-e

See also: -ę and Appendix:Variations of "e"

Languages (53)

Afrikaans • Ahtna • Ainu • Albanian • Central Franconian • Czech • Danish • Dutch • Esperanto • Estonian • Finnish • French • Garo • German • Hungarian • Ido • Ingrian • Irish • Italian • Japanese • Kapampangan • Latin • Latvian • Lotha Naga • Lower Sorbian • Middle Dutch • Middle English • Mokilese • Murui Huitoto • Namuyi • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Ojibwe • Old English • Old French • Old Irish • Old Polish • Pohnpeian • Polish • Portuguese • Romani • Romanian • Saterland Frisian • Serbo-Croatian • Slovak • Spanish • Swahili • Swedish • Tagalog • Turkish • Tzotzil • Ye'kwana

Page categories

English

Etymology

From archaic forms ending in e, from Middle English -e, from the coalescence of multiple various endings from Old English.

Pronunciation

Silent.
(humorous) IPA^(key): /-i/

Suffix

-e

Used for archaizing.
- 1993, “10-13. Kenosha”, in Wisconsin Annual Events, page 38:
  YE OLDE ENGLISHE CHRISTMASSE FEASTE: Nine course authentic Renaissance festival banquet.
- 1996, Jon Orwant, Perl 5 Interactive Course, →ISBN, page 679:
  Ye Olde Webbe page / Whither thou goest, there thou be.
- 1999 June 14, Tina Clarke, “Re: How to make LINKS open in new Browser Window?”, in microsoft.public.frontpage.client (Usenet), message-ID <7k1f5j$607$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk>:
  Go on tell what prob your having at the mo with ye olde computere! You don't get this crusty without one...do u?
- 2002, Bruce Balfour, The Forge of Mars, Berkeley Publishing Group, →ISBN:
  “Yes. It’s an English pub called Ye Olde Meate Markete. […]”

Usage notes

Usually all words of the noun phrase are suffixed, unless the word already ends in e (e.g. smalle quainte towne for "small quaint town"). Commonly used with ye olde and other archaic terms. The consonant at the end of the word is often doubled if it is preceded by a historically short vowel, according to the rules of English spelling (e.g. hogge for "hog", bidde for "bid", etc.).

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -e

Olde English Bulldogge

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Dutch -en, from Middle Dutch -en, from Old Dutch -on, from Proto-West Germanic *-ōn.

Suffix

-e

The plural ending of many nouns.

Usage notes

As a rule of thumb, -e is used in nouns with final stress and -s otherwise. However, a certain number of inherited nouns deviate (in either direction) and newer loanwords often take -s even after final stress. Small irregular classes are plurals in -ere, -ers, and -ens.
A rather large number of plurals in -e show phonetic pecularities such as the following:
- A short stem vowel may be lengthened: ‎skip (“ship”) + ‎-e → ‎skepe.
- Final -d- may be replaced with -i-: ‎pad (“path”) + ‎-e → ‎paaie.
- Final -g- may be lost: ‎dag (“day”) + ‎-e → ‎dae.
- An underlying final -t- may resurface: ‎nag (“night”) + ‎-e → ‎nagte.

Etymology 2

From Dutch -e.

Suffix

-e

The attributive ending of many adjectives.

Usage notes

As a rule of thumb, -e is used in polysyllabic adjectives except those ending in -er (including comparatives) and in monosyllabic adjectives that end in -f, -d, -s, -g, while others remain unchanged. However, there are various exceptions to this distribution. Several adjectives also allow both forms, sometimes with a tendency towards semantic distinction. For example, one usually says ’n ryk man (“a rich man”, literally), but ’n ryke kultuur (“a rich culture”, figuratively).
All adjectives, including normally uninflected ones, do take -e when they are used independently, that is without the referent noun following: ’n arm land en ’n ryke (“a poor country and a rich one”). In such cases, the adjective also inflects for number: arm lande en rykes (“poor countries and rich ones”).
In the formation of the attributive form, irregularities similar to those described in etymology 1 above may occur, with the exception that vowel lengthening is not found in adjectives.

Ahtna

Etymology 1

Postposition

-e

against

Inflection

Forms of -e
	singular	plural
1st person	se	neʼe
2nd person	ne	nhwe
3rd person	be, ye	xe, kuʼe
Reflexive	de	hde
Indefinite	cʼe
Areal	ke
Reciprocal	niłʼe

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 35

Etymology 2

From Proto-Athabaskan *-ə.^[1]

Suffix

-e

forms adverbs

Derived terms

Ahtna terms suffixed with -e (adverbial)

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 66

^ Leer, Jeff (1996), Comparative Athabaskan Lexicon‎^[1], volume (h)E-(h)u, Alaska Native Language Archive, page 3

Etymology 3

Suffix

-e

A negative suffix applied to verb stems; may also carry a pejorative meaning

Usage notes

When applied to stems ending in a vowel, this suffix is realized as -h.

Derived terms

Ahtna terms suffixed with -e (negative)

ggaede

kole

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 635

Etymology 4

Suffix

-e

An allative suffix attached to directional stems; to, toward

Derived terms

Ahtna terms suffixed with -e (allative)

-daaʼa

-nʼe

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 65

Ainu

Alternative forms

-re (used after vowels)
-te (used after consonants other than r)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/

Suffix

-e

(causative) used after verbs ending in r form of -re (“to make happen”)
‎kar (“to make”) + ‎-e → ‎kare (“to make someone do; to let make”)

‎kor (“to have”) + ‎-e → ‎kore (“to give”), literally “to make have”

‎nukar (“to see”) + ‎-e → ‎nukare (“to show”), literally “to make see”

References

^ Anna Bugaeva (2014), “Reconsidering Causative Constructions in Ainu”, in Northern Language Studies‎^[2], Graduate School of Letters, Hokkaido University, pages 127-147

Albanian

Etymology

From Proto-Albanian *-jā, from Proto-Indo-European *-ih₂ ~ *-yéh₂s.

Suffix

-e (definite -ja, plural -e)

forms the feminine forms for many adjectives
forms feminine equivalents of nouns
Synonyms: -éshë, -ónjë

‎mik (“male friend”) + ‎-e → ‎mike (“female friend”)

‎gjysh (“grandfather”) + ‎-e → ‎gjyshe (“grandmother”)

Derived terms

Albanian terms suffixed with -e

-t

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

-en (see usage notes below)

Etymology

From Middle High German -en, from a merger of various Old High German suffixes. The use for the masculine nominative of the adjective (except in south-eastern dialects) goes back to generalisation of the accusative form. The use for the first-person singular goes back to generalisation of Old High German -ōm, -ēm in weak classes II and III, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *-mi.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e

A common noun plural ending, especially in feminines.
A common adjectival declension ending, especially in the masculine nominative/accusative and the weak dative of all genders.
A common conjugation ending, especially in the infinitive, first-person singular and plural, and third-person plural.

Usage notes

Use of the forms -e and -en

In Ripuarian and eastern Moselle Franconian, the basic form of the suffix is -e. It becomes -en before vowel-initial words, especially within the noun or verb phrase (thus similarly to French liaison). Optionally the same may also occur before h, d, t, z.
In western Moselle Franconian, the basic form of the suffix is -en, but the final -n is lost when followed by a consonant other than h, d, t, z – a process called Eifeler Regel and also active in Luxembourgish.
These two systems are ultimately very similar, the only major difference being the form the suffix takes in pausa, i.e. in isolation or before a speech pause. For simplicity, therefore, Wiktionary's coverage of Central Franconian uses the e-form as general lemma form for all dialects. The -n must then be added depending on the phonetic environment and the dialect in question.

Use in the feminine and plural of adjectives

The nominative/accusative of masculine adjectives always takes the suffix -e, whereas the neuter never does: ene jode Mann (“a good man”), e deck Stöck (“a thick piece”). In the feminine and plural, however, there is variation. The traditional rule in Kölsch is that adjectives take -e only after voiceless stems: en decke Zupp (“a thick soup”), but en jot Zupp (“a good soup”) because the stem in the latter case is jod-. Exceptionally, the suffix -ig becomes -ije.
Today this rule is no longer followed strictly and one may hear -e after all obstruents, be they voiceless or voiced (thus optionally en jode Zupp). We therefore give both forms, but order them according to the traditional rule. After vowels and sonorants, true native speakers still avoid the e-suffix in the feminine and plural reliably enough that we may disregard it.
On the other hand, more southern dialects tend to drop -e even after voiceless obstruents. When a lemma is restricted to such a dialect, it is of course possible to reverse the order or strike the e-form entirely.

Czech

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ ɛ]

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old Czech -ě.

Suffix

-e (adverb-forming suffix)

used to form adverbs from adjectives
‎jednoduchý (“simple”) + ‎-e → ‎jednoduše (“simply”)

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Slavic *-ę

Old Czech -ě

Czech -e

Inherited from Old Czech -ě, from Proto-Slavic *-ę.

