-an

See also: Appendix:Variations of "an"

English

Alternative forms

• -ian (euphonic variant)
• -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

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 terms

► English words suffixed with -an

Translations

of or pertaining to

• Arabic: ـِيّ‎ (ar) (-iyy)
• Catalan: -à (ca)
• Czech: -ský (cs)
• Galician: -an m, -á f
• German: -isch (de)
• Hungarian: -i (hu), -s (hu)

• Ido: -an-
• Italian: -ano (it) m, -ana f
• Latin: -ānus m, -āna f, -ānum n
• Portuguese: -ão (pt) m, -ano (pt) m, -ana f
• Spanish: -ano (es) m, -ana f
• Swedish: -sk (sv), -isk (sv),

agent noun suffix

• Hungarian: -ász (hu), -ész (hu)

Anagrams

• N.A., N/A, NA, n.a., n/a, na

---

Azerbaijani

Suffix

	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 Central

Suffix

-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”)

---

Chuukese

Suffix

-an

1. (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

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

---

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈan]

Suffix

-an m

1. Forms nouns, including inhabitant names.

Derived terms

► Czech words suffixed with -an

Further reading

• -an in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

---

Esperanto

Suffix

-an

1. Obsolete form of -am.

See also

• -a
• -n

 

---

Finnish

Etymology 1

From earlier *-han, *-hVn, from Proto-Finnic *-hen, *-sen (passive or reflexive suffix). Initial -ta- is from the causative suffix as seen in *-tadak.

Suffix

-an

1. (personal) Forms the impersonal indicative present forms of verbs that include back vowels (a, o or u or i or e with a, o or u — compare -än), appended to the infinitive.

   • No changes in verbs that end in one a.

   ‎juosta + ‎-an → ‎juostaan

   • Verbs ending in -oa the beginning stem is followed by -ta- and then by this.

   sanoa, stem sano- + -ta- + -an -> sanotaan

   • Verbs ending in -aa or -ea the beginning stem is followed by -eta- and then by this.

   laittaa, stem lait- + -eta- + -an -> laitetaan

   paistaa, stem paist- + -eta- + -an -> paistetaan

   laskea, stem lask- + -eta- + -an -> lasketaan

Etymology 2

See -Vn.

Suffix

-an

1. (case suffix) A suffix variant for the illative singular, see -Vn.

   laiva boat (word includes back vowels, a — cf. -än) -> + -an = laivaan (on)to a/the boat; (in)to a/the boat

Etymology 3

From earlier *-hVn, from Proto-Uralic *-sin, the third-person dual possessive for singular nouns.

Suffix

-an

1. (possessive) A variant for the third-person suffix -nsa, see the usage notes below.

Usage notes

When the third-person suffix -nsa is appended to non-nominative noun forms that end in a single -a (those that are in singular and plural inessive, elative, adessive, ablative, essive and abessive and plural partitive and singular partitive ending with -ta), the S and A are very often omitted from the suffix and the last A of the case suffix preceding the remaining N is doubled — resulting in this -an. In standard Finnish, both the "full" form and the shortened form are acceptable (cf. -nsä). This same omission takes very often place also in the nominal verb forms used in shortened sentences (see the meanings of -nsa) and in the adverbs requiring this suffix:

Singular

(parti.) laitettansa -> laitettaan — koiraansa -> -"- (no changes)

(iness.) laitteessansa -> laitteessaan — koirassansa -> koirassaan

(elat.) laitteestansa -> laitteestaan — koirastansa -> koirastaan

(adess.) laitteellansa -> laitteellaan — koirallansa -> koirallaan

(ablat.) laitteeltansa -> laitteeltaan — koiraltansa -> koiraltaan

(ess.) laitteenansa -> laitteenaan — koiranansa -> koiranaan

(abess.) laitteettansa -> laitteettaan — koirattansa -> koirattaan

Plural

(partit.) laitteitansa -> laitteitaan — koiriansa -> koiriaan

(iness.) laitteissansa -> laitteissaan — koirissansa -> koirissaan

(elat.) laitteistansa -> laitteistaan — koiristansa -> koiristaan

(adess.) laitteillansa -> laitteillaan — koirillansa -> koirillaan

(ablat.) laitteiltansa -> laitteiltaan — koiriltansa -> koiriltaan

(ess.) laitteinansa -> laitteinaan — koirinansa -> koirinaan

(abess.) laitteittansa -> laitteittaan — koirittansa -> koirittaan

Anagrams

• -na

---

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

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 notes

• (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 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

