Wiktionary

-an

See also: Appendix:Variations of "an"

EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

  • -ian (euphonic variant)
  • -n (when added to a word ending in a)

EtymologyEdit

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.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. 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.)
    ‎Rome + ‎-an → ‎Roman
    Synonyms: -al, -ar, -ese, -esque, -ic, -id, -ish, -like, -oid, -ous, -y
  2. 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 termsEdit

English terms suffixed with -an

TranslationsEdit

AnagramsEdit

AzerbaijaniEdit

SuffixEdit

preceding vowel
A / I / O / U E / Ə / İ / Ö / Ü
postconsonantal -an -ən
postvocalic -yan -yən

-an

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

Bikol CentralEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. 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”)
  2. a place where the action expressed by the root is performed
    ‎kawat (“play”) + ‎-an → ‎kawatan (“playground”)

ChuukeseEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (added to possessive nouns) his, hers, its

Related termsEdit

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

CimbrianEdit

EtymologyEdit

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.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. A suffix of all verbs in their infinitive form.

CzechEdit

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-an m

  1. forms nouns, including inhabitant names

Derived termsEdit

Czech terms suffixed with -an

Further readingEdit

  • -an in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

EsperantoEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. Obsolete form of -am.

See alsoEdit

FinnishEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From earlier -han, -hVn (now dialectal), from Proto-Finnic *-hen, *-sen (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-.

SuffixEdit

-an (front vowel harmony variant -än)

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

Usage notesEdit

Attached to the passive verb stem.

Etymology 2Edit

See -Vn (illative suffix).

SuffixEdit

-an (front vowel harmony variant -än)

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

Etymology 3Edit

See -Vn (possessive suffix).

SuffixEdit

-an (front vowel harmony variant -än)

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

See the usage notes under -Vn and -nsa.

AnagramsEdit

HungarianEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-an

  2. (deadjectival adverb suffix) Added to an adjective to create an adverb.
    ‎pontos (“accurate”) + ‎-an → ‎pontosan (“accurately”)
  4. (denumeral and depronominal adverb suffix) Added to a numeral or a pronoun with this sense to create an adverb, expressing the number of people.
    hat (“six”) → hatan (“six people, six of us/you/them”)
    Hatan mentünk moziba. ― Six of us went to the cinema.
    nyolc (“eight”) → nyolcan (“eight people, eight of us/you/them”)
    Nyolcan vannak a szobában. ― There are eight people in the room.
    hány (“how many”) → hányan (“how many (of us/you/them)”)
    néhány (“some, a few”) → néhányan (“some (of us/you/them)”)
    sok (“many”) → sokan (“many (of us/you/them)”)
    Sokan vannak a meghívottak, de kevesen a választottak. ― For many are called, but few are chosen.
    millió (“million”) → millióan (“a million (of us/you/them)”)
Usage notesEdit
  • (deadjectival adverb-forming suffix) Harmonic 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) Harmonic 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 termsEdit
Hungarian adverbs suffixed with -an

Etymology 2Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-an

  2. (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 notesEdit
  • Harmonic variants:
    -on is added to some back-vowel words
    -an is added to back-vowel words
    -en is added to front-vowel words
Derived termsEdit
Hungarian verbs suffixed with -an

See alsoEdit

Further readingEdit

IndonesianEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Malay -an, from Classical Malay -ان‎ (an), from Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. 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”)
  2. Added to an verb to create an 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”)
  3. Added to an adjective to create an noun
    1. Suffix for having property
      ‎asin (“salty”) + ‎-an → ‎asinan (“pickle”)
    2. (colloquial) Suffix for intensity (quality or quantity)
      ‎tinggi (“high”) + ‎-an → ‎tinggian (“higher”)
  4. Suffix for similarity

Etymology 2Edit

Semantic loan from Javanese -ꦲꦤ꧀ (-an).

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. 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 the 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”)
  2. 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 the safety”)
      ‎rujak (“a kind of salad”) + ‎-an → ‎rujakan (“rujak eating or production”)
      ‎susu (“milk”) + ‎-an → ‎susuan (“breast-feeding period”)

Etymology 3Edit

Semantic loan from Javanese -ꦲꦼꦤ꧀ (-en).

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (colloquial) suffering of [base]
    ‎koreng (“ulcer”) + ‎-an → ‎korengan (“serious infection disease”)
    ‎uban (“grey hair”) + ‎-an → ‎ubanan (“grey haired condition”)

Derived termsEdit

Indonesian terms suffixed with -an

ReferencesEdit

  • Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (2017) Tata Bahasa Baku Bahasa Indonesia [Standard Grammar of Indonesian Language]‎[1] (in Indonesian), 4 edition, Jakarta: Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, →ISBN
  • James N. Sneddon (2010) Indonesian : a comprehensive grammar, 2 edition, London: Roultedge, →ISBN, →OCLC

MalayEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-an (Jawi spelling -ان)

  1. Suffix for collectivity
  2. Suffix for similarity
  3. Suffix for object
  4. Suffix for place
  5. Suffix for instrument
    ‎bangun (“to wake up, to get up”) + ‎-an → ‎bangunan (“building”)

ManxEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

SuffixEdit

-an m

  1. Alternative form of -ane

Derived termsEdit

Manx terms suffixed with -an

OjibweEdit

FinalEdit

-an

  1. be in a state or condition

Derived termsEdit

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

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

Usage notesEdit

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).

See alsoEdit

Old EnglishEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Germanic *-aną.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of most verbs (exceptions are verbs like flēon (“to flee”))
    singan ― to sing
    niman ― to take

Etymology 2Edit

From Proto-Germanic *-anē.

