-an

See also: Appendix:Variations of "an"

Languages (36)

Azerbaijani • Bikol Central • Cebuano • Chuukese • Cimbrian • Cornish • Czech • Danish • Esperanto • Finnish • Fula • German • Hungarian • Indonesian • Irish • Kapampangan • Malay • Manx • Mokilese • Ojibwe • Old English • Old Galician-Portuguese • Old Norse • Old Saxon • Phalura • Polish • Romanian • Scottish Gaelic • Serbo-Croatian • Spanish • Swedish • Tagalog • Turkish • Volapük • Welsh

Page categories

English

Alternative forms

-ian (euphonic variant, also spelled -aean or -æan)
-n (when added to a word ending in a)

Etymology

From Middle English -an, regularly -ain, -ein, -en, from Old French -ain, -ein, or before i, -en (modern French -ain, -en, feminine -aine, -enne), from Latin -ānus (feminine -āna), which forms adjectives of belonging or origin from a noun, being -nus [cognate with Ancient Greek -νος (-nos)] preceded by a vowel, from Proto-Indo-European *-nós. Cognate with English -en. Compare with -in, -ine.

Suffix

-an

Of or pertaining to; an adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. (Often added to words of Latin origin, but also used with words of other origins. When a word ends in a, -n is used instead.)
Synonyms: -al, -ar, -ese, -esque, -ic, -id, -ish, -like, -oid, -ous, -y

‎Rome + ‎-an → ‎Roman
Appended to nouns to form an agent noun. (When males with a profession are distinguished from females, males are -an, females -(i)enne.)
‎comedy + ‎-an → ‎comedian

‎history + ‎-an → ‎historian

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -an

Translations

of or pertaining to

Arabic: ـِيّ (ar) (-iyy)
Catalan: -à (ca)
Czech: -ský (cs)
Finnish: -lainen (fi), -läinen (fi)
Galician: -an m, -á f
German: -isch (de)
Hungarian: -i (hu), -s (hu)
Ido: -an-
Interlingua: -an
Italian: -ano (it)
Latin: -ānus
Portuguese: -ão (pt) m, -ano (pt) m, -ana f
Spanish: -ano (es)
Swedish: -sk, -isk (sv),

agent noun suffix

Hungarian: -ász (hu), -ész (hu), -ikus
Interlingua: -ano m, -ana f

Anagrams

n.a., NA, -na, N/A, N.A., n/a, Na, na

Azerbaijani

Suffix

	preceding vowel
	a / i / o / u	e / ə / i̇ / ö / ü
postconsonantal	-an	-ən
postvocalic	-yan	-yən

-an

Postconsonantal form of -ən after the vowels A / I / O / U.

Bikol Central

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Suffix

-an

a place where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found
‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basurahan (“trash can”)
a place where the action expressed by the root is performed
‎kawat (“play”) + ‎-an → ‎kawatan (“playground”)

Cebuano

Alternative forms

-han

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix, inchoative gi- -an, contemplative -an, imperative -i, negative -i)

locative trigger verb suffix; to do at, in, on a place
palitan nako ang tindahan og kendi
I will buy candy at the store (store is focused.)
1. directive verb suffix; to do at, towards someone
  gikataw-an niya ang lalaki ― he laughed at the man
2. partitive verb suffix; to do to a part of something
  gikuhaan niyag gamay ang keyk ― he took a little of the cake.
benefactive trigger verb suffix; to do something for someone/something else
palitan nako ang bata og keyk
I will buy cake for the child (child is focused.)
1. causative verb affix; to do because of, due to
  unsay gihilakan nimo? ― What is it you are crying about?
(with adjective bases) to consider something as
lisoran siya mag-Tinagalog ― He finds speaking in Tagalog hard
(with noun bases) to put something on someone; to give someone
serohan ta ka ― I will give you a zero

sapatosan nako ang bata ― I will put shoes on the child

Derived terms

Suffix

-an (noun-forming suffix)

(added to nouns and verbs) indicates a place where such objects are found, placed, or action done
Synonyms: -anan, ka- -an

‎humay (“rice”) + ‎-an → ‎humayan (“rice paddy”)

‎tinda (“to sell”) + ‎-an → ‎tindahan (“store”)

‎tuba (“palm toddy”) + ‎-an → ‎tubaan (“place where toddy is sold”)

‎basketbol + ‎-an → ‎basketbolan (“basketball court”)
(uncommon) indicates an object used as an instrument
Synonym: pang-

