-ais

See also ais, and -áis

French

Pronunciation

• (Africa) IPA: [e]
• (France and Quebec) IPA: [ɛ]

Etymology 1

Latin -bās.

Suffix

-ais

1. The first person and second-person singular imperfect indicative form of a verb.

   Je regardais la télé pendant que tu parlais au téléphone.

   I was watching the telly when you were talking on the phone.

Related terms

• -ait
• -ions
• -iez
• -aient

Etymology 2

From Old French -eis (feminine form -esche). In some senses from Late Latin -iscus (from Frankish *-isc, *-isk, from Proto-Germanic *-iskaz (“-ish”)), in others from Latin -ēnsis. Akin to -ois.

Suffix

-ais m (pl -ais, f -aise, f pl -aises)

1. Used to form adjectives that denote where something or someone is from, or to form the name of the language spoken in this place, e.g., français, anglais, marseillais, etc.
2. Used to form nouns that denote where something or someone is from, e.g. Français, Anglais, Marseillais, etc.

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Portuguese

Alternative forms

• -aes (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (Portugal, Carioca, Nordestino) IPA: /ˈajʃ/
• (most of Brazil, Southern Portugal) IPA: /ˈajs/

Suffix

-ais m and f

1. Plural form of -al