-ela

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• -ella (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin -ella, feminine of -ellus.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛ.la/, /ˈɛ.lɐ/

Suffix

-ela f (plural -elas)

1. forms diminutives

   rua (“road; street”) → ruela (“bystreet; alley”)

   cana (“cane”) → canela (“shin”)

   via (“way; path”) → viela (“bystreet; alley”)

   cáravo (“a type of mediaeval watercraft”) → caravela (“caravel”)

2. forms nouns indicating a superficial or minor action

   escovada (“a brushing”) → escovadela (“a superficial brushing”)

   pincelada (“brushstroke”) → pinceladela (“a superficial or short brushstroke”)

   riscada (“razor strike”) → riscadela (“a short razor strike”)

Synonyms

• (forms diminutives): -inho, -zinho, -ito, -ulo, -culo