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kalf-

quickinfo

The unproductive prefix kalf- derives nouns from other nouns. It can, however, only be attached to the nouns broer brother and suster sister. Derivations with kalf- refer to a brother or a sister who either has a different father or mother than oneself. An example is broer brother > kalfbroer half-brother.

General properties
Phonological properties

[+]General properties

The prefix kalf- can only be combined with the words broer brother and suster sister, resulting in the words kalfbroer half-brother and kalfsuster half-sister. The prefix is clearly unproductive. One can use these forms to refer to a brother or a sister who has a different father or mother than oneself.

Alternative prefixes with the same function are heal-, kâld- and pot-. Where heal- is the commonly used prefix, kâld-, kalf- and pot- can be considered obsolete.