-ся

From Middle Belarusian сѧ (sja), from Old East Slavic сѧ (sę), from Proto-Slavic *sę, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *sen, from Proto-Indo-European *swé.

Reflexive suffix appended to finite verbs and infinitives to make a reflexive, reciprocal, intransitive or passive verb.


-овы

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-о́вы • (-óvy)

-о́вы (canonical)
-óvy (romanization)
-о́вы (masculine nominative)
-о́вае (neuter nominative)
-о́вая (feminine nominative)
-о́выя (nominative plural)
-о́вага (genitive masculine neuter)
-о́вай (feminine genitive)
-о́вых (genitive plural)
-о́ваму (dative masculine neuter)
-о́вай (dative feminine)
-о́вым (dative plural)
-о́вага (accusative animate masculine)
-о́вае (accusative neuter)
-о́вую (accusative feminine)
-о́вых (accusative animate plural)
-о́вы (accusative inanimate masculine)
-о́выя (accusative inanimate plural)
-о́вым (instrumental masculine neuter)
-о́вай (feminine instrumental)
-о́ваю (feminine instrumental)
-о́вымі (instrumental plural)
-о́вым (locative masculine neuter)
-о́вай (feminine locative)
-о́вых (locative plural)
-авы (alternative)
-авы́ (alternative)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ovъ. Cognate with Polish -owy, Russian -о́вый (-óvyj), Ukrainian -овий (-ovyj).

абавя́зак (abavjázak, “duty, obligation”) + -овы (-óvy) → абавязко́вы (abavjazkóvy, “compulsory”)


-ка

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ъka. Compare Polish -ka, Russian -ка (-ka) and Ukrainian -ка (-ka).

Suffix appended to words to create a feminine noun.

Appended to feminine nouns creates diminutive forms.


-ство

-ство́ • (-stvó)


-ар

From Proto-Slavic *-ařь. Cognate with Russian -арь (-arʹ).

варо́ты (varóty) + -ар (-ar) → варата́р (varatár)


-а

-a (alternative)
-е (alternative)
-a (alternative)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьje. Variant used after non-palatalizable consonants.

па- (pa-, “across, along”) + грані́ца (hraníca, “border”) + -а (-a) → паграні́чча (pahraníčča, “region along the border”)

за- (za-) + ці́хі (cíxi, “quiet, still”) + -а (-a) → заці́шша (zacíšša, “lull, calm”)

без- (bjez-, “without”) + даро́га (daróha, “path”) + -а (-a) → бездаро́жжа (bjezdaróžža, “impassibility”)

па- (pa-) + ве́цер (vjécjer, “wind”) + -а (-a) → паве́тра (pavjétra, “air”)

Alternative form of -е (-je); used after ш, ч, ж formed as a result of the Slavic first palatalization, as well as sometimes after р.


-а

-a (alternative)
-я (alternative)
-a (alternative)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-a, from Proto-Indo-European *-ōd, the thematic ablative ending.

дом (dom, “building”) + -а (-a) → до́ма (dóma, “of a/the building, a/the building's”)

крыло́ (kryló, “wing”) + -а (-a) → крыла́ (krylá, “of a/the wing, a/the wing's”)

Forms the genitive singular of most masculine and neuter nouns.


-а

-a (alternative)
-е (alternative)
-о́ (alternative stressed)
-a (alternative)

ху́ткі (xútki, “quick”) + -а (-a) → ху́тка (xútka, “quickly”)

да́ўні (dáŭni, “old”) + -а (-a) → даўно́ (daŭnó, “long time ago”)

Suffix added to adjectives to produce adverbs


-ак

-ak (romanization)
-ak (alternative)
-о́к (alternative stressed)
-ёк (alternative)
-ек (alternative)

takes masculine nouns, produces diminutive masculine nouns, sometimes with further sense development


-ак

-а́к • (-ák)

-а́к (canonical)
-ák (romanization)
-ak (alternative)
-я́к (alternative)

Inherited from Old East Slavic -акъ (-akŭ), Proto-Slavic *-akъ.

inh+

suffix usually denoting a person with a given characteristic, or an inanimate noun of various meanings; often of a colloquial nature


-е

-je (romanization)
-ё (alternative)
-а (alternative)
-'е (alternative)
-ie (alternative)
-je (alternative)
-a (alternative)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьje. Compare Polish -ie, -e, Russian -ье (-ʹje), -ие (-ije), -ьё (-ʹjó), Ukrainian -я (-ja), -а (-a).