Suffix

-e n (noun-forming suffix)

forms diminutive nouns, usually terms for young animals
‎pták + ‎-e → ‎ptáče

‎zvěř + ‎-e → ‎zvíře

Etymology 3

Etymology tree

Proto-Slavic *-ě

Old Czech -ě

Czech -e

Inherited from Old Czech -ě, from Proto-Slavic *-ě.

Suffix

-e

desinence used to form dative singular and locative singular of some feminine nouns
‎sestra (“sister”) + ‎-e → ‎sestře
desinence used to form genitive singular, nominative plural, accusative plural and vocative plural of some feminine nouns
‎kostrč (“tailbone”) + ‎-e → ‎kostrče
desinence used to form vocative singular of some masculine animate nouns
‎pan (“Mr, Sir”) + ‎-e → ‎pane
desinence used to form genitive singular, accusative singular and accusative plural of some masculine animate nouns
‎muž (“man”) + ‎-e → ‎muže
desinence used to form vocative singular and locative singular of some masculine inanimate nouns
‎les (“forest”) + ‎-e → ‎lese
desinence used to form genitive singular, nominative plural, accusative plural and vocative plural of some masculine inanimate nouns
‎stroj (“machine”) + ‎-e → ‎stroje

Danish

Etymology

From Old Danish -æ, from Old Norse -a, from Proto-Germanic *-ōną.

Suffix

-e

A verb-building suffix that can be added to nouns or adjectives.
Marks the infinitive of many or most verbs, and is usually appended to borrowed verbs.
Marks the singular/definite of adjectives.
Marks the plural of some nouns.

Derived terms

References

“-e” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French -e.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e

Used to form the female equivalent of occupations or other identifying traits.
Synonyms: -es, -in

‎agent (“police officer”) + ‎-e → ‎agente (“female police officer”)

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /də/, /stə/ (like the ordinal written in full)

Suffix

-e

Placed after a number written in digits, to form its corresponding ordinal number.
2e = tweede

8e = achtste

Synonyms: -de, -ste

Usage notes

The e is sometimes written in superscript, like in French (2^e, 8^e), but this is discouraged by the Dutch Language Union.^[1]

Etymology 3

From various suffixes of the Middle Dutch [Term?] adjective inflection.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e

Used to create the inflected form of an adjective, which is used after a definite determiner, before a feminine noun, or before masculine, feminine, and plural nouns in general.

Usage notes

See Appendix:Dutch parts of speech

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e m or f

Used to form nouns from adjectives, denoting a person that possesses the quality of the adjective.
‎volwassen (“adult”) + ‎-e → ‎volwassene (“an adult”)

-e f

Attached to geographical adjectives to indicate a female inhabitant.
‎Amerikaans (“American”) + ‎-e → ‎Amerikaanse (“a female American”)

Derived terms

Dutch terms suffixed with -e (nominalization)

eindverantwoordelijke

Etymology 5

From Middle Dutch -e, from Old Dutch -i, from Proto-Germanic *-į̄.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e f

(archaic, rare) Used to form abstract nouns from adjectives; the nouns express the quality of the adjective.
Synonyms: -te, -heid

‎koud (“cold”, adjective) + ‎-e → ‎koude c (“cold”, noun)

‎waard (“worth”, predicative adjective) + ‎-e → ‎waarde c (“value”)

Derived terms

Dutch terms suffixed with -e (abstract noun)

hulde

koude

waarde

Etymology 6

From Middle Dutch -e, the ending of the first and third person singular subjunctive.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e

(archaic) Used to form the singular subjunctive of a verb.

References

^ https://web.archive.org/web/20180531050044/http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/2

Esperanto

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Italic *-ēd

Old Latin -ēd

Latin -ebor.

Russian -е (-e)influ.

▲

Polish -einflu.

Czech -einflu.

Esperanto -e

From the Latin and Italian adverbial suffix -e (as in bene (“well”)), perhaps reinforced by Russian -е (-e) and Polish -e.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/
Audio: (file)
Rhymes: -e
Syllabification: -e

Suffix

-e

-ly; used to form adverbs
‎bona (“good”) + ‎-e → ‎bone (“well”)

‎unu (“one”) + ‎-e → ‎unue (“firstly”)
the ending for correlatives of place

Derived terms

correlatives

ĉie (“everywhere”)
ie (“somewhere”)
kie (“where”)
nenie (“nowhere”)
tie (“there”)

Estonian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *-ëk and Proto-Finnic *-ëh. Cognate to Finnish -e.

Suffix

-e (genitive -e, partitive -et)

Derives nouns from verbs.
‎katma (“to cover”) + ‎-e → ‎kate (“cover”)

‎astuma (“to step”) + ‎-e → ‎aste (“a step”)

‎võtma (“to take”) + ‎-e → ‎võte (“trick, mode, way”)

‎mõtlema (“to think”) + ‎-e → ‎mõte (“thought”)

Etymology 2

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

Suffix

-e (genitive -me, partitive -et)

Derives nouns from verbs.
‎liikuma (“to move”) + ‎-e → ‎liige (“member”)

‎astuma (“to step”) + ‎-e → ‎aste (“step, grade”)

‎kastma (“to dip”) + ‎-e → ‎kaste (“sauce”)

Etymology 3

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

Suffix

-e (genitive -eda, partitive -edat)

Derives adjectives.
‎lamama (“to lay down”) + ‎-e → ‎lame (“flat”)

‎krõbisema (“to crunch”) + ‎-e → ‎krõbe (“crunchy”)

‎tobu (“fool”) + ‎-e → ‎tobe (“silly, dumb”)

Declension

Declension of -e (ÕS type 2/õpik, no gradation)
		singular	plural
nominative		-e	-edad
accusative	nom.	-e
accusative	gen.	-eda
genitive		-eda	-edate
partitive		-edat	-edaid
illative		-edasse	-edatesse -edaisse
inessive		-edas	-edates -edais
elative		-edast	-edatest -edaist
allative		-edale	-edatele -edaile
adessive		-edal	-edatel -edail
ablative		-edalt	-edatelt -edailt
translative		-edaks	-edateks -edaiks
terminative		-edani	-edateni
essive		-edana	-edatena
abessive		-edata	-edateta
comitative		-edaga	-edatega

Derived terms

Finnish

Etymology

Conflated:^[1]

Proto-Finnic *-ëk, from Proto-Uralic *-ek
Proto-Finnic *-ëh, from Proto-Uralic *-eš; cognate with Proto-Sami *-ës

Historically, *-ëk was deverbal, while *-ëh was denominal. However, this distinction in usage seems to have already broken down in Proto-Finnic.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-eˣ/, [-e̞(ʔ)]

Suffix

-e

Used for forming nouns from verbs or adjectives.
‎ottaa (“to take (hold of)”) + ‎-e → ‎ote (“grip”)

‎paha (“bad, evil”) + ‎-e → ‎pahe (“vice”)

‎ääntää (“to pronounce, enunciate”) + ‎-e → ‎äänne (“sound (in phonetics)”)

Declension

Inflection of -e (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)
nominative		-e	-eet
genitive		-een	-eiden -eitten
partitive		-etta	-eita
illative		-eeseen	-eisiin -eihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-e	-eet
accusative	nom.	-e	-eet
accusative	gen.	-een	-eet
genitive		-een	-eiden -eitten
partitive		-etta	-eita
inessive		-eessa	-eissa
elative		-eesta	-eista
illative		-eeseen	-eisiin -eihin
adessive		-eella	-eilla
ablative		-eelta	-eilta
allative		-eelle	-eille
essive		-eena	-eina
translative		-eeksi	-eiksi
abessive		-eetta	-eitta
instructive		—	-ein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -e (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eeni	-eeni
accusative	nom.	-eeni	-eeni
accusative	gen.	-eeni	-eeni
genitive		-eeni	-eideni -eitteni
partitive		-ettani	-eitani
inessive		-eessani	-eissani
elative		-eestani	-eistani
illative		-eeseeni	-eisiini -eihini
adessive		-eellani	-eillani
ablative		-eeltani	-eiltani
allative		-eelleni	-eilleni
essive		-eenani	-einani
translative		-eekseni	-eikseni
abessive		-eettani	-eittani
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-eineni

second-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eesi	-eesi
accusative	nom.	-eesi	-eesi
accusative	gen.	-eesi	-eesi
genitive		-eesi	-eidesi -eittesi
partitive		-ettasi	-eitasi
inessive		-eessasi	-eissasi
elative		-eestasi	-eistasi
illative		-eeseesi	-eisiisi -eihisi
adessive		-eellasi	-eillasi
ablative		-eeltasi	-eiltasi
allative		-eellesi	-eillesi
essive		-eenasi	-einasi
translative		-eeksesi	-eiksesi
abessive		-eettasi	-eittasi
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-einesi

