־ס

See also: ס׳, ס, and ס״

Yiddish

Etymology 1

Middle High German did not have an s-plural. The Yiddish form probably comes from a confluence of two origins: The use after unstressed -e corresponds to Hebrew ־ות (-ôṯ), which is pronounced [əs] in Yiddish (and Ashkenazi Hebrew). The use after unstressed sonorants is very similar to Middle Low German and likely influenced by it. Compare German -s (also from Middle Low German), English -s (inherited).

Suffix

־ס • (-s)

Marks the plural form of regular nouns ending in an unstressed ־ר (-r), ־ם (-m), ־ן (-n), or a vowel.

Etymology 2

Compare German -s, English -'s.

Suffix

־ס • (-s)

Marks the possessive form of nouns used for people.