‎baid (“to sharpen”) + ‎-an → ‎bairan (“whetstone”)

Suffix

-an (adjective-forming suffix)

(added to nouns) characterized by having something in abundance; -ful
‎utok (“brain”) + ‎-an → ‎utokan (“brainy”)

‎kuwarta (“money”) + ‎-an → ‎kuwartahan (“rich”)
(uncommon, added to adjectives or verbs) characterized by being or doing such; -ly
Synonyms: -on, -anon

‎talaw (“to back off”) + ‎-an → ‎talawan (“cowardly”)

‎langas (“moving about a lot”) + ‎-an → ‎langasan (same meaning)

Derived terms

-in- -an

References

John U. Wolff (1972) A dictionary of Cebuano Visayan‎^[2] (overall work in Cebuano and English), Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, page 41

Chuukese

Suffix

-an

(added to possessive nouns) his, hers, its

Related terms

Chuukese possessive determiners
		small objects, concepts	large objects, living things	suffix
singular	first person	ai	nei	-ei
	second person	omw, om	noum	-om
	third person	an	noun	-an
plural	first person	äm (exclusive) ach (inclusive)	nöu̇m (exclusive) nöüch (inclusive)	-em (exclusive) -ach (inclusive)
	second person	ämi, ami	noumi	-emi
	third person	ar	nour	-er

Cimbrian

Etymology

From Middle High German -en, a merger of various terminations in Old High German reflecting different conjugational patterns, namely -an, -ōn, -en (-ien), and -nen, from Proto-Germanic *-aną, *-ōną, *-janą, *-āną, and *-naną. Cognate with German -en.

Suffix

-an

A suffix of all verbs in their infinitive form.

Cornish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-agnos. Cognate with Welsh -an.

Suffix

-an

diminutive suffix

Derived terms

Cornish terms suffixed with -an

growan

kroban

trenkan

Czech

Etymology

Inherited from Old Czech -ěnín, from Proto-Slavic *-janinъ.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ an]

Suffix

-an m anim (noun-forming suffix, female equivalent -anka)

forms nouns, including inhabitant names

Derived terms

Czech terms suffixed with -an

Danish

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin -anus.

Suffix

-an

-an; making a noun, describing a person or characteristic
‎-an → ‎human

‎-an → ‎sopran
(organic chemistry) suffix used for acyclic saturated hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, etc.).

References

“-an” in Den Danske Ordbog

Esperanto

Suffix

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-an

Obsolete form of -am.

Usage notes

Initially, the correlatives for time ended with -an instead of -am: kian, tian, ian, ĉian, nenian instead of the modern kiam, tiam, iam, ĉiam, neniam. Zamenhof left a one-year period (from Esperanto's creation in 1887 to 1888) during which changes to Esperanto could be proposed. After that year, the only change that was made was changing the time correlatives from -an to -am due to the risk of confusion with correlatives ending with -a + the accusative ending -n. The forms with -an are no longer used, but they can be found in older texts from that one-year period. This is the only reform proposal that has ever been successfully implemented into Esperanto. ^[1]

References

^ Wennergren, Bertilo (2024 June 21) “Tabelvortoj je AM”, in Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko‎^[1] (in Esperanto), retrieved 2025-01-12

Finnish

Etymology 1

From earlier -han, -hVn (now dialectal), from Proto-Finnic *-hën, *-sën (passive or reflexive suffix), the same as the third-person singular possessive suffix (see the possessive suffix entry on -Vn). Initial -ta- is from the passive marker *-tta-.

Suffix

-an (front vowel harmony variant -än, linguistic notation -An)

(personal) Forms the impersonal indicative present forms of verbs, appended to the first infinitive.

Usage notes

Attached to the passive verb stem.

Etymology 2

See -Vn (illative suffix).

Suffix

-an (front vowel harmony variant -än, linguistic notation -An)

(case suffix) A suffix variant for the illative singular, see -Vn.
‎laiva + ‎-an → ‎laivaan

Etymology 3

See -Vn (possessive suffix).

Suffix

-an (front vowel harmony variant -än, linguistic notation -An)

(possessive) A variant for the third-person suffix -nsa.

Usage notes

See the usage notes under -Vn and -nsa.

