-y

See also: Appendix:Variations of "y"

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Alternative forms

• -e, -ey, -ie
• -i- (when followed by another suffix)

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-kos

Proto-Germanic *-gaz

Proto-West Germanic *-g

Old English -iġ

Middle English -y

English -y

From Middle English -y, -i, from Old English -iġ (“-y, -ic”, suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-g, from Proto-Germanic *-īgaz (“-y, -ic”), from Proto-Indo-European *-kos, *-ikos, *-iḱos (“-y, -ic”).

Cognate with Scots -ie (“-y”), West Frisian -ich (“-y”), Dutch -ig (“-y”), Low German -ig (“-y”), German -ig (“-y”), Swedish -ig (“-y”), Gothic -𐌹𐌲𐍃 (-igs, “-y”), Latin -icus (“-y, -ic”), Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós), Sanskrit -इक (-ika). Doublet of -ac and -ic.

Suffix

-y

2. Added to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives meaning “having the quality of”, either “involving the referent” or “analogous to it”.

   ‎mess + ‎-y → ‎messy

   ‎mouse + ‎-y → ‎mousy

   ‎blue + ‎-y → ‎bluey

   ‎clay + ‎-y → ‎clayey

   • 2003, Cory Doctorow, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom‎^[1], Macmillan, →ISBN:

     Tim keeps trying to make it all more impressionistic, less computer-y.

3. Added to verbs to form adjectives meaning "inclined to".

   ‎run + ‎-y → ‎runny

   ‎stick + ‎-y → ‎sticky

   ‎fiddle + ‎-y → ‎fiddly

Usage notes

• This suffix is very productive and can be added to almost any word. When the resulting word is not perceived to be an established or formal word (but rather a nonce word or a casualism), a hyphen is often used before the suffix (sandcastle → sandcastle-y); this is sometimes also used when an established term is used very literally, as a form of clarification (fuzz → fuzz-y (“fuzz-like”), distinct from fuzzy (“covered in fuzz”)). A few long-established words ending with this suffix have distinctive spellings, such as wintry and fiery, which English learners might misspell as *wintery and *firey.

Synonyms

• (form “having quality of” adjectives, denoting “involving the referent”): -al, -an, -ial, -ian, -ly, -ous
• (form “having quality of” adjectives, denoting “analogous to the referent”): -esque, -ish, -like, -ly, -oid

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “form “having quality of” adjectives”): -less

Translations

Note: translations of English words ending in -y do not necessarily end in the suffixes listed below.

having the quality of

• Asturian: -osu m, -osa f
• Dutch: -ig (nl)
• Finnish: -inen (fi)
• Galician: -oso (gl) m, -osa (gl) f, -ento (gl)
• Georgian: -ური (-uri), -ული (-uli)
• German: -ig (de)
• Hungarian: -os (hu), -as (hu), -es (hu), -ös (hu), -s (hu)
• Irish: -ach
• Italian: -oso (it)
• Japanese: -質 (-しつ, -shitsu), -状 (-じょう, -jou), -みたい (ja) (mitai), -様な (ja) (ような, youna), -有り (ja) (-ari), -付き (ja) (-tsuki)
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: -î (ku), -în (ku)

• Latin: -osus (la) m
• Middle English: -y
• Norwegian: -ig
• Polish: -owy (pl), -ny (pl)
• Portuguese: -oso (pt)
• Romanian: -os (ro)
• Russian: -ий (ru) (-ij), -ый (ru) (-yj), -ивый (-ivyj)
• Sanskrit: -इक (-ika), -इन् (-in)
• Spanish: -iento (es) m, -oso (es) m, -iego (es) m
• Swedish: -ig (sv), -aktig (sv)
• Tagalog: ma- (tl)
• Tamil: -ஆன (-āṉa)
• Ukrainian: -ий (-yj)

inclined to

• Finnish: -va, -vä
• Galician: -ento (gl) m
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: -ok (ku)

• Polish: -liwy (pl)
• Portuguese: -ento (pt)
• Russian: -ий (ru) (-ij), -ый (ru) (-yj), -ивый (-ivyj)
• Spanish: -ento (es), -iento (es)
• Swedish: -ig (sv)
• Ukrainian: -ий (-yj)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• German: ^{(please verify)} -ig (de)

Etymology 2

Cognate with Scots -ie, being inherited directly from the same source Middle English -ie, -i, from Old English -iġ (“-ie, -y”, diminutive suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-ij-, *-j- (diminutive suffix). Compare Dutch -je (diminutive suffix), German Low German -je (diminutive suffix), German -i (diminutive suffix).

