ka

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ka"

Languages (74)

Translingual • English

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Acehnese • Afar • Ainu • Albanian • Amanab • Ambonese Malay • Bahnar • Bambara • Basque • Central Pomo • Chuukese • Cimbrian • Drung • Dutch • Estonian • Ewe • Finnish • French • Fula • Futuna-Aniwa • German • Guinea-Bissau Creole • Haitian Creole • Hanunoo • Hausa • Hawaiian • Hokkien • Iban • Ido • Indonesian • Japanese • Javanese • Kabuverdianu • Kapampangan • Latin • Latvian • Lower Sorbian • Lutuv • Malay • Mandarin • Mangas • Maori • Mapudungun • Mizo • Naxi • Northern Pomo • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Nǀuu • Old Prussian • Pali • Picuris • Pipil • Pitjantjatjara • Portuguese • Rapa Nui • Rawang • Scots • Serbo-Croatian • Skou • Somali • Spanish • Sumerian • Swahili • Tagalog • Tok Pisin • Tuvaluan • Ujir • Veps • Volapük • Ye'kwana • Yoruba

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Page categories

Translingual

Etymology

The etymology for the ISO 639-1 code for Georgian is from Georgian ქართული ენა (kartuli ena).

Symbol

ka

1. kiloyear (also ky, kyr)
2. thousands of years ago
3. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Georgian.

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑː/
• Rhymes: -ɑː

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Egyptian kꜣ.

Noun

ka (plural kas)

1. A spiritual part of the soul in Egyptian mythology, which survived after death.
   • 1983, Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings:

     Then, I wondered how long I must wait before seeing my Double, but if I recalled, the Ka was not supposed to appear before the seventy days of embalming were done.

   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     Hence Dorian's portrait is like the ka or double of the deceased in Egyptian tombs, heaped with toys and furniture.

   • 2011, Neil Gaiman, American Gods (Tenth Anniversary Edition), William Morrow 2013, p. 179:

     ‘You could bind the ka of a man to his body for five thousand years,’ said Jaquel.

Etymology 2

Origin uncertain.

Verb

ka

1. (transitive, obsolete) To serve or help; used only in the phrase "Ka me, ka thee" or variants thereof.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, Essays, III.5:

     Now nature stood ever on this point, Kæ mee Ile kæ thee, and ever ready to bee even alwaies on recompences and vicissitude of things, and to give as good as one brings.

   • 1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC:

     Ka me, ka thee, is a proverb all over the world.

References

• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

Etymology 3

Noun

ka (plural kas)

1. The name of the Cyrillic script letter К / к.

See also

• gwo ka
• ish ka bibble
• ka-boom
• ka-ching

 

Anagrams

• AK, Ak

Acehnese

Adverb

ka

1. already

Afar

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/ [ˈkʌ]

Pronoun

ká

1. he, him

Usage notes

• The form káa is used when the pronoun isn't followed by a clitic.

See also

Afar personal pronouns

		1st person	2nd person	3rd person m	3rd person f
Subject	Singular	anú	atú	úsuk	ís
	Plural	nanú	isín	úsun
Object	Singular	yó	kó	ká	tét
	Plural	né	sín	kén

References

• E. M. Parker, R. J. Hayward (1985) “ka”, in An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN

Ainu

Etymology

Likely a loan word from Nivkh ӿа (ha) (bearing the same meaning), given that the traps were of the same type and that sable hunting was taken up on Sakhalin for export to Qing China, to whom the Nivkh were nearer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

Noun

ka

1. sable trap

References

• Bugaeva, Anna. Handbook of the Ainu Language, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501502859

Albanian

Alternative forms

• nga (Tosk)
• kah

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka] (Gheg)

Etymology 1

From older kah, from *kah ~ ngah (compare Tosk Albanian nga), from Proto-Albanian *en kaxa, from Proto-Indo-European *en kʷod so (“wherein, wherefrom”), literally ‘in which this’. Cognate with Old Church Slavonic къ (kŭ, “to”).

Preposition

ka (+ nominative)

1. from, out, out of, to

   Jo, unë nuk jam ka Shqipëria.

   No, I am not from Albania.

2. who, whom

Etymology 2

From earlier *kaha, from Proto-Albanian *koso, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁s- (“scratch, cut”). For sense development, compare Slavic *volь - ox, from *valiti - to throw down, castrate. Alternatively, the plural form qe suggests an earlier *kʷē, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (“ox, cow”) via an unidentified Indo-European language.

Pronunciation

• singular: IPA^(key): [kaː]
• singular: IPA^(key): [qɒ] (Gheg)
• plural: IPA^(key): [ceː]

Noun

ka m (plural qe, definite kau, definite plural qetë)

1. ox
2. steer

Declension

Declension of ka

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	ka	kau	qe	qetë
accusative		kaun
dative	kau	kaut	qeve	qeve
ablative			qesh

Hyponyms

• kau i hullisë (“stronger ox (of a team) that walks in the furrow”)
• ka i kularit (“yoke ox”)

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

ka

1. third-person singular present indicative of kam

Amanab

Pronoun

ka

1. I (first person singular nominative)

Ambonese Malay

Etymology

From Malay ke.

