Wiktionary

-s

See also: -ś, -'s, and Appendix:Variations of "s"

EnglishEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Middle English -s, -es, from Old English -as, nominative-accusative plural ending of masculine a-stem (i.e. strong) declension nouns, from Proto-West Germanic *-ōs, from Proto-Germanic *-ōs, *‑ōz, from Proto-Indo-European *-es, *-oes (plural endings). The spread of this ending in later Middle English was once argued to have been the result of Anglo-Norman influence; however, -as was already the most common Old English plural marker (used in approximately 40% of Old English nouns), and was initially more common in the North of England where French influence was weakest, only later gradually spreading south. Cognate with Scots -s (plural ending), Saterland Frisian -s (plural ending), West Frisian -s (plural ending), Dutch -s (plural ending), Low German -s (plural ending), Danish -er (plural ending), Swedish -r, -ar, -or (plural ending), Icelandic -ar (plural ending), Gothic -𐍉𐍃 (-ōs, nominative plural ending of a-stem masculine nouns) (note that German -er has a different origin).

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Used to form regular plurals of nouns.
    one computer → five computers
  3. Used to form many pluralia tantum (nouns that are almost or entirely without singular forms).
    shorts
    sunglasses
  5. When appended to a number ending in at least one 0, expresses a range of ordinals which share the same digits when some or (usually) all of those 0s are discounted; frequently used for decades or centuries.
    We often look back on the 1960s with rose-tinted glasses.
    The Industrial Revolution went into full-swing during the 1800s.
    He placed in the 200s in the end.
    We don't usually mean the whole millennium when we talk about the 2000s.
Usage notesEdit
  • (regular plurals): In semi-formal or formal contexts, where the plurality of a noun depends on some unknown aspect of the sentence, the s may be parenthesised: "The winner(s) will be invited to a prize ceremony."
  • (number): Decades formed with -s are usually pronounced as if they were written as two separate numbers. For example, 1970s is read as nineteen-seventies, as if it were written as 19 70s, not as *nineteen-hundred seventies or *one thousand nine hundred and seventies. A notable exception to this arose after the end of the 2000s, when the (relatively uniform) pronunciation of the years in that decade as two-thousand (and) X was continued for the following decade for some speakers. The pronunciation of the 2010s as twenty-tens largely took over at the start of that decade but has not completely replaced out the previous two-thousand (and) X pronunciation. Some speakers, when speaking retroactively about the 2000s, now apply the traditional common pronunciation to the 2000s as well: they would pronounce 2001 as twenty-oh-one instead of two-thousand (and) one.
DescendantsEdit
  • → Cantonese: -s
  • → Japanese: ズ (-zu)
  • → Malayalam: -സ് (-sŭ)
  • → Swedish: -s
  • → Tagalog: -s
  • → Welsh: -s
TranslationsEdit

The translations below are a guide only. See individual words for precise translations.

See alsoEdit
other plural-forming suffixes

Etymology 2Edit

From Middle English -(e)s (third-person singular ending), from Northumbrian Old English -es, -as (third-person singular endings). Gradually replaced the older -eth, from Old English -(e)þ, -aþ, during the Middle English and Early Modern English periods.

It is predominantly believed that -(e)s is identical to the Old English second-person singular ending -es, -est (cf. archaic Modern English -est, as in thou singest). The use for the third-person singular would have been caused by speakers of Old Norse who switched to speaking English and confounded the endings due to analogy with their native tongue. In Old Norse, the second and third person singular indicative forms were identical (e.g. þú masar, hann masar; þú þekkir, hann þekkir; etc.).

An alternative theory sees the shift from /θ/ in -eth to /s/ (later /z/) in -(e)s as a mere phonetic simplification due to the frequence of the ending, but the objection to this is that no such development can be observed anywhere else in English. Nevertheless the relative similarity in sound between both forms may have facilitated the spread of -es.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the third-person singular indicative present tense of verbs.
    to eat → he eats
Usage notesEdit
  • In Standard English, the -s suffix is only used to mark the third person singular present of verbs; however, in some varieties of English, particularly northern English, Scottish, US Southern and AAVE, the -s can be extended to other persons/numbers as well, as in: I eats me spinach; I hates the Yankees; they likes it here; etc.
See alsoEdit
other verb endings

Etymology 3Edit

From Middle English -es, from Old English -es, the masculine and neuter genitive singular ending of strong nouns. More at -'s.

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Used in the formation of certain English adverbs.
    ‎forward + ‎-s → ‎forwards
    ‎downward + ‎-s → ‎downwards
    ‎alway + ‎-s → ‎always
    ‎sometime + ‎-s → ‎sometimes
    ‎betime + ‎-s → ‎betimes
    ‎while + ‎-s → ‎whiles
    ‎betide + ‎-s → ‎betides
    ‎toward + ‎-s → ‎towards
    ‎beside + ‎-s → ‎besides
    ‎evening + ‎-s → ‎evenings
    ‎unaware + ‎-s → ‎unawares
Derived termsEdit

Etymology 4Edit

A variant spelling of -'s, partly an archaism, partly by dropping the apostrophe.

