Classification of Suffixes in Quechua

There are many suffixes in Quechua that can be stacked on a root word to change or add meaning.

Note: The names for the suffixes are translations from Spanish names, and I am not 100% confident in the original Spanish names, let alone my translations. I’m not a linguist, so beware. Thankfully, the names of the suffixes aren’t necessary to learning how to use them.

If you spot an innacuracies in the descriptions of these suffixes, please shoot me an email (see very bottom).

Contents of suffixes on this page:

• -lla – the limitative (“only”, “exclusively”)
• -mi/n – personal knowledge evidential
• -chu – the interrogative (question marker)
• -ri – the inchoative (“and”)
• -pas – the inclusive (“also”, “likewise”)
• -kama – the terminative (“until”)
• -y – the vocative
• -yá – expresses conformity or assent
• -ña – expresses “already”
• -pi – (ablative) the locative (“in”, “at”)
• -manta – (ablative) place of origin indicator (“from”)
• -qa – the topic marker
• -kuna – the plural marker
• -q/pa – the genitive (“of”)
• -wan – instrumental, company, conjunction (“with”, “and”)
• -man – directional translocative (“to”, “toward”, “at”) (for nouns)
• -niq – approximative (“near”, “by”, “around”)
• -s/si – hearsay evidential (“it’s said that..”)
• -mu – translocative (from there to here) (for verbs)

-LLA: Limitative

This suffix has two usaages:

1. Expresses a limitation in what is being said. Can appear on any element in the sentence (subject, object, verb). Corresponds to the connotations: only, exclusively, uniquely.

1. Used in polite situations to express courtesy, friendship, and affection.

-MI/-N: Evidential, Personal Knowledge

Used to assert or confirm what was said by the speaker; indicates the speaker has personal experience with the claim. Can be added to any element of the sentence. Is not translatable.

-mi: is used for words that end in a consonant (allillanmi, good)
-n: is used for words that end in a vowel (wasin, house)

-CHU: Interrogative

Used in sentences that do not have a question word (e.g., Imay, what). Indicates that the speaker is asking a question. The word to which it is attached is what the speaker is asking about or is interested in.

-RÍ: Inchoative

Added to the end of words and functions as an interrogative or prompts the conversation to continue. It is translated like “and.” When used rí is emphasized, instead of the second to last syllable.

Need more non-name/pronoun examples.

-PAS/-PIS: Inclusive

Used in sentences of affirmation and corresponds to the translation “also” or “likewise”.

-KAMA: Terminative

Indicates a limit in space or time and also conveys the goal of an action. Corresponds to the translation “until”.

-Y: Vocative

Expresses tenderness, respect, or a positive emotional bond between the speaker and the person or thing being addressed. Can be accompanied by the suffixes -chay and -lla.

-YÁ

Expresses conformity, approval or assent. No direct translation.

-ÑA

Expresses the notion of “already”.

-PI: Locative (also ablative)

One of the several ablative case markers. Indicates a specific location in geographical space or place. Corresponds vaguely to the prepositions “in” and “at”.

-MANTA: Ablative

One of the several ablative case markers. Primary usage indicates the place of origin. Is a distinct suffix and is not composed of the individual suffixes -man and -ta.

-QA: Topic Marker

Marks a previously established topic in discourse. -qa may be suffixed on nouns, pronouns, adjectives, nominalized clauses, etc. However, -qa does not occur on negative lexemes (mana and ama), the conjunctions, y ‘and’ and o ‘or’ borrowed from Spanish, or within subordinate clauses. One -qa may occur per sentence. (source)

Generally occurs in affirmative sentences.

-KUNA: Plural marker

Marks nouns, pronouns in the 2nd and 3rd person, and demonstrative pronouns as plural. If the meaning is clear, then -kuna is optional. For example, if the sentence contains a number, then -kuna can be omitted.

-Q/PA: Genitive

Appears on nouns and indicates possession or ownership.

When a word ends in a vowel use -q or occasionally -qpa. When a word ends in a consonant use -pa.

When the possessor and thing possessed appear in a sentence, the possessor takes the genitive -q/pa and the thing possessed takes the possessive suffix.

-WAN: Instrumental

Appears on nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. Signals accompaniment or the means or instrument, animate or inanimate, that someone uses to do something. In this case -wan is translated as “with”.

Also can be used as a conjunction to indicate something additional, join words or phrases, or join sentences, in which case it is translated as “and”.

Note: It is possible for both meanings to be used (“with” and conjunction), see the final example.

-MAN: Directional translocative

Appears on nouns but comes with a movement verb. Indicates the directional sense of the verb’s action towards a particular goal. Translated as “to” or “toward” or “at”.

-NIQ: Approximative (location)

Indicates the place or location approximate to a point of reference. Translated as “around”, “by”, “near”. It is always followed by one of the ablative suffixes: -pi, -man, -manta, -kama.

Pronounced as “neq” (remember the q rule).

-S/SI: Reportative evidential (hearsay)

Indicates that the information was reported to the speaker by another person(s).

When the word stem ends in a vowel “-s” is used. When the word stem ends in a consonant “-si” is used.

-MU: Translocative (verbs only)

Indicates that the action began in another place and is headed (or finished) here. Used with movement verbs except “riy” (to go).

As an example for how this effects the meaning of verbs consider the following:

• Apay – to take away
• Apamuy – to bring