Preposition

ka

1. to, towards

References

• D. Takaria, C. Pieter (1998) Kamus Bahasa Melayu Ambon-Indonesia‎^[2], Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa

Bahnar

Etymology

From Proto-Bahnaric *kaː, from Proto-Mon-Khmer *kaʔ; cognate with Sedang ká, Vietnamese cá, Mon က (kaʔ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaː/

Noun

ka

1. fish

Bambara

Particle

ka

1. possessive marker

   an ka jamana

   our country

Particle

ka

1. particle linking subject and predicative adjective

   A ka ɲi

   It's good

   Kidali ka jan

   Kidal is far away

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/, [ka]

Noun

ka inan

1. The name of the Latin-script letter K/k.

Declension

Declension of ka (inanimate, ending in -a)

	indefinite	singular	plural
absolutive	ka	ka	kak
ergative	kak	kak	kek
dative	kari	kari	kei
genitive	karen	karen	ken
comitative	karekin	karekin	kekin
causative	karengatik	karengatik	kengatik
benefactive	karentzat	karentzat	kentzat
instrumental	kaz	kaz	kez
inessive	katan	kan	ketan
locative	katako	kako	ketako
allative	katara	kara	ketara
terminative	kataraino	karaino	ketaraino
directive	katarantz	karantz	ketarantz
destinative	katarako	karako	ketarako
ablative	katatik	katik	ketatik
partitive	karik	—	—
prolative	katzat	—	—

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) a, be, ze, de, e, efe, ge, hatxe, i, jota, ka, ele, eme, ene, eñe, o, pe, ku, erre, ese, te, u, uve, uve bikoitz, ixa, i greko, zeta

Central Pomo

Noun

ka

1. water

Chuukese

Pronoun

ka

1. you (singular)

Adjective

ka

1. you are

Related terms

		Present and past tense	Negative tense	Future	Negative future	Distant future	Negative determinate
Singular	First person	ua	use	upwe	usap	upwap	ute
	Second person	ka, ke	kose, kese	kopwe, kepwe	kosap, kesap	kopwap, kepwap	kote, kete
	Third person	a	ese	epwe	esap	epwap	ete
Plural	First person	aua (exclusive) sia (inclusive)	ause (exclusive) sise (inclusive)	aupwe (exclusive) sipwe (inclusive)	ausap (exclusive) sisap (inclusive)	aupwap (exclusive) sipwap (inclusive)	aute (exclusive) site (inclusive)
	Second person	oua	ouse	oupwe	ousap	oupwap	oute
	Third person	ra, re	rese	repwe	resap	repwap	rete

Cimbrian

Etymology

Shortened form of kan.

Preposition

ka

1. Alternative form of kan, used before words starting with s.

Further reading

• “ka” in Martalar, Umberto Martello, Bellotto, Alfonso (1974) Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo

Drung

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ka.

Noun

ka

1. word

References

• Ross Perlin (2019) A Grammar of Trung‎^[3], Santa Barbara: University of California

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaː/
• Hyphenation: ka
• Rhymes: -aː

Etymology 1

From kade.

Noun

ka f (plural kaden or kades or ka's, diminutive kaatje n)

1. Alternative form of kade

Etymology 2

Uncertain. Possibly from Catharina Mulder or "Kaat Mossel".

Noun

ka f (plural ka's, diminutive kaatje n)

1. (Netherlands, derogatory) dominant woman

Synonyms

• kenau

Etymology 3

Related to kauw.

Noun

ka f (plural ka's or kauwen, diminutive kaatje n or kauwtje n)

1. Alternative form of kauw

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Egyptian kꜣ.

Noun

ka c (plural ka's)

1. ka (ancient Egyptian notion of the soul, shown as a bird)

Estonian

Etymology

Derived from kaasas.

Adverb

ka (not comparable)

1. also, too

   Tema läks ka metsa.

   He also went to the forest.

Ewe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɑː/

Noun

ka (plural kawo)

1. cord
2. line
3. rope
4. string

Verb

ka

1. to bite
2. to break
3. to chip
4. to rummage

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɑ/, [ˈkɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑ
• Hyphenation^(key): ka

Etymology 1

Variant of kaa, both shortenings of kanssa.

Adverb

ka (rare, dialectal)

1. also, too

   Minä menin kauppaan ka.

   I went to a shop as well.

Etymology 2

A dialectal or colloquial 2nd person imperative present of katsoa (“to look”).

Verb

ka

1. (dialectal, colloquial) look!

   Ka!

Synonyms

• katso
• kato (colloquial)

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/ ~ /kɑ/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑ

Noun

ka m (plural kas)

1. kay, The name of the Latin-script letter K/k.

Fula

Preposition

ka

1. to, in, at

Suffix

ka

1. Noun class indicator for nouns (singular) including abstractions and borrowed words

Usage notes

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

Article

ka

1. (definite) the (when it follows the noun)

   taasa ka ― the bowl

Usage notes

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

Determiner

ka

1. (used in indicating something)

   ka taasa ― this/that bowl

Usage notes

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

References

• Oumar Bah, Dictionnaire Pular-Français, Avec un index français-pular, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2014.
• M. Niang, Pulaar-English English-Pulaar Standard Dictionary, New York: Hippocrene Books, 1997.