Alternative formsEdit

  • -'s (on pronouns; now nonstandard)

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (on pronouns) Possessive marker, indicating that an object belongs to the word bearing the marker.
    hers; its; ones (now one’s); theirs
    (neopronouns): eirs; hirs; pers; thons; xyrs; zirs
  2. (on nouns, now nonstandard) Alternative form of -'s
    devils doorbell; dogs-bane; St. Marys
Usage notesEdit
  • In most cases where -s is found nowadays as a possessive case marker, it is a simple misspelling of -'s. However, possessive determiners derived from personal pronouns use -s (e.g. its, not it's). The same is true of pronouns derived from possessive determiners (e.g. theirs, not their's). The possessive form of who takes -se (whose, not who's).
  • Bare -s is used in some business names that derive from possessive family names, e.g. Barclays and Harrods, but compare Sainsbury’s; compare Wikipedia's article on possessives in business names. In speech, /z/ (or /s/) is sometimes added to business names which have neither -s nor -'s in writing, resulting in s-forms, which see.
  • Sometimes used in place names; e.g., Harpers Ferry (formerly spelled “Harper’s Ferry”), Queens County (note that the former name of County Laois was officially “Queen’s County”, however, the apostrophe-less spelling is well-attested).

Etymology 5Edit

Modern sense in slang [circa 1936]. According to OED, a colloquial clipping of the hypocoristic diminutive suffix -sy. As AHD writes, -sy itself usually being informal, ironic and/or jocular, and possibly a combination of -s (“plural marker”) and conflation of -y as adjectival with its sense as a diminutive suffix (e.g. puppy, kitty), the latter notion probably from Scots.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (informal, colloquial, sometimes humorous) Hypocoristic suffix
    Babs; moms; pops; homes; toots
Derived termsEdit
English terms suffixed with -s
Related termsEdit

AfrikaansEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Inherited from Dutch -st.

SuffixEdit

-s (plural -ste)

  1. appended to the stem of a verb, this suffix yields a verbal noun
    ‎dien + ‎-s → ‎diens

Etymology 2Edit

Inherited from Dutch -s (a suffix for forming plurals).

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form regular plurals of nouns that end in certain suffixes or syllables, such as -el, -er, -en, -em, -eur, -aar, -aard, diminutive -ie, etc.
    ‎redakteur + ‎-s → ‎redakteurs
  2. Used to form irregular plurals of many other nouns, chiefly of foreign origin.
    ‎ateljee + ‎-s → ‎ateljees

Etymology 3Edit

Inherited from Dutch -s, from the genitive case of Dutch masculine and neuter nouns and adjectives, Middle Dutch -s, -es, from Old Dutch -es, -is, from Proto-Germanic *-as, *-is.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the partitive form of the adjective
    nuut → iets nuuts

Etymology 4Edit

Inherited from Dutch -s, from earlier -sch, from Middle Dutch -sch, from Old Dutch -isc, from Proto-West Germanic *-isk, from Proto-Germanic *-iskaz, from Proto-Indo-European *-iskos.

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Used to form adjectives of characteristic from nouns.
    ‎winter (“winter”) + ‎-s → ‎winters (“wintery”)
    ‎spel (“game”) + ‎-s → ‎speels (“playful”)
  3. Used to form adjectives or language names from place names.
    ‎Engeland (“England”) + ‎-s → ‎Engels (“English”)
    ‎Finland (“Finland”) + ‎-s → ‎Fins (“Finnish”)

ChineseEdit

EtymologyEdit

From English -s (“plural suffix”).

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, neologism, humorous or sarcastic, rare, written only) Used to emphasise that there are multiple instances of the noun
    有車s有樓s／有车s有楼s [Cantonese]  ―  jau5 ce1 jau5 lau4-2 [Jyutping]  ―  to own multiple cars and flats

ReferencesEdit

  • Victor Chan Haw Fung (1999), “Hong Kong English and the Internet”, in Unpublished MA dissertation, page 40: “Some of these words have plural forms like leng luis in (example 13).”

CzechEdit

PronunciationEdit

ParticleEdit

-s

  1. Alternative form of -si

DanishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Old Norse -s, originally the genitive singular ending of a-stem nouns. Cognate with Swedish -s.

ParticleEdit

-s

  1. Used to form genitive/possessive phrases, attached to the last word in a noun phrase.
    Danmarks dronning ― the Queen of Denmark
    Københavns snefald ― snowfall in Copenhagen

DutchEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Unknown. Not present in Old Dutch, which used -a from Proto-Germanic *-ōz as the plural ending. Possibly spread from Middle Low German -s, -es, from Old Saxon -os, -as, from Proto-Germanic *-ōs. Further etymology is unknown, but cognate with Old English -as (English -s).

SuffixEdit

-s pl

  1. Used to form regular plurals of nouns that end in certain suffixes or syllables, such as -el, -er, -en, -em, -eur, -aar, -aard, diminutive -je, etc.
    ‎bodem + ‎-s → ‎bodems
  2. Used to form irregular plurals of many other nouns, chiefly of foreign origin.
    ‎telefoon + ‎-s → ‎telefoons
Usage notesEdit
  • Nouns ending in unstressed -e generally have a plural in -s and one in -n (ziekte > ziektes, ziekten). Individual words, however, allow just one of the two ways.
  • Most words of Latin origin ending in -um are pluralized with the suffix -s (museum > museums) or by replacing -um with -a (> musea). The latter tends to be preferred in formal style.

