Time-Travel Suffixes: -mal, -ens, -lich
German builds time, frequency, and order concepts by attaching suffixes to base words, similar to Nepali suffix usage.
1) Frequency Suffix: -mal (The Multiplier)
German concept: number + mal = how many times an event happens. Nepali concept: number + पटक or चोटी.
| German | English | Nepali (Devanagari) | Nepali (Romanized) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Einmal | Once / One time | एक पटक / एकचोटी | Ek patak / Ek choti |
| Zweimal | Twice / Two times | दुई पटक | Dui patak |
| Manchmal | Sometimes | कहिलेकाहीँ | Kahilekaahi |
| Niemals | Never | कहिल्यै पनि होइन | Kahilyai pani hoina |
| Damals | Back then / At that time | त्यो बेला / त्यतिखेर | Tyo bela / Tyatikhera |
Example
German: Ich war dreimal in Berlin.
English: I was in Berlin three times.
Nepali: म तीन पटक बर्लिन गएको छु। (Ma teen patak Berlin gaeko chhu.)
2) Step-by-Step Suffix: -ens (The Organizer)
German concept: ordinal base + ens = transition words for structuring arguments. Nepali concept: numbered points and phrases like पहिलो कुरा.
| German | English | Nepali (Devanagari) | Nepali (Romanized) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erstens | Firstly / First of all | पहिलो कुरा / प्रथमतः | Pahilo kura / Prathamataha |
| Zweitens | Secondly | दोस्रो कुरा | Dosro kura |
| Drittens | Thirdly | तेस्रो कुरा | Tesro kura |
| Mindestens | At least | कम्तिमा पनि | Kamtima pani |
| Spatestens | At the latest | ढिलोमा पनि | Dhiloma pani |
Example
German: Erstens habe ich kein Geld, zweitens keine Zeit.
English: Firstly, I have no money; secondly, I have no time.
Nepali: पहिलो कुरा मसँग पैसा छैन, दोस्रो कुरा समय छैन। (Pahilo kura masanga paisa chhaina, dosro kura samaya chhaina.)
3) Recurring Suffix: -lich (The Clockwork)
German concept: time noun + lich = repeating interval adverb (daily, weekly, monthly). Nepali concept: प्रत्येक + time noun or adjective forms like दैनिक, साप्ताहिक.
| German | English | Nepali (Devanagari) | Nepali (Romanized) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taglich | Daily | दैनिक / प्रत्येक दिन | Dainik / Pratyek din |
| Wochentlich | Weekly | साप्ताहिक / प्रत्येक हप्ता | Saaptaahik / Pratyek hapta |
| Monatlich | Monthly | मासिक / प्रत्येक महिना | Maasik / Pratyek mahina |
| Jahrlich | Annually / Yearly | वार्षिक / प्रत्येक वर्ष | Waarshik / Pratyek barsha |
| Schliesslich | Finally / In the end | अन्ततः / अन्त्यमा | Antataha / Antyama |
Example
German: Ich lerne taglich Deutsch.
English: I learn German daily.
Nepali: म प्रत्येक दिन जर्मन सिक्छु। (Ma pratyek din German sikchhu.)
Creative Summary
- Use -mal when you want to express how often something happens.
- Use -ens when you want to structure arguments in ordered points.
- Use -lich when you want to express regular repeating intervals.