first-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eemme	-eemme
accusative	nom.	-eemme	-eemme
accusative	gen.	-eemme	-eemme
genitive		-eemme	-eidemme -eittemme
partitive		-ettamme	-eitamme
inessive		-eessamme	-eissamme
elative		-eestamme	-eistamme
illative		-eeseemme	-eisiimme -eihimme
adessive		-eellamme	-eillamme
ablative		-eeltamme	-eiltamme
allative		-eellemme	-eillemme
essive		-eenamme	-einamme
translative		-eeksemme	-eiksemme
abessive		-eettamme	-eittamme
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-einemme

second-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eenne	-eenne
accusative	nom.	-eenne	-eenne
accusative	gen.	-eenne	-eenne
genitive		-eenne	-eidenne -eittenne
partitive		-ettanne	-eitanne
inessive		-eessanne	-eissanne
elative		-eestanne	-eistanne
illative		-eeseenne	-eisiinne -eihinne
adessive		-eellanne	-eillanne
ablative		-eeltanne	-eiltanne
allative		-eellenne	-eillenne
essive		-eenanne	-einanne
translative		-eeksenne	-eiksenne
abessive		-eettanne	-eittanne
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-einenne

third-person possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eensa	-eensa
accusative	nom.	-eensa	-eensa
accusative	gen.	-eensa	-eensa
genitive		-eensa	-eidensa -eittensa
partitive		-ettaan -ettansa	-eitaan -eitansa
inessive		-eessaan -eessansa	-eissaan -eissansa
elative		-eestaan -eestansa	-eistaan -eistansa
illative		-eeseensa	-eisiinsa -eihinsa
adessive		-eellaan -eellansa	-eillaan -eillansa
ablative		-eeltaan -eeltansa	-eiltaan -eiltansa
allative		-eelleen -eellensa	-eilleen -eillensa
essive		-eenaan -eenansa	-einaan -einansa
translative		-eekseen -eeksensa	-eikseen -eiksensa
abessive		-eettaan -eettansa	-eittaan -eittansa
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-eineen -einensa

Inflection of -e (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)
nominative		-e	-eet
genitive		-een	-eiden -eitten
partitive		-että	-eitä
illative		-eeseen	-eisiin -eihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-e	-eet
accusative	nom.	-e	-eet
accusative	gen.	-een	-eet
genitive		-een	-eiden -eitten
partitive		-että	-eitä
inessive		-eessä	-eissä
elative		-eestä	-eistä
illative		-eeseen	-eisiin -eihin
adessive		-eellä	-eillä
ablative		-eeltä	-eiltä
allative		-eelle	-eille
essive		-eenä	-einä
translative		-eeksi	-eiksi
abessive		-eettä	-eittä
instructive		—	-ein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -e (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eeni	-eeni
accusative	nom.	-eeni	-eeni
accusative	gen.	-eeni	-eeni
genitive		-eeni	-eideni -eitteni
partitive		-ettäni	-eitäni
inessive		-eessäni	-eissäni
elative		-eestäni	-eistäni
illative		-eeseeni	-eisiini -eihini
adessive		-eelläni	-eilläni
ablative		-eeltäni	-eiltäni
allative		-eelleni	-eilleni
essive		-eenäni	-einäni
translative		-eekseni	-eikseni
abessive		-eettäni	-eittäni
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-eineni

second-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eesi	-eesi
accusative	nom.	-eesi	-eesi
accusative	gen.	-eesi	-eesi
genitive		-eesi	-eidesi -eittesi
partitive		-ettäsi	-eitäsi
inessive		-eessäsi	-eissäsi
elative		-eestäsi	-eistäsi
illative		-eeseesi	-eisiisi -eihisi
adessive		-eelläsi	-eilläsi
ablative		-eeltäsi	-eiltäsi
allative		-eellesi	-eillesi
essive		-eenäsi	-einäsi
translative		-eeksesi	-eiksesi
abessive		-eettäsi	-eittäsi
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-einesi

first-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eemme	-eemme
accusative	nom.	-eemme	-eemme
accusative	gen.	-eemme	-eemme
genitive		-eemme	-eidemme -eittemme
partitive		-ettämme	-eitämme
inessive		-eessämme	-eissämme
elative		-eestämme	-eistämme
illative		-eeseemme	-eisiimme -eihimme
adessive		-eellämme	-eillämme
ablative		-eeltämme	-eiltämme
allative		-eellemme	-eillemme
essive		-eenämme	-einämme
translative		-eeksemme	-eiksemme
abessive		-eettämme	-eittämme
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-einemme

second-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eenne	-eenne
accusative	nom.	-eenne	-eenne
accusative	gen.	-eenne	-eenne
genitive		-eenne	-eidenne -eittenne
partitive		-ettänne	-eitänne
inessive		-eessänne	-eissänne
elative		-eestänne	-eistänne
illative		-eeseenne	-eisiinne -eihinne
adessive		-eellänne	-eillänne
ablative		-eeltänne	-eiltänne
allative		-eellenne	-eillenne
essive		-eenänne	-einänne
translative		-eeksenne	-eiksenne
abessive		-eettänne	-eittänne
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-einenne

third-person possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-eensä	-eensä
accusative	nom.	-eensä	-eensä
accusative	gen.	-eensä	-eensä
genitive		-eensä	-eidensä -eittensä
partitive		-ettään -ettänsä	-eitään -eitänsä
inessive		-eessään -eessänsä	-eissään -eissänsä
elative		-eestään -eestänsä	-eistään -eistänsä
illative		-eeseensä	-eisiinsä -eihinsä
adessive		-eellään -eellänsä	-eillään -eillänsä
ablative		-eeltään -eeltänsä	-eiltään -eiltänsä
allative		-eelleen -eellensä	-eilleen -eillensä
essive		-eenään -eenänsä	-einään -einänsä
translative		-eekseen -eeksensä	-eikseen -eiksensä
abessive		-eettään -eettänsä	-eittään -eittänsä
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-eineen -einensä

Note that if the stem has gradation, it is (almost always) preserved, but very often inverted.

Derived terms

Finnish terms suffixed with -e

aie

ane

ape

ase

ele

hie

jae

-ke

koe

References

^ Hakulinen, Lauri. 1941–2000. Suomen kielen rakenne ja kehitys ('The Structure and Development of the Finnish Language'). Helsinki: Otava/Helsingin yliopisto.

French

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Italic *-ā

Latin -am

Old French -e

French -e

Inherited from Old French -e, from Latin -am, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂.

Pronunciation

Silent; causing previous silent consonant to become pronounced, and causing nasal vowels to become replaced by oral vowels + nasal consonants

Suffix

-e f (noun-forming suffix, plural -es)

forms the feminine of nouns referring to people
‎garçon + ‎-e → ‎garçonne

Suffix

-e f (non-lemma form of adjective-forming suffix)

forms the feminine singular of adjectives
‎fort + ‎-e → ‎forte

Etymology 2

In the third person, from Latin -at; in the first person generally by analogy.

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

inflection of -er:
inflection of -re:
1. first-person singular present subjunctive
2. third-person singular present subjunctive

Etymology 3

From Latin -ā (imperative).

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

second-person singular imperative of -er

Etymology 4

Suffix

-^e (adjective-forming suffix, plural -^es)

abbreviation of -ième when an ordinal number is written with Arabic or Roman numerals
deuxième → 2^e

Garo

Suffix

-e

forms the perfect participle of a verb
Skul re·e anga nengbea
After going to school I was tired

German

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/, [ə], [ɘ], (chiefly southern also) [e], (Austria also) [ɛ]

Etymology 1

From Middle High German -e, from Old High German -ī, from Proto-Germanic *-į̄.

Suffix

-e f

(now chiefly unproductive) used to form nouns from adjectives, sometimes with umlaut of the root vowel; the nouns express the quality of the adjective
‎stark (“strong”) + ‎-e → ‎Stärke (“strength”)

Etymology 2

From Middle High German -e, from a merger of various Old High German vocalic noun endings.

Suffix

-e f

(occasionally productive) used to form feminine nouns from verbs
1. forms instrument nouns
  ‎anzeigen (“to display, indicate”) + ‎-e → ‎Anzeige (“display, advert”)
  
  ‎durchreichen (“to hand through, pass through”) + ‎-e → ‎Durchreiche (“hatch, passthrough”)
  
  ‎spülen (“to rinse”) + ‎-e → ‎Spüle (“kitchen sink”)
  
  ‎glotzen (“to stare, gawp”) + ‎-e → ‎Glotze (“TV”)
2. (chiefly colloquial) forms action nouns
  ‎abzocken (“to rip off”) + ‎-e → ‎Abzocke (“rip-off”)
  
  ‎denken (“to think”) + ‎-e → ‎Denke (“way of thinking, mentality”)
(colloquial) used to form two-syllable clippings from feminine nouns
‎Frisur (“haircut”) + ‎-e → ‎Frise

‎Putzfrau (“female cleaner”) + ‎-e → ‎Putze

‎PlayStation + ‎-e → ‎Playse

Etymology 3

From Middle High German -e, a merger of various Old High German vocalic inflectional suffixes.