Etymology 2Edit

From the genitive case of masculine and neuter nouns and adjectives, Middle Dutch -s, -es, from Old Dutch -es, -is, from Proto-Germanic *-as, *-is.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (archaic, except in fixed expressions) Used to form the genitive case of (strong) masculine and neuter nouns.
    tijd → de tand des tijds
  2. Used to form the genitive case of proper nouns and some pronouns.
    Pieter → Pieters jas
    iemand → iemands jas
  3. Used to form the partitive form of the adjective
    lief → iets liefs
  4. Used to form adverbs
    stad → steeds
Derived termsEdit
Dutch terms suffixed with -s

The adverbial/adjectival -s combines with other suffixes like :

Etymology 3Edit

From earlier -sch, from Middle Dutch -sch, from Old Dutch -isc, from Proto-West Germanic *-isk, from Proto-Germanic *-iskaz (from which also -isch via German), from Proto-Indo-European *-iskos.

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Used to form adjectives of characteristic from nouns.
    ‎winter (“winter”) + ‎-s → ‎winters (“wintery”)
    ‎spel (“game”) + ‎-s → ‎speels (“playful”)
  3. Used to form adjectives or language names from names of nations or countries.
    ‎Engeland (“England”) + ‎-s → ‎Engels (“English”)
    ‎Finland (“Finland”) + ‎-s → ‎Fins (“Finnish”)

EstonianEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-isa. Related to Finnish -isa, Ingrian -isa, Votic -sa.

SuffixEdit

-s (genitive -sa, partitive -sat, comparative -sam, superlative kõige -sam)

  1. creates adjectives from nouns
    ‎au (“honour”) + ‎-s → ‎aus (“honest”)
    ‎ilu (“beauty”) + ‎-s → ‎ilus (“beautiful”)
    ‎lõbu (“pleasure”) + ‎-s → ‎lõbus (“fun”)
InflectionEdit
Inflection of -s (ÕS type 2/õpik, no gradation)
singular plural
nominative -s -sad
accusative -sa -sad
genitive -sa -sate
partitive -sat -said
illative -sasse -satesse
-saisse
inessive -sas -sates
-sais
elative -sast -satest
-saist
allative -sale -satele
-saile
adessive -sal -satel
-sail
ablative -salt -satelt
-sailt
translative -saks -sateks
-saiks
terminative -sani -sateni
essive -sana -satena
abessive -sata -sateta
comitative -saga -satega
Derived termsEdit
Estonian terms suffixed with -s

Etymology 2Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-nci.

SuffixEdit

-s (genitive -nda, partitive -ndat)

  1. forms ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers
    ‎kolm (“three”) + ‎-s → ‎kolmas (“third”)
    ‎kuus (“six”) + ‎-s → ‎kuues (“sixth”)
InflectionEdit
Inflection of -s (ÕS type 2/õpik, no gradation)
singular plural
nominative -s -ndad
accusative -nda -ndad
genitive -nda -ndate
partitive -ndat -ndaid
illative -ndasse -ndatesse
-ndaisse
inessive -ndas -ndates
-ndais
elative -ndast -ndatest
-ndaist
allative -ndale -ndatele
-ndaile
adessive -ndal -ndatel
-ndail
ablative -ndalt -ndatelt
-ndailt
translative -ndaks -ndateks
-ndaiks
terminative -ndani -ndateni
essive -ndana -ndatena
abessive -ndata -ndateta
comitative -ndaga -ndatega

FinnishEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Contracted from the second-person singular pronoun sa, sä (sinä in modern standard language), but no longer tied to being used in second-person.

CliticEdit

-s (somewhat informal or familiar)

  2. When appended to a second-person singular or plural imperative, gives the command or request slightly rude or impatient tone—often with different verbs and different independent particles adjacent, the tone is different.
    Kuules nyt! (addressing one person. quite an established expression of frustration, speaker very impatient) ― Now do listen!
    Kuulkaas nyt! (addressing many people, same tone as above) ― Now do listen!
    Tees nämä tehtävät. (addressing one person, tone less impatient) ― Go do these tasks.
  3. When appended to the particle -pa that is appended to a second-person imperative, gives the command or request a slightly more persuasive or inspiring tone.
    Laitapas lautaset pöytään. ― Hey, go put the plates on the table.
  4. Mainly in informal contexts: a particle appended to an interrogative suffix -ko of the verb conjugated (also -kö with the negation verb) in order to bring the conversation partner or a person outside the conversation, talked about, emotionally closer to the speaker, or to create familiarity into the conversation; also to express that closeness or familiarity—sometimes very difficult to translate well into English, in some cases corresponds to tag questions.
    Jaksatkos sinä? ― May you make it maybe?
    Eikös Saara opiskele oikeustieteitä? ― Saara studies law, nuh?
  5. (colloquial) appended to the shortened impersonal indicative present form (-n omitted) to soften the command or request or to make it more persuasive.
    Tehdääs tämä huomenna. ― Let's go do this tomorrow.
  6. Softens interrogative words, particularly mikä, kuka and their inflected and derived forms, such as when the speaker expects the person addressed to know the answer.
    Mikäs se Suomen pääkaupunki olikaan?
    What was Finland's capital again?
    Kukas heistä olikaan sinun lapsesi?
    Which of them was your child again?
Usage notesEdit
  • When attached to imperative forms, the gemination is ignored, unless another clitic is also used before -s, like with -pas. Thus laitas /lɑi̯tɑs/, but laitapas /lɑi̯tɑpːɑs/.
  • When directly attached to forms ending in -n (e.g. passive forms), the -n is usually dropped (e.g. miten → mites).
Derived termsEdit
Finnish terms suffixed with -s (clitic)
See alsoEdit

