French

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃/
  • Audio:(file)

Suffix

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-ain m (plural -ains, feminine -aine)

  1. suffix used to form noun (uppercase) demonyms
    Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎Jamaïcain
    Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎Mexicain
  2. suffix used to form adjective (lowercase) demonyms
    Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎jamaïcain
    Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎mexicain
  3. indicates the old oblique case (cas régime) of certain nouns
    pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain

Derived terms

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Old French

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Etymology

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From Latin -ānus.

Suffix

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-ain

  1. Forms the oblique case, especially for feminine nouns.
    pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain
    none + ‎-ain → ‎nonain
  2. Forms adjectives from nouns.
    castel + ‎-ain → ‎castelain

Descendants

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  • French: -ain