Alternative forms

• -ie, -ey, -ee

Suffix

-y

2. Forming diminutive nouns.

   granny, pinny, tummy

4. Forming familiar names, pet names, nicknames and terms of endearment.

   Andy, Billy, Johnny, Jonesy, lovey

Synonyms

• (diminutive): mini-, micro-, nano-, -ette, -ee, -icle/-cule/-ule/-ole

Translations

Note: translations of English words ending in -y do not necessarily end in the suffixes listed below.

forming diminutive nouns

• Armenian: -իկ (-ik), -ուկ (-uk), -ակ (-ak)
• Asturian: -ín (ast) m, -ina (ast) f
• Catalan: -et (ca) m, -eta (ca) f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 子 (zh) (zǐ), 兒／儿 (zh) (ér)

• Dutch: -je (nl), -tje (nl), -etje (nl), -pje (nl), -ie (nl), -ken (nl), -ke (nl), -che, -kijn (nl)
• Esperanto: -et- (eo)
• Finnish: -nen (fi)
• French: -et (fr) m, -ette (fr) f, -in (fr) m, -ine (fr) f
• Galician: -iño
• Georgian: please add this translation if you can
• German: -chen (de), -lein (de), -i (de), -erl (de)
• Hebrew: ־ון m (-ón), ־ית f (-ít)
• Hungarian: -ka (hu), -ke (hu)
• Interlingua: -etto m or n, -etta f or n
• Irish: -ín m
• Italian: -etto m, -etta f, -ino (it) m, -ina (it) f
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: -ik (ku), -ok (ku)

• Middle Low German: -eken
• Neapolitan: -illo
• Northern Mansi: ^{(please verify)} -кве (-kwe)
• Polish: -ek (pl) m, -ka (pl) f, -ko (pl) n
• Portuguese: -inho (pt)
• Romanian: -uț m, -aș (ro) m, -ior m, -el (ro) m, -ușor m, -uleț (ro) m, -uță (ro) f, -iță (ro) f, -ică (ro) f, -ioară f
• Russian: -ик (ru) m (-ik), -ок (ru) m (-ok), -ек (ru) m (-ek), -ёк (ru) m (-jók), -ка (ru) f (-ka), -ко (ru) n (-ko), -це (ru) (-ce), -цо (-co)
• Spanish: -ito (es) m, -ita (es) f, -iño m, -iña f, -ico (es), -uelo (es), illo (es), ino, -ucho (es), -ete (es), -eto (es), -uco (es), -iello, -ullo, -ejo (es)
• Swedish: -is (sv)
• Turkish: -cık (tr), -cik (tr), -cuk (tr), -cük (tr), -çık (tr), -çik (tr), -çuk (tr), -çük (tr), -cak, -cağız, -ceğiz
• Welsh: -ig m or f, -cyn m, -os m pl or f pl

forming familiar names

• Japanese: ちゃん (ja) (chan)
• Polish: -ś (pl) m

Etymology 3

From Middle English -y, -ie, -ee, -e, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French -ie and -é, from Latin -ia, -ium, -tās, Ancient Greek -ίᾱ (-íā), -ειᾰ (-eia), -ιον (-ion). Cognate (as far as Latin -ia is involved) with German -ei and Dutch -ij.

Suffix

-y

2. Forming abstract nouns denoting a condition, quality, or state.

   ‎modest + ‎-y → ‎modesty

   ‎honest + ‎-y → ‎honesty

   ‎-nym + ‎-y → ‎-nymy

   as in ‎toponym + ‎-y → ‎toponymy

   ‎-logue + ‎-y → ‎-logy

   as in ‎analogue + ‎-y → ‎analogy

3. Used in the name of some locations which end in -ia in Latin.

   Italy, Germany, Saxony, Hungary, Sicily, Lombardy, Tuscany, Albany, Brittany, Gascony, Burgundy, Picardy, Normandy, Romandy, Savoy, Muscovy, Tartary, Arcady, Thessaly, Troy, Turkey.