Anagrams

-na

Fula

Affix

-an

(Pulaar) indicates that the subject is doing the verb for someone or something
‎defde (“to cook”) + ‎-an → ‎defande (“to cook for someone”)

References

M. Niang, Pulaar-English English-Pulaar Standard Dictionary, New York: Hippocrene Books, 1997.

German

Etymology

From Latin -ānus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /aːn/

Suffix

-an n (genitive -ans, plural -ane)

(organic chemistry) -ane

Related terms

Hungarian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ɒn]
Rhymes: -ɒn

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-an

(deadjectival adverb-forming suffix) Added to an adjective to create an adverb.
‎pontos (“accurate”) + ‎-an → ‎pontosan (“accurately”)
(denumeral and depronominal adverb-forming suffix) Added to a numeral or a pronoun with this sense to create an adverb, expressing the number of people.
‎hat (“six”) + ‎-an → ‎hatan (“six people, six of us/you/them”)

Hatan mentünk moziba. ― Six of us went to the cinema.

‎nyolc (“eight”) + ‎-an → ‎nyolcan (“eight people, eight of us/you/them”)

Nyolcan vannak a szobában. ― There are eight people in the room.

‎hány (“how many”) + ‎-an → ‎hányan (“how many (of us/you/them)”)

‎néhány (“some, a few”) + ‎-an → ‎néhányan (“some (of us/you/them)”)

‎sok (“many”) + ‎-an → ‎sokan (“many (of us/you/them)”)

Sokan vannak a meghívottak, de kevesen a választottak. ― For many are called, but few are chosen.

‎millió (“million”) + ‎-an → ‎millióan (“a million (of us/you/them)”)

Usage notes

(deadjectival adverb-forming suffix) Variants:
-n is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.

-an is added to most back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-on is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-en is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant, as well as some front-vowel words ending in a vowel. Their original word-final vowel may be lost (e.g. könnyű) or supplemented with a consonant (e.g. bő, hű).
(denumeral and depronominal adverb-forming suffix) Variants:
-n is added to some (very few) words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.

-an is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-en is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant, as well as some front-vowel words ending in a vowel. Their original word-final vowel may be lost (e.g. kettő).

Derived terms

Hungarian adverbs suffixed with -an

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-an

(verb-forming suffix) Added to a stem ― often an onomatopoeia ― to form a verb expressing an instantaneous action.
kattan (“to click, to make one clicking sound”)

robban (“to explode”)

Usage notes

(verb-forming suffix) Variants:
-on is added to some back-vowel words

-an is added to back-vowel words

-en is added to front-vowel words

Derived terms

Hungarian verbs suffixed with -an

Indonesian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [-an]

Etymology 1

From Malay -an, from Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Suffix

-an

added to a noun
1. suffix for collectivity
  ‎laut (“sea”) + ‎-an → ‎lautan (“ocean”)
2. suffix for place
  ‎pangkal (“origin”) + ‎-an → ‎pangkalan (“base”)
3. suffix for value
  ‎ribu (“thousand”) + ‎-an → ‎ribuan
4. suffix for measurement result; -s
  ‎kilo (“kilo”) + ‎-an → ‎kiloan
5. (colloquial) -s; suffix for quantity (about value)
  ‎ratus (“hundred”) + ‎-an → ‎ratusan (“hundreds”)
6. -ly, specifying time intervals, having the sense of "occurring at such intervals"
  ‎hari (“day”) + ‎-an → ‎harian (“daily”)
added to a verb to create a noun
1. suffix for object
  ‎makan (“to eat”) + ‎-an → ‎makanan (“food”)
2. suffix for place
  ‎kubur (“to bury”) + ‎-an → ‎kuburan (“grave”)
3. suffix for result
  ‎didik (“to educate”) + ‎-an → ‎didikan
4. suffix for tool
  ‎timbang (“to weigh”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“balance”)
5. suffix for way or method
  ‎pimpin (“to lead”) + ‎-an → ‎pimpinan (“leader”)
added to an adjective to create a noun
1. suffix for having property
  ‎asin (“salty”) + ‎-an → ‎asinan (“pickle”)
2. (colloquial) suffix for intensity (quality or quantity)
  ‎tinggi (“high”) + ‎-an → ‎tinggian (“higher”)
suffix for similarity

Etymology 2

Semantic loan from Javanese -ꦲꦤ꧀ (-an).

