Home UK English -y

Main meanings of -y in English

: -y1-y2-y3

-y1

Pronunciation /i/

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.

Main meanings of -y in English

: -y1-y2-y3

-y2

Pronunciation /i/

suffix

(also -ey)

  • 1Forming diminutive nouns, pet names, etc.

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

Origin

Middle English originally Scots.

Main meanings of -y in English

: -y1-y2-y3

-y3

Pronunciation /i/

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.