vocative etymology

Etymology

• Latin: vocativus, from vocare "to call"
• Proto-Indo-European: *wókewo-s, from *wóḱ- "to call"

Meaning

• Grammatical: The vocative case is used to address a person or thing directly. It is typically unmarked in English but often has a unique ending in other languages.

Origin

The vocative case originated in the Indo-European proto-language as a distinct case form used for addressing people. It was inherited into many Indo-European languages, including Latin and English.

Functions

The vocative case is primarily used to:

• Address people directly: "John, come here!"
• Address animals or things: "Dog, sit!" "Car, start!"
• Create emphasis or intimacy: "My friend, I'm so happy to see you."
• Indicate the beginning of a prayer or invocation: "O Lord, hear our prayers."

Usage in English

• In English, the vocative case is typically unmarked and indistinguishable from the nominative case.
• However, in some informal or colloquial contexts, the vocative may be marked with an interjection, such as "Hey" or "Yo."
• For example: "Hey, man!" instead of "Man, what's up?"

Usage in Other Languages

In many other Indo-European languages, the vocative case has a distinct ending. For example:

• Latin: puella (nom.), puellae (voc.) = "girl"
• German: der Mann (nom.), o Mann (voc.) = "the man"
• Spanish: el niño (nom.), ¡niño! (voc.) = "the boy"
• Russian: мужчина (nom.), мужчина! (voc.) = "man"

vocative relate terms

• advocate

  Etymology The word advocate comes from the Latin word advocare which means to call

• avocation

  Etymology Latin avocare meaning to call away A means away or off vocare

• calliope

  Etymology The name Calliope derives from the Greek word kalliope which means beautif

• convocation

  Etymology Latin convocare to summon or call together Prefix con with verb

• epic

  Etymology The word epic originates from the Ancient Greek word epos which means wo

• equivocal

  Etymology The word equivocal is derived from the Latin word aequus meaning equal

• equivocation

• evoke

  Etymology The word evoke comes from the Latin word evocare which means to call for

• invoke

  Etymology The word invoke derives from the Latin verb invocare which is a combinati

• provoke

  Etymology The word provoke derives from the Latin verb provocare meaning to call fo

• revoke

  Etymology Latin revocare meaning to call back Meaning To cancel or annul a right

• univocal

  Etymology Latin univocus uniform single voiced Uni one voc voice Me

• vocabulary

  Word Etymology Meaning Origin Vocabulary Latin voca voice bulu

• vocal

  Etymology The word vocal comes from the Latin word vox meaning voice Meaning P

• vocation

  Etymology and Origin The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocatio meaning a

• vocative

  Etymology Latin vocativus from vocare to call Proto Indo European wókewo s from

• vociferate

  Etymology Late Latin vociferāre to cry out from vox voice ferre to carry

• vociferous

  Etymology Latin vociferus from vocem voice fer carrying bearing Mean

• voice

  Etymology The word voice comes from the Middle English word vois which in turn comes

• vouch

  Etymology The word vouch comes from the Old French word voucher which in turn comes

• vowel

  Etymology The word vowel is derived from the Latin word vox meaning voice This i

• locative

  Etymology The word locative is derived from the Latin word locus meaning place Th

• Jupiter

  Etymology The name Jupiter derives from the Latin language where it was originally kno

• saucy

  Etymology Late 16th century from sauce y y1 suffix forming adjectives from nouns

• Hercules

  Etymology The name Hercules derives from the Latin name Hercules and the Greek name Hēra

• Jesus

  Etymology The name Jesus is derived from the Greek name Iēsous Ἰησοῦς whi

• salvo

  Etymology The word salvo comes from the Italian word salva which means a discharge

• oblique

  Etymology Origin Latin obliquus slanting transverse Root Proto Indo European lab

• case

  Etymology The word case derives from the Old French word cas which in turn comes fro