Dictionary‎^[2], Oxford University Press, page 176

Gabadi

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

marks the first-person plural inclusive ("we, including you") subject on a verb
‎ka- + ‎dibaia (“to spear”) → ‎kadibaia (“we (incl.) speared it”)

‎ka- + ‎mai (“to come”) → ‎kamai (“we (incl.) came”)

Derived terms

Category Gabadi terms prefixed with ka- not found

References

Oa, Morea and Ma`oni Paul. (2014-02-24). Tentative Grammar Description for the Gabadi Language. [working paper, draft created november 2013; editor: Eileen Gasaway]. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: SIL International. Available online: [3]. For the prefix ka-, see page 23, section "5.1.1 subject marking".

Ilocano

Prefix

ka- (transitive, perfective kina-, intransitive maki-)

verbal prefix indicting companionship of the action of the root

Prefix

ka- (perfective kina-)

nominalizing prefix for conconcrete substantives.
Alternative form: ka- -an

Ligature

ka-

Used with some counted nouns

Derived terms

Ilocano terms prefixed with ka-

kaano

kabusor

Related terms

References

Rubino, Carl Ralph Galvez (2000), “ka-”, in Byron W. Bender, editor, Ilocano Dictionary and Grammar: Ilocano-English, English-Ilocano‎^[4] (overall work in English and Ilocano), Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 230

Japanese

Romanization

ka-

Rōmaji transcription of か

Javanese

Romanization

ka-

romanization of ꦏ-

Kangean

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka- (verb base)

accidental aspect of the passive intransitive verb
‎ka- + ‎gibe (“bring”) → ‎kagibe (“(accidentally) taken along”)

Kapampangan

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-, from Proto-Austronesian *ka-.

Prefix

ka-

implies companionship or partnership when prefixed to a root
‎ka- + ‎abe (“to accompany”) → ‎kayabe (“partner”)

‎ka- + ‎lagyu (“name”) → ‎kalagyu (“namesake”)
used to refer towards a location: to; toward; in; at; on
‎ka- + ‎pusu (“heart”) → ‎kapusu (“in the heart”)

‎ka- + ‎paninap (“dream”) → ‎kapaninap (“towards the dream”)
implies similarity or interaction when prefixed to a root noun
‎ka- + ‎lupa (“face”) → ‎kalupa (“someone/something similar; look-alike”)

‎ka- + ‎pate (“fight”) → ‎kapate (“enemy”)
implies repeated action when prefixed to a root that repeats the first syllable
‎ka- + ‎gulisak (“shout”) → ‎kagugulisak (“repeatedly shouting”)

‎ka- + ‎isip (“mind, thought”) → ‎kaiisip (“thinking a lot”)
implies causing or producing something in an extreme degree when prefixed to a root that repeats the first two syllables
‎ka- + ‎dapat (“should”) → ‎karapat-dapat (“deserving”)

‎ka- + ‎santing (“handsome”) → ‎kasanting-santing (“wonderful”)
implies recent action when prefixed to a root that repeats the first syllable and followed by pamu
‎ka- + ‎datang (“come”) → ‎kadaratang (“recently arrived”)

‎ka- + ‎punta (“go”) → ‎kapupunta (“recently went”)
forms nouns from adjectives. the state of
Synonym: pagka-

‎ka- + ‎balisa (“anxious”) → ‎kabalisa (“anxiety”)

‎ka- + ‎tundu (“sleepy”) → ‎katundu (“sleepiness”)
implies posteriority in time. when; if; after
Synonym: kapagka-

‎ka- + ‎papangan (“eat”) → ‎kapapangan (“after eating”)

‎ka- + ‎punta (“go”) → ‎kapunta (“when come”)
implies emphatic, before an adjective, non-productive and followed by na, da or ta
‎ka- + ‎timias (“cute”) → ‎katimias (“so/very cute”)

‎ka- + ‎yumi (“innocence; pure”) → ‎kayumi (“how/so pretty”)

Derived terms

Kimbundu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *kà-.

Prefix

ka-

noun class prefix, used with a diminutive meaning

Derived terms

Kimbundu terms prefixed with ka-

kambunda

Lower Tanana

Etymology

From -ka' (“foot”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kʰæ/, /qʰæ/

Prefix

ka-

A verbal prefix relating to climbing.

References

Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 234

Mandan

Etymology

From Proto-Siouan *raka-.

Prefix

ka-

Instrumental prefix: by force; appears often in verbs relating to cutting and striking.

Matengo

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà- (“Class 12 noun prefix”).