Futuna-Aniwa

Verb

ka

1. (Aniwa) to squeal

German

Phrase

ka

1. (Internet slang) Alternative spelling of k. A.
   • 2004 September 21, Tilman Wetter, “Schaltauge nachrüsten?”, in de.rec.fahrrad‎^[4] (Usenet):

     Na gut
     Mir war halt so nach schnellspannnabe, wegen Reifenwechseln undsoweiter.
     Ich hab ka nun den zweiten Totenkopf abgerissen und die 14er Schlüssel
     ziehen Winters immer in den Süden :-(

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2005 December 10, Alexander Jede, “einfrierende Maus bei xine”, in linux.debian.user.german‎^[5] (Usenet):

     Kann mir da einer helfen? ich hab absolut ka woran es liegt. AUs der config von xine bin ich zum nicht schlauer geworden.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2006 January 12, Alexander Jede, “einfrierende Maus bei xine”, in linux.debian.user.german‎^[6] (Usenet):

     irgendwo hab ich aufgeschnappt das mitte Februar neue Dual Core CPU´s auf den Markt kommen.Bitte nicht fragen wo ich das her hab,ka vieleicht bilde ich mir das ja auch nur ein ;-)

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Guinea-Bissau Creole

Etymology

From African origen. Cognate with Kabuverdianu ka.

Adverb

ka

1. not

Haitian Creole

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Etymology 1

From French cas (“case”).

Noun

ka

1. case, instance

Etymology 2

Contraction of kapab, from French capable

Verb

ka

1. (auxiliary) can, be able to

Hanunoo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/ [ˈka]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka (2sg. subject pronoun).

Pronoun

ka (Hanunoo spelling ᜣ)

1. you (singular)

   Synonyms: kawo, (rare) kam

   Naan ka pamag-uli?

   Where do you live?

See also

Hanunoo personal pronouns

Person	Number	Direct	Indirect	Oblique
First	singular	ako	niko	kangko, kang
	plural inclusive	kita	nita	kanta
	plural exclusive	kami	nimi	kanmi
Second	singular	kawo, ka	nimo	kanmo
	plural	kamo	niyo	kanyo
Third	singular	siya	niya	kanya
	plural	sida	nida	kanda

Etymology 2

Particle

ka (Hanunoo spelling ᜣ)

1. connective used between a cardinal numeral and that which is enumerated

   duwa ka bilog sab-a ― two of saba bananas

Etymology 3

Particle

ka (Hanunoo spelling ᜣ) (literary)

1. a connective

   Synonyms: pag, pagka

   Kang ka idu, si Migra. ― My dog, Migra.

Further reading

• Conklin, Harold C. (1953) Hanunóo-English Vocabulary (University of California Publications in Linguistics), volume 9, London, England: University of California Press, →OCLC, page 131

Hausa

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /káː/
  • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [káː]

Adverb

kā

1. (with dà or à) in or on

References

• Newman, Paul (2007) A Hausa-English Dictionary (Yale Language Series), New Haven, London: Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 102.

Hawaiian

Alternative forms

• ke (before words that begin with 'k', 'a', 'e', or 'o')

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/, [kə]

Article

ka sg (plural nā)

1. the

Hokkien

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 家 (“home; family; household; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 家).

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 鳩 (“pigeon; dove (family; to gather; to assemble; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 鳩).

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 鉸 (“scissors; to cut with scissors; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 鉸).

For pronunciation and definitions of ka – see 加 (“to put on top of another object; to add; to put in; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 加).

Iban

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /käʔ̚/

Verb

ka

1. (informal, modal auxiliary) Contraction of deka.

   Aku ka makai asi.

   I want to eat rice.

Ido

Etymology

See kad. Decision no. 16, Progreso II. Based on the apocopic forms a, e, and o.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Particle

ka

1. Apocopic form of kad (used before a consonant)

   Ka tu amoras me? ― Do you love me?

References

• Progreso II (in Ido), 1909–1910, page 15, 357, 579

Indonesian

Etymology

From Dutch kaa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/, [ˈka]

Noun

ka (plural ka-ka)

1. The name of the Latin-script letter K/k.

Synonyms

• ke (Standard Malay)

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) huruf; a, be, ce, de, e, ef, ge, ha, i, je, ka, el, em, en, o, pe, ki, er, es, te, u, ve, we, eks, ye, zet

Further reading

• “ka” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Japanese

Romanization

ka

1. The hiragana syllable か (ka) or the katakana syllable カ (ka) in Hepburn romanization.

Javanese

Etymology

Clipping of ika

Determiner

ka

1. (colloquial) yonder

Kabuverdianu

Etymology

From African origen.

Adverb

ka

1. not

Kapampangan

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka (“2sg. subject pronoun”). Compare Indonesian -kah, Malay -kah.

Particle

ka

1. marks a sentence as interrogative

   Kalaraman ka?

   Is it a lie?

   Nanka?

   What's up?

   • 1617, Francisco Coronel, Arte y reglas de la lengua Pampanga:

     Sucat mo casing bitasan quing micabucasan ca?

     Can you by chance assure us that you will arrive tomorrow?

2. whether (or not)

   X ka Y ka?

   Are you an X or Y?

   Munta ka alika?

   Are you going or not?

3. used with o to mark list and to connect choices being considered with uncertainty

   Ini ka o ita ka, sanu kareni.

   This or that?, which one of these?

   Magpasta ka o magpitsa ka?

   Are you gonna eat pasta or pizza?

Pronoun

ka

1. you (second person singular)

   Kaluguran daka

   I love you

   Mamun ka kang inda

   Say goodbye to your mother

Usage notes

• The word ka usually replaces ika when in the middle of a sentence.
• When speaking to be polite, use the plural form kayu, ikayu.

