larouge
Dancing in the chorus
Posts: 5
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Post by larouge on Feb 22, 2014 5:04:14 GMT
I would like to understand this - why and how does साथी (masculine singular) become साथिया (still masculine singular??). What does -iya mean? What for is it used? Thanks!
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Post by desi4life on Feb 22, 2014 6:08:25 GMT
साथिया is a poetic way of saying साथी, so you will hear it in songs for example. In everyday usage साथी is the word used.
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larouge
Dancing in the chorus
Posts: 5
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Post by larouge on Feb 22, 2014 6:14:40 GMT
Thank you, desi4life! I do hear it in songs sometimes. Are there any other words that use this suffix? What does it add to the meaning of the word? What about भाइया - I thought that one was regional and quite slangy, not poetic?
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Post by desi4life on Feb 22, 2014 20:40:27 GMT
You will also occasionally hear अखियाँ (singlular: अखिया) instead of आँखें (singular: आँख) in songs. There are many others like this. I think they are called diminutive expressions in the sense that they add a bit more familiarity or affection. भइया or भैया, though not necessarily poetic, is a common everyday word for a brother, and also fits this pattern.
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Post by James on Feb 23, 2014 3:08:52 GMT
Just to add to desi4life's comment, when it comes to bhaiyya, it does mean brother, but it's regularly used to address people in the service sector, too. So if you're dealing with a rickshaw-wala, a taxi person, someone at a kiosk or what not, you could refer to them as bhaiya as a respectful way of addressing a stranger, whereas you'd be more likely to use 'bhai' for your blood brother or a very close friend.
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larouge
Dancing in the chorus
Posts: 5
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Post by larouge on Apr 24, 2014 2:01:31 GMT
Thank you so much, desi4life and James!
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