Suffix

-an

verb-forming
1. (colloquial) to use of [base]
  ‎sepeda (“bicycle”) + ‎-an → ‎sepedaan (“to ride a bicycle”)
2. (colloquial) to hold or to have [base]
  ‎selamat (“safe”) + ‎-an → ‎selamatan (“to celebrate with offerings to the spirits to assure safety”)
  
  ‎rujak (“a kind of salad”) + ‎-an → ‎rujakan (“to have rujak to be eaten or made”)
3. (colloquial) to do as indicated by the [base]
  ‎sendiri (“alone”) + ‎-an → ‎sendirian (“by oneself”)
noun-forming
1. (colloquial) the location of [base]
  ‎sekolah (“school”) + ‎-an → ‎sekolahan (“school complex”)
2. (colloquial) the cost of [base]
  ‎becak (“rickshaw”) + ‎-an → ‎becakan (“rickshaw fare”)
3. (colloquial) [base]-usage
  ‎sepeda (“bicycle”) + ‎-an → ‎sepedaan (“bicycle-riding”)
4. (colloquial) event of [base]
  ‎selamat (“safe”) + ‎-an → ‎selamatan (“celebration with offerings to the spirits to assure safety”)
  
  ‎rujak (“a kind of salad”) + ‎-an → ‎rujakan (“rujak eating or production”)
  
  ‎susu (“milk”) + ‎-an → ‎susuan (“breast-feeding period”)

Etymology 3

Semantic loan from Javanese -ꦲꦼꦤ꧀ (-en).

Suffix

-an

(colloquial) suffering of [base]
‎koreng (“ulcer”) + ‎-an → ‎korengan (“serious infection disease”)

‎uban (“grey hair”) + ‎-an → ‎ubanan (“grey haired condition”)

Derived terms

Indonesian terms suffixed with -an

References

Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (2017) Tata Bahasa Baku Bahasa Indonesia [Standard Grammar of Indonesian Language]‎^[3] (in Indonesian), 4 edition, Jakarta: Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, →ISBN, archived from the original on 13 June 2022
James N. Sneddon (2010) Indonesian : a comprehensive grammar, 2 edition, London: Roultedge, →ISBN, →OCLC

Irish

Suffix

-an

forms verbal nouns

Derived terms

Irish terms suffixed with -an

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

-nan

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an. Compare Tagalog -an Bikol Central -an, Cebuano -an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Suffix

-an

object trigger: to do something to a person or a thing
Buklatan me ining lata. ― (You) open this can (can is focused).)
object trigger: to cause something to become; to make; because; due
Begalan neng Julia ing pamamasa. ― Julia slowed down her reading. (reading is focused.)
directional trigger: to do something in the direction of
Salubungan ke I Reniel. ― I'm going to meet Reniel. (Reniel is focused).)
benefactive trigger: to do something for
Panagan keng pamangan I Simon. ― I'll leave some food for Simon. (food is focused).)
object trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Wawasan-wasan koreng pinggan. ― I'm washing the plates. (The plates is focused).)
directional trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something in the direction of, occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Susopan-sopan neng Eli I Kate. ― Eli helped Kate a bit. (Kate is focused).)
object trigger: to perform the action of the verb on something
Esusulatanan ing libru. ― Don't write anything on the book.

Suffix

-an

Forms locative nouns indicating places where a significant object referred to by the root is placed, planted, or commonly found.
‎tambay (“idle”) + ‎-an → ‎tambayan (“place to hangout”)

‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basuran (“trash can”)
Forms Locative nouns for places where the root's action occurs
‎pagawa (“create”) + ‎-an → ‎pagawaan (“workshop”)

‎sake (“ride”) + ‎-an → ‎sakayan (“station, car, vehicle...”)
Forms nouns for periods when the root's action is collectively performed.
‎libang (“hobby”) + ‎-an → ‎libangan (“entertainment”)

‎pilub (“entry, class, work”) + ‎-an → ‎piluban (“school time, school year”)
Forms nouns indicating a tool or an object that is used to perform what is meant by the root
‎oras (“time”) + ‎-an → ‎orasan (“clock, watch”)

‎timbang (“weight”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“weighing scale”)
Forms nouns signifying reciprocal or joint performance of the action expressed by the root
‎terak (“dance”) + ‎-an → ‎terakan (“dancing together”)

‎dalit (“sing”) + ‎-an → ‎dalitan (“singing together”)
Used to create a diminutive, pretensive, or imitative form of something (used with reduplication of root word)
‎bale (“house”) + ‎-an → ‎bale-balayan (“toy house”)