Further information on -e as noun plural suffix

The plural suffix -e derives from a merger of Old High German -a and -i. Neuters usually remained unchanged in the nominative and accusative plural. The spread of the suffix to the neuter occurred by analogy with the masculine, whose declension was otherwise identical. Moreover, there were neuters ending in -e already in the singular; this -e tended to be apocopated, leading to reinterpretation of the fuller form as the plural (e.g. Middle High German stücke > modern Stück, pl. Stücke). Another mainly neuter plural suffix is -er, which see.

Umlaut originally occurred only when the Old High German ending had been -i, but from the High Middle Ages up to the present there has been a steady trend towards analogical expansion of umlaut in masculines, to the degree that umlautable monosyllables with umlautless plural have become rare (e.g. Hunde, Tage). In feminines, umlaut was seldom expanded, but the umlautless forms have switched to the weak suffix -en; therefore the e-plural in feminines is now always accompanied by umlaut (excepted are the suffixes -nis and -sal, both of which vary between feminine and neuter gender). Neuters are not umlauted (the only exception being Floß).

Suffix

-e

used to form the plural of some nouns; usually triggering umlaut of the root vowel in masculines and feminines, but not in neuters
‎Baum (“tree”) + ‎-e → ‎Bäume (“trees”)

‎Nacht (“night”) + ‎-e → ‎Nächte (“nights”)

‎Wort (“word”) + ‎-e → ‎Worte (“words”)
(chiefly archaic outside of set phrases) used to form the dative of strong masculine and neuter nouns ending in a stressed syllable
das Haus (“house”) → dem Hause (usually: dem Haus)
used to form various declined adjective forms, notably the nominative/accusative feminine singular
schön → die schöne Frau
used to form the 1st person singular present indicative (and subjunctive) of a verb
gehen (geh- + -en) → ich gehe (colloquial or poetic: ich geh)
used to form the 3rd person singular present subjunctive of a verb
gehen → er gehe
used to form the 1st and 3rd person singular past subjunctive of a verb
ging → ich ginge, er ginge

Etymology 4

A reduced form of du after -st, where /d/ coalesces with /t/, and unstressed /u/ weakens to /ə/. See also pronunciation notes at du.

Pronoun

-e (colloquial, chiefly Germany, especially northern and central Germany)

contraction of du after 2nd person singular forms of a verb.
hast du → haste

wärst du → wärste

hattest du → hatteste, hattste
- 2015, MIA., “Biste Mode”, in Biste Mode:
  Machste mit, biste Mode, lässtet sein, hast'n Stich / Doch zu mir kannste immer wieder komm'n
  Join 'em, you're the trend, leave it be, you're crazy / But you can always come back to me

Usage notes

In southern Germany it is more common to delete the pronoun entirely: hast?, wärst?. Only this form is usual in Austria.
In those parts of western Germany where the verb ending -st is colloquially pronounced /s/, the contraction -ste may nevertheless be /stə/, but also /sə/ (which can be spelt hasse, wärsse etc.). The latter pronunciation is principally Westphalian and Low Franconian, but has been spreading southward along the Rhine. When the /s/ is part of the stem, as in lieste, the /t/ is not usually omitted (except in a few very frequent forms such as weißte).

Etymology 5

From Middle High German -e, from Old High German -o, from Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô.

Alternative forms

-∅ (zero derivation, but still with weak declension (except colloquially); used in a few native words and many loanwords)

Suffix

-e m (weak, genitive -en, plural -en, feminine -in)

derives demonyms from names of regions and countries
Synonyms: -er, -aner, -ese

‎Schweden (“Sweden”) + ‎-e → ‎Schwede (“Swede”)

‎Mongolei (“Mongolia”) + ‎-e → ‎Mongole (“Mongolian”)
-ist; derives personal nouns from terms for scientific fields of Greek origin
‎Ornithologie (“ornithology”) + ‎-e → ‎Ornithologe (“ornithologist”)

‎Logopädie (“speech therapy”) + ‎-e → ‎Logopäde (“speech therapist”)
derives alternative forms of certain personal nouns, particularly of weak loanwords
‎Katholik + ‎-e → ‎Katholike

‎Lakai + ‎-e → ‎Lakaie

‎Kumpan + ‎-e → ‎Kumpane
1. directly derives loanwords of personal nouns
  ‎Dutch matroos + ‎-e → ‎Matrose

Usage notes

Historically, words like Schweden, Schwaben n are actually dative plurals of the respective demonyms; but for the modern native feeling they are the basic forms.

Declension

Declension of -e [masculine, weak]
	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	-e	die	-en
genitive	eines	des	-en	der	-en
dative	einem	dem	-en	den	-en
accusative	einen	den	-en	die	-en

Hungarian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ɛ]
Audio: (file)
Rhymes: -ɛ

Etymology 1

Suffix

-e

Possessive (and genitive) suffix: [from 1055]
1. (with no possessor or with the 3rd‑person pronoun as possessor, usually construed with the definite article) his, her, its …
  ház → (a) háza, az ő háza (“his/her/its house”) élet → (az) élete, az ő élete (“his/her/its life”) barát → (a) barátja (“his/her/its friend”) kapu → (a) kapuja (“his/her/its gate”) palota → (a) palotája (“his/her/its palace”) kert → (a) kertje (“his/her/its garden”) betű → (a) betűje (“his/her/its letter”) vese → (a) veséje (“his/her/its kidney”)
2. (with a singular possessor) …-'s, of … (third-person singular, single possession)
  Anna háza (“Anna’s house”), a felkelő nap háza (“the house of the rising sun”) Anna élete (“Anna’s life”), a város élete (“the life of the city”) a király palotája (“the king’s palace”) a ház kapuja (“the gate of the house”) Anna kertje (“Anna’s garden”), a tulipán kertje (“the garden of the tulip”)
3. (with a plural possessor) …-s’, of …-s (third-person plural, single possession)
  a szüleim háza (“my parents’ house”), a trópusi növények háza (“[the] house of [the] tropical plants”, literally “the tropical plants’ house”) a szüleim élete (“my parents’ lives”, literally “my parents’ life”), a könyvek élete (“[the] lives of [the] books”, literally “the books’ life”) az uralkodók palotája (“the rulers’ palace”) a szüleim kertje (“my parents’ garden”), Az elágazó ösvények kertje (“The Garden of Forking Paths”)
4. (with instantaneous time expressions) … ago (referring to a preceding point in time considered as an instant)
  Egy évszázada / két éve / egy órája / sok/hosszú ideje ment el. ― S/he left one century / two years / one hour / a long time ago.
  
  Synonym: -val/-vel ezelőtt (e.g. egy évszázaddal, két évvel ezelőtt)
5. (with durative time expressions) for … (referring to some duration that precedes the point of time in question)
  Egy évszázada / két éve / egy órája / sok/hosszú ideje várunk rád. ― We have been waiting for you for a century / two years / an hour / a long time.
  
  Synonym: óta (less common in this sense; more commonly means “since”)
6. (mostly with quantities, often following -ik) of …, out of … (partitive sense)
  Synonym: (only with countable quantities) közül
  
  jó (jav-) (“the greater/better part”) → a java még hátravan (“the best/bulk is yet to come”, literally “its best/bulk is…”)
  
  legnagyobbik (“the biggest one”) → a bikák legnagyobbika (“the biggest [one] of the bulls”, synonymous with a legnagyobb bika)
(personal suffix) [from the end of the 12th century]
1. Third-person singular personal suffix in back-vowel verbs. Today it can be found in the third-person singular definite forms (indicative past and imperative conjugations) as part of the suffix -ja/-je, -ta/-te.
  tud (“to know”) → tudta (“he/she knew it”)
  
  tud → tudja (“he/she knows it (indicative mood)”)
  
  tud → tudja (“he/she should know it (subjunctive mood)”)
  
  kér (“to request, ask for sth”) → kérte (“he/she requested it”)
  
  kér → kérje (“he/she should request it (subjunctive mood)”)
2. Third-person singular personal suffix in back-vowel conjugated infinitives and in the declined and postposition forms of the third-person personal pronoun ő (“he/she/it”).
  tanulni (“to study”) → tanulnia kell (“he/she must study”, literally “it is necessary for him/her to study”)
  
  kérni (“to request, ask for”) → kérnie kell (“he/she must request [it]”, literally “it is necessary for him/her to request”)
  
  -ról (“about”) → róla (“about him/her/it”)
  
  -től (“from”) → tőle (“from him/her/it”)
  
  után (“after”) → utána (“after him/her/it”)
  
  fölött (“above”) → fölötte (“above him/her/it”)

Usage notes

(possessive suffix) Variants:
-a is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-e is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant

-ja is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant or a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-; final -o changes to -ó-.