Etymology 2Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-s, from Proto-Finno-Permic *-kse (compare Erzya and Moksha -кс (-ks, nominalizing suffix)).

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Forms some nouns.
    ‎jalka (“foot”) + ‎-s → ‎jalas (“runner, skid”)
    ‎liha (“meat”) + ‎-s → ‎lihas (“muscle”)
  3. Forms fractional numbers from ordinal numbers.
    ‎kolmas + ‎-s → ‎kolmannes
Usage notesEdit
  • (fraction): Usually used when the numerator is one (one third, one fourth, etc.) See the usage notes under osa for more.
DeclensionEdit

Back vowel harmony:

Inflection of -s (Kotus type 39/vastaus, no gradation)
nominative -s -kset
genitive -ksen -sten
-ksien
partitive -sta -ksia
illative -kseen -ksiin
singular plural
nominative -s -kset
accusative nom. -s -kset
gen. -ksen
genitive -ksen -sten
-ksien
partitive -sta -ksia
inessive -ksessa -ksissa
elative -ksesta -ksista
illative -kseen -ksiin
adessive -ksella -ksilla
ablative -kselta -ksilta
allative -kselle -ksille
essive -ksena -ksina
translative -kseksi -ksiksi
instructive — -ksin
abessive -ksetta -ksitta
comitative — -ksineen
Possessive forms of -s (type vastaus)
possessor singular plural
1st person -kseni -ksemme
2nd person -ksesi -ksenne
3rd person -ksensa

Front vowel harmony:

Inflection of -s (Kotus type 39/vastaus, no gradation)
nominative -s -kset
genitive -ksen -sten
-ksien
partitive -stä -ksiä
illative -kseen -ksiin
singular plural
nominative -s -kset
accusative nom. -s -kset
gen. -ksen
genitive -ksen -sten
-ksien
partitive -stä -ksiä
inessive -ksessä -ksissä
elative -ksestä -ksistä
illative -kseen -ksiin
adessive -ksellä -ksillä
ablative -kseltä -ksiltä
allative -kselle -ksille
essive -ksenä -ksinä
translative -kseksi -ksiksi
instructive — -ksin
abessive -ksettä -ksittä
comitative — -ksineen
Possessive forms of -s (type vastaus)
possessor singular plural
1st person -kseni -ksemme
2nd person -ksesi -ksenne
3rd person -ksensä
Derived termsEdit
Finnish terms suffixed with -s (nominal)

Etymology 3Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-nci, from Proto-Uralic *-mte.

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Forms ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers, or ordinal pronouns.
    ‎moni + ‎-s → ‎mones
Usage notesEdit

Added to the genitive singular (weak grade) stem.

DeclensionEdit

Back vowel harmony:

Inflection of -s (Kotus type 45/kahdeksas, nt-nn gradation)
nominative -s -nnet
genitive -nnen -nsien
partitive -tta -nsia
illative -nteen -nsiin
singular plural
nominative -s -nnet
accusative nom. -s -nnet
gen. -nnen
genitive -nnen -nsien
partitive -tta -nsia
inessive -nnessa -nsissa
elative -nnesta -nsista
illative -nteen -nsiin
adessive -nnella -nsilla
ablative -nnelta -nsilta
allative -nnelle -nsille
essive -ntena -nsina
translative -nneksi -nsiksi
instructive — -nsin
abessive -nnetta -nsitta
comitative — -nsineen
Possessive forms of -s (type kahdeksas)
possessor singular plural
1st person -nteni -ntemme
2nd person -ntesi -ntenne
3rd person -ntensa

Front vowel harmony:

Inflection of -s (Kotus type 45/kahdeksas, nt-nn gradation)
nominative -s -nnet
genitive -nnen -nsien
partitive -ttä -nsiä
illative -nteen -nsiin
singular plural
nominative -s -nnet
accusative nom. -s -nnet
gen. -nnen
genitive -nnen -nsien
partitive -ttä -nsiä
inessive -nnessä -nsissä
elative -nnestä -nsistä
illative -nteen -nsiin
adessive -nnellä -nsillä
ablative -nneltä -nsiltä
allative -nnelle -nsille
essive -ntenä -nsinä
translative -nneksi -nsiksi
instructive — -nsin
abessive -nnettä -nsittä
comitative — -nsineen
Possessive forms of -s (type kahdeksas)
possessor singular plural
1st person -nteni -ntemme
2nd person -ntesi -ntenne
3rd person -ntensä
Derived termsEdit
Finnish terms suffixed with -s (ordinal)

Etymology 4Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-s, from Proto-Finno-Permic *-s (compare Erzya -с (-s) in эйс (ejs, “into”)), possibly reduced from *-kse (translative ending): *-kse > *-ks > *-s.