‎biasa (“knowledge”) + ‎-an → ‎biasa-biasan (“know-it-all”)

‎baril (“gun”) + ‎-an → ‎baril-barilan (“toy gun”)

Suffix

-an

(appended to numbers) Used to indicate groups.
‎Adua (“two”) + ‎-an → ‎aduaan (“in twos, two at a time”)

‎Atlu (“three”) + ‎-an → ‎atluan (“in groups of three, three at a time”)

Usage notes

Phoneme change can occur by adding /n/.
‎Samasan + ‎-an → ‎samasnan

‎kabiasa + ‎-an → ‎kabiasnan

‎Kutang + ‎-an → ‎kutnan
Sometimes, the final vowel of the root word disappears when the suffix is added.
‎dakap + ‎-an → ‎dakpan

‎takap + ‎-an → ‎takpan

‎talan + ‎-an → ‎talnan
Due to allophony, /d/ turns into /r/ when inserted before -an.
‎lugud + ‎-an → ‎luguran

‎bakud + ‎-an → ‎bakuran

‎bayad + ‎-an → ‎bayaran

Derived terms

Related terms

Malay

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-an/
- (after consonant) IPA^(key): [-an]
- (after [u]) IPA^(key): [-wan]
- (after [i]) IPA^(key): [-jan]
- (after non-[i] or [u] vowel) IPA^(key): [-ʔan]
Hyphenation: -an

Suffix

-an (Jawi spelling after consonant or [i] ـن, Jawi spelling after [u] ـان, Jawi spelling after non-[i] or [u] vowel ـاءن)

Suffix for collectivity
Suffix for similarity
Suffix for object
Suffix for place
Suffix for instrument
‎bangun (“to wake up, to get up”) + ‎-an → ‎bangunan (“building”)

Descendants

Indonesian: -an

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English -ant, from Middle English -ant, -aunt, partly from Old French -ant, from Latin -āns; and partly (in adjectival derivations) continuing Middle English -ant, a variant of -and, -end, from Old English -ende (present participle ending).

Pronunciation

(English-based) IPA^(key): [-ən]
(spelling-based) IPA^(key): [-an]
Hyphenation: -an

Suffix

-an (Jawi spelling ـن)

(no longer productive) -ant
militan ― militant

Derived terms

Malay terms suffixed with -an

Manx

Etymology

From Old Irish -án, from Primitive Irish -ᚐᚌᚅᚔ (-agni).

Suffix

-an m

Alternative form of -ane

Derived terms

Manx terms suffixed with -an

Mokilese

Suffix

-an

Used to form stative verbs from nouns

Ojibwe

Final

-an

be in a state or condition

Derived terms

waaban
aawan

References

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/an-final

Suffix

-an

A suffix denoting the plural of an inanimate noun
A suffix denoting the obviative form of an animate noun
A suffix denoting the second-person singular imperative of a transitive inanimate verb (vti)

Usage notes

As the suffix denoting the second-person singular imperative form, -an also acts as the class marker for unmarked (-am theme) transitive inanimate verbs (vti).

Old English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑn/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *-aną.

Suffix

-an

(verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of most class I verbs (exceptions are verbs like flēon (“to flee”))
singan ― to sing

niman ― to take

Usage notes

Verbs formed with this suffix from nominal suffixes that included back vowels underwent i-umlaut. Thus, dōm + -an is not *dōman, but dēman, and fōda + -an is not *fōdan, but fēdan.

Conjugation

Conjugation of -an (weak class 1)

indicative mood	present tense	past tense
infinitive	-an	-enne
first person singular	-e	-de
second person singular	-est, -st	-dest
third person singular	-eþ, -þ	-de
plural	-aþ	-don
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	-e	-de
plural	-en	-den
imperative
singular	-
plural	-aþ
participle	present	past
	-ende	-ed

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *-anā, from Proto-Germanic *-anē.

Alternative forms

-ane

Suffix

-an

Forms adverbs with ablative direction.
ēastan ― from the east

westan ― from the west

Etymology 3

Suffix

-an

Forms the accusative, genitive, and dative singular and nominative and accusative plural of n-stem nouns
beran ― bear, bear's, bears

Etymology 4

Suffix

-an

Alternative form of -on (strong plural past indicative suffix)

Etymology 5

Suffix

-an

Forms the following inflections of weak adjectives:
1. Masculine and feminine accusative, genitive, dative, and instrumental singular
2. Neuter genitive, dative, and instrumental singular
3. Masculine, feminine, and neuter nominative and accusative plural

Etymology 6

Suffix

-an

Alternative form of -um

Usage notes

This form appears in late texts due to reduction of the original -um ending.