-je is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant or a vowel. Final -e changes to -é-; final -ö changes to -ő-.
- This suffix (in all forms) is normally used for the third-person singular possessive (single possession) but, after an explicit plural possessor, it also expresses the third-person plural possessive (single possession), e.g. “the children’s ball” (a gyerekek labdája). If the possessor is implicit (not named, only marked by a suffix), the plural possessive suffix must be used, e.g. “their ball” (a labdájuk, see -juk and its variants).
(personal suffix) Variants:
-a is added to back-vowel words

-e is added to front-vowel words

Note that the corresponding (third-person singular) indicative mood of front-vowel verbs is -i, e.g. kéri (“s/he requests it”).

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, front unrounded harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	-e	—
accusative	-ét	—
dative	-ének	—
instrumental	-ével	—
causal-final	-éért	—
translative	-évé	—
terminative	-éig	—
essive-formal	-eként	—
essive-modal	-éül	—
inessive	-ében	—
superessive	-én	—
adessive	-énél	—
illative	-ébe	—
sublative	-ére	—
allative	-éhez	—
elative	-éből	—
delative	-éről	—
ablative	-étől	—
non-attributive possessive – singular	-éé	—
non-attributive possessive – plural	-ééi	—

Etymology 2

From e (“this”).
From Proto-Finno-Ugric *-ë (interrogative particle).

Alternative forms

-é (rare, mostly dialectal)

Particle

-e (clitic)

whether, if
Nem tudom, [hogy] voltál-e már Budapesten. ― I don't know if you've ever been in Budapest.
(folksy) Suffix for yes/no tag questions. Always optional since word order and intonation make the question clear.
Látod-e már a mezőket? ― Can you see the fields yet?
- 1857, János Arany, A walesi bárdok (The Bards of Wales), translated by Watson Kirkconnell^[4]
  Van-e ott folyó és földje jó? / Legelőin fű kövér? / Használt-e a megöntözés: / A pártos honfivér?
  Are stream and mountain fair to see? / Are meadow grasses good? / Do corn-lands bear a crop more rare / Since wash’d with rebel’s blood?
  (Note: From a grammatical point of view, the Hungarian text could also include -e at “…földje jó-e?” and “…fű kövér-e?” or alternatively, all instances of -e could be removed without changing the meaning.)

Usage notes

Always written with a hyphen. Used in tag (yes/no) questions, but not all such questions use -e: in most cases a question is indicated only by emphasis and question mark. Always attached to the main word (usually the verb) of the predicate of the phrase.

Derived terms

ugye

Etymology 3

Suffix

-e

(personal suffix, archaic) Used to form the third-person singular indicative past indefinite, for front-vowel verbs. The back-vowel version is -a. The suffix currently used in this place is -t, -tt, -ett or -ött. For the full paradigm, see the usage template.

Etymology 4

See at -a.

Suffix

-e

(obsolete participle suffix) synonym of -ő (present-participle suffix) The back-vowel version is -a. Sometimes it also occurs as -é or -i.

Derived terms

Ido

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Esperanto -e, from Latin -ē.

Suffix

-e

-ly; used to form adverbs

Usage notes

Any adjective can be converted into an adverb by swapping the -a suffix by -e.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Suffix

-e

ending for names of consonants

Derived terms

Ido terms suffixed with -e (consonant)

be

ce

de

fe

ge

he

je

ke

le

me

ne

pe

que

re

se

she

te

ve

we

xe

ye

ze

Ingrian

Etymology

Conflated:

From Proto-Finnic *-ëk.
From Proto-Finnic *-ëh.

Cognates include Finnish -e and Estonian -e.

The two suffixes do retain a distinct inflection in the Soikkola, Hevaha and Ylä-Laukaa dialects.

Pronunciation

(Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-e/, [-e̞]
(Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-e/, [-e̞]

Suffix

-e

Used to form nouns from either verbs or adjectives.
‎lähtiä (“to begin”) + ‎-e → ‎lähe (“spring”)

Declension

(back-vocalic)

Declension of -e (type 6/lähe, no gradation)
	singular	plural
nominative	-e	-eet
genitive	-een	-ein
partitive	-etta	-eita
illative	-eesse	-eisse
inessive	-ees	-eis
elative	-eest	-eist
allative	-eelle	-eille
adessive	-eel	-eil
ablative	-eelt	-eilt
translative	-eeks	-eiks
essive	-eenna, -een	-einna, -ein
exessive¹⁾	-eent	-eint
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 -e (type 6/lähe, no gradation)
	singular	plural
nominative	-e	-eet
genitive	-een	-ein
partitive	-että	-eitä
illative	-eesse	-eisse
inessive	-ees	-eis
elative	-eest	-eist
allative	-eelle	-eille
adessive	-eel	-eil
ablative	-eelt	-eilt
translative	-eeks	-eiks
essive	-eennä, -een	-einnä, -ein
exessive¹⁾	-eent	-eint
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 terms

Ingrian terms suffixed with -e

-ke

kue

nie

sae

sie

virite

Irish

Etymology 1

From Old Irish -e, from Proto-Celtic *-iyā, from Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂.

Suffix

-e f

Used to form abstract nouns from adjectives

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Simplification of *-nn-ne.

Suffix

-e

alternative form of -ne (used after -nn in pronouns)

Etymology 3

From Old Irish -e, from Proto-Celtic *-yās, from Proto-Indo-European *-yeh₂-s. Replaced *-ās in ā-stems in Proto-Goidelic. For example, Old Irish túaithe (genitive singular of túath) is from an apparent *tout(i)yās, replacing original genitive singular *toutās; contrast with nominative/vocative plural túatha, which is from nominative/vocative plural *toutās.

Suffix

-e

Used to form the genitive singular of second-declension nouns
Used to form the feminine genitive singular of first-declension adjectives

Etymology 4

From a variety of Old Irish nominative and accusative plural endings including -i in masculine and feminine i-stems and in feminine ī-stems, -e in neuter i-stems, and -ea in some consonant stems; from various Proto-Celtic endings.

Suffix

-e

Used to form the plural of certain nouns

Etymology 5

From Old Irish -iu, from Proto-Celtic *-yūs, from Proto-Indo-European *-yōs.

Suffix

-e

Used to form the comparative degree of adjectives

Italian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/ (stress falls on the preceding syllable)
Hyphenation: -e

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -it and -et.

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

used with a stem to form the third-person present of regular -ere verbs and those -ire verbs that don't take "isco"

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin -em.

Suffix

-e m or f (noun-forming suffix, plural -i)

used with a stem to form a masculine or feminine singular noun.
Synonyms: -o, -a

Etymology 3

Inherited from Latin -ae.

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of noun-forming suffix)

plural of -a

Japanese

Romanization

-e

Rōmaji transcription of え

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

-i

Pronunciation

Hyphenation: -é

Suffix

-e

indicates question and exclamation replacing the final vowel -i
Keni → Kene?
Here → Is it here?

Itang babi → Itang babe?
That pig → Is it the pig?

Inimo → Inemo.
Even this → Oh, this too!!

Nokarin ini? → Nokarin ine?!!
Where is this? → Where is this?!!

Usage notes

There are instances where the vowel -e is often disregarded and remains -i when an interrogative pronoun is present.
The last vowel and the form it took depend on whether or not a question is being asked.

Related terms

-o

Latin

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Italic *-ēd

Old Latin -ēd

Latin -e

From Old Latin -ēd (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?), from Proto-Italic *-ēd, probably from a combination of Proto-Indo-European suffixes, but morphologically opaque. Compare perhaps Proto-Germanic *-ê and Proto-Slavic *-ě (adverbial suffixes), though these are also of disputed derivation. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈeː]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈɛː]

Suffix

-ē (comparative -ius, superlative -issimē)

-ly; used to form adverbs from adjectives.
Synonyms: -iter, -ō, -ter

‎clārus (“famous; clear”) + ‎-ē → ‎clārē (“famously; clearly”)

‎pulcher (“beautiful”) + ‎-ē → ‎pulchrē (“beautifully”)

Usage notes

Usually added to a first/second-declension adjective stem to form an adverb of manner.

Derived terms

Latin terms suffixed with -e

Descendants

→ Esperanto: -e

Etymology 2

A regularly declined form of -us.

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈɛ]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈɛː]

Suffix

-e

vocative masculine singular of -us

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Suffix

-e

ablative singular of -s

Latvian

Etymology

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

Suffix

-e

Used to derive feminine nouns from masculine nouns (like English -ess).
Used to form (feminine) nouns from verb stems.
‎iestādīt + ‎-e → ‎iestāde

‎skatīt + ‎-e → ‎skate

Synonyms

-a

Derived terms

Latvian terms suffixed with -e

Related terms

Feminine suffixes that include -e

Lotha Naga

Suffix

-e

Agent suffix
Synonym: -i

‎püngnoa (“to teach”) + ‎-e → ‎püngnoe (“teacher”)

Derived terms

Category Lotha Naga terms suffixed with -e not found

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *-ę.