SuffixEdit

-s

  2. Forms lative adverbs.
    ‎ala- (“below, down, lower”) + ‎-s → ‎alas (“down”)
Derived termsEdit
Finnish terms suffixed with -s (adverbial)

Etymology 5Edit

From apocope of the final vowel of -ssa, -ssä.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (case suffix, colloquial or dialectal) Alternative form of -ssa (inessive)

FrenchEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Middle French -s, from Old French -s, from Latin -s (accusative plural).

PronunciationEdit

  • Silent, except in liaison environments, when it may be pronounced /z‿/. This liaison is usual in adjectives, but fairly rare in nouns.
  • Irregularly pronounced /s/ in tous (“all”) when used as a pronoun.
  • Audio (liaison)(file)

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the regular plurals of most nouns and adjectives.
    ‎homme + ‎-s → ‎hommes
    ‎bon + ‎-s → ‎bons
  2. Used to form the irregular plurals of a few nouns and adjectives in -au, -eu (which regularly add -x) and in -al (which regularly make -aux).
    ‎landau + ‎-s → ‎landaus
    ‎bleu + ‎-s → ‎bleus
    ‎carnaval + ‎-s → ‎carnavals

Etymology 2Edit

From Middle French -s, from Old French -s, from Latin -s (second-person singular). The spread of this ending to the first-person singular began in Old French when final -s was no longer pronounced in preconsonantal position. The grammarians later on standardised the usage, prescribing -s in some cases and rejecting it in others.

PronunciationEdit

  • Silent, except in liaison environments, when it may be pronounced /z‿/. This liaison is optional after full vowels (as in tu dois). After silent -e- (as in tu aimes) it is rare and often discouraged.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the second-person singular of most verb conjugations.
  2. Used to form the first-person singular of some verb conjugations.

See alsoEdit

GermanEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Middle High German -es, from Old High German [Term?].

Alternative formsEdit

  • -es
  • -ens (proper nouns ending with a sibilant consonant; dated)
  • -' (proper nouns ending with a sibilant consonant)
  • -'s (common nouns; now proscribed)
  • -'s (proper nouns; correct in certain cases, but often seen as a misspelling)

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the genitive singular of most masculine nouns, neuter nouns, and proper nouns of all genders.
Usage notesEdit

The formation of the strong genitive singular (in -s, -es, or no ending) may be of some difficulty both for learners and native speakers.

Only one form is possible in some nouns:

  • Nouns in unstressed -as, -es,- is, -os, -us remain unchanged (except those in -nis, which make -nisses).
  • Other nouns in -s, -ß, -x, -z take -es.
  • Nouns ending in a vowel or in unstressed -el, -em, -en, -er, -or, -um take -s. (Only those in a diphthong or in -h allow -es, alternatively.)
  • Nouns forming their plural in -s take the same ending also in the genitive singular. (Apparent exceptions will generally have an alternative plural in -e.)

Otherwise, both forms are usually correct, but certain tendencies can be observed:

  • The es-form is strongly preferred in a number of frequently used monosyllables, to the degree that the s-form may even sound odd. No hard rule can be given to identify these nouns; they include e.g. Land, Mann, Weg, etc.
  • The es-form is also preferred, for euphonic reasons, in words ending in certain clusters like -pf, -sch, -st.
  • Most other monosyllables have no clear preference.
  • The s-form is usually preferred in polysyllables, regardless of their being simple or compound and regardless also of stress patterns.

Note, finally, that there is a fairly strong tendency for proper nouns (used with the article) and for newer or less common loanwords to remain unchanged in the genitive singular.

Etymology 2Edit

Probably derived from the genitive -s (etymology 1), but developed into a noun-forming suffix in German Low German and Central German dialects.

SuffixEdit

-s m

  1. used to form nouns from verb stems
    ‎klacken + ‎-s → ‎Klacks
    ‎schnappen + ‎-s → ‎Schnaps

Etymology 3Edit

Borrowed from Middle Low German [Term?]. Reinforced by the fact that French and English also use -s as a plural suffix.

Alternative formsEdit

  • -'s (now proscribed)
  • -ens (family names ending with a sibilant consonant)

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the plurals of some nouns.
  2. Used to form the plurals of personal names, particularly family names.
Usage notesEdit
  • The plural ending -s is most typical of loanwords (as in Schals, Parfüms, Videos), though there is a tendency for naturalised loanwords to switch to -e or -en (compare Generäle, Lifte, Pizzen with older Generals, Lifts, Pizzas). Conversely, -s is also used in a certain number of native words (as in Fräuleins, Mädels, Uhus). Moreover, it is the most productive plural marker in contemporary German, typically used to pluralise initialisms (LKWs), neologisms (Honks), and words that do not otherwise have a common plural form (Streits).