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 notes

• 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 terms

► Hungarian verbs suffixed with -an

See also

• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes

---

Indonesian

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [-an]

Suffix

-an

1. Added to an 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

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

Derived terms

• ber- -an
• ke- -an

 

► Indonesian words suffixed with -an

---

Malay

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /an/
• Rhymes: -an

Suffix

-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”)

---

Manx

Etymology

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

Suffix

-an m

1. Alternative form of -ane

Derived terms

► Manx words suffixed with -an

---

Ojibwe

Final

-an

1. be in a state or condition

Derived terms

• waaban
• aawan

See also

• -aa
• -izi

References

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

Suffix

-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 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).

See also

• -n
• -iin
• -oon
• -wan
• -yan

---

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-aną

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑn/

Suffix

-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

---

Old Norse

Etymology 1

Presumably from Proto-Germanic *-ōniz.

Suffix

-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 terms

► Old Norse words suffixed with -an

► Old Norse words suffixed with -un

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *-anē

Suffix

-an

1. Forms adverbs with ablative direction.

Derived terms

► Old Norse words suffixed with -an (ablative adverb)

Etymology 3

Suffix

-an

1. strong accusative singular ending of adjectives

---

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-aną

Suffix

-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”)

---

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

1. 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

• Liljegren, Henrik; Haider, Naseem (2011) Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎^[1], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

---

Romanian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Needs splitting by etymology”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /an/

Suffix

-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 adjectives and nouns describing things and characteristics of a city, region, or country; -an

   ‎Australia (“Australia”) + ‎-an → ‎australian (“Australian”)

3. Forms names of male animals.

   ‎gâscă (“goose”) + ‎-an → ‎gâscan (“gander”)

Declension

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 terms

► Romanian words suffixed with -an

---

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /an/

Usage notes

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

Suffix

-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 2

Cognate to Irish -anna, Manx -yn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ən/

Suffix

-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 terms

► Scottish Gaelic words suffixed with -an

---

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)

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

Etymology 2

From Proto-Slavic *-ьnъ.

Suffix

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

1. Suffix appended to words to create an adjective.

   • ‎jad(iti) + ‎-an → ‎jadan (“miserable”)

Derived terms

► Serbo-Croatian words suffixed with -an

See also

• -ašan
• -ešan

 

---

Spanish

Etymology 1

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

Suffix

-an

1. 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

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 also

• -en

---

Swedish

Suffix

-an

1. making a noun from a verb, similar to -ing and -ning, having -ningar as the plural.

   ‎predika (“to preach”) + ‎-an → ‎predikan (“a sermon”)

2. -an; making a noun, describing a person by belief or nationality

   ‎Tibet + ‎-an → ‎tibetan

   lutheran

   vegetarian

Derived terms

► Swedish words suffixed with -an

Anagrams

• -na, na

---

Tagalog

Suffix

-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.

Suffix

-an

1. a place 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. a place where the action expressed by the root is performed

   ‎kain (“eat”) + ‎-an → ‎kainan (“place where people eat e.g. restaurant, café,...”)

3. a 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. a tool or an object that is used to measure what is meant by the root

   ‎oras (“time”) + ‎-an → ‎orasan (“clock, watch”)

   ‎timbang (“weight”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“weighing scale”)

5. 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 with reduplication of root word) Used to create a diminutive, pretensive, or imitative form of something

   ‎bahay (“house”) + ‎-an → ‎bahay-bahayan (“toy house”)

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

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

Usage notes

• Normally, /h/ is inserted before -an when the root word end with a vowel that 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

Derived terms

► Tagalog words suffixed with -an

---

Volapük

Suffix

-an

1. Used to indicate someone who is or does something

Derived terms

► Volapük words suffixed with -an

---

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /an/

Etymology 1

Suffix

-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

Alternative forms

• -ian

Suffix

-an

1. verbnoun suffix

Etymology 3

Suffix

-an

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

Derived terms

► Welsh words 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