Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

-y

/-i/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.03 in modern English

Syllables
-y
IPA
/-i/
4
Scrabble Score
1
Letters
2
Syllables
1
Unique Chars

Meaning

suffix

Added to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives meaning “having the quality of”, either “involving the referent” or “analogous to it”.

suffix

Added to verbs to form adjectives meaning "inclined to".

suffix

Added to adjectives to form informal synonyms or adjectives meaning "somewhat, rather".

Informal

suffix

Forming diminutive nouns.

suffix

Forming familiar names, pet names, nicknames and terms of endearment.

suffix

Added for metrical reasons to songs, often in children's music where it may carry diminutive associations.

suffix

Forming colloquial nouns signifying the person or thing associated with suffixed noun or verb.

suffix

Forming nouns relative to an adjective.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y From Middle English -y, -i, from Old English -iġ (“-y, -ic”, suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-g, from Proto-Germanic *-īgaz (“-y, -ic”), from Proto-Indo-European *-kos, *-ikos, *-iḱos (“-y, -ic”). Cognate with Scots -ie (“-y”), West Frisian -ich (“-y”), Dutch -ig (“-y”), Low German -ig (“-y”), German -ig (“-y”), Swedish -ig (“-y”), Gothic -𐌹𐌲𐍃 (-igs, “-y”), Latin -icus (“-y, -ic”), Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós), Sanskrit -इक (-ika). Doublet of -ac and -ic.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: -y, -iġ, *-g, *-īgaz, *-kos, -ie

Usage

Inflected Forms

-ier (comparative) -iest (superlative) -ies (plural) -ie (alternative) -ey (alternative) -ee (alternative)

Synonyms

-al -an -ial -ian -ly -ous -esque -ish -like -oid -cule -ee

Homonyms

-e

Antonyms

-less

Questions

How do you pronounce -y?
The recorded pronunciation is /-i/.
What does -y mean?
Added to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives meaning “having the quality of”, either “involving the referent” or “analogous to it”.
Where does -y come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce -y

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “-y”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/-i/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “-y”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “-y” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.