-le

See also: Appendix:Variations of "le"

English

Alternative forms

• -el

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əl/, /l̩/

Etymology 1

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix).

Cognate with West Frisian -elje, Dutch -elen, German -eln, Danish -le, Swedish -la, Icelandic -la. Compare -er.

Suffix

-le

1. A frequentative suffix of verbs, indicating repetition or continuousness:

   assle, buzzle, crackle, cuddle, dazzle, draggle, drawl, dribble, drizzle, fumble, gamble, grapple, handle, jostle, kissle, maddle, mingle, nestle, nuzzle, prattle, ramble, rattle, ripple, scribble, sile, sizzle, smartle, sniffle, snuggle, startle, stopple, suckle, tattle, tickle, topple, waggle, whemmle, wiggle, wrestle,

Translations

frequentative suffix

• Portuguese: -ejar

Etymology 2

From Middle English -el (adjectival), -le, from Old English -el, -ol, from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz and *-ilaz (adjective suffixes). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el.

Suffix

-le

2. A suffix forming adjectives from verbs with the meaning of "prone to", "tending to", "apt to", "capable of"; compare -ative:

   battle, breakle, brittle, fickle, forgettle, little, newfangle, nimble, wankle

Etymology 3

From Middle English -el (agent suffix), from a combination of two suffixes:

• Old English -el, -il (diminutive suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (diminutive suffix).
• Old English -el, -ol, -ul (agent suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent suffix). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el.

Alternative forms

• -el

Suffix

-le

2. A suffix forming diminutives from other nouns.

   Coordinate term: -ling

   ‎dump + ‎-le → ‎dimple

   ‎dung + ‎-le → ‎dingle

   ‎hatch + ‎-le → ‎hatchel

   ‎hose + ‎-le → ‎hosel

   ‎howf + ‎-le → ‎hovel

   ‎gome + ‎-le → ‎gomeral

   ‎corn + ‎-le → ‎kernel

   ‎new + ‎-le → ‎newel

   ‎nose + ‎-le → ‎nozzle

   ‎puck + ‎-le → ‎puckle

   ‎turd + ‎-le → ‎treddle

3. A suffix forming agent nouns from verbs:

   beadle, beetle, bridle, bundle, cripple, fettle, girdle, ladle, losel, runnel, shovel, spindle, spittle, steeple, stile, stopple, thimble, tool, towel, trundle

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -le

terms derived using -le (frequentative)

• assle
• crackle
• dazzle
• dribble
• nuzzle
• prattle
• puzzle
• sniffle
• startle
• tousle
• twinkle
• wrestle
• wriggle

terms derived using -le (diminutive)

• dottle
• piffle

Anagrams

• -el, EL, El, el

Basque

Alternative forms

• -tzaile (see usage notes)

Suffix

-le

1. Forms agent noun from verbs.

   ‎ikasi (“study”) + ‎-le → ‎ikasle (“student”)

Usage notes

• It is used with verbs ending in -i preceded by a sibilant or -r(r)-. If the sibilant is an affricate, it is reduced to a fricative.

  ‎idatzi (“write”) + ‎-le → ‎idazle (“writer”)

  ‎irakatsi (“teach”) + ‎-le → ‎irakasle (“teacher”)

  ‎irakurri (“read”) + ‎-le → ‎irakurle (“reader”)

• For other verbs the alternative form -tzaile is used.

Derived terms

Basque terms suffixed with -le

Cimbrian

Suffix

-le

1. forms diminutives

Derived terms

Cimbrian terms suffixed with -le

Finnish

Etymology 1

-l(a) +‎ -e

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-leˣ/, [-le̞(ʔ)]

Suffix

-le

1. Forms diminutive nouns.

Declension

Inflection of -le (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)
nominative		-le	-leet
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-letta	-leita
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-le	-leet
accusative	nom.	-le	-leet
	gen.	-leen
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-letta	-leita
inessive		-leessa	-leissa
elative		-leesta	-leista
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
adessive		-leella	-leilla
ablative		-leelta	-leilta
allative		-leelle	-leille
essive		-leena	-leina
translative		-leeksi	-leiksi
instructive		—	-lein
abessive		-leetta	-leitta
comitative		—	-leineen

Possessive forms of -le (type hame)
possessor	singular	plural
1st person	-leeni	-leemme
2nd person	-leesi	-leenne
3rd person	-leensa

Inflection of -le (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)
nominative		-le	-leet
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-lettä	-leitä
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-le	-leet
accusative	nom.	-le	-leet
	gen.	-leen
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-lettä	-leitä
inessive		-leessä	-leissä
elative		-leestä	-leistä
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
adessive		-leellä	-leillä
ablative		-leeltä	-leiltä
allative		-leelle	-leille
essive		-leenä	-leinä
translative		-leeksi	-leiksi
instructive		—	-lein
abessive		-leettä	-leittä
comitative		—	-leineen

Possessive forms of -le (type hame)
possessor	singular	plural
1st person	-leeni	-leemme
2nd person	-leesi	-leenne
3rd person	-leensä

Derived terms

Finnish terms suffixed with -le (diminutive)

Etymology 2

See the main entry.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-leˣ/, [-le̞(ʔ)]

Suffix

-le

1. (dialectal) Alternative form of -lle.
   • 1878, J. Krohn, Kertomuksia Suomen Historiasta, →ISBN:

     Keisarilainen sotawoima riensi kaupungile awuksi ja ankara tappelu syttyi sen likellä.

     The imperial military came in haste to aid the town, and violent combat erupted near it.

   • 1996, Rosa Liksom, Kreisland, →ISBN:

     Siinä nirppanokkanen kotifrouva istu kiitävässä avoautossa ja sano J. Edgar Hooverin näkselle miehele: »Tämä on unta.»

