-an
EnglishEdit
Alternative formsEdit
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
- 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.)
- Appended to nouns to form an agent noun. (When males with a profession are distinguished from females, males are -an, females -(i)enne.)
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
AnagramsEdit
AzerbaijaniEdit
SuffixEdit
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 CentralEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- a place where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found
- a place where the action expressed by the root is performed
ChuukeseEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
Related termsEdit
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
- A suffix of all verbs in their infinitive form.
CzechEdit
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an m
- Forms nouns, including inhabitant names.
Derived termsEdit
Further readingEdit
- -an in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017
EsperantoEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- Obsolete form of -am.
See alsoEdit
FinnishEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From earlier *-han, *-hVn, from Proto-Finnic *-hen, *-sen (passive or reflexive suffix). Initial -ta- is from the causative suffix as seen in *-tadak.
SuffixEdit
-an
- (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.
- Verbs ending in -oa the beginning stem is followed by -ta- and then by this.
- Verbs ending in -aa or -ea the beginning stem is followed by -eta- and then by this.
Etymology 2Edit
See -Vn.
SuffixEdit
-an
- (case suffix) A suffix variant for the illative singular, see -Vn.
Etymology 3Edit
From earlier *-hVn, from Proto-Uralic *-sin, the third-person dual possessive for singular nouns.
SuffixEdit
-an
- (possessive) A variant for the third-person suffix -nsa, see the usage notes below.
Usage notesEdit
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
AnagramsEdit
HungarianEdit
PronunciationEdit
Etymology 1Edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
SuffixEdit
-an
- (deadjectival adverb suffix) Added to an adjective to create an adverb.
- (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)”)
- hat (“six”) → hatan (“six people, six 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
Etymology 2Edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
SuffixEdit
-an
- (verb-forming suffix) Added to a stem ― often an onomatopoeia ― to form a verb expressing an instantaneous action.
Usage notesEdit
- Harmonic variants:
Derived termsEdit
See alsoEdit
IndonesianEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Malay -an, from Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- Added to an noun
- Suffix for collectivity
- Suffix for place
- Suffix for value
- Suffix for measurement result; -s
- (colloquial) -s; Suffix for quantity (about value)
- -ly, specifying time intervals, having the sense of "occurring at such intervals".
- Added to an verb to create an noun
- Suffix for object
- Suffix for place
- Suffix for result
- Suffix for tool
- Suffix for way or method
- Added to an adjective to create an noun
- Suffix for having property
- (colloquial) Suffix for intensity (quality or quantity)
- Suffix for similarity
Derived termsEdit
MalayEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an (Jawi spelling -ان)
- Suffix for collectivity
- Suffix for similarity
- Suffix for object
- Suffix for place
- Suffix for instrument
ManxEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Old Irish -án, from Primitive Irish -ᚐᚌᚅᚔ (-agni).
SuffixEdit
-an m
- Alternative form of -ane
Derived termsEdit
OjibweEdit
FinalEdit
-an
- be in a state or condition
Derived termsEdit
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/an-final
SuffixEdit
-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 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
EtymologyEdit
From Proto-Germanic *-aną
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- (verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of most verbs (exceptions are verbs like flēon (“to flee”))
Old NorseEdit
Etymology 1Edit
Presumably from Proto-Germanic *-ōniz.
SuffixEdit
-an
- (deverbative suffix) Used to derive nouns from class 2 weak verbs.
Derived termsEdit
Etymology 2Edit
From Proto-Germanic *-anē
SuffixEdit
-an
- Forms adverbs with ablative direction.
Derived termsEdit
Etymology 3Edit
SuffixEdit
-an
- strong accusative singular ending of adjectives
Old SaxonEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Proto-Germanic *-aną
SuffixEdit
-an
- (verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of strong verbs (exceptions are a few verbs ending in -ian like biddian or liggian)
PhaluraEdit
EtymologyEdit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- 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)[1], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN
RomanianEdit
EtymologyEdit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Needs splitting by etymology”)
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an m or n (feminine singular -ană, masculine plural -ani, feminine and neuter plural -ane)
- Added to nouns and adjectives as an augmentative suffix.
- Forms adjectives and nouns describing things and characteristics of a city, region, or country; -an
- Australia (“Australia”) + -an → australian (“Australian”)
- Forms names of male animals.
DeclensionEdit
Derived termsEdit
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
- A masculine suffix used to form nouns meaning a smaller form of something, often used for male given names.
Etymology 2Edit
Cognate to Irish -anna, Manx -yn.
PronunciationEdit
SuffixEdit
-an pl
- Used to form regular plurals of nouns.
Derived termsEdit
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)
- 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)
Derived termsEdit
See alsoEdit
SpanishEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From Latin -ant, the third-person plural present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs.
SuffixEdit
-an
- 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
- 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.
See alsoEdit
SwedishEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- making a noun from a verb, similar to -ing and -ning, having -ningar as the plural.
- -an; making a noun, describing a person by belief or nationality
- Tibet + -an → tibetan
- lutheran
- vegetarian
Derived termsEdit
AnagramsEdit
TagalogEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- 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.
SuffixEdit
-an
- a place where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found
- a place where the action expressed by the root is performed
- a period in which the action expressed by the root is collectively performed
- a tool or an object that is used to measure what is meant by the root
- reciprocal or joint performance of the action expressed by the root
- (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 notesEdit
- 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/.
- Sometimes, the final vowel of the root word disappears when the suffix is added.
Derived termsEdit
VolapükEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- Used to indicate someone who is or does something
Derived termsEdit
WelshEdit
PronunciationEdit
Etymology 1Edit
SuffixEdit
-an
- diminutive suffix, -let
- person or object with characteristics of the root word
- used to form pet names
Etymology 2Edit
Alternative formsEdit
SuffixEdit
-an
- verbnoun suffix
Etymology 3Edit
SuffixEdit
-an
- (colloquial) verb suffix for the third-person plural future
Derived termsEdit
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