без- (bjez-, “without”) + люд (ljud, “people”) + -е (-je) → бязлю́ддзе (bjazljúddzje, “absence of people”)

но́вы (nóvy, “new”) + -а- (-a-) + сялі́ць (sjalícʹ, “to settle”) + -е (-je) → навасе́лле (navasjéllje, “housewarming”)

над- (nad-, “above”) + хма́ра (xmára, “cloud”) + -е (-je) → надхма́р'е (nadxmárʺje, “area above the clouds; (poetic) skies, heavens”)

па- (pa-, “across, along”) + грані́ца (hraníca, “border”) + -е (-je) → паграні́чча (pahraníčča, “region along the border”)

за- (za-) + ці́хі (cíxi, “quiet, still”) + -е (-je) → заці́шша (zacíšša, “lull, calm”)

без- (bjez-, “without”) + даро́га (daróha, “path”) + -е (-je) → бездаро́жжа (bjezdaróžža, “impassibility”)

Abstract noun suffix; forms part of larger suffixes such as -э́нне (-énnje) or -а́нне (-ánnje), and exists on its own especially as a suffix added to compound words.

за- (za-) + Каўка́з (Kaŭkáz, “Caucasus”) + -е (-je) → Закаўка́ззе (Zakaŭkázzje, “Transcaucasia”)

пры- (pry-) + Днестр (Dnjestr, “Dniester”) + -о́вы (-óvy) + -е (-je) → Прыднястро́ўе (Prydnjastróŭje, “Transnistria”)

Suffix used to create names of locations in conjunction with prefixes.


-сь

Inherited from Old Ruthenian сь (sʹ), from Old East Slavic сь (sĭ), from Proto-Slavic *sь. Compare Polish -ś, Russian and Ukrainian -сь (-sʹ). The Old East Slavic сей (sej) (whence Ukrainian цей (cej), Russian сейчас (sejčas)) does not appear to have survived in modern standard Belarusian, with the possible exception of the fixed phrase сёй-той (sjoj-toj, “this and that”).

interrogative pronoun
interrogative pronoun#English

indefinite pronoun
indefinite pronoun#English

appended to relative/interrogative pronouns to form indefinite pronouns; some-


-осць

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-о́сць • (-óscʹ)

-о́сць (canonical)
-óscʹ (romanization)
-о́сць (nominative singular)
-о́сці (nominative plural)
-о́сці (genitive singular)
-о́сцей (genitive plural)
-о́сці (dative singular)
-о́сцям (dative plural)
-о́сць (accusative singular)
-о́сці (accusative plural)
-о́сцю (instrumental singular)
-о́сцямі (instrumental plural)
-о́сці (locative singular)
-о́сцях (locative plural)
-о́сці (count-form plural)
-осьць (alternative Taraškievica)
-ość (alternative)
-асць (alternative unstressed)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ostь. Cognate with Polish -ość, Russian -ость (-ostʹ) and Ukrainian -ість (-istʹ).

прыго́жы (pryhóžy) + -осць (-oscʹ) → прыгажо́сць (pryhažóscʹ)

Used to form abstract nouns from adjectives; -ness, -ity, -dom.


-асць

-ascʹ (romanization)
-асьць (alternative Taraškievica)

кары́сны (karýsny) + -асць (-ascʹ) → кары́снасць (karýsnascʹ)


-ны

-ны (canonical)
-ны́ (canonical)
-ny (romanization)
-ný (romanization)
-ні (alternative)

From Proto-Slavic *-ьnъ. Cognate with Russian -ный (-nyj), Ukrainian -ний (-nyj), Polish -ny.

