-lia

See also: Appendix:Variations of "lia"

Swahili

Etymology

What are now vowel-final verb stems originally had an -l-, which resurfaces whenever a suffix is added.

Suffix

-lia (mid vowel harmony variant -lea)

  1. alternative form of -ia used after a stem ending in a vowel
    -andaa (to prepare) + ‎-lia → ‎-andalia (to prepare for)
    -zoa (to pick up) + ‎-lea → ‎-zolea (to pick up for)

Derived terms

  • Swahili applicative verbs