-ㅁ메

Korean

Etymology

Compare Hamgyong dialectal 슴메다 (-seummeda), 음메 (-eumme). Also attested in the Pyongan dialect

Suffix

ㅁ메 • (-mme)

1. (Hamgyong, Pyongan) Post-vowel or post-liquid allomorphic form of 슴메 (-seumme, “declarative or interrogative suffix in the plain style of speech”)
   • 2013 June 21, 김건욱 [gimgeonuk], “나의 살던 고향은 [naui saldeon gohyang'eun]”, in KBS 고향극장 [KBS gohyanggeukjang]‎^[2], 함경남도 홍원군 [hamgyeongnamdo hong'won'gun]:

     아바이 어데 갔다 옴메?

     abai eode gatda omme?

     Grandfather, where are you coming from?

Usage notes

In the Hamgyong dialect, this suffix is used for both questions and statements.