si-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "si"

Ahtna

Prefix

si-

fright

Derived terms

Ahtna terms prefixed with si-

sikilyaes

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 462

Bende

Prefix

si-

Class 7 noun prefix.

References

Yuko Abe (2006), A Bende Vocabulary‎^[2], Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, page v

Choctaw

Prefix

si- (except before a/o sa-, class II first-person singular)

the direct object of an active transitive verb
me
the subject of a stative intransitive verb
I
indicates possession of a noun
my

Usage notes

Class II person markers are used for possession only for a small set of words, mostly including kinship terms and body parts.

Inflection

Choctaw person markers
		class I	class II	class III	class N	imperative
+s	+C	+V	+C/i	+a/o	+C	+V	+C	+V	+C	+V
first-person	singular	initial	-li	sa-	si-	a̱-	am-	ak-	n/a
medial	-sa-	-sam-
paucal	ī-	il-	pi-	pi̱-	pim-	kī-	kil-
plural	hapi-	hapi̱-	hapim-
second-person	singular	is-	ish-	chi-	chi̱-	chim-	chik-	–
plural	has-	hash-	hachi-	hachi̱-	hachim-	hachik-	ho-	oh-
third-person	all	–	–	i̱-	im-	ik-	–

Chuukese

Prefix

si-

First-person plural inclusive subject marker for tense modifying adverbs.

Latin

Etymology

From sī (“if”).

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [siː]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [si]

Prefix

si-

Used to derive irrealis conditional adjectives, adverbs and pronouns.
quis (“who”) → sīquis (“if who”)

unde (“whence”) → sīcunde (“if whence”)

Navajo

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /sɪ̀-/

Etymology 1

Prefix

si-

my, me

Usage notes

This is an alternative form of shi- which comes about in some words as a result of coronal harmony. See, for example, sikʼis, sitsilí. This once firm rule has become optional, and today most Navajo speakers actually prefer to ignore the rules of sibilant (coronal) harmony, especially when there is relatively greater distance between the 1st-person shi- and the alveolar sibilant in the root.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Athabaskan *sə-, *s-, and therefore cognate with Ahtna z-, Dena'ina z-, Lower Tanana dh-.

Prefix

si-

Marks the si-imperfective and si-perfective paradigms, which occur in active and neuter verbs with a durative/stative sense

Usage notes

This prefix frequently undergoes coronal harmony, palatalizing to sh- if the root contains a palatal sibilant or affricate.
The si-perfective is mandatory with verbal prefixes, including ha- (“(climbing) up”), na- (“about”), and ná- (“around”). With the latter two prefixes, it is always paired with the ∅-imperfective.
When the distributive plural marker da- is present, many verbs are conjugated in the si-perfective, even if they use the yi- or ni-perfective in the singular/duoplural. Thus, yíʼnaʼ (“he/she/they crawled somewhere”) (yi-perfective) becomes daasʼnaʼ (“they (3+) each crawled somewhere”) (si-perfective).
When not preceded by another prefix, the third-person singular form of the prefix is si-, as in sidá (“he/she is sitting”). If preceded by another prefix, it is reduced to s-/sh- before the d-, l-, and ł-classifiers, and to z-/zh- before the ∅-classifier.
If the prefixes di-, hi-, and ni- precede si-, their vowel is lengthened and lowered to /e/, as in deezʼá (“it extends”) and yineesmas (“he made it into a ball”)
In the third-person singular/duoplural with the d- or l- classifiers, the peg element yi- appears (e.g. yisdlí (“he/she froze to death”).
The perfective of the continuative mode is typically formed with this prefix.
In momentaneous verbs, this prefix is typically used with verbs that have a static result.