Old Galician-Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -ant.

Suffix

-an (1st conj.)

a suffix indicating the third-person plural indicative present of a verb in -ar
‎amar (“to love”) + ‎-an → ‎aman (“[They] love”)

‎cantar (“to sing”) + ‎-an → ‎cantan (“[They] sing”)

Descendants

Galician: -an
Portuguese: -am

Old Norse

Etymology 1

Presumably from Proto-Germanic *-ōniz.

Suffix

-an

(deverbative suffix) used to derive nouns from class 2 weak verbs
‎friða (“to pacify”) + ‎-an → ‎friðan (“pacifying”)

‎sanna (“to assert, prove”) + ‎-an → ‎sannan (“assertion, confirmation”)

‎synja (“to deny”) + ‎-an → ‎synjan (“denial”)

Derived terms

Old Norse terms suffixed with -un

skipun

skǫpun

tǫpun

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Norse -ᚨᚾᚨ (-ana), from Proto-Germanic *-anē.

Suffix

-an

forms adverbs with ablative direction

Derived terms

Old Norse terms suffixed with -an (ablative adverb)

Etymology 3

Suffix

-an

strong accusative singular ending of adjectives

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-aną.

Suffix

-an

(verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of strong verbs (exceptions are a few verbs ending in -ian like biddian or liggian)
drinkan (“to drink”)

hwerƀan (“to travel”)

Phalura

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-an/

Suffix

-an

Third person plural suffix

Alternative forms

-íin (With e-ending verb stems)
-óon (With a-ending verb stems)
-en (Biori)
-éen (With e-ending verb stems in Biori)
-áan (With a-ending verb stems in Biori)

References

Henrik Liljegren, Naseem Haider (2011) “-an”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎^[4], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Polish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Latin -ānus?”)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]

Suffix

-an m

(chemistry) -ate, used to form names of derivates of oxyacids whose name ends with -owy (-ic)
‎chlor (“chlorine”) + ‎-an → ‎chloran (“chlorate”)
forms people
‎młody + ‎-an → ‎młodzian

Declension

Inanimate declension:

Declension of -an

	singular	plural
nominative	-an	-any
genitive	-anu	-anów
dative	-anowi	-anom
accusative	-an	-any
instrumental	-anem	-anami
locative	-anie	-anach
vocative	-anie	-any

Animate declension:

Declension of -an

	singular	plural
nominative	-an	-ani/-any (deprecative)
genitive	-ana	-anów
dative	-anowi	-anom
accusative	-ana	-anów
instrumental	-anem	-anami
locative	-anie	-anach
vocative	-anie	-ani

Derived terms

Romanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin -anus.

Suffix

-an m or n (feminine singular -ană, masculine plural -ani, feminine and neuter plural -ane)

Forms adjectives and nouns describing things and characteristics of a city, region, or country; -an
‎Australia (“Australia”) + ‎-an → ‎australian (“Australian”)

‎America (“America”) + ‎-an → ‎american (“American”)

Usage notes

For the countries that end in -ia, the plural form of the suffix is -ieni when masculine and -iene when feminine/neuter.

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-an m or n (feminine singular -ană, masculine plural -ani, feminine and neuter plural -ane)

Added to nouns and adjectives as an augmentative suffix.
‎gras (“fat”) + ‎-an → ‎grăsan (“fatso”)
Forms names of male animals.
‎gâscă (“goose”) + ‎-an → ‎gâscan (“gander”)

Declension

Declension of *-an*
		masculine	feminine	masculine	neuter
		singular		plural
nominative- accusative	indefinite	-an	-ană	-ani	-ane
nominative- accusative	definite	-anul	-ana	-anii	-anele
genitive- dative	indefinite	-an	-ane	-ani	-ane
genitive- dative	definite	-anului	-anei	-anilor	-anelor

Derived terms

Romanian terms suffixed with -an

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology 1

From Middle Irish [Term?], from Old Irish -án.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-an/
Note the difference with Etymology 2

Suffix

-an m

A masculine suffix used to form nouns meaning a smaller form of something, often used for male given names.
‎crùb (“dug”) + ‎-an → ‎crùban (“crouching”)

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Originally the Old Irish accusative and vocative plural ending of n-stem nouns. For example Old Irish imbliu, vocative/accusative plural imblenna. Cognate with Irish -anna, Manx -yn.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ən/
Note the difference with Etymology 1

Suffix

-an

Used to form regular nominatives plural of nouns.
‎clach (“stone”) + ‎-an → ‎clachan (“stones”)

References

Colin Mark (2003) The Gaelic-English dictionary, London: Routledge, →ISBN, page 641

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

Suffix appended to words to create a masculine noun, usually denoting a (often negative) feature or endearment.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьnъ.

