-eren

Dutch

Etymology

The suffix results from an old plural in -er (cognate to German -er), to which a second plural ending -en was added. The single version can still be seen in certain compounds such as kinderkamer and in the formation of plural diminutives kindertjes, radertjes. The suffix -eren is cognate to English -ren in children.

Suffix

-eren

1. forms the plural of a small group of nouns, like lam, gelid, been, kalf, rund, blad, rad

   kind — kinderen

2. part of the infinitive of verbs borrowed mainly from French verbs which end on -er, e.g. informeren from French informer (to inform)