See alsoEdit

HungarianEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (adjective-forming suffix) Added to a noun to form an adjective meaning "having something, a quality"; sometimes referred to as ornative.
    ‎só (“salt”) + ‎-s → ‎sós (“salty”)
  2. (noun-forming suffix) Added to a noun to form an occupation or a collective noun.
    ‎hajó (“ship”) + ‎-s → ‎hajós (“sailor”)
  3. (number-forming suffix) Added to an ordinal number to form a digit or figure, cf. the relevant template.
    ‎nulla (“zero”) + ‎-s → ‎nullás (“the digit or figure 0”)

Usage notesEdit

  • (all senses) Harmonic variants:
    -s is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.
    -os is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant
    -as is added to other back-vowel words ending in a consonant
    -es is added to unrounded (and some rounded) front-vowel words ending in a consonant
    -ös is added to most rounded front-vowel words ending in a consonant

Derived termsEdit

Hungarian adjectives suffixed with -s
Hungarian nouns suffixed with -s

See alsoEdit

IngrianEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-ssa. Cognates include Finnish -ssa and Estonian -s.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the inessive case; in, inside
Usage notesEdit
InflectionEdit
Possessive forms of -s
possessor singular plural
1st person -ssaan -ssamme
2nd person -ssaas -ssanne
3rd person -ssaa -ssasse

Etymology 2Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-nci, from Proto-Uralic *-mte. Cognates include Finnish -s and Estonian -s.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers; -th
Derived termsEdit

Etymology 3Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-ci, from Proto-Uralic *-ti. Cognates include Finnish -si.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (obsolete) Used to mark the possession of the second person singular; thy, your
    • 1936, D. I. Efimov, Lukukirja: Inkeroisia alkușkouluja vart (ensimäine osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 7:
      Niin mamallees i saoki.
      Just say so to your mother.
Usage notesEdit

Etymology 4Edit

From Proto-Finnic *-s. Cognates include Finnish -s.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (non-productive) Used to form nouns from other nouns
    ‎ohja (“rein”) + ‎-s → ‎ohjas (“rein”)
DeclensionEdit
(back-vocalic)
Declension of -s (type 2/petos, no gradation)
singular plural
nominative -s -kset
genitive -ksen -ksiin
partitive -sta, -st -ksia
illative -ksee -ksii
inessive -ksees -ksiis
elative -ksest -ksist
allative -kselle -ksille
adessive -kseel -ksiil
ablative -kselt -ksilt
translative -kseks -ksiks
essive -ksenna, -kseen -ksinna, -ksiin
exessive1) -ksent -ksint
1) obsolete
*) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl)
**) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.
(front-vocalic)
Declension of -s (type 2/petos, no gradation)
singular plural
nominative -s -kset
genitive -ksen -ksiin
partitive -stä, -st -ksiä
illative -ksee -ksii
inessive -ksees -ksiis
elative -ksest -ksist
allative -kselle -ksille
adessive -kseel -ksiil
ablative -kselt -ksilt
translative -kseks -ksiks
essive -ksennä, -kseen -ksinnä, -ksiin
exessive1) -ksent -ksint
1) obsolete
*) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl)
**) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.
Derived termsEdit
Ingrian terms suffixed with -s

KarelianEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Proto-Finnic *-ci, from Proto-Uralic *-ti. Cognates include Finnish -si.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to mark the possession of the second person; thy, your
    jalka (“leg”) → jalkas (“your leg(s)”)

Derived termsEdit

Karelian terms suffixed with -s

ReferencesEdit

  • P. M. Zaykov (1999) Грамматика Карельского языка (фонетика и морфология) [Grammar of the Karelian language (phonetics and morphology)], →ISBN, page 47

KashubianEdit

EtymologyEdit

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *si. Cognates include Polish -ś and Slovincian -š.

PronunciationEdit

ParticleEdit

-s

  1. Appended to relative/interrogative pronouns to form indefinite pronouns
    ‎chto (“who”) + ‎-s → ‎chtos (“someone”)

Derived termsEdit

Kashubian terms suffixed with -s

Low GermanEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle Low German -es, from Old Saxon -es, the masculine and neuter genitive singular ending of strong nouns.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (archaic) Used to form the genitive case of (strong) masculine and neuter nouns.
  2. (rare) Used to form the genitive case of proper nouns.
  3. Used to form the partitive form of the adjective
    groot → wat groots
  4. Used to form adverbs
    Nacht → nachts

LushootseedEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. his, hers, theirs

ManxEdit

Alternative formsEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. -self (emphatic)

Usage notesEdit

See alsoEdit

Middle EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Adverbial genitive ending, developed into the -ce at the end of some words

DescendantsEdit

MohawkEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. habitual verb suffix
    1. in verbal nouns: -er
    2. in adjectival verbs, indicates that the subject is not singular

ReferencesEdit

  • Nora Deering; Helga H. Delisle (1976) Mohawk: A teaching grammar (preliminary version), Quebec: Manitou College, page 439

