u-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "u"

Translingual

Etymology

Typographical substitution for μ, in environments where the correct symbol is not available.

Prefix

u-

1. (informal, proscribed) Alternative form of μ- as an abbreviation of micro-, mikro-, микро- etc.

Basque

Prefix

u-

1. Combining form of ur (“water”)

Chuukese

Prefix

u-

1. (subject marker for tense modifying pronouns) I

Czech

Etymology

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

Prefix

u-

1. (away) from

   ‎u- + ‎stoupit (“step”) → ‎ustoupit (“yield”)

2. (inchoative)
3. (telicity)

   ‎u- + ‎vidět (“see”) → ‎uvidět (“catch sight out of”)

4. added to mean a bit

   ‎u- + ‎lít (“pour”) → ‎ulít (“pour off a little”)

5. (u- + imperfective base + se) intensification: until exhaustion, expressing final stage of a process. (collocates with k smrti (“to death”))

   ‎u- + ‎kašlat (“have a cough”) → ‎ukašlat se (“die of coughing”)

   ‎u- + ‎smát se (“laugh”) → ‎usmát se (“die of laughing”)

   ‎u- + ‎trápit se (“grieve”) → ‎utrápit se (“die of grief”)

6. (on perfective verbs) unintentionally, inadvertently, by mistake

   ‎u- + ‎řeknout (“say once”) → ‎uřeknout (“misspeak, say unintentionally once”)

7. (root modality) [i.e., deontic + dynamic modality: ability, obligation, permission, readiness]

   ‎u- + ‎zvednout (“lift”) → ‎uzvednout (“be able to lift”)

   ‎u- + ‎nést (“carry”) → ‎unést (“be able to carry”)

8. to gain by activity

   ‎u- + ‎šetřit (“to save”) → ‎ušetřit (“to save up”)

   ušetřit peníze. ― to save money.

Derived terms

Czech terms prefixed with u-

Derived terms

• ubalit
• ubít
• ubytovat
• udobřit
• udělat
• udusit
• uhasit
• uchopit
• ujít
• ukázat
• ukamenovat
• uklouznout
• ukolébat
• ukonejšit
• ukořistit
• ukrást
• ukrýt
• ulehčit
• ulevit
• ulomit
• ulovit
• umínit
• umřít
• unést
• uplavat
• uplést
• upozornit
• upravit
• urazit
• uronit
• useknout
• usnadnit
• usnout
• uspat
• uspořádat
• ustát
• uštědřit
• uštěpačný
• utancovat
• utlouct
• utnout
• utopit
• utrhnout
• utrpení
• utrpět

Further reading

• u-/ú- in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

Danish

Prefix

u-

1. in-, un-, non-; (prefix meaning not, reversing the meaning)

Synonyms

• a-
• i-
• ikke-

Derived terms

Danish terms prefixed with u-

Kamba

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u-

1. you singular (used for conjugating verbs to the subjective or nominative case of the personal pronoun)

Kambera

Pronoun

u-

1. Alternative form of mu-

See also

Kambera pronominal clitics

	Nominative	Genitive	Accusative	Dative
1sg	ku-	-nggu	-ka	-ngga
2sg	mu- (u-)	-mu	-kau	-nggau
3sg	na-	-na	-ya	-nya
1pl.incl	ta-	-nda	-ta	-nda
1pl.excl	ma-	-ma	-kama	-nggama
2pl	mi- (i-)	-mi	-kami (-kai)	-nggami (-nggai)
3pl	da-	-da	-ha	-nja

Northern Ndebele

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

u-

1. Class 1a noun prefix.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial ka-)

1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Etymology 5

Prefix

u-

1. Class 11 noun prefix; form of ulu- used before stems of more than one syllable.

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse ú-, ó-, from Proto-Germanic *un-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, a prefix use of the particle *ne (“not”). Doublet of a-.