     There sat a stuck up housewife in a dashing convertible and said to a man that looked like J. Edgar Hoover: "This is a dream."

German

Etymology

From Middle High German -elīn, -līn, from Old High German -ilī, -ilīn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lə]

• Audio

  (file)

Suffix

-le

1. (chiefly dialectal) suffix used to create a diminutive form; e.g., Haus → Häusle

Derived terms

• Brünnele
• Häusle
• Kätzle
• Krämle
• Ländle
• Mädle
• Säckle
• Späßle
• Spätzle (plural)

See also

• -i
• -chen
• -lein

Ingrian

Pronunciation

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-le/, [-lʲe̞]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-le/, [-le̞]

Suffix

-le

1. Alternative form of -lee

Italian

Pronoun

-le

1. (enclitic) Alternative form of le

   dare (“to give”) → darle (“to give them; to give for her”)

   vendere (“to sell”) → venderle (“to sell them; to sell to her”)

   servire (“to serve”) → servirle (“to serve them; to serve to her”)

Usage notes

• Appended to present active infinitive verb forms to derive accusative forms when the object is third plural feminine person and the dative form when the object is third singular feminine person. The final -e of the original infinitive is removed :

-are → -arle

-ere → -erle

-ire → -irle

Where the verb ends in -rre, the final re is removed, leaving behind just an -r:

introdurre (“to introduce”) → introdurle (“to introduce them; to insert in her”)

In any case, after the suffixation, there is only a single r and no vowels immediately before -le.

Anagrams

• el

Latin

Suffix

-le

1. vocative masculine singular of -lus

Middle English

Etymology 1

Suffix

-le

1. Alternative form of -el (adjectival suffix)

Etymology 2

Suffix

-le

1. Alternative form of -el (agentive suffix)

Etymology 3

Suffix

-le

1. Alternative form of -el (diminutive suffix)

Etymology 4

Suffix

-le

1. Alternative form of -ly (“adjectival”)

Etymology 5

Suffix

-le

1. Alternative form of -ly (“adverbial”)

Mwan

Suffix

-le

1. nominalising suffix

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /le/

Etymology 1

From Latin -ae (“first-declension ending”), with intrusive l.

Suffix

-le

1. (plural) -s (feminine/neuter)

Usage notes

• This form of the plural is indefinite, and used for feminine nouns in the nominative/accusative and genitive/dative cases which end in a stressed vowel, or is monosyllabic:
• zile, from zi, fem.
• basmale, from basma, fem.
• cafele, from cafe, fem.

Alternative forms

• -e

Etymology 2

From Latin ille.

Suffix

-le

1. variant of -l: the (definite article)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for both masculine and neuter singular nouns in the nominative and accusative cases which end in -e:

• fratele, from frate, masc.
• numele, from nume, neut.
• muntele, from munte, masc.

Etymology 3

From Latin illae, nominative feminine plural of ille.

Suffix

-le

1. (definite article) the (feminine/neuter plural, nominative and accusative)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for both feminine and neuter plural nouns in the nominative and accusative cases

• amintirile, from amintiri, fem.
• visurile, from visuri, neut.

Note that this suffix is also added to indefinite feminine plurals in -le:

• zilele, from zile, fem.
• basmalele, from basmale, fem.
• cafelele, from cafele, fem.

The suffix is also used with feminine plural adjectives in the nominative and accusative cases to make the articulated definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies:

• caldele plăcinte, from plăcintele calde (both meaning, "the warm pies")

Related terms

• -l (masculine/neuter singular nominative and accusative)
• -a (feminine singular nominative and accusative)
• -i (masculine/neuter plural nominative and accusative)
• -lui (masculine/neuter singular genitive and dative)
• -ei (feminine singular genitive and dative)
• -lor (plural genitive and dative)

Scots

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʌl], [əl], [l]

Etymology 1

From Middle English -el, -le, from Old English -el, -ol (adjective suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz (adjective suffix).

Suffix

-le

1. used for forming adjectives signifying 'having a tendency to' or 'able to'; e.g. forgettle, smittle, fodgle

Etymology 2

Suffix

-le

1. a contracted form of full; e.g. cairtle (“cartful, cart-load”), cogle (“bowlful”)

Etymology 3

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix).

Suffix

-le

1. frequentative or diminutive suffix, added to verbs
2. forms adverbs implying direction towards

Swabian

Etymology

Compare Yiddish ־ל‎ (-l).

Suffix

-le n

1. Used to form diminutives.

Turkish

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈle/

Suffix

preceding vowel
A / I / O / U	E / İ / Ö / Ü
-la	-le

-le

1. Suffix appended to nouns to derive verbs with various meanings.

   ‎alkış (“applause”) + ‎la → ‎alkışlamak (“to applaude”)

   ‎temiz (“clean”) + ‎-le → ‎temizlemek (“to clean”)

Derived terms

Turkish verbs suffixed with -le

Etymology 2

From ile.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /le/

Suffix

	preceding vowel
	A / I / O / U	E / İ / Ö / Ü
postconsonantal	-la	-le
postvocalic	-yla	-yle

-le

1. with, shortened form of ile

   annemle okula gidiyorum

   I am going to school with my mother

2. by, shortened form of ile

   Okula otobüsle gidiyorum

   I am going to school by bus

Usage notes

• If it's added to a proper noun, it must be used with an apostrophe.

  Zafer'le - with Zafer.

  Emre'yle - with Emre.

• Unlike most Turkish suffixes, this suffix is always unstressed; the stress in the combined word remains where it was in the word before suffixing.

Derived terms

Turkish terms suffixed with -le