See also: wr, WR, and ŵr

Welsh edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From gŵr (man), but semantically influenced due to similarity in form to English -er and Latin -or.

Pronunciation edit

Suffix edit

-wr m (plural -wyr)

  1. suffix indicating a person, especially an agent noun: -er, -or
    Synonyms: -edydd, -iedydd, -iwr, -ydd
    tafarn (pub) + ‎-wr → ‎tafarnwr (landlord)
    trydan (electricity) + ‎-wr → ‎trydanwr (electrician)
    Sbaen (Spain) + ‎-wr → ‎Sbaenwr (Spaniard)
    darlledu (broadcast) + ‎-wr → ‎darlledwr (broadcaster)
  2. suffix indicating an instrument or machine: -er, -or
    Synonyms: -adur, -edydd, -iadur, -iedydd, -ydd
    copïo (to copy) + ‎-wr → ‎copïwr (copier)
    sychu (to dry) + ‎-wr → ‎sychwr (drier)

Usage notes edit

  • Despite being grammatically masculine, -wr only refers solely to males when a coordinate female term is available, for example, Sbaenwr (Spaniard (male)) vs Sbaenes (Spaniard (female)). When no female term is in current use, the grammatically masculine term in -wr is neutral as regards biological sex, for example trydanwr (electrician (male or female)). Use of the explicitly female suffix -wraig is old-fashioned outside of certain established terms.
  • -wr is used on occasion to indicate an instrument or machine but other suffixes such as -ydd are more common.

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

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