Derived terms

• -ery

Translations

Note: translations of English words ending in -y do not necessarily end in the suffixes listed below.

forming abstract nouns

• Armenian: -ություն (-utʻyun)
• Dutch: -heid (nl), -nis (nl)
• Finnish: -uus (fi), -yys (fi)
• French: -é (fr)
• Galician: -dade (gl) f
• Georgian: სი- -ე (si- -e)
• German: -heit (de), -keit (de), -nis (de)
• Hungarian: -ság (hu), -ség (hu)
• Italian: -à
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: -î (ku), -yî (ku), -tî (ku)

• Latin: -ia (la), -ium (la), -tas
• Polish: -ość (pl) f, -stwo (pl) n
• Portuguese: -ia (pt) f, -idade (pt) f
• Romanian: -ie (ro), -ime (ro), -itate (ro), -enie
• Spanish: -ia (es), -tad, -dad (es), -ie, -io (es), -tud, -edumbre
• Swedish: -het (sv), -dom (sv), -skap (sv), -else (sv)
• Ukrainian: -ий m (-yj)

used in the name of some locations ending in -ia in Latin

• French: -ie (fr) f
• Russian: -ия f (-ija)
• Spanish: -ía (es) f, -ia (es) f

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -y

Afar

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-j/, [-j]

Clitic

-y

1. Used to form an interrogative copulative sentence: is it?

   Qafár af macáy? ― What is the Afar language?

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-j/, [-j]

Clitic

-y

1. Used to join together noun phrases: and, also
   • Saytun Qhuraan kee kay maqnah tarjamaty Qafar afal tani [The clear Qur'an and its explanation translated into the Afar language]‎^[2], Suurat Al-Faatica, verse 1:

     Fulte Racmattaay, Gunê Racmattale Yallih Migaaqal Qimbisa.

     I begin in the name of God, who gives mercy and surpasses mercy.

Usage notes

• When following a short vowel, -y lengthens that vowel:

  ‎gaalá (“camel”) + ‎-y → ‎gaaláay (“and the camels”)

References

• E. M. Parker, R. J. Hayward (1985) An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN, page 282; 292
• Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015) L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎^[3], Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis), page 447

Asturian

Alternative forms

• -ye

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i/

Pronoun

-y

1. him, she, it (third-person singular indirect pronoun)

   Da-y pan

   Give him bread

Usage notes

It is always spelled with the hyphen, unlike other pronouns in the language.

Related terms

• -yos, -ys (third-person plural indirect pronoun)

Czech

Suffix

-y

1. -ly: from adjectives forms adverbs

   ‎logický + ‎-y → ‎logicky

Derived terms

Czech terms suffixed with -y

Further reading

• -y in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

Egyptian

Pronunciation

• (modern Egyptological) IPA^(key): /iː/
  • Conventional anglicization: -y

Etymology 1

Suffix

1. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Forms the plural imperative of verbs, particularly weak verbs.
2. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Optionally used to form the subjunctive of weak verbs.

Usage notes

The plural imperative can also appear without this suffix, in a form identical to the singular imperative.

Etymology 2

Suffix

1. Forms agent nouns from verbs.

Etymology 3

Suffix

1. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Optionally marks the masculine imperfective active participle, intervening between the stem and the gender/number endings.

Alternative forms

Alternative hieroglyphic writings of -y  

-j

Etymology 4

Suffix

1. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Optionally marks the masculine singular perfective passive participle of strong verbs, intervening between the stem and the gender/number endings.

Alternative forms

Alternative hieroglyphic writings of -y  

-w	-w

Etymology 5

Suffix

1. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Optionally marks the perfective passive participle of weak verbs, intervening between the stem and the gender/number endings.
2. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Optionally marks the perfective relative form of weak verbs, intervening between the stem and the gender/number endings.
3. (Late Egyptian) Marks the perfective passive participle of mostly third-weak transitive verbs, following the stem.
4. (Late Egyptian) Occasionally marks the perfective active participle of mostly third-weak transitive verbs, following the stem.

Alternative forms

Alternative hieroglyphic writings of -y  

-yꜣ	-yt
Late Egyptian	Late Egyptian

Etymology 6

Suffix

1. (Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian) Rarely marks the imperfective relative form of all verbs, intervening between the stem and the gender/number endings.

