Home UK English -y

Main meanings of -y in English

: -y1-y2-y3

-y1

suffix

  • 1(forming adjectives from nouns and adjectives) full of; having the quality of.

    • ‘messy’
    • ‘milky’
    • ‘mousy’
    1. 1.1With depreciatory reference.
      ‘boozy’
      ‘tinny’

  • 2(forming adjectives from verbs) inclined to; apt to.

    ‘sticky’

Origin

Old English -ig, of Germanic origin.

Pronunciation

-y

/i/

Main meanings of -y in English

: -y1-y2-y3

-y2

(also -ey, -ie)

suffix

  • 1Forming diminutive nouns, pet names, etc.

    • ‘aunty’
    • ‘Tommy’
    • ‘nightie’
    1. 1.1Forming verbs.
      ‘shinny’

Origin

Middle English originally Scots.

Pronunciation

-y

/i/

Main meanings of -y in English

: -y1-y2-y3

-y3

suffix

  • 1Forming nouns denoting a state, condition, or quality.

    • ‘honesty’
    • ‘jealousy’
    • ‘orthodoxy’

  • 2Forming nouns denoting an action or its result.

    ‘blasphemy’
    ‘victory’

Origin

From French -ie, from Latin -ia, -ium, or Greek -eia, -ia.

Pronunciation

-y

/i/