Alternative formsEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. Forms adverbs with ablative direction.
    ēastan ― from the east
    westan ― from the west

Old NorseEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Presumably from Proto-Germanic *-ōniz.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (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 termsEdit
Old Norse terms suffixed with -an
Old Norse terms suffixed with -un

Etymology 2Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. Forms adverbs with ablative direction.
Derived termsEdit
Old Norse terms suffixed with -an (ablative adverb)

Etymology 3Edit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. strong accusative singular ending of adjectives

Old PortugueseEdit

EtymologyEdit

Inherited from Latin -ant.

SuffixEdit

-an (1st conj.)

  1. 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”)

DescendantsEdit

  • Galician: -an
  • Portuguese: -am

Old SaxonEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Proto-Germanic *-aną.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (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”)

PhaluraEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. Third person plural suffix

Alternative formsEdit

  • -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)

ReferencesEdit

  • Liljegren, Henrik; Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[2], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

PolishEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

PronunciationEdit

  • IPA(key): /an/
  • Rhymes: -an
  • Syllabification: an

SuffixEdit

-an m

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

DeclensionEdit

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
genitive -ana -anów
dative -anowi -anom
accusative -ana -anów
instrumental -anem -anami
locative -anie -anach
vocative -anie -ani

Derived termsEdit

Polish terms suffixed with -an

Further readingEdit

  • -an in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • -an in Polish dictionaries at PWN

RomanianEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Latin -anus.

SuffixEdit

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

  1. 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 notesEdit

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

Etymology 2Edit

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

SuffixEdit

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

  1. Added to nouns and adjectives as an augmentative suffix.
    ‎gras (“fat”) + ‎-an → ‎grăsan (“fatso”)
  2. Forms names of male animals.
    ‎gâscă (“goose”) + ‎-an → ‎gâscan (“gander”)
DeclensionEdit
Declension of -an
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative 		indefinite -an -ană -ani -ane
definite -anul -ana -anii -anele
genitive/
dative 		indefinite -an -ane -ani -ane
definite -anului -anei -anilor -anelor
Derived termsEdit
Romanian terms suffixed with -an

Scottish GaelicEdit

Etymology 1Edit

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

PronunciationEdit

Usage notesEdit

The non-schwa clear vowel /a/ distinguishes this from the homograph plural suffix -an which is pronounced /ən/ i.e. with a schwa.

SuffixEdit

-an m

  1. A masculine suffix used to form nouns meaning a smaller form of something, often used for male given names.
    Cailean, Eòghan, Ailean, Beathan
    clàran, clachan, bioran

Etymology 2Edit

Cognate to Irish -anna, Manx -yn.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-an pl

  1. Used to form regular plurals of nouns.
    ‎clach (“stone”) + ‎-an → ‎clachan
    ‎damh (“ox, stag”) + ‎-an → ‎damhan
    ‎leannan (“lover, sweetheart”) + ‎-an → ‎leannanan
Derived termsEdit
Scottish Gaelic terms suffixed with -an

Serbo-CroatianEdit

Etymology 1Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

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

Etymology 2Edit

From Proto-Slavic *-ьnъ.

SuffixEdit

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

  1. Suffix appended to words to create an adjective.
Derived termsEdit
Serbo-Croatian terms suffixed with -an

See alsoEdit

SpanishEdit

Etymology 1Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-an

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

Etymology 2Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-an

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

SwedishEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  2. making a noun from a verb, similar to -ing and -ning, having -ningar as the plural.
    ‎predika (“to preach”) + ‎-an → ‎predikan (“a sermon”)
  3. -an; making a noun, describing a person by belief or nationality
    ‎Tibet + ‎-an → ‎tibetan
    ‎Luther + ‎-an → ‎lutheran
    vegetarian

Derived termsEdit

Swedish terms suffixed with -an (verbal noun)
Swedish terms suffixed with -an

AnagramsEdit

TagalogEdit

Alternative formsEdit

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. object trigger: to do something to a person or a thing
    Buksan mo ang pinto. ― (You) open the door (door is focused).)
  2. object trigger: to cause something to become; to make
    Binagalan ni Sue ang kotse. ― Sue slowed down the car. (The car is focused.)
  3. 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).)
  4. benefactive trigger: to do something for
    Titirhan ko si Roy ng keyk. ― I'll leave some cake for Roy. (Roy is focused).)
  5. 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).)
  6. 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).)
  7. object trigger: to perform the action of the verb on something
    Huwag mong sulatan ang dokumento. ― Don't write anything on the document.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. 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”)
  2. Forms locative nouns where the action expressed by the root is performed
    ‎kain (“eat”) + ‎-an → ‎kainan (“place where people eat e.g. restaurant, café,...”)
  3. 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”)
  4. 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”)
  5. 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”)
  6. 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”)

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (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 notesEdit

  • 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

Derived termsEdit

Tagalog terms suffixed with -an

Related termsEdit

TurkishEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. Creates non-past participles.
    ‎oturmak (“to sit”) + ‎-an → ‎oturan (“(someone) who sits”)
    ‎kırılmak (“to be broken”) + ‎-an → ‎kırılan (“(something) that gets broken”)

VolapükEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. Used to indicate someone who is or does something

Derived termsEdit

Volapük terms suffixed with -an

WelshEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Celtic *-agnos.

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. 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”)
  2. 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”)
  3. used to form pet names
    ‎Gwen + ‎-an → ‎Gwennan
    ‎Dai + ‎-an → ‎Deian
    ‎Elisabeth + ‎-an → ‎Bethan

Etymology 2Edit

Alternative formsEdit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. verbnoun suffix

Etymology 3Edit

SuffixEdit

-an

  1. (colloquial) verb suffix for the third-person future plural
Derived termsEdit
Welsh terms suffixed with -an

ReferencesEdit

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

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