Conjugation

Perfective:

With the ∅- classifier:

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	sé-	siid-	dasii-
2nd person	síní-	soo-	dasoo-
3rd person	z-, si-	daaz-
4th person	jiz-	dajiz-

With the ł- classifier:

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	sé-	siid-	dasii-
2nd person	síní-	soo-	dasoo-
3rd person	s-, si-	daas-
4th person	jis-	dajis-

With the ∅- classifier and coronal harmony:

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	shé-	shiid-	dashii-
2nd person	shíní-	shoo-	dashoo-
3rd person	zh-, shi-	daazh-
4th person	jizh-	dajizh-

With the ł- classifier and coronal harmony:

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	shé-	shiid-	dashii-
2nd person	shíní-	shoo-	dashoo-
3rd person	sh-, shi-	daash-
4th person	jish-	dajish-

With the l- and d- classifiers:

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	sis-	siid-	dasii-
2nd person	síní-	sooh-	dasoo-
3rd person	s-, si-	daas-
4th person	jis-	dajis-

With the l- and d- classifiers and coronal harmony:

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	shish-	shiid-	dashii-
2nd person	shíní-	shooh-	dashoo-
3rd person	sh-, shi-	daash-
4th person	jish-	dajish-

Derived terms

Navajo terms prefixed with si- (perfective)

Related terms

Other conjugation markers

References

Robert W. Young and William Morgan, Sr. (1987), The Navajo Language: A Grammar and Colloquial Dictionary, Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press, pages 246, 684.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Athabaskan. Cognate with Athabaskan and Lower Tanana dh-.

Prefix

si-

(rare) A thematic prefix relating to death and destruction.

Derived terms

Navajo terms prefixed with si- (death)

yiyiiłhé

References

Robert W. Young and William Morgan, Sr. (1987), The Navajo Language: A Grammar and Colloquial Dictionary, Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press.

Etymology 4

Prefix

si-

A thematic prefix of unclear meaning.

Derived terms

Navajo terms prefixed with si- (thematic)

asinitsééd

sinitséés

References

Robert W. Young and William Morgan, Sr. (1987), The Navajo Language: A Grammar and Colloquial Dictionary, Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press.

Northern Ndebele

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

we; first-person plural subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

us; first-person plural object concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

he, she, it; class 7 subject concord.
him, her, it; class 7 object concord.

Phuthi

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

we; first-person plural subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

us; first-person plural object concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-kɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

Class 7 noun prefix.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

he, she, it; class 7 subject concord.
him, her, it; class 7 object concord.

Southern Ndebele

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

we; first-person plural subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

us; first-person plural object concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

he, she, it; class 7 subject concord.
him, her, it; class 7 object concord.

Sundanese

Etymology

Compare Old Javanese asi- (“emphatic particle”)

Prefix

si- (Sundanese script ᮞᮤ-)

verb-forming prefix indicating an action done to oneself (reflexive verb)
‎si- + ‎beungeut → ‎sibeungeut (“to wash one's face”)

‎si- + ‎banyo → ‎sibanyo (“to wash one's hand”)

‎si- + ‎duru → ‎siduru (“to warm oneself near a fire”)

‎si- + ‎dakep → ‎sidakep (“to cross one's arm”)

Usage notes

Appears to be no longer productive in contemporary Sundanese, as the words prefixed with si- are now considered their own words. This appears in conjugations like saribanyo or nyibeungeutan.^[1]

Derived terms

Sundanese terms prefixed with si-

sibeungeut

sidakep

sideuha

References

^ D. K. Ardiwinata (1984) [1916], Ayatrohaedi, transl., Tata Bahasa Sunda (ILDEP)‎^[1] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, translation of Elmoening Basa Soenda pikeun pangadjaran di sakola2, djiiid I, page 95

Swahili

Pronunciation

Audio (Kenya): (file)

Etymology 1

Prefix

si-

I do not, 1st person singular negative subject concord
Antonym: ni-

Etymology 2

Prefix

si-

the negative emphatic copula or negative focusing copula: expresses "it is not" with an inflected object
Antonym: ndi-

Inflection

Emphatic copula negative (**si-**)
	singular	plural
1st person	simi, siye	sio
2nd person	siwe, siye	sinyi, sio
3rd person	m-wa_(I/II)	siye	sio
m-mi_(III/IV)	sio	siyo
ji-ma_(V/VI)	silo	siyo
ki-vi_(VII/VIII)	sicho	sivyo
n_(IX/X)	siyo	sizo
u_(XI)	sio	see n_(X) or ma_(VI)
ku_(XV/XVII)	siko
pa_(XVI)	sipo
mu_(XVIII)	simo

For a full table, see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns.