го́лад (hólad) + -ны (-ny) → гало́дны (halódny)

Used to form adjectives from nouns; -ish, -y.


-ні

-ні (canonical)
-ні́ (canonical)
-ni (romanization)
-ní (romanization)

From Proto-Slavic *-ьnъ. Cognate with Russian -ный (-nyj), Ukrainian -ний (-nyj), Polish -ny, Russian -ний (-nij), Ukrainian -ній (-nij).

за́хад (záxad) + -ні (-ni) → захо́дні (zaxódni)


-ата

-ата́ • (-atá)

-ата́ (canonical)
-atá (romanization)
-о́та (alternative)

From Proto-Slavic *-ota. Cognate with Russian -ота́ (-otá), Ukrainian -ота́ (-otá), Polish -ota.

бе́дны (bjédny) + -ата (-ata) → бедната́ (bjednatá)


-лівы

-лі́вы (canonical)
-лівы (canonical)
-lívy (romanization)
-livy (romanization)

Cognate with Russian -ли́вый (-lívyj), Ukrainian -ливий (-lyvyj).

асо́ба (asóba) + -лівы (-livy) → асаблі́вы (asablívy)

дапыта́ць (dapytácʹ) + -лівы (-livy) → дапы́тлівы (dapýtlivy)

Used to form adjectives from nouns or verbs; -al, -y.


-ства

-stva (romanization)
-цтва (alternative)
-ство́ (alternative)

From Proto-Slavic *-ьstvo. Cognate with Russian -ство (-stvo), Polish -stwo.

чалаве́к (čalavjék, “man”) + -ства (-stva) → чалаве́цтва (čalavjéctva, “mankind”)

Used to form abstract nouns; -kind, -hood, -dom.


-нік

From Proto-Slavic *-ьnikъ. Cognate with Russian -ник (-nik).

дзе́яць (dzjéjacʹ) + -нік (-nik) → дзе́йнік (dzjéjnik)


-ышча

-ышча • (-yšča)

-yšča (romanization)
-ішча (alternative)

Attached to nouns and verbs to form neuter nouns indicating locations.


-скі

-скі (canonical)
-скі́ (canonical)
-ski (romanization)
-skí (romanization)

From Proto-Slavic *-ьskъ. Cognate with Russian -ский (-skij).

мужчы́на (mužčýna) + -скі (-ski) → мужчы́нскі (mužčýnski)


-анне

-а́нне (canonical)
-ánnje (romanization)
-аньне (alternative Taraškievica)
-янне (alternative)

дакуча́ць (dakučácʹ, “to annoy”) + -а́нне (-ánnje) → дакуча́нне (dakučánnje, “annoyance”)

пыта́ць (pytácʹ, “to ask”) + -анне (-annje) → пыта́нне (pytánnje, “question”)

-tion, -ence, -ance, -ity, etc. (suffix used to form abstract nouns from verbs; added especially to verbs ending in -ать (-atʹ))


-ймаць

-йма́ць (canonical)
-jmácʹ (romanization)
-ня́ць (perfective)
-йма́ць (imperfective infinitive)
-йма́ны (imperfective passive past)
-йма́ючы (adverbial imperfective present)
-йма́ўшы (adverbial imperfective past)
-йма́ю (first-person imperfective present singular)
бу́ду -йма́ць (first-person future imperfective singular)
-йма́еш (imperfective present second-person singular)
бу́дзеш -йма́ць (future imperfective second-person singular)
-йма́е (imperfective present singular third-person)
бу́дзе -йма́ць (future imperfective singular third-person)
-йма́ем (first-person imperfective plural present)
бу́дзем -йма́ць (first-person future imperfective plural)
-йма́еце (imperfective plural present second-person)
бу́дзеце -йма́ць (future imperfective plural second-person)
-йма́юць (imperfective plural present third-person)
бу́дуць -йма́ць (future imperfective plural third-person)
-йма́й (imperative second-person singular)
-йма́йце (imperative plural second-person)
-йма́ў (masculine past singular)
-йма́лі (masculine past plural)
-йма́ла (feminine past singular)
-йма́лі (feminine past plural)
-йма́ла (neuter past singular)
-йма́лі (neuter past plural)
-ыма́ць (alternative)

Inherited from Old East Slavic имати (imati), from Proto-Slavic *jьmati, formed as a suffix from the now-uncommon verb іма́ць (imácʹ, “to take; to possess”). Related to мець (mjecʹ). Compare Ukrainian -йма́ти (-jmáty), itself related to ма́ти (máty); as well as archaic Russian има́ть (imátʹ), later reanalyzed as -нима́ть (-nimátʹ).

inh+

Combining form used to form imperfective counterparts of prefixed derivatives of -няць (-njacʹ, “to take”).


да-

da- (romanization)
до́- (alternative stressed)

Suffix form of да (da). Compare Russian до- (do-).

да- (da-) + ісці (isci, “to go”) → дайсці́ (dajscí, “to go up to, to reach”)

да- (da-) + чыта́ць (čytácʹ, “to read”) → дачыта́ць (dačytácʹ, “to finish reading”)

(used with verbs) completely (describing a completion of an action to its end)

да- (da-) + гістары́чны (histarýčny, “historic”) → дагістары́чны (dahistarýčny, “prehistoric”)

(used with adjectives and nouns) pre-, ante- (earlier in time)


-ніца

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-ніца or -ні́ца • (-nica or -níca) f anim or f inan

-ніца (canonical)
-ні́ца (canonical)
-nica (romanization)
-níca (romanization)
-ні́ца (nominative singular)
-ні́цы (nominative plural)
-ні́цы (genitive singular)
-ні́ц (genitive plural)
-ні́цы (dative singular)
-ні́цам (dative plural)
-ні́цу (accusative singular)
-ні́цы (accusative plural)
-ні́цай (instrumental singular)
-ні́цаю (instrumental singular)
-ні́цамі (instrumental plural)
-ні́цы (locative singular)
-ні́цах (locative plural)
-ні́цы (count-form plural)


-шчык

-ščyk (romanization)
-шчыца (feminine)
-ščyk (alternative)
-ьшчык (alternative)

Compound of -скі (-ski) + -ік (-ik). Compare Russian -щик (-ščik).

макаро́ны (makaróny, “macaroni; pasta”) + -шчык (-ščyk) → макаро́ншчык (makarónščyk, “pasta maker”)

Suffix added to nouns, verbs and sometimes adjectives to form masculine agent nouns: -er, -or


-аваць

-аваць (canonical)
-ава́ць (canonical)
-avacʹ (romanization)
-avácʹ (romanization)
-avać (alternative)
-awać (alternative)
-яваць (alternative)
-ява́ць (alternative)

⇒ Yiddish: ־עווען (-even)

Inherited from Old Ruthenian -овати (-ovati), from Old East Slavic -овати (-ovati), Proto-Slavic *-ovati. Compare Polish -ować, Russian -овать (-ovatʹ), Ukrainian -увати (-uvaty).

inh+

Used to form verbs from nouns, adjectives, or foreign verbs


-іва

-iva (romanization)
-ыва (alternative)
-iva (alternative)

Inherited from Old Ruthenian -иво (-ivo), from Old East Slavic -иво (-ivo), from Proto-Slavic *-ivo. Compare Polish -iwo, Ukrainian -иво (-yvo).