See also

• kana
• kanu
• kaya
• kayi
• uari

 

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /kaː/, [käː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ka/, [käː]

Noun

kā f (indeclinable)

1. The name of the letter K.

Coordinate terms

• (Latin-script letter names) littera; ā, bē, cē, dē, ē, ef, gē, hā / *acca, ī, kā, el, em, en, ō, pē, kū, er, es, tē, ū, ix / īx / ex, ȳ / ī graeca / ȳpsīlon, zēta

References

• Arthur E. Gordon, The Letter Names of the Latin Alphabet (University of California Press, 1973; volume 9 of University of California Publications: Classical Studies), part III: “Summary of the Ancient Evidence”, page 32
  Clearly there is no question or doubt about the names of the vowels A, E, I, O, U. They are simply long A, long E, etc. (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū). Nor is there any uncertainty with respect to the six mutes B, C, D, G, P, T. Their names are bē, cē, dē, gē, pē, tē (each with a long E). Or about H, K, and Q: they are hā, kā, kū — each, again, with a long vowel sound.

Latvian

Etymology

Originally an old neuter nominative singular form of kas (“who, what”) that acquired the function of a conjunction. Cognates include Old Prussian ka (“who, what”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

• Audio:

  (file)

Conjunction

ka

1. that; used to link a subordinate clause to the main clause, sometimes with a pronominal antecedent (tas, tāds, tik, tādēļ, tāpēc), with various different functions:

   (a) subject:

   labi, ka darbs padarīts ― (it is) good that the work is done

   viņam nepatika, ka tagad viņi ar Plienu bija palikuši tikai divi ― he didn't like that now only he and Pliens had remained

   aplam darīts arī tas, ka divās dienās nopļāva visu Spilvas pļavu ― wrongly done was also that (= the fact) that (he) mowed the entire Spilva meadow in two days

   tveice bija tāda, ka šķita - tīrums smaržo kā liela rudzu kalte ― the heat was such that one felt (as if) the field smelled like a big rye drier

   (b) attributive complement, (secondary) predicate

   pienāca ziņa, ka tēvs saslimis ― there is news that father is sick

   viņi nolaida karogus per zīmi, ka demonstrācija beigusies ― they lowered the flags as a sign that the protest was over

   vēl vairāk sirdi nospeiž sāpes, / ka atkal apkārt tikai mežs ― even more the heart is oppressed by the pain / that again (there is) only forest around

   ir tāds karstums, ka pat putniņi paslēpušies ― (there) is such a heat that even the little birds are hiding

   (c) direct object

   viņš teica, ka varam iet ― he said that we could go

   Ģirts redzēja, ka Artūrs nekā neapjēdz, ka labāk runāt par ko citu ― Ģirts saw that Artūrs would never realize that it would be better to talk about something else

   Krančelis izrādīja visu savu nemieru ar to, ka nevarēja meiteni iepriecināt ― Krančelis showed all his concern with that (= the fact) that he could not cheer up the girl

   kas gan var būt vēl skaistāks pasaulē par to, ka cilvēks palīdz cilvēkam un draugs - draugam! ― what can be more beautiful in (this) world than that (= the fact) that a person helps (another) person and a friend - (another) friend!

   (d) adverbial complement (manner)

   viņpus upes krastā Preimanis lādējās, ka visa pamale skanēja ― on the shore, on the other side of the river, Preimanis cursed (in such a way) that the whole horizon resounded (with his curses)

   Saulītis krāca tā, ka ārā varēja dzirdēt ― Saulītis snored so (= in such a way) that one could hear it outside

   (e) adverbial complement (cause)

   (often tāpēc ka, tādēļ ka, less frequently tamdēļ ka, tālab ka, “for the reason that”)

   viņai kļūst kauns par sevi, ka pat domās pieļāvusi salīdzinājumu ― she felt ashamed of herself, that (= because) she had allowed herself (to make) this comparison even in thought

   publicisti uzbruka rakstniekiem, ka tie bez īstas kvēles un dedzības ķeras pagatavot lugas ― the publishers attacked the writers that (= because) they tried to prepare (= write) plays without real fervor and zeal

   “bet varbūt tāpēc līst, ka man sāp zobs”, viņš iedomājās ― “but maybe it is raining for that reason, that (= because) my tooth hurts,” he thought

   krievu valoda mums jāprot tādēļ, ka tā ir mūsu kaimiņu un draugu valoda ― we must know Russian for that reason, that (= because) it is the language of our neighbors and friends

   Ješka nepaguva atbildēt, tāpēc ka papriekš gribēja iedzert ― Ješka couldn't answer, because he first wanted to drink

   tu, tēvoc, daudz ko nedzirdi, tādēļ ka kurls esi palicis ― you, uncle, haven't heard much, because you have become deaf

   (f) adverbial complement (consequence)

   (often tā kā “so that”)

   otrā rītā sāp mugura, ka tīri vai jāraud ― the next morning (his) back was in pain, (so much) that (he) simply had to cry

   visi bija tik satraukti, ka nemanīja, vai viņš atsveicinās vai ne ― everybody was so excited that (they) did not noticed whether or not he said goodbye

