Language/Kirghiz/Grammar/Gender

Kirghiz Grammar - Gender

Hi Kirghiz learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will dive into the gender in Kirghiz grammar, an important aspect of the language. We will learn how Kirghiz nouns are categorized into genders and how to use gendered words in different situations. We will also touch on cultural aspects of the Kirghiz language and how it shapes the use of gender.

Introduction

Gender is an important feature of many languages, and Kirghiz is no exception. In Kirghiz grammar, gender is an inherent property of nouns, and understanding noun gender is crucial to proper grammar usage.

Kirghiz has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Masculine gender is often used for male people and animals, as well as for some inanimate objects. For example, "бала" (bala) is a masculine word that means "boy". Feminine gender is used for female people and animals, as well as some inanimate objects. "Айыл" (ayyl) is a feminine noun that means "village". Finally, neuter gender is used for inanimate objects and some abstract concepts. "Жашыл" (jashyl) is a neuter noun that means "green".

Noun endings

In Kirghiz, noun endings often indicate gender. Generally, masculine nouns end with sounds "ы" (y) or "у" (u), while feminine nouns often end with sounds "а" (a) or "ө" (ö). The neuter gender has several different endings, including "-дуу" (-duu).

Here are some examples:

Kirghiz	Pronunciation	English
окуучу	oquuchu	male student
кыз	kyz	girl
оймок	oymok	house
түйүүчү	tüyüüchü	shopkeeper
жашыл	jashyl	green

As you can see, the endings of these nouns often indicate their gender. By learning these endings, you can determine the gender of a noun you may not have encountered before.

Pronouns

Kirghiz personal pronouns are also gendered. There are different pronouns used for he, she, and it. Here are the personal pronouns and their meanings:

Kirghiz	Pronunciation	English
мен	men	I
сен	sen	you
ал	al	he/it
аял	ayal	she
бул	bul	it
биз	biz	we
сиз	siz	you all
алар	alar	they

In Kirghiz, the gendered pronouns can be used to refer to people, animals, and objects. However, it is important to note that some inanimate objects, such as tables and chairs, can still be referred to using gendered pronouns. This is an example of how the Kirghiz culture and language differ from the English language.

Cultural aspects

Gender roles are important in Kirghiz culture and are often reflected in the language. For instance, you might say "бала аткаруу" (bala atkaruu) to refer to the male act of horse riding or "кызарыс жанына келүү" (kyzarys janyñe kelüü) to describe female flirting behavior. Therefore, gender is not only a feature of the language but also reflects important cultural values.

Examples in context

To better understand gender in Kirghiz grammar, here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: "Ал көчмөсүнө келди" (Al köchmösüne keldi) - He arrived at the station.
• Person 2: "Ал кандай бала?" (Al kanday bala?) - What kind of boy?
• Person 1: "Ушул ал карата байкала" (Ushul al karata baykala) - That boy is looking at Lake Baikal.

In this example, the pronoun "ал" (al) is used to refer to a boy, showing the masculine gender of the noun.

Practice

To practice your understanding of Kirghiz gender grammar, try translating the sentences below:

• The girl is singing.
• The horse is running fast.
• The mountain is beautiful.

Conclusion

In this lesson we have covered Kirghiz gender grammar. We learned how gender determines the form of a noun and how culture affects the use of gender in the language. We also practiced using gendered words in different situations. To improve your understanding of the Kirghiz language, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Kirghiz Language
• Grammatical Gender
• Culture of Kyrgyzstan