пячы́ (pjačý, “to bake”) + -іва (-iva) → пе́чыва (pjéčyva, “baked goods”)

мро́іць (mróicʹ, “(archaic) to become barely visible”) + -іва (-iva) → мро́іва (mróiva, “haze, mist”)

маро́зіць (marózicʹ, “to freeze”) + -іва (-iva) → маро́зіва (maróziva, “ice cream”)

жаць (žacʹ, “to reap”) + -іва (-iva) → жні́ва (žníva, “harvest”)

deverbal suffix used to form nouns, that denote a product of the activity described by the verb

палі́ць (palícʹ, “to burn”) + -іва (-iva) → па́ліва (páliva, “fuel”)

deverbal suffix used to form nouns, that denote an instrument or material used to perform the activity described by the verb

denominal suffix used to form nouns, that denote instrumental and resultant terms


-знаўства

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-зна́ўства • (-znáŭstva)

-зна́ўства (canonical)
-znáŭstva (romanization)
-зна́ўства (nominative singular)
-зна́ўствы (nominative plural)
-зна́ўства (genitive singular)
-зна́ўстваў (genitive plural)
-зна́ўству (dative singular)
-зна́ўствам (dative plural)
-зна́ўства (accusative singular)
-зна́ўствы (accusative plural)
-зна́ўствам (instrumental singular)
-зна́ўствамі (instrumental plural)
-зна́ўстве (locative singular)
-зна́ўствах (locative plural)
-зна́ўствы (count-form plural)
-znaŭstva (alternative)

be-ndecl

-зна́ўства<>

By surface analysis, *знава́ць (*znavácʹ) (as seen in imperfective forms such as пазнава́ць (paznavácʹ)) or зна́вец (znávjec) + -ства (-stva). Most likely borrowed from Polish znawstwo.

мо́ва (móva, “language”) + -знаўства (-znaŭstva) → мовазна́ўства (movaznáŭstva, “linguistics”, literally “language science”)

грамада́ (hramadá, “community”) + -знаўства (-znaŭstva) → грамадазна́ўства (hramadaznáŭstva, “social science”)

suffix added to mean "science", "studies", or "art" of something


ня-

Pre-stressed-syllable variant of не- (nje-, “not”).


-авы

-avy (romanization)
-явы (alternative)
-явы́ (alternative)

Compare Ukrainian -овий (-ovyj), -ови́й (-ovýj).


-авы

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-авы́ • (-avý)

-авы́ (canonical)
-avý (romanization)
-явы (alternative)
-явы́ (alternative)


-авы

-а́вы • (-ávy)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-avъ. Compare Polish -awy, Russian -а́вый (-ávyj).

іржа́ (iržá, “rust”) + -авы (-avy) → іржа́вы (iržávy, “rusty”)


-цель

-cjelʹ (romanization)
-целька (feminine)
-ciel (alternative)

Inherited from Old Ruthenian -тель (-telʹ), from Old East Slavic -тель (-telĭ), from Proto-Slavic *-teľь. Compare Polish -ciel, Russian and Ukrainian -тель (-telʹ).

inh+

вы́зваліць (výzvalicʹ, “to liberate, to free, to release”) + -цель (-cjelʹ) → вызвалі́цель (vyzvalícjelʹ, “liberator”)

выхо́ўваць (vyxóŭvacʹ, “to raise, to bring up, to nurture”) + -цель (-cjelʹ) → выхава́цель (vyxavácjelʹ, “educator”)

мы́сліць (mýslicʹ, “to think”) + -цель (-cjelʹ) → мыслі́цель (myslícjelʹ, “thinker”)

appended to verbs and nouns to form masculine agent nouns; -er, -or


-сьці

Clearly an extended form of -сь (-sʹ), although the origin of -ці (-ci), which has not been found appended elsewhere standalone, is uncertain. Possibly formed by phonological analogy of -асці (-asci) or -осці (-ósci), genitive form of -асць (-ascʹ) or -осць (-oscʹ), although this is speculation.

appended to relative/interrogative pronouns to form indefinite pronouns; some-


-небудзь

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-не́будзь • (-njébudzʹ)

-не́будзь (canonical)
-njébudzʹ (romanization)
-niebudź (alternative)

не- (nje-) + будзь (budzʹ), imperative form of быць (bycʹ, “to be”), literally, “don't be”, although perhaps semantically closer to "be or not". Compare Polish bądź, Russian -нибу́дь (-nibúdʹ), Ukrainian -не́будь (-nébudʹ).