Swazi

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

we; first-person plural subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

us; first-person plural object concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-kɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

Class 7 noun prefix.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

he, she, it; class 7 subject concord.
him, her, it; class 7 object concord.

Tabaru

Prefix

si-

applicative prefix

Tocharian A

Verb

si-

to drain

Tocharian B

Verb

si-

to drain

Xhosa

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

we; first-person plural subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

us; first-person plural object concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-.

Prefix

si-

he, she, it; class 7 subject concord.
him, her, it; class 7 object concord.

Yao (Africa)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *jí- (“Class 10 subject concord”).

Prefix

si-

Class 10 subject concord.

Derived terms

sya- (“Class 10 possessive concord”).

References

Rev. Alexander Hetherwick, M.A., F.R.G.S. (1902), A Handbook of the Yao Language‎^[3], Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page 7

Zulu

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

we; first-person plural subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.

Prefix

sí-

us; first-person plural object concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ̀-.

Prefix

si-

Class 7 simple noun prefix.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ́-.

Prefix

sí-

he, she, it; class 7 subject concord.
him, her, it; class 7 object concord.

References

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

[1] D. K. Ardiwinata (1984) [1916], Ayatrohaedi, transl., Tata Bahasa Sunda (ILDEP)‎^[1] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, translation of Elmoening Basa Soenda pikeun pangadjaran di sakola2, djiiid I, page 95

[1]

	singular	dual	plural
1st person	shi-	nihi-	danihi-
2nd person	ni-	nihi-	danihi-
3rd person	bi-
4th person (3o)	yi-
4th person (3a)	ha-, hw-
indefinite person (3i)	a-

	person	independent	subject concord	object concord	combined forms	possessive
affirmative	negative	na	ndi-	si-
singular	first	mimi	ni-	si-	-ni-	nami, na mimi	ndimi, ndiye	simi, siye	-angu
second	wewe	u-	hu-	-ku-	nawe, na wewe	ndiwe, ndiye	siwe, siye	-ako
third	yeye	a-, yu-	ha-, hayu-	-m-, -mw-, -mu-	naye, na yeye	ndiye	siye	-ake
plural	first	sisi	tu-	hatu-	-tu-	nasi, na sisi	ndisi, ndio	sio	-etu
second	ninyi	m-, mw-, mu-	ham-, hamw-, hamu-	-wa-	nanyi, na ninyi	ndinyi, ndio	sinyi, sio	-enu
third	wao	wa-	hawa-	-wa-	nao	ndio	sio	-ao
reflexive	—	—	-ji-	—	—

Ahtna

Prefix

Derived terms

References

Bende

Prefix

References

Choctaw

Prefix

Usage notes

Inflection

Chuukese

Prefix

Latin

Etymology

Pronunciation

Prefix

Navajo

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Prefix

Usage notes

See also

Etymology 2

Prefix

Usage notes

Conjugation

Derived terms

Related terms

References

Etymology 3

Prefix

Derived terms

References

Etymology 4

Prefix

Derived terms

References

Northern Ndebele

Etymology 1

Prefix

Etymology 2

Prefix

Etymology 3

Prefix

Phuthi

Etymology 1

Prefix

Etymology 2

Prefix

Etymology 3

Prefix

Etymology 4

Prefix

Southern Ndebele

Etymology 1

Prefix

Etymology 2

Prefix

Etymology 3

Prefix

Sundanese

Etymology

Prefix

Usage notes

Derived terms

References

Further reading

Swahili

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Prefix

See also

Etymology 2

Prefix

Inflection

See also

Swazi

Etymology 1

Prefix