fi-

See also: fi, Fi, FI, .fi, fi., fí, and Appendix:Variations of "fi"

Esperanto

Etymology

From fi.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• IPA^(key): [fi]

Prefix

fi-

1. shameful, immoral, corrupt, dissolute, dirty, slutty

   ‎fi- ‎fama (“famous”) → ‎fifama (“infamous”)

Usage notes

• Unlike the suffix -aĉ-, which indicates a defect in quality or condition, the prefix fi- indicates a defect of morality. Therefore, while both are used to indicate disapproval, they are not synonymous. The difference is similar to the difference between evil and bad in English.

Derived terms

Esperanto terms prefixed with fi-

• fia (“shameful, ignoble”)
• fiaĉa (“thoroughly evil”)
• figazeto (“dirty magazine, girlie magazine”)
• fiinsekto (“vermin”)
• fikomercisto (“swindler, conman”)
• fiparoli (“to curse, cuss, swear”)
• fiulino (“slut, loose woman”)
• fiulo (“an evil person, a reprobate”)
• fivorto (“an obscenity, cussword”)

 

West Makian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɸi/

Etymology 1

Prefix

fi-

1. a prefix of generally unknown function
   1. indicates active involvement

      ‎fi- ‎co (“to see”) → ‎fico (“to look at, keep an eye on”)

   2. derives transitive verbs from intransitive verbs

      ‎fi- ‎teng (“to say”) → ‎fiteng (“to say (to someone)”)

   3. derives intransitive verbs from transitive verbs

      ‎fi- ‎am (“to eat (tr.)”) → ‎fiam (“to eat (intr.)”)

   4. extends the root semantically

      ‎fi- ‎toga (“to pull up (an anchor)”) → ‎fitoga (“to withdraw (a machete, etc.)”)

Usage notes

These are the only four instances of this prefix found in the present data.

Etymology 2

Prefix

fi-

1. Alternative form of fa- (derivational prefix) when preceded by a root-initial i

Etymology 3

Pronoun

fi-

1. Alternative form of fa- (“you all”) when preceded by a root-initial i

Etymology 4

Pronoun

fi-

1. second-person plural possessive prefix, your

See also

West Makian personal pronouns

	independent	possessive prefix
1st person singular	de	ti
2nd person singular	ni	ni
3rd person singular	me	mVan., dVinan.
1st person plural inclusive	ene	nV
1st person plural exclusive	imi	mi
2nd person plural	ini	fi
3rd person plural	eme	di

• V indicates the expected assimilated vowel of the following noun, following standard West Makian vowel harmony.

References

• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[1], Pacific linguistics
• James Collins (1982) Further Notes Towards a West Makian Vocabulary‎^[2], Pacific linguistics