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix.

References

Nobuko Yoneda (2006), A Classified Vocabulary of the Matengo Language‎^[5], Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, page xi

Mbukushu

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà- (“Class 12 noun prefix”).

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix.

References

R.C.Wynne (1980), English-Mbukushu Dictionary‎^[6], Avebury Publishing Company Limited, page xviii

Minangkabau

Prefix

ka-

Used to form ordinal numbers

Mohawk

Prefix

ka-

third person feminine/neuter agent pronominal prefix

Alternative forms

-	Initial consonant
Environment	t/s/h/k	n/r/w/’	a	e/en	o/on	i	y
Word-Initial	ka-	ka-	w-	w-	i-	ken-	ka-

Prefix

ka-

noun prefix

References

Gunther Michelson (1973), A thousand words of Mohawk, University of Ottawa Press, page 9
Nora Deering; Helga H. Delisle (1976), Mohawk: A teaching grammar (preliminary version), Quebec: Manitou College, page 173

Mokilese

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈka-/

Etymology 1

Prefix

ka-

Used to form causative verbs.

Usage notes

This prefix sometimes takes the forms koa-, ke- and ko-.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Prefix

ka-

Used to form ordinal numbers.

References

Harrison, Sheldon P.; Albert, Salich Y. (1977), Mokilese-English Dictionary‎^[7], Honolulu: The University Press of Hawaii, →ISBN, page 86

Northern Ndebele

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Old High German

Prefix

ka-

(Bavarian) alternative form of gi-

Old Javanese

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

passive verb-forming prefix

Derived terms

Descendants

Javanese: k-, ꦏ- (ka-), ꦏꦼ- (ke-)

Phuthi

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Phuthi terms prefixed with ka-

kadze

kakgulu

kamunadzi

Shona

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà- (“Class 12 noun prefix”).

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix.

References

M. Hannan, S.J. (1984), Standard Shona Dictionary: Revised Edition with Addendum‎^[8], Harare College Press, page x

South Efate

Etymology

Probably related to South Efate go

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka/

Prefix

ka-

and (forms dependent verbs)

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Sundanese

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-.

Prefix

ka- (Sundanese script ᮊ-)

verb-forming prefix
1. accidental aspect of the passive transitive verb
  ‎ka- + ‎tijek (“to step on”) → ‎katijek (“(accidentally) stepped on”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎bedil (“gun”) → ‎kabedil (“(accidentally) shot”)
2. perfective aspect of the passive transitive verb
  ‎ka- + ‎déngé (“to hear”) → ‎kadéngé (“to be heard”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎baca (“to read”) → ‎kabaca (“to be read”)
3. implies that the action can be done
  ‎ka- + ‎harti (“meaning”) → ‎kaharti (“(can be) understood”)
noun-forming prefix
1. abstract noun-forming prefix
  ‎ka- + ‎rugi (“loss”) → ‎karugi (“loss”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎hayang (“to want”) → ‎kahayang (“desire, want”)

Usage notes

Not all roots can be prefixed with ka- only. Some verbs, due to semantic reasons, must feature the suffix -an.^[1] For example:
‎ka- + ‎merdika (“free, independent”) + ‎-an → ‎kamerdikaan (“independence”)

‎ka- + ‎kalangkang (“shadow”) + ‎-an → ‎kakalangkangan (“to become overshadowed”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ika-, from Proto-Austronesian *Sika-. Compare Malay ke-, Tagalog ika-

Prefix

ka-

numeral-forming prefix
1. ordinal number forming prefix; -th
  ‎ka- + ‎hiji (“one”) → ‎kahiji (“first”)
  
  ‎ka- + ‎sapuluh (“ten”) → ‎kasapuluh (“tenth”)

References

^ Prof. Dr. T. Fatimah Djajasudarma (2013), Fonologi dan Gramatika Sunda [Sundanese Phonology and Grammar] (in Indonesian), Bandung: PT Refika Aditama, →ISBN

Swahili

Pronunciation

Audio (Kenya): (file)

Etymology 1

Prefix

ka-

third-person singular animate (m class_(I)) recent-past perfective marker
Near-synonyms: a li-, a me-
- 1973, Mohammed S. Abdulla, Duniani kuna watu, page 5:
  Nimefanya jitihada mwenyewe na Mungu kanisaidia, […]
  I have worked hard on my own and God has helped me, […]
- 2013, “Rais Obama kaondoka, tusirudie maisha ya aibu”, in Mwananchi‎^[9]:
  Rais Obama kaondoka, tusirudie maisha ya aibu
  President Obama has left, let us not return to a life of shame

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Sabaki *ka-, from Proto-Bantu *kà-. In mainland colloquial Swahili and Congo Swahili, this prefix has been reintroduced through borrowing from the local languages there, such as Kikuyu ka-.

