Suffix ی (i)

Persian suffix i (ی) is a versatile suffix. It can convert a noun into an adjective and vice versa. If the word ends in the vowel e, the suffix i typically changes to -gi. After other vowels, it changes to -yi.

Nouns to adjectives

Adjectives to nouns

Infinitives to adjectives

The suffix i can convert an infinitive to an adjective. The resulting derivation means “to be worth”, “suitable for being”, “able to be”, etc. depending on the context. Its role is comparable to English suffixes “-ible” and “-able”.

Historical notes

In Middle Persian, the suffix -îh was used to derive a noun from an adjective and the suffix -îg was used to derive an adjective from a noun. Both of these suffixes became -î in New Persian. The suffix -îg is cognate with Latin “-icus” which is used as “-ic” in English (e.g. basic, acidic)

In transition from Middle Persian to New Persian, words that ended in -ag, lost their final -g and became -a. This ending has further evolved and has become -e in the standard dialect of Iran.

In cases where -ag has accepted a suffix, its -g has been preserved. That is why when a suffix like -i is added to these words, their historical -g reappears.

Words that end in -e and did not exist in Middle Persian, simply take -i: