Word Formation: Nouns

Kyrgyz is like a LEGO set. With a basic collection of roots and suffixes, you can build new words almost endlessly. In this article we'll cover the main suffixes that turn verbs and adjectives into nouns.

🧮 1. Verb → Noun

-УУ / -ҮҮ / -ОО / -ӨӨ — Name of an Action (Infinitive)

This is the most basic method. You've already come across these suffixes in the article on verb basics. They turn a verb into a verbal noun (the name of the action).

• Окуу башталды. — The school year has started.
• Жашоо кыска. — Life is short.

-ЫШ / -ИШ / -УШ / -ҮШ — Process or Result of an Action

This suffix creates nouns with the meaning of a process, mutual action, or result. The vowel is chosen according to the vowel harmony law.

• Биздин барышыбыз жакшы болду. — Our progress was good.
• Келишим түздүк. — We made an agreement.

-МА / -МЕ / -МО / -МӨ — Result or Product of an Action

This suffix creates nouns denoting the result or product of an action.

• Бул китеп — жаңы басма. — This book is a new edition.
• Үстөлдүн тартмасын ач. — Open the desk drawer.

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🧮 2. Verb → Agent (Who Does It?)

-ЧЫ / -ЧИ / -ЧУ / -ЧҮ — Profession or Occupation

One of the most productive suffixes! Added to nouns or verbal nouns, it means "one who does this."

• Менин досум — жазуучу. — My friend is a writer.
• Кызым окуучу. — My daughter is a student.

-ГЫЧ / -ГИЧ / -ГУЧ / -ГҮЧ (and -КЫЧ / -КИЧ) — Tool or Agent

This suffix forms nouns meaning "that which does the action" — typically tools or devices.

• Ачкычты унутпа. — Don't forget the key.
• Өчүргүчүң барбы? — Do you have an eraser?

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🧮 3. Abstract Concepts

-ЛЫК / -ЛИК / -ДЫК / -ДИК / -ТЫК / -ТИК — Abstract Quality or State

This suffix is the equivalent of the English suffixes "-ness," "-hood," "-ship," "-ity." It turns adjectives and nouns into abstract concepts.

Choosing the consonant (л/д/т) depends on the final letter of the base, just like in the -луу/-дуу/-туу suffixes.

• Балалык эң бактылуу мезгил. — Childhood is the happiest time.
• Эркиндик баарынан кымбат. — Freedom is more precious than anything.

-ЧЫЛЫК / -ЧИЛИК — Activity, Field, State

The combination of -чы + -лык creates nouns with the meaning of a field of activity or a social phenomenon.

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🧮 Summary Table of Suffixes

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⚠️ Important Nuances

1. Chains of Suffixes

In Kyrgyz you can "stack" multiple suffixes in a row:

• окуу (studying) → окуучу (student) → окуучулук (studenthood)
• иш (work) → ишчи (worker) → ишчилик (working activity)

окуучулук
оку
root (read)
у
verbal noun
чу
agent
лук
abstraction
→ studenthood

2. Sound Changes

When adding suffixes, keep sound assimilation in mind:

• After voiceless consonants: -тык, -кыч
• After voiced consonants and vowels: -дык, -гыч, -лык

3. Don't Confuse Similar Forms

• окуу (studying) vs. оку (read!) — the first is a noun, the second is a verb
• жазуу (writing) vs. жазуучу (writer) — different suffixes, different meanings

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See also:

• Verb Basics — how verbs are structured
• Basic Adjectives — adjectives as a base for nouns
• Suffixes -луу and -сыз — presence and absence
• Vowel Harmony — choosing vowels in suffixes
• Sound Assimilation — consonant changes