In Sabaki, cognate with Giryama ka- and Kipfokomo ka-. Other Bantu cognates include Rwanda-Rundi ka- and Shona ka-.

Prefix

ka- (plural tu- or bu- (Congo))

(Siu, Pate, Tikuu) noun class 12 prefix, replaces the original noun prefix and has diminutive meaning stronger that ki-
‎ka- + ‎mbuzi (“goat”) → ‎kabuzi (“very small goat”)
(mainland colloquial Swahili, Congo) noun class 12 prefix, replaces or goes in front of the original noun prefix and has diminutive or depreciative meaning
Synonym: (standard) ki-

‎ka- + ‎muci (“tree”) → ‎kamuci (“small tree”)

References

Ferrari, Aurélia; Kalunga, Marcel; Mulumbwa, Georges (2014), Le swahili de Lubumbashi: Grammaire, textes, lexique, Karthala, →ISBN:
Dans cette classe, le préfixe singulier est ka- et le préfixe plurier est tu-. Généralement, ces préfixes se surajoutent aux préfixes de classe du mot, créant ainsi une double préfixation. Par exemple, le nom kamuci « petit arbre » a deux préfixes ka- (classe 12/13) et mu- (classe 3/4). Parfois, ces préfixes ne s'ajoutent pas au préfixe de classe du substantif mais s'y substituent (katoto et non kamutoto « petit enfant »).
Paulin Baraka Bose (2019), “Analyzing Ways of Speaking Kivu Swahili: Variation and Ethnic Belonging”, in Swahili Forum‎^[10], number 26, pages 258-276:
Across the Kivu Swahili speech area, the singular diminutive is marked with the noun class prefix ka-, while the plural either requires a noun class 13 prefix tu- (which also serves as a pejorative marker) or a noun class 14 prefix bu-, which simply indicates that there are "many small things", without any pejorative connotation.
Gibson, Hannah; Githiora, Chege; Erastus, Fridah Kanana; Marten, Lutz (2024), “Morphosyntactic retention and innovation in Sheng, a youth language or stylect of Kenya”, in Studies in Language, volume 48, number 4, →DOI, pages 909-950:
For example, in so-called "Mainland Colloquial Swahili" (Kihore et al. 2001), the introduction of the habitual suffix -ag and the diminutive prefixes ka-/tu- has been attributed to second-language Swahili speakers who have similar features in their first language (King'ei 2000; Marten 2013; Marten & Gibson 2024; Rugemalira 2007).

Swazi

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Swazi terms prefixed with ka-

kahle

kakhulu

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Tagalog

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ka/ [k̠ɐ]
Syllabification: ka-

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *ka- (“mate, partner, cohort”).

Prefix

ka- (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

implies companionship or partnership
‎ka- + ‎sama (“to accompany”) → ‎kasama (“partner”)

‎ka- + ‎opisina (“office”) → ‎kaopisina (“coworker”)
implies similarity or interaction
‎ka- + ‎mukha (“face”) → ‎kamukha (“someone/something similar; look-alike”)

‎ka- + ‎away (“fight”) → ‎kaaway (“enemy”)

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka-, from Proto-Austronesian *ka-.

Prefix

ka- (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

(no longer productive) implies past time
‎ka- + ‎hapon (“afternoon”) → ‎kahapon (“yesterday”)

‎ka- + ‎gabi (“night”) → ‎kagabi (“last night”)
(with initial syllable reduplication) implies repeated action
‎ka- + ‎sigaw (“shout”) → ‎kasisigaw (“repeatedly shouting”)

‎ka- + ‎isip (“mind, thought”) → ‎kaiisip (“thinking a lot”)
(with initial syllable reduplication, followed by lang or lamang) implies recent action
‎ka- + ‎punta (“going”) → ‎kapupunta (“recently went”)

‎ka- + ‎luto (“cooking, cuisine”) → ‎kaluluto (“recently cooked”)

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with ka- (past time)

Etymology 3

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *ka- (“extremely”, stative prefix marking high degree of some quality; superlative marker).

