־ים

See also: ים and י־ם

Hebrew

Alternative forms

• ־ין (-in) (common in Mishnaic Hebrew)

Suffix

־ִים • (-ím)

1. For most masculine nouns and certain feminine nouns, forming plural non-construct forms from corresponding singulars.
2. Forming certain pluralia tantum.
3. For all or nearly all adjectives, forming masculine plural forms from corresponding singulars.
4. For all or nearly all verbs, forming masculine plural present participle and present tense forms from corresponding singulars.

Usage notes

• In traditional Hebrew, the suffix ־ים is always stressed, and if it is the third syllable (i.e. the singular form has two syllables), not counting any definite article, then the first syllable is shortened to a sh'va (schwa) or a khataf (half-length vowel); hence, for example, דבר (davár, “thing, word”) → דברים (d'varím, “things, words, Deuteronomy”). In Modern Hebrew, this rule is preserved for existing words, as well as for modern coinages that fit the patterns of existing words; but it is not used for loanwords and not all modern coinages lend themselves to this.

See also

• ־ות (-ot)
• ־י (-ei)

Anagrams

• ים, י־ם, מי, מ״י

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew ־ים (-ím).

Suffix

־ים • (-em)

1. The plural suffix for masculine nouns derived from Hebrew.