Prefix

u-

1. un-, (in certain cases) im-
2. an abbreviation of certain words beginning with "u"

Derived terms

Norwegian Bokmål terms prefixed with u-

References

• “u-” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse ú- or ó-, English un-, German un-. With the intensifying function probably influenced by ov-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʉː/

Prefix

u-

1. un- (not)

   flaks → uflaks

   luck → bad luck

2. used to create an undesired version of the following noun

   vêr → uvêr

   weather → severe weather

   tid → utid

   time → inconvenient time

3. used to strengthen/intensify the following noun

   tal → utal

   number → huge number

4. an abbreviation of certain words beginning with "u"

Derived terms

Norwegian Nynorsk terms prefixed with u-

References

• “u-” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *u-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /u/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /u/

Prefix

u-

1. perfective prefix

   ‎u- + ‎wiązać → ‎uwiązać

Derived terms

Old Polish terms prefixed with u-

Phuthi

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial ka-)

1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish u-, from Proto-Slavic *u-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -u
• Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]
• Homophones: ó, u, -u, -u-

Prefix

u-

1. appears in front of some verbs meaning: to make something behave in a certain way, en-, be-, make

   Synonym: o-

   ‎u- + ‎łatwy → ‎ułatwiać

2. perfective prefix

   ‎u- + ‎bóść → ‎ubóść

3. added to mean "a bit"

   ‎u- + ‎lać → ‎ulać

4. added to mean away

   ‎u- + ‎iść → ‎ujść

5. (rare) added to mean successfully, often without an imperfective counterpart

   ‎u- + ‎ciągnąć → ‎uciągnąć

   ‎u- + ‎rzucić → ‎urzucić

Derived terms

Polish terms prefixed with u-

Further reading

• u- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Slovene

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *u-. Prefixed form of the preposition u.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u-/

Prefix

u-

1. Forms perfective verbs with the following meanings:
   1. (no change in meaning)

      ‎u- + ‎branīti (“to defend”) → ‎ubranīti (“to defend”)

   2. away

      ‎u- + ‎téči (“to run”) → ‎utéči (“to run away, escape”)

   3. (reflexive) to make a mistake while

      ‎u- + ‎štẹ́ti (“to count”) → ‎uštẹ́ti (“to miscount”)

Derived terms

Slovene terms prefixed with u-

Southern Ndebele

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial ka-)

1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Swahili

Other scripts
Ajami	اُـ

Alternative forms

• w- (before a vowel)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *dʊ̀- and Proto-Bantu *bʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (plural n- or ma-)

1. u class_(XI) noun prefix, denoting natural objects, extensions, abstract qualities, or collections of small things.

   ulimi mrefu ― a long tongue

   1. -ness, -ity

      ‎u- + ‎-chafu (“dirty”) → ‎uchafu (“dirtiness”)

      ‎u- + ‎mtoto (“child”) → ‎utoto (“childhood”)

      ‎u- + ‎binafsi (“self”) → ‎ubinafsi (“individualism”)

   2. forms names of countries

      ‎u- + ‎French France (“France”) → ‎Ufaransa (“France”)

Usage notes

Swahili merged the Bantu classes XI and XIV into one u class_(XI), having its adjective agreement in m class_(III).

Derived terms

Swahili terms prefixed with u-

See also

• Appendix:Swahili noun classes

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u-

1. you, 2nd person singular subject concord

   Antonym: hu-

See also

Swahili personal pronouns (m-wa class_(I/II))

Number	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-	—			—
For a full table including other classes, see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́- and Proto-Bantu *dʊ́-.

Prefix

u-

1. it, m class_(III)/u class_(XI) subject concord

   Antonym: hau-

   • 18th century, Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir, Al-Inkishafi‎^[1], stanza 13:

     هُنُ اُلِمِغُ بَحَرِ تِيْسِ ، اُنَ مَتُبَوِ نَمَغِ مَاسِ،

     Hunu ulimwengu baḥari tesi, una matumbawe na-mangi masi,

     This world is a troubled sea, it has corals and much wickedness;

2. verb-initial form of -u- (“it, m class_(III)/u class_(XI) object concord”)

See also

Swahili verbal concords (third person)