   Ainas acis vērāas tik mierīgas un vēas, ka viņš atmeta šādu domu ― (but) Aina's eyes were so peaceful and cool (= calm) that he abandoned such thought(s)

   dejotāju kājas bija noru noblietējušas tā, ka zeme sāka skanēt ― the dancers' feet had stomped the (forest) glade so (= in such a way) that the earth began to resound

   vējš gaudoja aizvien stiprāk, tā ka sāka jau drebēt majas jumts ― the wind howled more and more strongly, so that the house roof began to shake

   vecais zvirbulis bija ļoti noskumis un kļuva pat neuzmanīgs, tā ka to gandrīz noķēra pelēkais Minka ― the old sparrow had become very sad and even inattentive, so that the gray Minka (= cat) almost caught him

   (g) adverbial complement (purpose)

   pēc malkas ej, ka var kurināt tam akmenim virsū! ― go find wood, (so) that we can burn it on (top of) that rock

   skrien kā traks, ka tikai izraut lielāku normu ― I run (= work) like crazy, (so) that I may get a larger margin (= advantage)

   (h) adverbial complement (measure, proportion)

   tūlīt pēc kara pievairojis bija pelēču, ka mudž ― immediately after the war the grays (= landowners) became many, (so much) that (they) were swarming

   viņa steidzās tik ļoti, ka neievēroja vaļējās klēts durvis un tajās sēdošo cilvēku ― she hurried so much that (she) did not notice the open barn door and the person sitting in(side of) it

   vai tik daudz sāpju sevī pārvarēji, / ka tikai prieku spēsi citiem sniegt? ― have you overcome so much pain in yourself / that you will be able to give only joy to others?

   (i) adverbial complement (condition)

   kas tas par draugu, ka nevar palīdzēt? ― what kind of friend is he, that (= if) he can't help?

   kur gan esat, zilie ceriņi, ka nekur vairs nesatieku jūs? ― where are you, blue lilac, that (= if) I don't find you anywhere?

Particle

ka

1. used to add a nuance of probability or doubt to a, usually negative, utterance, to make it optative, expressive of a desire (cf. kaut); may...

   jāsagrābj siens, ka neuznāk lietus ― (we) have to rake the hay together, may rain not come (i.e., maybe there will be rain)

   vispirms gādājiet, lai rudzi tiek statos; ka neuznāk krusa ― first of all make sure that the rye is in heaps; may hail not come (= i.e., maybe there will be hail)

   ka tik viņš neaizietu! ― may he only not leave! if only he wouldn't leave!

   “ka nenositas”, Nikolajs ieminas, bet onkulis atmet at roku: “liels puisietis, nenositīsies” ― “may he not get himself killed” (i.e., he probably won't get himself killed), Nikolas said, and uncle gestured with his hand: “(he is) a big boy, he won't get himself killed”

   “ak, ka tak viss neietu tik lēnām... tos, kas nomirs, tos tak ielaidīs jūrā?” “laikam”

   “oh, may everything not go so slowly (= if only everything didn't go so slowly)... those who died, they will be thrown into the sea?” “maybe”

   pagája labs brīdis, bet necēlās neviens no pakritušajiem skrējējiem... ka viņu vilks, nu būs abi divi beigti ― a good while went by, but none of the fallen runners stood up... may (the devil) take him, they now will be (= probably are) both finished (= dead)

2. used to reinforce the intensity of an action or activity, usually with a repeated verb; ... and ...

   māte tik naigi dur ka dur - šuj savu šujamo ― mother so quickly pierced and pierced - she sows her sowing (= what she needs to sow, i.e. she is certainly carrying out her task)

Lower Sorbian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka/

Noun

ka m inan

1. The name of the Latin-script letter k/K.

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) a, bej, cej, čet, ćej, dej, ej, ět, ef, gej, ha, cha, i, jot, ka, eł, el, em, en, ejn, o, pej, er, ejŕ, es, eš, śej, tej, u, wej, y, zet, žet, źej

Lutuv

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [kə̀ə̀]

Verb

ka

1. to shoot

References

• Kelly Harper Berkson, Amanda Bohnert, Sui Hnem Par (2022) “Consonant Sounds in Hnaring Lutuv”, in Indiana Working Papers in South Asian Languages and Cultures‎^[7], volume 3, number 1

Malay

Noun

ka

1. Abbreviation of kaki (“foot (unit of measurement)”).

Further reading

• “ka” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

Mandarin

Romanization

ka

1. Nonstandard spelling of kā.
2. Nonstandard spelling of kǎ.
3. Nonstandard spelling of kà.

Usage notes

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Mangas

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kā/

Pronoun

ka

1. second person singular personal pronoun, you

References

• Blench, Robert; Bulkaam, Michael (2021) An Introduction to Mantsi, a South Bauchi language of Central Nigeria. University of Cambridge.

Maori

Particle

ka

1. Marks an event as occurring at some time or as existing
2. when; used before a verb to indicate the start of an action or state
3. Marks a verb as being in future tense
4. Used when counting numbers

   Ka tahi, ka rua, ka toru...

   One, two, three...

5. Used in commands with taua and tātou

   ātou ka haere

   let's go

6. now (for the first time); when used after kātahi anō

References

• "ka" - Maori Dictionary

Mapudungun

Adverb

ka (Raguileo spelling)

1. too; also

Synonyms

• kafey

Conjunction

ka (Raguileo spelling)

1. and

Determiner

ka (Raguileo spelling)

1. another; not the same

Mizo

Etymology

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *kaj ~ kaj-maʔ , from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ŋa-j ~ ka (“I; me”).