Suffix

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

Suffix appended to words to create an adjective.
‎jad(iti) + ‎-an → ‎jadan (“miserable”)

Derived terms

Serbo-Croatian terms suffixed with -an

Spanish

Etymology 1

From Latin -ant, the third-person plural present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs.

Suffix

-an

Suffix indicating the third-person plural (also used with ustedes) present indicative of -ar verbs.

Etymology 2

From Latin -eant, Latin -ant, and Latin -iant, the third-person plural present active subjunctive endings of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively.

Suffix

-an

Suffix indicating the third-person plural (also used with ustedes) present subjunctive of -er and -ir verbs.
Suffix indicating the third-person plural imperative of -er and -ir verbs.

Swedish

Etymology 1

From Old Norse -an.

Suffix

-an

making a noun from a verb, similar to -ing and -ning, having -ningar as the plural.
‎predika (“to preach”) + ‎-an → ‎predikan (“a sermon”)

Etymology 2

Ultimately from Latin -anus.

Suffix

-an

-an; making a noun, describing a person by belief or nationality
‎Tibet + ‎-an → ‎tibetan

‎Luther + ‎-an → ‎lutheran

vegetarian

Derived terms

Anagrams

-na, na

Tagalog

Alternative forms

-han
-nan

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /an/ [ɐn̪]
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: -an

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ◌ᜈ᜔ or ᜀᜈ᜔)

object trigger: to do something to a person or a thing
Buksan mo ang pinto. ― (You) open the door (door is focused).)
object trigger: to cause something to become; to make
Binagalan ni Sue ang kotse. ― Sue slowed down the car. (The car is focused.)
directional trigger: to do something in the (physical or psychological) direction of
Tinitingnan ko ang manwal. ― I'm looking at the manual. (The manual is focused).)
benefactive trigger: to do something for
Titirhan ko si Roy ng keyk. ― I'll leave some cake for Roy. (Roy is focused).)
object trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Winawalis-walisan; ko ang sahig. ― I'm sweeping the floor a bit. (The floor is focused).)
directional trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something in the (physical or psychological) direction of, occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Tinutulung-tulungan ni Jessy si Patty. ― Jessy helped Patty a bit. (Patty is focused).)
object trigger: to perform the action of the verb on something
Huwag mong sulatan ang dokumento. ― Don't write anything on the document.

Suffix

-an (noun-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ◌ᜈ᜔ or ᜀᜈ᜔)

Forms locative nouns expressing where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found
‎aklat (“book”) + ‎-an → ‎aklatan (“library”)

‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basurahan (“trash can”)
Forms locative nouns where the action expressed by the root is performed
‎kain (“eat”) + ‎-an → ‎kainan (“place where people eat e.g. restaurant, café,...”)
Forms nouns expressing period in which the action expressed by the root is collectively performed
‎ani (“harvest”) + ‎-an → ‎anihan (“harvest time”)

‎pasok (“entry, class, work”) + ‎-an → ‎pasukan (“school time, school year”)
Forms nouns indicating a tool or an object that is used to perform what is meant by the root
‎oras (“time”) + ‎-an → ‎orasan (“clock, watch”)

‎timbang (“weight”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“weighing scale”)
Forms nouns signifying reciprocal or joint performance of the action expressed by the root
‎sayaw (“dance”) + ‎-an → ‎sayawan (“dancing together”)

‎kanta (“sing”) + ‎-an → ‎kantahan (“singing together”)
Used to create a diminutive, pretensive, or imitative form of something (used with reduplication of root word)
‎bahay (“house”) + ‎-an → ‎bahay-bahayan (“toy house”)

‎Diyos (“God”) + ‎-an → ‎diyos-diyosan (“false god”)

‎baril (“gun”) + ‎-an → ‎baril-barilan (“toy gun”)

