Editing Hurrian language (section)

===== Thematic vowels =====
Almost all Hurrian [[nouns]] end in a vowel, known as a ''thematic vowel'' or ''[[Stem (linguistics)|stem]] vowel''. This vowel will always appear on the word, and will not switch between types. Most nouns end with /i/; a few end with /a/ (mostly words for relatives and divine names) and /e/ (a few suffix derivations, possibly the same as /i/-stems).<ref>{{harvnb|Wilhelm|2008|pp=88, 90–91}}</ref> As well, in texts from [[Nuzi]], stems of /u/ (or /o/?) are found, mainly on non-Hurrian names and a few Hurrian ones.

This stem-final vowel disappears when certain endings are attached to it, such as case endings that begin with a vowel, certain derivational suffixes, or the [[Article (linguistics)|article]] suffix. Examples: ''kāz-ōš'' (like a cup) from ''kāzi'' (cup), ''awarra'' (the fields) from ''awari'' (field).

A minority of Hurrian noun [[Root (linguistics)|roots]] have athematic stem vowels, such as ''šen'' (brother) in the forms ''šena'' and ''-šenni'', ''mad'' (wisdom; later becomes ''i''-stem in the form ''madi''), and ''muž'' (divine name). Some names of gods, heroes, persons, and places are also athematic, e.g. Teššob (Teššobi/a), Gilgaamiž, Hurriž (later Hurri). These nouns seem to occur more frequently in the earliest Hurrian texts (end of the [[3rd millennium BC|third millennium BC]]).

Note: This type of thematic stem vowel is completely different in function to Indo-European stem vowels. For a discussion of those, see [[Proto-Indo-European language|here]] and [[Proto-Indo-European phonology|here]].