Pronoun

ka

1. I; me

References

• Lorrain, J. Herbert (1940) “ka”, in Dictionary of the Lushai language, Calcutta: Asiatic Society

Naxi

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-ka-(n/m/ŋ).

Adjective

ka

1. bitter

References

• Naxi Dictionary by T.M. Pinson, Lijiang 2012

Northern Pomo

Noun

ka

1. water

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronoun

ka

1. form removed with the spelling reform of 1959; superseded by hva

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑː/

Pronoun

ka

1. (dialectal, Trøndelag dialect, Northern Norway, Vestlandet, non-standard since 1959) alternative form of kva (“what”)

   Ka e da du gjere på?

   What are you doing?

Nǀuu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑ́/, /kə́/

Verb

ka

1. to say

   Gǀa kaǀî dyee ka?

   What is your name? (lit. How do you say your name?)

References

1. Shah, Sheena & Brenzinger, Matthias. (2017). Writing for Speaking: The Nǀuu Orthography. 10.1017/9781316562949.006.
2. Sands, Bonny & Jones, Kerry & Esau, Katrina & Collins, Chris & Witzlack-Makarevich, Alena & Job, Sylvanus & Miller, Amanda & Steyn, Betta & Zaanen, Menno & Namaseb, Levi & Berg, Dietloff & Mantzel, Dotty & Damarah, Willem & Snyman, Claudia & Wyk, David & Brugman, Johanna & Exter, Mats & Vaalbooi, Antjie & Westhuizen, Mietjie. (2022). Nǀuuki Namagowab Afrikaans English ǂXoakiǂxanisi/Mîdi di ǂKhanis/Woordeboek/Dictionary
3. Exter, Mats. “Properties of the Anterior and Posterior Click Closures in N|uu.” (2008).

Old Prussian

Alternative forms

• kha

Etymology

Derived from Proto-Balto-Slavic *kas.

Pronoun

ka

1. (interrogative) what
2. (relative) what

References

• Mažiulis, Vytautas (1988–1997) “ka”, in Prūsų kalbos etimologijos žodynas [Etymological dictionary of Old Prussian]‎^[8] (in Lithuanian), Vilnius
• W. R. Schmalstieg (1971) “New Look at the Old Prussian Pronoun”, in Baltistica VII(2), Vilnius: Vilniau Universitetas

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• 𑀓 (Brahmi script)
• क (Devanagari script)
• ক (Bengali script)
• ක (Sinhalese script)
• က or ၵ (Burmese script)
• ก or กะ (Thai script)
• ᨠ (Tai Tham script)
• ກ or ກະ (Lao script)
• ក (Khmer script)
• 𑄇 (Chakma script)

Etymology 1

From the masculine and neuter respectively of Sanskrit क (ká), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kás, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷós.

Pronoun

ka m

1. (interrogative) who
2. (interrogative) what
3. (interrogative) which
   • 2006, The First Book in the Suttanta-Pitaka: Dīgha-Nikāya (I)‎^[9], page 82:

     කන‍්නු ඛ‍්වජ‍්ජ සමණං වා බ්‍රාහ‍්මණං වා පයිරුපාසෙය්‍යාම යන‍්නො පයිරුපාසතො චිත‍්තං පසීදෙය්‍යා!"ති

     kannu khvajja samaṇaṃ vā brāhmaṇaṃ vā payirupāseyyāma yanno payirupāsato cittaṃ pasīdeyyā!"ti

     Indeed now which ascetic or Brahmin should we visit today who, for us visiting him, will soothe the heart?

Usage notes

The pronoun may function as an interrogative adjective.

Declension

Declension table of "ka" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	ko	ke
Accusative (second)	kaṃ	ke
Instrumental (third)	kena	kehi or kebhi
Dative (fourth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	kasmā or kismā	kehi or kebhi
Genitive (sixth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Locative (seventh)	kasmiṃ or kamhi or kismiṃ or kimhi	kesu

Derived terms

• kā (“who (f)”)

Pronoun

ka n

1. (interrogative) what
2. (interrogative) which

Usage notes

The pronoun may function as an interrogative adjective.

Declension

Declension table of "ka" (neuter)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	kiṃ	kāni
Accusative (second)	kiṃ	kāni
Instrumental (third)	kena	kehi or kebhi
Dative (fourth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	kasmā or kismā	kehi or kebhi
Genitive (sixth)	kassa or kissa	kesaṃ or kesānaṃ
Locative (seventh)	kasmiṃ or kamhi or kismiṃ or kimhi	kesu

Derived terms

• kāpurisa

Etymology 2

Probably from the pronunciation of a syllable consisting only of the letter.

Noun

ka m

1. the Pali letter 'k'
   • c. 500 AD, Kaccāyana, Pālivyākaraṇaṃ [Pali Grammar]‎^[10] (overall work in Pali), page 4; republished as Satish Chandra Acharyya Vidyabhusana, editor, Kaccayana's Pali Grammar (edited in Devanagari character and translated into English), Calcutta, Bengal: Mahabodhi Society, 1901:

     क, ख, ग, घ, ङ, च, छ, ज, झ, ञ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, त, थ, द, ध, न, प, फ, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, स, ह, ळ, ं। इति व्यञ्जन नाम होन्ति।

     Ka, kha, ga, gha, ṅa, ca, cha, ja, jha, ña, ṭa, ṭha, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa, ta, tha, da, dha, na, pa, pha, ba, bha, ma, ya, ra, la, va, sa, ha, ḷa, aṃ, iti vyañjanā nāma honti.