Northern SamiEdit

PronunciationEdit

  This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Samic *-s.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Forms nouns indicating a material.
  2. Forms nouns from numbers, indicating a group.
    ‎golbma (“three”) + ‎-s → ‎golmmas (“group of three”)
Usage notesEdit
  • This suffix triggers the weak grade on a preceding stressed syllable in the nominative singular and essive, and the strong grade in the other forms.
InflectionEdit
Odd, no gradation
Nominative -s
Genitive -sa
Singular Plural
Nominative -s -sat
Accusative -sa -siid
Genitive -sa -siid
Illative -sii -siidda
Locative -sis -siin
Comitative -siin -siiguin
Essive -sin
Possessive forms
Singular Dual Plural
1st person -san -seamẹ -seamẹt
2nd person -sat -seattẹ -seattẹt
3rd person -sis -seaskkạ -seasẹt
Derived termsEdit
Northern Sami terms suffixed with -s (material)

Etymology 2Edit

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

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Forms adverbs of manner from adjectives.
    ‎buorre (“good”) + ‎-s → ‎būres (“well”)
Usage notesEdit
  • This suffix triggers the weak grade on a preceding stressed syllable.
Derived termsEdit
Northern Sami terms suffixed with -s (manner adverb)

Etymology 3Edit

From Proto-Samic *-ksë. Cognate with the Finnish translative ending -ksi.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Forms adverbs indicating direction or a span of time.
    ‎davvi (“north”) + ‎-s → ‎davás (“northwards”)
    ‎dálvi (“winter”) + ‎-s → ‎dálvvás (“for the winter”)
Usage notesEdit
  • This suffix triggers the weak grade on a preceding stressed syllable.
Derived termsEdit
Northern Sami terms suffixed with -s (direction adverb)

Etymology 4Edit

From a merger of two older case endings:

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. The ending of the locative singular case.
Usage notesEdit
  • This suffix triggers the weak grade on a preceding stressed syllable.

When possessive suffixes are attached, the suffix reverts to its earlier form -st- (for even-syllable stems) or -stti- (for odd-syllable stems).

Norwegian BokmålEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Danish -s, from Old Norse -sk, a grammaticalisation of Proto-Germanic *sek (reflexive pronoun).

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the passive voice of verbs.

Etymology 2Edit

From Danish -s, from Old Norse -s, originally the genitive singular ending of a-stem nouns.

ParticleEdit

-s

  1. Used to form genitive/possessive phrases, attached to the last word in a noun phrase.
Usage notesEdit

If the last word already ends with a sibilant, only an apostrophe (-') is added. It is incorrect to use an apostrophe before the s.

Old EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Proto-Germanic *-isjō, *-usjō.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (often affects the value or quality of preceding consonants, may or may not cause i-mutation) Feminine noun suffix forming nouns from adjectives and verbs
    ‎milde (“gentle, mild”) + ‎-s → ‎milts (“mercy”) (earlier milds)
    ‎līþe (“gentle, limber”) + ‎-s → ‎liss (“grace”) (earlier liþs)
    ‎cweþan (“to say, speak”) + ‎-s → ‎cwiss (“a saying”) (earlier cwiþs)

DeclensionEdit

Declension of -s (strong ō-stem)
Case Singular Plural
nominative -s -sa, -se
accusative -se -sa, -se
genitive -se -sa
dative -se -sum

Old FrenchEdit

Alternative formsEdit

  • -z (for most words that do not end in -e)

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. indicates a nominative singular of a masculine noun or adjective
  2. indicates an oblique plural of a masculine noun or adjective
  3. indicates a (nominative or oblique) plural of a feminine noun or adjective

DescendantsEdit

  • Middle French: -s
    • French: -s

PortugueseEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Alternative formsEdit

  • -es (after certain consonants and nasal vowels)

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. used to form the regular plural of nouns and adjectives, especially those that end in vowels
Usage notesEdit

-s vs. -es vs. non-use:

  • After l ([ɫ] [l], [w]), -s is used and the l is replaced with i ([j]): pastel → pastéis, capital → capitais,
  • After s:
  • after m, -s is used and the m becomes n; this is an orthographic process, since in both cases the final consonant marks vowel nasalisation: dom → dons
  • after n, either, but -es is more common in dialects where it is produced as /n/ rather than vowel nasalisation: hífen → hifens or hífenes
  • after r and z, -es is used
  • after vowels and semivowels, -s is used
    • the plural of words ending in -ão can be -ões (by far the most common), -ãos (usually masculines with a feminine in -ã) or -ães (only a handful of words)
  • loanwords usually follow the same rules: mouse → mouses, ópera → óperas
    • in recent English loanwords ending in r, and occasionally in loans from other languages, -s is used: player → players
    • unadapted loanwords ending in unusual consonants usually take -s or no morpheme: ankh → ankhs, flood → floods, spam → spam or spams
    • rarely, and often alongside a regular form, the plural from the original language is used: campus → campi (also campus), mafioso → mafiosi (more commonly mafiosos), gol → gols (very rarely goles or gois)
    • after x, Hellenisms and Latinisms are usually unchanged (following the rule for words ending in s), but sometimes have -es and the x becomes c (/s/), especially in Brazilian Portuguese: tórax → tórax, clímax → clímax or clímaces
  • more often than not, surnames do not take an extra morpheme in the plural; when they do, they are usually Portuguese surnames with recognisable Portuguese morphemes: o Ferreira → os Ferreira or os Ferreiras
  • names of peoples that do not contain Portuguese endings usually do not take the plural morpheme: polaco → polacos; ashanti → ashanti or ashantis (less common)

In informal varieties of Brazilian Portuguese, a noun phrase may take a single plural marker, usually in the article. For example, “the big houses” may be as casa grande where standard Portuguese requires as casas grandes. This usage is very widespread, however, it is proscribed and generally regarded as unacceptable in formal contexts and in serious writing.