Suffix

-an (adverb-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ◌ᜈ᜔ or ᜀᜈ᜔)

(appended to numbers) Used to indicate groups.
‎tatlo (“three”) + ‎-an → ‎tatluhan (“in threes, three at a time”)

‎dalawampu (“twenty”) + ‎-an → ‎dalawampuan (“in groups of twenty, twenty at a time”)

Usage notes

Normally, /h/ is inserted before -an when a root word ending with a vowel is not followed by a glottal stop. In some cases, phoneme change can occur and /h/ becomes /n/.
‎ganti + ‎-an → ‎gantihan

‎talo + ‎-an → ‎talunan
Sometimes, the final vowel of the root word disappears when the suffix is added.
‎sunod + ‎-an → ‎sundan

‎takip + ‎-an → ‎takpan
Due to allophony, /d/ turns into /r/ when inserted before -an.
‎buklod + ‎-an → ‎bukluran

‎bakod + ‎-an → ‎bakuran

‎bayad + ‎-an → ‎bayaran

Turkish

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish ـان (-an), from Old Anatolian Turkish [Term?], from Proto-Turkic *-gan.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɑn/

	preceding vowel
	a / ı / o / u	e / i / ö / ü
postconsonantal	-an	-en
postvocalic	-yan	-yen

Suffix

-an

Creates participles and relative clauses where
1. the relativized element is the grammatical subject of the clause
  şarkı söyleyen çocuk ― the child who is singing
  
  burada satılan bir ürün ― a product which is sold here
2. the relativized element is the possessor of the grammatical subject of the clause
  bacağı ağrıyan hasta ― a patient whose leg hurts
  
  şapkası ters duran adam ― a man whose hat is backwards
3. the relativized element is the possessor of some other element of the clause, and the subject is categorial and indefinite
  koyunlarını kurt kapan köylü ― a villager whose sheep were caught by wolves
  
  kafasında şapka olan çocuk ― a child who has a hat on their head
Creates nouns with the meaning of "the one who ...", "those who ...", "those which ..." etc. when one of the aforementioned conditions apply
savaşı kaybedenler ― those who lost the war

trenden inenler ― those who are disembarking the train
Combines with the dative suffix and the postpositions kadar, dek or değin to mean until
ölene kadar ― till I die/he dies

dönene dek ― till I return/he returns

Usage notes

For all other relative clauses, see -dık and -acak

References

Turkish: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2005, →ISBN

Volapük

Suffix

-an

Used to indicate someone who is or does something

Derived terms

Welsh

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *-agnos.

Suffix

-an

diminutive suffix, -let
‎bwyell (“axe”) + ‎-an → ‎bwyellan (“small axe, hatchet”)

‎gwraig (“woman, wife”) + ‎-an → ‎gwreigan (“little woman, little wife”)

‎barf (“beard”) + ‎-an → ‎barfan (“little beard, goatee, whiskers”)
person or object with characteristics of the root word
‎mud (“mute”) + ‎-an → ‎mudan (“mute person”)

‎llai (“grey”) + ‎-an → ‎lleian (“nun”)

‎crwm (“crooked, curved”) + ‎-an → ‎cryman (“sickle, pruning hook”)
used to form pet names
‎Gwen + ‎-an → ‎Gwennan

‎Dai + ‎-an → ‎Deian

‎Elisabeth + ‎-an → ‎Bethan

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

-ian

Suffix

-an

verbnoun suffix

Etymology 3

Suffix

-an

(colloquial) verb suffix for the third-person future plural

Derived terms

Welsh terms suffixed with -an

References

R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-an”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[1] Wennergren, Bertilo (2024 June 21) “Tabelvortoj je AM”, in Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko‎^[1] (in Esperanto), retrieved 2025-01-12

[1]

-an

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Suffix

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Azerbaijani

Suffix

Bikol Central

Etymology

Suffix

Cebuano

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Suffix

Suffix

Derived terms

References

Chuukese

Suffix

Related terms

Cimbrian

Etymology

Suffix

Cornish

Etymology

Suffix

Derived terms

Czech

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Further reading

Danish

Etymology

Suffix

References

Esperanto

Suffix

Usage notes

See also

References

Finnish

Etymology 1

Suffix

Usage notes

Etymology 2

Suffix

Etymology 3

Suffix

Usage notes

Anagrams

Fula

Affix

References

German

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Related terms

Hungarian

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

Indonesian

Pronunciation