Prefix

ka- (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

indicating a high degree, or the superlative
‎ka- + ‎ingay (“noise”) → ‎kaingay (“very noisy”)
(with initial two syllables reduplication) indicating a high degree, or the superlative, but with emphasis
‎ka- + ‎liwanag (“clarity”) → ‎kaliwa-liwanag (“extremely clear”)
(with initial two syllables reduplication) implies causing or producing something in an extreme degree
‎ka- + ‎galang (“respect”) → ‎kagalang-galang (“inspiring great respect”)

‎ka- + ‎paniwala (“belief”) → ‎kapani-paniwala (“very plausible”)

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with ka- (stative prefix)

Etymology 4

From Proto-Central Philippine *ka (enumerative marker). Compare Hanunoo ka, Central Bikol ka, Aklanon ka, Cebuano ka, and Hiligaynon ka.

Prefix

ka- (Baybayin spelling ᜃ) (no longer productive)

indicates a single count or unit of something
‎ka- + ‎tao (“person”) → ‎katao (“an individual; a single person”)

‎ka- + ‎putol (“slice”) → ‎kaputol (“a single piece”)

‎ka- + ‎dampot (“handful”) → ‎karampot (“a single handful”)

Usage notes

Can be followed after a cardinal numeral to indicate a count. The cardinal numeral is usually not followed by a linker (ex. -ng, na). However, recently, a linker is also being added to the cardinals.

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with ka- (enumerative prefix)

Tooro

Alternative forms

(before /e/) ke-
(before /o/) ko-

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *ká-.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ka-/

Prefix

ka-

class 12 pronominal concord
‎ka- + ‎-nu (“this, these”) → ‎kanu (“this (class 12)”)
they; class 12 subject concord
‎ka- + ‎-kora (“to do”) → ‎kakora (“it (class 12) does”)
positive imperative form of -ka- (“it; class 12 object concord”)
‎ka- + ‎-ha (“to give”) → ‎kaha (“give it (class 12)”)

References

Kaji, Shigeki (2007), A Rutooro Vocabulary‎^[11], Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), →ISBN, page 414

Tumbuka

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà-

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix, used with a diminutive or depreciative meaning.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *ká-

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 subject concord.

Xhosa

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Xhosa terms prefixed with ka-

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Yao (Africa)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *kà-.

Prefix

ka-

Class 12 noun prefix

Zulu

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.

Derived terms

Zulu terms prefixed with ka-

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ká-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

ka-

alternative form of ma- (hortative)

References

C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “ka-”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ka-”

[1] Prof. Dr. T. Fatimah Djajasudarma (2013), Fonologi dan Gramatika Sunda [Sundanese Phonology and Grammar] (in Indonesian), Bandung: PT Refika Aditama, →ISBN

[1]

class	person	independent	possessive	subject concord	object concord	combined forms
class	person	independent	possessive	subject concord	object concord	na	ni
class 1	first	nyowe, nye	-ange	n-	-n-	nanyowe, nanye	ninyowe, ninye
	second	iwe	-awe	o-	-ku-	naiwe	niiwe
	third	uwe	-e	a-	-mu-	nawe	nuwe
class 2	first	itwe	-aitu	tu-	-tu-	naitwe	niitwe
	second	inywe	-anyu	mu-	-ba-	nainywe	niinywe
	third	bo	-abo	ba-	-ba-	nabo	nubo
class 3		gwo	-agwo	gu-	-gu-	nagwo	nugwo
class 4		yo	-ayo	e-	-gi-	nayo	niyo
class 5		lyo	-alyo	li-	-li-	nalyo	niryo
class 6		go	-ago	ga-	-ga-	nago	nugo
class 7		kyo	-akyo	ki-	-ki-	nakyo	nikyo
class 8		byo	-abyo	bi-	-bi-	nabyo	nibyo
class 9		yo	-ayo	e-	-gi-	nayo	niyo
class 10		zo	-azo	zi-	-zi-	nazo	nizo
class 11		rwo	-arwo	ru-	-ru-	narwo	nurwo
class 12		ko	-ako	ka-	-ka-	nako	nuko
class 13		two	-atwo	tu-	-tu-	natwo	nutwo
class 14		bwo	-abwo	bu-	-bu-	nabwo	nubwo
class 15		kwo	-akwo	ku-	-ku-	nakwo	nukwo
class 16		ho	-aho	ha-	-ha-	naho	nuho
class 17		(kwo)	N/A	ha- (...-yo)	-ha-	N/A	nukwo
class 18		(mwo)	-amwo	ha- (...-mu)	-ha-	N/A	numwo
reflexive		-enyini, -onyini	—		-e-	—