In some words that end in O and have a stressed /o/ in the penult, the stressed vowel becomes /ɔ/ in the plural. See Category:Portuguese nouns with metaphonic plurals.

Colloquial Brazilian Portuguese allows /j/ to be added before /s/ in words stressed in their final syllables. This is blocked by morpheme boundaries, such that nós (“we”) may be pronounced /nɔjs/, but nós (“knots”) can only be pronounced as /nɔs/. vocês and colloquial forms cês and ocês are an exception to this rule, and can be pronounced /voˈsejs/. Note that this process is usually avoided in formal speech.

Etymology 2Edit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (Brazil, slang) used to form slangier forms of certain words
    ‎foi mal (“sorry”) + ‎-s → ‎foi mals (“soz”)
    ‎grande coisa (“big deal”) + ‎-s → ‎grandes coisa (“biggie”)
    ‎valeu (“thank you”) + ‎-s → ‎valeus (“thanks”)

QuechuaEdit

Alternative formsEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Evidential suffix, second-hand information. Indicates that the speaker has not directly experienced the information at hand; hearsay
    Qusqumantas kanki. ― (They say that) you are from Cusco.
    Inisqa qayna ñañantas watukusqan. ― Inez visited her sister yesterday (so I heard).

See alsoEdit

SpanishEdit

EtymologyEdit

Derived from the Latin accusative plural endings (-ās, -ōs, -ēs).

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the regular plural of nouns and adjectives which end in vowels.
    ‎amigo (“friend”) + ‎-s → ‎amigos (“friends”)
    ‎cocina (“kitchen”) + ‎-s → ‎cocinas (“kitchens”)

Related termsEdit

SwedishEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Old Swedish -s, from Old Norse -s, originally the genitive singular ending of a-stem nouns. Cognate with Danish -s. The frequent use of the suffix in written and modern colloquial Swedish is possibly the result of foreign influence, either Latin or Middle Low German.

CliticEdit

-s

  1. Used to form genitive phrases, attached to the last word in a noun phrase.
Related termsEdit

Etymology 2Edit

From Old Norse -sk, a grammaticalisation of Proto-Germanic *sek (reflexive pronoun).

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form the passive voice of verbs.
Usage notesEdit
  • Until the middle of the 20th century, the variant suffix -es was used to mark the present passive of all -er verbs of the second and fourth conjugations. This usage is mostly considered archaic today, but -es is still used for -er verbs whose stems end in s.
  • For some verbs (often physical actions), the passive voice can indicate that the action is carried out repeatedly or as a disposition by the subject. For example, "Var försiktig! Hästen sparkas." means "Be careful! The horse kicks (as a disposition)." rather than "Be careful! The horse is being kicked," "Han knuffas mycket" means "He pushes people a lot" rather than "He is being pushed a lot," "Han skräms" means "He frightens" rather than "He is being frightened," and "Hunden bits" means "The dog bites" rather than "The dog is bitten." The latter readings are also possible, but unintuitive there. A similar phenomenon is deponent verbs, which only appear in the passive but have an active meaning.

Etymology 3Edit

Mostly from English -s.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (chiefly colloquial, often proscribed) Used to form the plural form of some words, mostly loanwords
    ‎partner + ‎-s → ‎partners
    ‎fan + ‎-s → ‎fans
See alsoEdit

Etymology 4Edit

Originally from Old Swedish -s, a genitive suffix. Many of the examples are later analogically derived from each other.

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to derive some adverbs from nouns or adjectives
    ‎söndag (“Sunday”) + ‎-s → ‎i söndags (“last Sunday”)
Alternative formsEdit
Derived termsEdit
-s
-as
-se
-es

ReferencesEdit

-s in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)

TagalogEdit

EtymologyEdit

Possibly from English -s.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. (slang, generally humorous) suffix added in slang, especially in place of reduplication
    ‎pwede + ‎-s → ‎pweds

Derived termsEdit

Further readingEdit

  • Zorc, R. David; San Miguel, Rachel (1993) Tagalog Slang Dictionary‎[1], Manila: De La Salle University Press, →ISBN

WelshEdit

EtymologyEdit

From English -s.

PronunciationEdit

SuffixEdit

-s

  1. Used to form plural nouns.
    ‎bàth (“bath”) + ‎-s → ‎baths (“baths”)
    ‎tomato (“tomato”) + ‎-s → ‎tomatos (“tomatoes”)
    ‎gwdihŵ (“owl”) + ‎-s → ‎gwdihŵs (“owls”)
    Synonyms: -aid, -aint, -au, -ed, -edd, -en, -i, -iaid, -iau, -ion, -od, -oedd, -on, -ydd, -yr, -ys

Derived termsEdit

Welsh terms suffixed with -s

Further readingEdit

  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-s”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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