Suffix

-e n

Noun suffix, mostly used for young animals.
‎robel (“sparrow”) + ‎-e → ‎roble (“baby sparrow”)

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch -i, from Proto-Germanic *-į̄.

Suffix

-e f

Used to form abstract nouns from adjectives, mostly those expressing physical properties.
Synonyms: -ede, -heit

Usage notes

This suffix originally triggered umlaut of the root vowel. This is seen in some words (kelde, from cout), but not in others (coude).

Derived terms

Middle Dutch terms suffixed with -e

Descendants

Dutch: -e

Middle English

Etymology 1

From a variety of Old English adjectival inflectional suffixes.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-(ə)/

Suffix

-e

Forms the plural and weak singular of adjectives.
(Early Middle English, uncommon) Forms the strong dative singular of adjectives.
(Early Middle English, rare) Forms the strong accusative singular of adjectives.

Usage notes

This suffix is mostly only added to monosyllabic adjectives, though especially in Early Middle English, it is often also found with disyllabic adjectives which either end in /əl/, /əm/, /ən/, /ər/, end in /iː/ and have a short root syllable, or which are stressed on the final syllable; in the first case, the /ə/ of the root's second syllable is dropped when the suffix is added. Conversely, its use tends to be abandoned even after monosyllabic adjectives in later Middle English due to the gradual disappearance of final /ə/; it is never found in Northern Middle English, where final /ə/ has been lost even in the first literary records.
In varieties of early Middle English which preserve grammatical gender, this suffix is sometimes restricted to either masculine or neuter adjectives as a strong dative singular (Old English -um > -an) and to feminine adjectives when used as a strong accusative singular (Old English -e), though it is often lost here due to the effacement of the distinction between nominative and accusative cases in nouns.
Like the plural suffix -es, this suffix tends to induce stem alternations.

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -e (adjectival)

aliene

cheve

madde

References

“-e, suf.(3).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
d'Ardenne, S[imonne] R. T. O. (1961) [1936], “Language”, in Þe Liflade ant te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene (Early English Text Society; 248), London: Oxford University Press for the Early English Text Society, →OCLC, § 77, page 217.
Logan, H[arry] M. (1973), “V. Grammar”, in The dialect of the Life of Saint Katherine: A linguistic study of the phonology and inflections (Janua Linguarum. Series Practica; 130), The Hague: Mouton, →OCLC, § 50, pages 179-181.
Mossé, Fernand (1952), “VII. Adjectives and Numerals”, in James A. Walker, transl., A Handbook of Middle English‎^[5], I. Grammar: Part Two. The Forms, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, translation of Manuel du l'Anglais de Moyen Age des Origines au XIVe Siècle (in French), →OCLC, § 74, page 64.
Sandved, Arthur (1985), “10. Inflection”, in Introduction to Chaucerian English (Chaucer Studies; 11), Part II: Morphology, Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 51.

Etymology 2

From Old French -e, -ee, from Latin -ātus, -āta. Compare -at, -te, -ite.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-eː/, /-æi̯/

Suffix

-e (no longer productive)

Forms nouns denoting an office or function.
Forms pseudo-participial nouns from verbs or other nouns:
1. Forms nouns denoting the presence of something.
2. Forms nouns denoting one who an action is done to.
3. Forms nouns denoting something made or applied.
  ‎fige (“fig”) + ‎-e → ‎figee (“fig pudding”)

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -e (participial)

Descendants

English: -ee, -y
Scots: -ee, -y

Etymology 3

From Old English -a, from Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ô, from Proto-Indo-European *-ō.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-(ə)/

Suffix

-e

(no longer productive) Forms agent nouns from verbal or nominal stems.

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -e (agentive)

-ke

References

“-e, suf.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 24 June 2018.

Etymology 4

From Old English -e, from Proto-West Germanic *-ē, from Proto-Germanic *-ê.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-(ə)/

Suffix

-e

(no longer productive) Forms adverbs from adjectives.
‎strong (“strong”) + ‎-e → ‎stronge (“strongly”)

Usage notes

In Middle English, new adverbs are usually formed from adjectives through either zero-derivation or the suffix -ly/-liche.

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -e (adverbial)

References

“-e, suf.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 5

From Old English -e, from Proto-West Germanic *-ē, from Proto-Germanic *-ai (a-stem), *-ōi (ō-stem), from the Proto-Indo-European dative singular ending *-ey or locative singular ending *-i as attached to thematic (eh₂-stem and o-stem) nouns.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-(ə)/

Suffix

-e

Forms the dative singular of nouns

Usage notes

Rather than being a true dative (i.e. a case marking the indirect object), the Middle English dative usually marks the object of a preposition.
The dative singular ending is never compulsory in Middle English and is progressively given up over the course of the period; becoming mostly restricted to fixed phrases after the Early Middle English period. At all stages, its optionality allows it to strategically deployed in poetry to meet metrical requirements. As with the adjectival suffix -e, the absence of final /ə/ in Northern Middle English means it is not found there.

References

“-e, suf.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Allen, Cynthia (13 November 2008), “4. Genitive case in Middle English”, in Genitives in Early English: Typology and Evidence, Oxford University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, § 4.2.1, page 130.
d'Ardenne, S[imonne] R. T. O. (1961) [1936], “Language”, in Þe Liflade ant te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene (Early English Text Society; 248), London: Oxford University Press for the Early English Text Society, →OCLC, § 60, page 205.
Mustanoja, Tauno F. (1960), “Cases”, in A Middle English Syntax (Mémoires de la Société Néophilologique de Helsinki; 23), volume I: Parts of Speech, Helsinki: Société Néophilologique, pages 94-95; republished at Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2016, →DOI, →ISBN.

Etymology 6

From Old English -a, from Proto-West Germanic *-ō, from Proto-Germanic *-ǫ̂, from the Proto-Indo-European genitive plural ending *-oHom as attached to thematic (eh₂-stem and o-stem) nouns.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-(ə)/

Suffix

-e

(especially Early Middle English) Forms the genitive plural of nouns.^[1]
Synonyms: -ene (somewhat more common), -es (usual)

Usage notes

This ending is mostly found before 1350 and restricted to nouns which had its etymon -a in Old English, especially if they are semantically inanimate;^[2] during the Middle English period, -ene and especially -es spread at its expense.

References

^ “-e, suf.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
^ Myers, Sara (26 November 2014), “Chapter 2: Genitive Plural Nouns”, in An investigation of certain aspects of the genitive noun phrase in Middle English (1150-1500) (Thesis)‎^[3], University of Edinburgh, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2025-08-22, § 2.5.1, page 46.

Etymology 7

Suffix

-e

alternative form of -y

Etymology 8

Suffix

-e

alternative form of -yf

Etymology 9

Suffix

-e

alternative form of -ie

Mokilese

Suffix

-e

first person singular demonstrative suffix, equivalent to this (specifically, an object far from both the speaker and listener)
‎puk (“book”) + ‎-e → ‎pukke (“this book”)

Usage notes

This suffix typically triggers gemination of the final consonant of the noun to which it is applied, if there is one.

References

Harrison, Sheldon P.; Albert, Salich Y. (1977), Mokilese-English Dictionary‎^[6], Honolulu: The University Press of Hawaii, →ISBN, page 13
Harrison, Sheldon P. (1976), Mokilese Reference Grammar‎^[7], Honolulu: The University Press of Hawaii

Murui Huitoto

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [-ɛ]

Classifier

-e

Classifier with no specific meaning.

Derived terms

Murui Huitoto terms suffixed with -e

bue

jae

References

Katarzyna Izabela Wojtylak (2017), A grammar of Murui (Bue): a Witotoan language of Northwest Amazonia.‎^[8], Townsville: James Cook University press (PhD thesis), page 195

Namuyi

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [-ɛ˧]

Suffix

-e

Used to form ingressive verbs.

References

Štěpán Pavlík (2017), The Description of Namuzi Language‎^[9], Prague: Charles University (PhD Thesis), page 49

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/
Rhymes: -ə
Hyphenation: -e

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old Norse -a (“infinitive suffix”). The modern Bokmål form reflects the development of unstressed final -a to -e in many Norwegian varieties and in the Danish-influenced written tradition.

Compare Norwegian Nynorsk -e and -a, Danish -e, Swedish -a, Icelandic -a and Faroese -a (“infinitive suffix”).

