-냐

냐 U+B0D0, 냐 HANGUL SYLLABLE NYA Composition: ㄴ + ㅑ ← 냏 [U+B0CF] Hangul Syllables 냑 → [U+B0D1]

Korean

Alternative forms

• 느냐 (-neunya), 으냐 (-eunya) — literary and dated

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 으〮녀〮/ᄋᆞ〮녀〮 (Yale: -únyé/ónyé), equivalent (despite vowel mismatches) to a contraction of 으〮니아〮/ᄋᆞ〮니아〮 (Yale: -únìGá/ónìGá), ultimately from Old Korean 隱 (*-un, realis gerund suffix) + 是 (*-i, “to be”, copula stem) + 去 (*-ke, polar question interrogative suffix): etymologically "is it that...".

Recently, the epenthetical 으/느 (eu/neu) have been deleted, producing the modern form.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɲa̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [냐]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	nya
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	nya
McCune–Reischauer?	nya
Yale Romanization?	nya

Suffix

냐 • (-nya)

1. (colloquial) a plain-style interrogative suffix

   뒈지고 싶어서 환장했냐? (vulgar) ― Dwejigo sipeoseo hwanjang-haennya? ― Do you want to fucking die?

   너 찾았는데 어디 갔었냐? ― Neo chajanneunde eodi gasseonnya? ― I was looking for you; where did you go?

Usage notes

• Historically, only 느냐 (-neunya) and 으냐 (-eunya) were accepted in the standard language. Both are rare nowadays and have been almost wholly supplanted by 냐 (-nya), which is now accepted in the standard language as well.
• 니 (-ni) has the same meaning but has a friendlier nuance and is more often used by women.

Suffix

냐 • (-nya)

1. Post-vowel or post-liquid allomorphic form of 으냐 (-eunya, (dated) plain-style interrogative suffix).