Latvian edit

Etymology edit

Cognate with Lithuanian -ininkas (note that -nieks often causes palatalization of the preceding consonant, or even occurs as -inieks, with an initial i that corresponds to the initial i of the Lithuanian suffix; e.g. tirdzinieks) and Proto-Slavic *-nikъ. The feminine form -niece is derived from -nieks with the feminine suffix -e, with palatalization of the final k to c.

Suffix edit

-nieks, -niece

  1. Added to nouns (or sometimes to adjectives and a few verbs) to form masculine (-nieks) or feminine (-niece) agent nouns, referring to a person whose activity or occupation the original term is (like English -er), or who inhabits the place (city, country, etc.) named by the original term (like English -ian).
  2. Used to nominalize numerals to refer to numbers in the form of nouns (e.g., when speaking of grades, bills (banknotes), when mentioning numbers as labels that identify entities, etc.)

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

  • -niece (feminine counterpart of -nieks)