     'k', 'kh', 'g', 'gh', 'ṅ', 'c', 'ch', 'j', 'jh', 'ñ, 'ṭ', 'ṭh', 'ḍ', 'ḍh', 'ṇ', 't', 'th', 'd', 'dh', 'n', 'p', 'ph', 'b', 'bh', 'm', 'y', 'r', 'l', 'v', 's', 'h', 'ḷ' and 'ṃ', these are the consonants by name.

   • c. 500 AD, Kaccāyana, Pālivyākaraṇaṃ [Pali Grammar]‎^[11] (overall work in Pali), page 12; republished as Satish Chandra Acharyya Vidyabhusana, editor, Kaccayana's Pali Grammar (edited in Devanagari character and translated into English), Calcutta, Bengal: Mahabodhi Society, 1901:

     को यस्स यथा-सको।

     Ko yassa yathā-sako.

     'K' from 'y' as in 'sako'.

Declension

Declension table of "ka" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular
Nominative (first)	ko
Accusative (second)	kaṃ
Instrumental (third)	kena
Dative (fourth)	kassa or kāya or katthaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	kasmā or kamhā or kā
Genitive (sixth)	kassa
Locative (seventh)	kasmiṃ or kamhi or ke
Vocative (calling)	ka

Synonyms

• kakāra

References

• Pali Text Society (1921–1925) “ka˚”, in Pali-English Dictionary‎, London: Chipstead

Picuris

Verb

ka

1. to wash

Further reading

• Dominic Yu, Comparative Phonology of Picurís and Taos (2008)

Pipil

Preposition

ka

1. to, at

Further reading

• Campbell, L. (1985). The Pipil Language of El Salvador. Mouton De Gruyter. p. 59

Pitjantjatjara

Conjunction

ka

1. and (switching)

   Watingku maḻu nyangu ka wirtjapakaṉu.

   The man saw the kangaroo and the kangaroo ran away.

Usage notes

• Ka is a switching conjunction. When it links two clauses or sentences, it conveys that the second clause has a different subject from the first. In cases where the subject remains the same, the conjunction munu is used. In the example above, the subject of the second clause need not be "the kangaroo", although that seems the most likely possibility from context. The ku simply tells us that someone or something other than wati (the subject of the first clause) ran away.
• Although ka is spelt with a short a, the vowel is actually long (kaa). The misleading spelling exists for historical reasons.

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• kaka, kakaka (kakakaka...)

Interjection

ka

1. ha (representation of laughter)

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *ka-, *ka. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻa- and Maori ka.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/
• Hyphenation: ka

Particle

ka

1. Used to indicate the future tense.
2. Used to indicate the imperative mood.
3. Used to indicate the jussive mood.
4. Used to indicate the temporal contiguity of an action.
5. Used to indicate the conditional mood of a relative clause.
6. Used to form a counting form from of the following numeral.

   Ka tahi, ka rua, ka toru. ― One, two, three.

Interjection

¡ka!

1. Intensifies the following verb; how! what a!

   ¡Ka ma'itaki 'ō! ― How very beautiful!

Usage notes

• Ka is often used to convey an objective intensification, while ko is used when one has a strong emotion towards the subject.

References

• Paulus Kieviet (2017) A grammar of Rapa Nui‎^[12], Berlin: Language Science Press, →ISBN, pages 153, 330, 477, 491

Rawang

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kʰɑ˧/

Etymology 1

Compare Burmese ကြက် (krak).

Noun

ka

1. chicken.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-ka-(n/m/ŋ) (“bitter”). Cognate with Burmese ခါး (hka:), Old Chinese 苦 (OC *kʰaːʔ, *kʰaːs).

Adjective

ka

1. bitter.

Scots

Alternative forms

• kae

Etymology

Of imitative origen, similar to Old High German kā (“crow, jackdaw”), Middle Low German kâ (“crow, jackdaw”), English caw.

Noun

ka (plural kas)

1. jackdaw

Serbo-Croatian

Preposition

ka (Cyrillic spelling ка)

1. Alternative form of k

Synonyms

• k

Adverb

ka (Cyrillic spelling ка)

1. (Chakavian, Montenegro) as, like

Synonyms

• kao

Conjunction

ka

1. (Chakavian, Montenegro) as, like

Synonyms

• kao

Pronoun

ka (Cyrillic spelling ка)

1. (Chakavian, Kajkavian, interrogative) which (feminine)
2. (Chakavian, Kajkavian, relative) which, that, who (feminine)
3. (Chakavian, Kajkavian, indefinite) some (feminine)

Synonyms

• koja

Skou

Particle

ka

1. not - negative particle

   Ke bà fue a bápánenì ne ka.

   That person is not my friend.

References

• Donohue, Mark. A Grammar of the Skou Language of New Guinea (2004).

Somali

Etymology 1

Preposition

ka

1. from
2. away from
3. out of
4. about, concerning

Usage notes

• In Somali, prepositions fall before the verb and not before the noun they modify:

  Ka imow. ― To come from.

  Ka keen. ― To bring from.

Etymology 2

Article

ka

1. Alternative spelling of -ka

   Garaash ka fur. ― Open the garage.

