-ain

See also: ain, Ain, áin, aiŋ, a in, ain', and ain-

French

Etymology

From Old French -ain, from Latin -ānus, whence also French -an and -ien.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃/

Suffix

-ain m (feminine -aine)

1. Suffix used to form demonyms, both nouns (uppercase) and adjectives (lowercase).

   ‎Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎Jamaïcain

   ‎Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎Mexicain

2. Indicates the old oblique case (cas régime) of certain nouns.

   ‎pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain

Derived terms

French words suffixed with -ain

Related terms

• -an
• -en
• -ien

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Old French

Etymology

From Latin -ānus.

Suffix

-ain

1. Forms the oblique case, especially for feminine nouns.

   ‎pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain

   ‎none + ‎-ain → ‎nonain

Descendants

• French: -ain