Alternative forms

Alternative hieroglyphic writings of -y  

-w	-w

References

• James P[eter] Allen (2010) Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, pages 328–329, 354.
• Junge, Friedrich (2005) Late Egyptian Grammar: An Introduction, second English edition, Oxford: Griffith Institute, page 66

Finnish

Suffix

-y

1. Front vowel variant of -u.

Declension

Inflection of -y (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		-y	-yt
genitive		-yn	-yjen
partitive		-yä	-yjä
illative		-yyn	-yihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-y	-yt
accusative	nom.	-y	-yt
	gen.	-yn
genitive		-yn	-yjen
partitive		-yä	-yjä
inessive		-yssä	-yissä
elative		-ystä	-yistä
illative		-yyn	-yihin
adessive		-yllä	-yillä
ablative		-yltä	-yiltä
allative		-ylle	-yille
essive		-ynä	-yinä
translative		-yksi	-yiksi
abessive		-yttä	-yittä
instructive		—	-yin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -y (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -yni -yni accusative nom. -yni -yni gen. -yni genitive -yni -yjeni partitive -yäni -yjäni inessive -yssäni -yissäni elative -ystäni -yistäni illative -yyni -yihini adessive -ylläni -yilläni ablative -yltäni -yiltäni allative -ylleni -yilleni essive -ynäni -yinäni translative -ykseni -yikseni abessive -yttäni -yittäni instructive — — comitative — -yineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -ysi -ysi accusative nom. -ysi -ysi gen. -ysi genitive -ysi -yjesi partitive -yäsi -yjäsi inessive -yssäsi -yissäsi elative -ystäsi -yistäsi illative -yysi -yihisi adessive -ylläsi -yilläsi ablative -yltäsi -yiltäsi allative -yllesi -yillesi essive -ynäsi -yinäsi translative -yksesi -yiksesi abessive -yttäsi -yittäsi instructive — — comitative — -yinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -ymme -ymme accusative nom. -ymme -ymme gen. -ymme genitive -ymme -yjemme partitive -yämme -yjämme inessive -yssämme -yissämme elative -ystämme -yistämme illative -yymme -yihimme adessive -yllämme -yillämme ablative -yltämme -yiltämme allative -yllemme -yillemme essive -ynämme -yinämme translative -yksemme -yiksemme abessive -yttämme -yittämme instructive — — comitative — -yinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -ynne -ynne accusative nom. -ynne -ynne gen. -ynne genitive -ynne -yjenne partitive -yänne -yjänne inessive -yssänne -yissänne elative -ystänne -yistänne illative -yynne -yihinne adessive -yllänne -yillänne ablative -yltänne -yiltänne allative -yllenne -yillenne essive -ynänne -yinänne translative -yksenne -yiksenne abessive -yttänne -yittänne instructive — — comitative — -yinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative -ynsä -ynsä accusative nom. -ynsä -ynsä gen. -ynsä genitive -ynsä -yjensä partitive -yään -yänsä -yjään -yjänsä inessive -yssään -yssänsä -yissään -yissänsä elative -ystään -ystänsä -yistään -yistänsä illative -yynsä -yihinsä adessive -yllään -yllänsä -yillään -yillänsä ablative -yltään -yltänsä -yiltään -yiltänsä allative -ylleen -yllensä -yilleen -yillensä essive -ynään -ynänsä -yinään -yinänsä translative -ykseen -yksensä -yikseen -yiksensä abessive -yttään -yttänsä -yittään -yittänsä instructive — — comitative — -yineen -yinensä

