Gender prefixes and gender agreement

Some verbs, a few adjectives, and some postpositions agree in gender with the noun or pronoun which is subject or direct object of the verb, modified by the adjective, or object of the postposition. Gender is marked by prefixation. There are four gender markers: v-, j-, b-, and d-. Gender of personal pronouns reflects the sex of the referent, and is based on person in the plural.

Word Meaning Singular Plural

vasha brother v b

jisha sister j b

neca moth b d

mox wind b b

kor window d d

gezga spider j j

so I v, j (v = masculine, j = feminine)

i, iza he, she v, j

txo we d

shu you d

ysh they b

Examples of intransitive and transitive verbs in short phrases with the four gender prefixes:

Muusaa voedu Муса воьду Musa goes

Peet'amat joedu Пет1амат йоьду Fatima goes

Beer doedu Бер доьду a child goes

Jiatt boedu Етт боьду a cow goes

Muusaa veuzira Муса вевзира (he/she) recognized Musa

Peet'amat jeuzira Пет1амат евзира (") recognized Fatima

beer deuzira бер девзира (") recognized the child

jiatt beuzira етт бевзира (") recognized the cow