Noun Stems

A noun stem is the core part of a noun that carries the basic meaning of the word. The singular form of a noun is considered to be its stem. Prefixes and/or suffixes, called inflections, can be added to this stem.

Some noun stems are special: when the suffixes or prefixes attach to them some changes take place. In the Northern dialect, the changes affect:

• Stems ending with a vowel + u
  • Nouns stems ending with –uu
  • Noun stems ending with –iu
  • Noun Stems ending with -aau
• Stems ending with a vowel + i
  • Noun Stems ending with –ui
  • Noun Stems ending with -ii
• Stems ending with a consonant + w
  • Noun stems ending with a hidden –w
  • Noun stems ending with -kw
• Stems ending in consonant -s
• Stems starting with a vowel

(For the notation used in these tables, see Noun Paradigms.)

See also Extended stems