Inflection of -y (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		-y	-yt
genitive		-yn	-yjen -yiden -yitten
partitive		-yä	-yjä -yitä
illative		-yyn	-yihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-y	-yt
accusative	nom.	-y	-yt
	gen.	-yn
genitive		-yn	-yjen -yiden -yitten
partitive		-yä	-yjä -yitä
inessive		-yssä	-yissä
elative		-ystä	-yistä
illative		-yyn	-yihin
adessive		-yllä	-yillä
ablative		-yltä	-yiltä
allative		-ylle	-yille
essive		-ynä	-yinä
translative		-yksi	-yiksi
abessive		-yttä	-yittä
instructive		—	-yin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -y (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -yni -yni accusative nom. -yni -yni gen. -yni genitive -yni -yjeni -yideni -yitteni partitive -yäni -yjäni -yitäni inessive -yssäni -yissäni elative -ystäni -yistäni illative -yyni -yihini adessive -ylläni -yilläni ablative -yltäni -yiltäni allative -ylleni -yilleni essive -ynäni -yinäni translative -ykseni -yikseni abessive -yttäni -yittäni instructive — — comitative — -yineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative -ysi -ysi accusative nom. -ysi -ysi gen. -ysi genitive -ysi -yjesi -yidesi -yittesi partitive -yäsi -yjäsi -yitäsi inessive -yssäsi -yissäsi elative -ystäsi -yistäsi illative -yysi -yihisi adessive -ylläsi -yilläsi ablative -yltäsi -yiltäsi allative -yllesi -yillesi essive -ynäsi -yinäsi translative -yksesi -yiksesi abessive -yttäsi -yittäsi instructive — — comitative — -yinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -ymme -ymme accusative nom. -ymme -ymme gen. -ymme genitive -ymme -yjemme -yidemme -yittemme partitive -yämme -yjämme -yitämme inessive -yssämme -yissämme elative -ystämme -yistämme illative -yymme -yihimme adessive -yllämme -yillämme ablative -yltämme -yiltämme allative -yllemme -yillemme essive -ynämme -yinämme translative -yksemme -yiksemme abessive -yttämme -yittämme instructive — — comitative — -yinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative -ynne -ynne accusative nom. -ynne -ynne gen. -ynne genitive -ynne -yjenne -yidenne -yittenne partitive -yänne -yjänne -yitänne inessive -yssänne -yissänne elative -ystänne -yistänne illative -yynne -yihinne adessive -yllänne -yillänne ablative -yltänne -yiltänne allative -yllenne -yillenne essive -ynänne -yinänne translative -yksenne -yiksenne abessive -yttänne -yittänne instructive — — comitative — -yinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative -ynsä -ynsä accusative nom. -ynsä -ynsä gen. -ynsä genitive -ynsä -yjensä -yidensä -yittensä partitive -yään -yänsä -yjään -yitään -yjänsä -yitänsä inessive -yssään -yssänsä -yissään -yissänsä elative -ystään -ystänsä -yistään -yistänsä illative -yynsä -yihinsä adessive -yllään -yllänsä -yillään -yillänsä ablative -yltään -yltänsä -yiltään -yiltänsä allative -ylleen -yllensä -yilleen -yillensä essive -ynään -ynänsä -yinään -yinänsä translative -ykseen -yksensä -yikseen -yiksensä abessive -yttään -yttänsä -yittään -yittänsä instructive — — comitative — -yineen -yinensä

Lower Sorbian

Suffix

-y

1. Alternative form of -i (used after “hard” consonants).

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English -iġ, from Proto-West Germanic *-g, from Proto-Germanic *-gaz, from Proto-Indo-European *-kos. Doublet of -ik.

Alternative forms

• -e, -eg, -ege, -ey, -i, -ich, -iche, -ie, -ig, -ige, -iȝ, -iȝe, -ik, -ike, -ye

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-iː/

Suffix

-y

2. Designates an adjective, in many cases formed by being appended to a noun.

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -y

Descendants

• English: -y, -ie, -ey
• Scots: -ie, -y

References

• “-i,, suf.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 20 June 2018.
• “-i(e, suf.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 20 June 2018.

Etymology 2

Suffix

-y

1. Alternative form of -yf

Etymology 3

Suffix

-y

1. Alternative form of -ie

Northern Ohlone

Alternative forms

• -i (“after consonants”)

Suffix

-y (plural -iṭ)

1. Used to form the imperative mood of verbs

References

María de los Angeles Colós, José Guzman, and John Peabody Harrington (1930s) Chochenyo Field Notes (Survey of California and Other Indian Langauges)‎^[4], Unpublished

Old Polish

Etymology

Derived from Proto-Slavic *-ъjь, the definite form of hard-stem adjectives. See *jь.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /ɨː/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ɨ/

Suffix

-y

1. forms adjectives

Derived terms

Old Polish terms suffixed with -y

Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɨ/
• Rhymes: -ɨ
• Syllabification: y

Suffix

-y

1. nominative plural ending of some masculine nouns.
2. vocative plural ending of some masculine nouns.
3. genitive singular ending of some feminine nouns.
4. nominative plural ending of some feminine nouns.
5. accusative plural ending of some feminine nouns.
6. vocative plural ending of some feminine nouns.
7. personal, animate, and inanimate masculine nominative singular ending of some adjectives.
8. personal, animate, and inanimate masculine vocative singular ending of some adjectives.
9. inanimate masculine accusative singular ending of some adjectives.
10. personal masculine nominative plural ending of some adjectives.
11. personal masculine vocative plural ending of some adjectives.

Derived terms

Polish terms suffixed with -y

Quechua

Suffix

-y

1. Infinitive marker.

   mikhuy (“to eat”)

2. Nominalizes verbs. The act of doing something. "-ing."

   pampachay (“pardon, remission”)

3. Indicates first-person singular possessive.

   mikhuna (“food”) → mikhunay (“my food”)

4. Conjugative suffix for the second-person imperative mood.

   Uyariway! ("(You) listen to me!")

Scots

Suffix

-y

1. Alternative form of -ie

References

• “-y, suff.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.