References

• Puglielli, Annarita, Mansuur, Cabdalla Cumar (2012) “ka”, in Qaamuuska Af-Soomaliga‎^[13], Rome: RomaTrE-Press, →ISBN

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka/ [ˈka]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka
• Homophone: ca

Noun

ka f (plural kas)

1. Name of the letter k

Further reading

• “ka”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

Sumerian

Romanization

ka

1. Romanization of 𒅗 (ka)

Swahili

Etymology

From the -ka- consecutive tense marker.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Adverb

ka

1. and then (used between a series of actions that happened soon closely together)

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Influenced by Baybayin character ᜃ (ka).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ka/ [kɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka

Noun

ka (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

1. the name of the Latin-script letter K/k, in the Abakada alphabet

   Synonym: (in the Filipino alphabet) key

2. (historical) the name of the Latin-script letter K/k, in the Abecedario

   Synonym: (in the Filipino alphabet) key

See also

• Ka
• ka-
• kaka

 

Etymology 2

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ka (“2sg. subject pronoun”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ka/ [kɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ka

Pronoun

ka (Baybayin spelling ᜃ) (postpositive)

1. you (second person singular)

Usage notes

• The word ka usually replaces ikaw when in the middle of a clause.
• When speaking to be polite, use the plural form kayo.

Alternative forms

• ca — obsolete, Spanish-based orthography
• k — Internet and text messaging slang

Derived terms

• halika
• parika
• teka
• tika

 

See also

Tagalog personal pronouns

Person	Number	Direct (ang)	Indirect (ng)	Oblique (sa)
First	singular	ako	ko	akin
	dual1	kita, kata	nita, nata, ta	kanita, kanata, ata
	plural inclusive	tayo	natin	atin
	plural exclusive	kami	namin	amin
First & Second	singular	kita2
Second	singular	ikaw, ka	mo	iyo
	plural	kayo, kamo	ninyo, niyo	inyo
Third	singular	siya	niya	kaniya
	plural	sila	nila	kanila
1 First person dual pronouns are not commonly used in Standard Tagalog. 2 Replaces ko ikaw.

Etymology 3

From clipping of wika.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈkaʔ/ [ˈkaʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: ka

Noun

kâ (Baybayin spelling ᜃ)

1. Alternative spelling of 'ka

Derived terms

• kako
• kamo
• kaniya

 

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English car.

Noun

ka

1. car

Tuvaluan

Particle

ka

1. future tense marker, inserted immediately before the relevant verb

Ujir

Numeral

ka

1. four

References

• Antoinette Schapper, Marian Klamer, Numeral systems in the Alor-Pantar languages

Veps

Etymology

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

Adverb

ka

1. yes
2. certainly, absolutely
3. naturally, of course
4. let's [with first-person plural imperative]

Conjunction

ka

1. but
2. then (in "if...then" constructions)

References

• Zajceva, N. G., Mullonen, M. I. (2007) “безусловно, да, давать, естественно, конечно, но”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary]‎^[14], Petrozavodsk: Periodika

Volapük

Conjunction

ka

1. than (used for comparisons)

Ye'kwana

Alternative forms

• cha (allomorph after i)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka]

Particle

ka

1. Forms a polar (yes/no) question.

Usage notes

In most circumstances this particle is found in the second position in a sentence (immediately after the first constituent). Occasionally, for unclear reasons, it may appear elsewhere.

References

• Cáceres, Natalia (2011) “ka”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎^[15], Lyon, pages 158–159

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Cognate with Igala káà

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Verb

kà

1. (intransitive, transitive) to count
2. (intransitive, transitive) to read

Usage notes

• ka before a direct object

Derived terms

• kíkà (“reading, counting”)
• ìkà (“the act of reading”)
• òǹkà (“number”)

 

Etymology 2

Likely cognate with Igala kà (“to tell”) and Igbo kà (“to speak”), perhaps related to Nupe gàn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Verb

kà

1. (transitive) to confess (literally, "to recount previous misdeeds involuntarily or under duress")

Usage notes

• ka before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìkà (“the act of confession”)

Related terms

• jẹ́wọ́ (“to confess”)

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kà/

Verb

kà

1. to buy things in the hundreds

Usage notes

• ka before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìkà

Etymology 4

Cognate with Igala ká

Alternative forms

• kán (Igbomina)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ká/

Verb

ká

1. (transitive) to pluck fruit (from a tree)
2. to break something; to knock off something
3. (idiomatic) to become snapped under pressure

Derived terms

• ká ìbó (“euphemism for a child dying literally "to pluck the fruit of the ibo tree"”)
• káléyín
• késo
• ìká

 

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ká/

Verb

ká

1. (transitive) to curl or fold something

   Fọlá, wá bá mi ká aṣọ! ― Fọla, come and help me fold the clothes

2. (intransitive) to become curled or folded
3. to constrain someone (often via supernatural means)
4. (idiomatic) to get something under control

   apá àtẹ́lẹwọ́ kì í ká ilé ― The arm of the palm cannot control the house (Yoruba incantation)

Derived terms

• kápá
• ìká

 

Etymology 6

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ká/

Verb

ká

1. to be everywhere

Usage notes

• Used especially in the V2 position

Derived terms

• kárí (“around”)
• káàkiri (“around”)
• rìnká (“to wander, walk around”)
• yíká (“to surround”)
• Yímiká (“a shortened name form meaning "surrounds me"”)
• Yín̄ká (“a shortened name form meaning "surrounds me"”)
• àyíká (“around”)
• ìká