Suffix

-e

(grammar) Used to form the infinitive of many verbs.
les (“read”) +‎ -e (“infinitive suffix”) → lese (“to read”)

kast (“throw”) +‎ -e (“infinitive suffix”) → kaste (“to throw”)

før (“lead, carry”) +‎ -e (“infinitive suffix”) → føre (“to lead, carry”)

Usage notes

Bokmål mainly uses -e in the infinitive, as in å lese (“to read”) and å kaste (“to throw”), but some verbs have infinitives not ending in -e, such as å gå (“to go”), å stå (“to stand”), å ta (“to take”) and å bo (“to live, reside”).
In Norwegian grammar, an infinitive ending in -e is called e-infinitiv. It contrasts with a-infinitiv and kløyvd infinitiv.

Etymology 2

From earlier North Germanic adjective inflectional endings, levelled in modern Bokmål as unstressed -e.

Compare Norwegian Nynorsk -e, Danish -e and Swedish -a (“adjective ending”).

Suffix

-e

(grammar) Used to form the definite singular and plural of many adjectives.
rik (“rich”) +‎ -e (“adjective ending”) → rike (“rich”)

god (“good”) +‎ -e (“adjective ending”) → gode (“good”)

rolig (“calm”) +‎ -e (“adjective ending”) → rolige (“calm”)
(grammar) Used to form the definite form of many superlatives.
rikest (“richest”) +‎ -e (“definite adjective ending”) → rikeste (“richest”)

best (“best”) +‎ -e (“definite adjective ending”) → beste (“best”)

Usage notes

This ending is inflectional rather than derivational: it normally marks adjective agreement rather than forming a new lemma.

Etymology 3

Inherited in fossilized adverbial expressions from older nominal and adjectival case endings, especially Old Norse dative endings such as -i and plural -um, later reduced or levelled to -e in fixed expressions.

Compare Norwegian Nynorsk -e (“fossilized adverbial ending”).

Suffix

-e

(grammar, no longer productive) Used in various fossilized adverbial phrases.

Derived terms

i live (“alive, in life”)
i søvne (“in one's sleep”)
i tide (“in time”)
med rette (“rightly, justly”)
med urette (“wrongly, unjustly”)
på tide (“about time”)
til syne (“into view”)
ved like (“maintained, in repair”)

References

“e-infinitiv” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
“a-infinitiv” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
“kløyvd infinitiv” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
“rik” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
“god” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
“rolig” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

Inherited in fossilized adverbial expressions from older nominal and adjectival case endings, especially Old Norse dative endings such as -i and plural -um, later reduced or levelled to -e in fixed expressions.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e

(no longer productive) Used in various fossilised adverbial phrases.

Usage notes

Pronounced with the second tone.

Derived terms

Nynorsk dative phrases

Etymology 2

From Old Norse -i (“suffix forming abstract nouns”), from Proto-Germanic *-į̄.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ə/

Suffix

-e

(no longer productive) Used to form weak feminine abstract nouns from adjectives, -ness.
Synonyms: -skap, -leik, -dom, -heit

‎mild (“mild”) + ‎-e → ‎milde (“mildness”)

‎god (“good”) + ‎-e → ‎gode (“goodness”)

‎treg (“slow”) + ‎-e → ‎trege (“sorrow”)

‎hæken (“greedy”) + ‎-e → ‎hækne (“greed”)

‎blind (“blind”) + ‎-e → ‎blinde (“blindness”)

‎sjuk (“sick”) + ‎-e → ‎sykje (“sickness”)

‎arg (“angry”) + ‎-e → ‎erge (“anger”)

‎glad (“happy”) + ‎-e → ‎glede (“happiness”)

‎kåt (“aroused”) + ‎-e → ‎kjæte (“arousal”)

‎full (“full”) + ‎-e → ‎fylle (“fill”)

Usage notes

Newer coinages can be identified by their lack of i-umlaut, compare e.g. sjuke (derived from sjuk) and sykje (inherited from Old Norse sýki).

Etymology 3

Inherited from Middle Norwegian -enom m and -eno n, from Old Norse -inum m and -inu n.

Alternative forms

-a (Sogn, Voss, Valdres)
-æ (Setesdal)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɛ/, /ə/

Suffix

-e

(Landsmål or dialectal) Used to form dative case of masculine and neuter singular definite nouns
i skogje
in the forest

å vegje
on the road

under båte
under the boat

Usage notes

In the dialects that still retain the dative, this suffix frequently causes palatalisation of the velars /k/ and /g/. It is distinct from the fossilised dative ending by being pronounced with the first tone.

References

Ivar Aasen: Norsk Grammatik, Universitetsforlaget, 1867
Kjell Venås & Martin Sjekkeland: Dialekter i Noreg (read 04/04/26)
Topp Norsk: Dativ i Norsk (read 05/04/26)

Etymology 4

From Old Norse -i and -a, respectively the masculine and feminine/neuter weak nominative singular ending for adjectives. Levelled to -e through vowel reduction.

Suffix

-e

Forms the definite form of adjectives
den snøgge reven
the quick fox

den sterkaste jenta
the strongest girl

det gamle skuret
the old shed

Usage notes

Nearly always combined with the definite form of the noun, and usually with a definite article as a form of double agreement. In poetic or dated language, the noun can be in its indefinite form or the article omitted. e.g:
- 1863, Ivar Aasen, Dei gamle fjelli (1st verse):
  Dei gamle Fjell i Syningom er alltid eins aa sjaa
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- Olav Kyrre
  Olav the peaceful

Etymology 5

From Old Norse -ir and -ar, respectively the masculine and feminine strong nominative singular ending for adjectives. Levelled to -e through vowel reduction.

Suffix

-e

Forms the plural form of adjectives
snøgge revar
quick foxes

store gåver
big presents

dei fagraste jentene
the fairest girls

dei ròtne husa
the rotten houses

Ojibwe

Final

-e

an incorporating final

Derived terms

References

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/word-part/e-final-1287

Old English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/

Etymology 1

From West Germanic *-ā, from Proto-Germanic *-ê, which survives otherwise only in Gothic (and possibly Old Norse).

Suffix

-e (adverb-forming suffix)

forms adverbs from adjectives; -ly
‎beorht (“bright, clear”) + ‎-e → ‎beorhte (“brightly, clearly”)

Alternative forms

-a, -æ — Northumbrian

Derived terms

Descendants

Middle English: -e (no longer productive)

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *-ī. Beyond that, generally from Proto-Germanic *-ijaz, but also partly merged with *-jaz and athematic *-iz (compare Proto-Norse -ᛁᛉ (-iʀ)). Note though that -wintre is from Proto-Germanic *-wintruz, since Proto-Germanic u-stem adjectives became ja-stems in West Germanic. Other suffixes derived from u-stem nouns, such as -flēre, might also have been zero derivations in Proto-Germanic.

Suffix

-e (adjective-forming suffix)

forms adjectives from nouns, often with the meaning "having"; typically causes i-umlaut
‎ān (“one”) + ‎willa (“will”) + ‎-e → ‎ānwille (“stubborn”)

‎fela (“many”) + ‎word (“word”) + ‎-e → ‎felawyrde (“long-winded”)

‎fīf (“five”) + ‎flōr (“floor”) + ‎-e → ‎fīfflēre (“five-story”)

‎fiþer- (“four”) + ‎sċēat (“corner”) + ‎-e → ‎fiþersċīte (“square”)

‎forþ (“forward”) + ‎gang (“going”) + ‎-e → ‎forþgenġe (“progressive”)

‎īdel (“empty”) + ‎hand (“hand”) + ‎-e → ‎īdelhende (“empty-handed”)

‎lang (“long”) + ‎līf (“life”) + ‎-e → ‎langlīfe (“long-lived”)

‎ofer- (“over-”) + ‎ǣt (“eating”) + ‎-e → ‎oferǣte (“gluttonous”)

‎or- (“out of”) + ‎blōd (“blood”) + ‎-e → ‎orblēde (“bled out”)

‎sċeolh (“crooked”) + ‎ēage (“eye”) + ‎-e → ‎sċeolhīeġe (“crosseyed”)

‎sīd (“hanging down”) + ‎feax (“hair on the head”) + ‎-e → ‎sīdfiexe (“long-haired”)

‎twelf (“twelve”) + ‎winter (“year”) + ‎-e → ‎twelfwintre (“twelve years old”)

‎twi- (“two”) + ‎eċġ (“edge”) + ‎-e → ‎twieċġe (“double-edged”)

‎twi- (“two”) + ‎fōt (“foot”) + ‎-e → ‎twifēte (“bipedal”)

‎un- (“un-”) + ‎ċēap (“cost”) + ‎-e → ‎unċīepe (“free”)

Declension

Declension of -e — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	-e	-u, -o	-e
Accusative	-ne	-e	-e
Genitive	-es	-re	-es
Dative	-um	-re	-um
Instrumental	-e	-re	-e
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	-e	-a, -e	-u, -o
Accusative	-e	-a, -e	-u, -o
Genitive	-ra	-ra	-ra
Dative	-um	-um	-um
Instrumental	-um	-um	-um

Declension of -e — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	-a	-e	-e
Accusative	-an	-an	-e
Genitive	-an	-an	-an
Dative	-an	-an	-an
Instrumental	-an	-an	-an
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	-an	-an	-an
Accusative	-an	-an	-an
Genitive	-ra, -ena	-ra, -ena	-ra, -ena
Dative	-um	-um	-um
Instrumental	-um	-um	-um

Alternative forms

-i — Early Anglian

Etymology 3

Likely borrowed from the subjunctive singular Proto-West Germanic *-ē after high vowel apocope resulted in the loss of inherited Proto-West Germanic *-u in heavy stem verbs, and then analogically extended to light stem verbs.

