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====Diminutive==== | ====Diminutive==== | ||
The diminutive is formed by adding a suffix to a noun and occasionally to an adjective or verb. | |||
The following suffixes are used: | |||
* '''-ling''' for masculine words (''drenge'', "boy" becomes ''drengling'', "little boy") | |||
* '''-lín''' for feminine words (''mejð'', "girl/maid" becomes ''mejlín'', "little girl") | |||
* '''-ikki''' for neuter ords (''bjern'', "child" becomes ''bjernikki'', "little child") | |||
* '''-ís''' for names and words of relation, as a term of endearment (ex. ''mamma'', "mom" becomes ''mammarís'', "mommy"; ''Anna'' becomes ''Annarís'', ''Davíð'' becomes ''Davíðís'') | |||
Note that ''-ís'' is a term of endearment; the other suffixes can also be affixed to a name or word of relation, but will have a different connotation, whilst using the neuter suffix to make a name or word of relation diminutive is considered pejorative (ex. '''Annalín''' for "little Anna/Annie" or '''Davílling''' for "little David/Davy", either to indicate a young age or to compare to an older person with the same name; '''Annikki''' or '''Davikki''', meanwhile, would be used out of condescension). | |||
===Pronouns=== | ===Pronouns=== |
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