Class	Subject concord		Object concord	Relative
	affirmative	negative
m(I)	a-, yu-	ha-, hayu-	-m-, -mw-, -mu-	-ye
wa(II)	wa-	hawa-	-wa-	-o
m(III)	u-	hau-	-u-	-o
mi(IV)	i-	hai-	-i-	-yo
ji(V)	li-	hali-	-li-	-lo
ma(VI)	ya-	haya-	-ya-	-yo
ki(VII)	ki-	haki-	-ki-	-cho
vi(VIII)	vi-	havi-	-vi-	-vyo
n(IX)	i-	hai-	-i-	-yo
n(X)	zi-	hazi-	-zi-	-zo
u(XI)	u-	hau-	-u-	-o
ku(XV/XVII)	ku-	haku-	-ku-	-ko
pa(XVI)	pa-	hapa-	-pa-	-po
mu(XVIII)	m-, mw-, mu-	ham-, hamw-, hamu-	-mu-	-mo
For a full table including first and second person, see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns.

Swazi

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial ka-)

1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Taos

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔu/

Prefix

u-

1. (transitive) Third person singular subject + third person duoplural object.

Tlingit

Prefix

u-

1. Marks the irrealis mood

Xhosa

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

u-

1. Class 1a noun prefix.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial ka-)

1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Etymology 5

Prefix

u-

1. Class 11 noun prefix; form of ulu- used before stems of more than one syllable.

Ye'kwana

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [u-]

Prefix

u-

1. Allomorph of y- (first-person prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants and have a first vowel u.

Inflection

Ye'kwana personal markers

	pronoun	noun possessor/ series II verb argument		postposition object		series I verb argument
						transitive patient	intransitive patient-like		intransitive agent-like	transitive agent
first person	ewü	y-, ∅-, ü-, u-1						w-, wi-
first person dual inclusive	küwü	k-, kü-, ku-, ki-								k-, kii-, ki-1
second person	amödö	ö-, öy-/ödh-, o-, oy-/odh-, a-, ay-/adh-							m-, mi-
first person dual exclusive	nña	y-/dh-, ch-, ∅-, i-1			chö-	∅-	n-, ni-
third person	tüwü					n-, ni-
distant past third person		—				kün-, kun-, kin-, ken-, küm-, kum-, kim-, kini-
coreferential/reflexive	—	t-, tü-, tu-, ti-, te-				—
reciprocal	—	—	öö-
With following vowel lengthened if in an unreduced open syllable.

	series I verb argument: transitive agent and transitive patient
first person > second person	mön-, man-, mon-, möm-, möni-
first person dual exclusive > second person
second person > first person	k-, kü-, ku-, ki-
second person > first person dual exclusive
third person > any person X …or… any person X > third person	see person X in the chart above

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

• ì-

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ù/

Prefix

ù-

1. (CY, SEY) abstract or instrument nominalizing prefix

Usage notes

Forms both abstract and concrete nouns:

• ù + gwẹ̀ "to swim" → ùgwẹ̀ "swimming"
• ù + gbálẹ̀ "to sweep floor" → ùgbálẹ̀ "broom"

Derived terms

Yoruba terms prefixed with u- (nominalizing prefix)

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• i-

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ū/

Prefix

u-

1. (CY, SEY) non-gerundive nominalizing prefix

   ‎u- + ‎kú (“to die”) → ‎ukú (“death”)

Derived terms

Yoruba terms prefixed with u-

Zulu

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ̀-.

Prefix

u- (medial wu-)

1. you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-. This noun class is marked simply with the class 1 augment and a null prefix.

Prefix

ú-

1. Class 1a noun prefix.

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-.

Prefix

ú- (medial ká-)

1. he, she, it; class 1 subject concord.

Etymology 4

From Proto-Bantu *gʊ́-.

Prefix

ú- (medial wú-)

1. he, she, it; class 3 subject concord.

Etymology 5

Contracted from earlier úlu-, from Proto-Bantu *dʊ́-dʊ̀-.

Prefix

û-

1. Class 11 noun prefix.

References

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