Suffix

-e (verb inflectional suffix)

marks the first person singular present indicative of strong verbs and class I weak verbs
‎drīfan (“to drive”) + ‎-e → ‎drīfe (“I drive”)

‎fremman (“to perform”) + ‎-e → ‎fremme (“I perform”)

Alternative forms

-u, -o — Anglian, Kentish

Etymology 4

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *-ē, from Proto-Germanic *-ai (a-stem), *-ōi (ō-stem), from the Proto-Indo-European dative singular ending *-ey or locative singular ending *-i as attached to eh₂-stem and o-stem nouns.

Alternative forms

-æ — early

Suffix

-e m or f or n (noun inflectional suffix)

marks the dative singular of a-stem and ō-stem nouns
‎sċip (“ship”) + ‎-e → ‎tō þām sċipe (“to the ship”)

Descendants

Middle English: -e

Etymology 5

A combination of multiple sources:

In the accusative singular, from Proto-West Germanic *-ā, from Proto-Germanic *-ǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *-ā́m, from *-eh₂ (eh₂-stem suffix) +‎ *-m (accusative singular suffix).
In the genitive singular, from Proto-West Germanic *-ā, from Proto-Germanic *-ōz, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂s, from *-eh₂ (eh₂-stem suffix) +‎ *-s (genitive singular suffix).
In the accusative plural, from Proto-West Germanic *-ā, from Proto-Germanic *-ōz, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂m̥s, from *-eh₂ (eh₂-stem suffix) +‎ *-ms (accusative plural suffix).

This suffix was extended to the nominative plural (replacing -a < Proto-West Germanic *-ō) in Old English itself.

Alternative forms

-æ — early

Suffix

-e f (noun inflectional suffix)

marks the accusative and genitive and the nominative and accusative plural of ō-stem feminine nouns
‎talu (“tale”) + ‎-e → ‎tale (“tale, tales”)

Usage notes

The names for several peoples are formed this way, such as Dene (“Danes”) and Ēste (“Estonians”).

Etymology 6

Suffix

-e f (noun inflectional suffix)

marks the nominative singular of feminine n-stem nouns
docce (“dock”)

berġe (“berry”)

Suffix

-e f (noun-forming suffix)

forms feminine agent nouns, often as a counterpart to masculine agent nouns in -a
hlǣfdīġe
bread-kneader, lady

‎ġebedda (“husband, male consort”) + ‎-e → ‎ġebedde (“wife, female consort”)
forms nouns referring to female people from nouns referring to male people
‎cyning (“king”) + ‎-e → ‎cyninge (“queen”)

Declension

Weak n-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	-e	-an
accusative	-an	-an
genitive	-an	-ena
dative	-an	-um

Etymology 7

Likely derived from the weakening of the plural subjunctive ending -en.

Suffix

-e (verb inflectional suffix)

(used with postpositioned "ġē") marks the second person plural imperative of strong verbs, class 1 weak verbs, and class 3 weak verbs
Ġebīde ġē on beorge!
Tarry ye on the mountain!

Related terms

-ie

Old French

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Italic *-ā

Latin -am

Old French -e

Inherited from Latin -am, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂.

Suffix

-e

used to form feminine forms of nouns and adjectives

Descendants

Middle French: -e
- French: -e

Old Irish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-iyā (whence also Welsh -edd and Cornish -edh), from Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂. Cognate with Ancient Greek -ίᾱ (-íā) and Latin -ia.

Suffix

-e f

Forms concrete or abstract nouns from adjectives.
‎cathach (“bellicose”) + ‎-e → ‎cathaige (“warlike spirit”)

‎sáer (“free”) + ‎-e → ‎saíre (“freedom, liberty”)

Usage notes

This suffix palatalises the preceding consonant(s) when one of the following is true:

The consonant(s) are a single intervocalic coronal consonant or -nd-.
The consonant(s) are -mb-, -ng- or any lone intervocalic non-coronal consonant, in turn preceded by an unrounded vowel.

Other consonants and clusters are generally not palatalised by the suffix, unless the cluster previously had an /e/ or /i/ between the consonants in the cluster that was lost to syncope. However, sometimes palatalization spreads analogically.

Inflection

Feminine iā-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	-e^L	-i^L	-i
vocative	-e^L	-i^L	-i
accusative	-i^N	-i^L	-i
genitive	-e	-e^L	-e^N
dative	-i^L	-ib	-ib

Initial mutations of a following adjective:

^H = triggers aspiration
^L = triggers lenition
^N = triggers nasalization

Derived terms

Descendants

Irish: -e

Old Polish

Alternative forms

-ie

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-is

Proto-Slavic *-ь

Proto-Indo-European *-yós

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-jas

Proto-Slavic *-jь

Proto-Slavic *-ьje

Old Polish -e

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьje.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /ɛː/
IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /e/

Suffix

-e n

forms neuter nouns denoting a place, typically from a prepositional phrase
forms adverbs from adjectives, causes softening

Derived terms

Old Polish terms suffixed with -e

Descendants

Polish: -e

Pohnpeian

Alternative forms

-et (etymology 2)

Etymology 1

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

Suffix

-e

Creates transitive verbs.

Derived terms

Pohnpeian terms suffixed with -e (transitive)

Related terms

-ih (transitive suffix) (from nouns)

Etymology 2

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

Suffix

-e

this/these, this/these one(s) here (demonstrative determinative suffix)

References

“-e”, in New Pohnpeian-English Online Dictionary‎^[10], Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaiʻi

Polish

Alternative forms

-ie

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-is

Proto-Slavic *-ь

Proto-Indo-European *-yós

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-jas

Proto-Slavic *-jь

Proto-Slavic *-ьje

Old Polish -e

Polish -e

Inherited from Old Polish -e.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɛ/

(Middle Polish) IPA^(key): /e/

Audio: (file)
Rhymes: -ɛ
Syllabification: -e
Homophones: e, ę, -ę

Suffix

-e n (feminine -a)

forms neuter nouns denoting a place, typically from a prepositional phrase
po + ‎bok + ‎-e → ‎pobocze
forms some plural forms
‎list + ‎-e → ‎liście (see liść)
forms adverbs from adjectives, causes softening
‎zwykły + ‎-e → ‎zwykle

Derived terms

Polish terms suffixed with -e

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Representing French feminine nouns.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /i/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɨ/

Suffix

-e f (proper noun-forming suffix)

forms the feminine of some proper nouns
‎Juliano + ‎-e → ‎Juliane

Etymology 2

A neologistic suffix that replaces -o and -a in nouns and adjectives.

Suffix

-e n (noun-forming suffix, plural -es)

(gender-neutral, neologism, informal) suffix used to form gender-neutral singular nouns
Synonym: -x

‎filho (“son”)/‎filha (“daughter”) + ‎-e → ‎filhe (“child”)

‎moço (“young man”)/‎moça (“young woman”) + ‎-e → ‎moce (“young person”)

‎amigo (“male friend”)/‎amiga (“female friend”) + ‎-e → ‎amigue (“friend”)

‎aluno (“male student”)/‎aluna (“female student”) + ‎-e → ‎alune (“student”)

Romani

Etymology

Compare Hindi -ए (-e).

Suffix

-e

Forms the nominative plural of vocalic oikoclitic masculine nouns
‎ćhavo (“Romani boy”) + ‎-e → ‎ćhave (“Romani boys”)
Forms the nominative plural of vocalic oikoclitic adjectives
Forms the oblique of oikoclitic adjectives
Attaches to the perfective stem to form the third-person plural past tense.

Usage notes

Few conservative dialects use -a to form the oblique feminine singular of oikoclitic adjectives.

Romanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -ae (“first-declension ending”).

Suffix

-e

(in the plural) -s (feminine/neuter)

Usage notes

This form of the plural is indefinite, and used for feminine nouns in the nominative/accusative and genitive/dative cases which end in -ă, and some neuter nouns (with may or may not take plural -uri):
mame, from mamă, fem.
vise (also visuri), from vis, neut.

Alternative forms

-le

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin -e (“second-declension vocative ending”).

Suffix

-e

Vocative singular (masculine/neuter)
Oh!

Usage notes

This suffixed used with masculine and neuter definite nouns in -l and -ul:

‎bărbatul (masc.) + ‎-e → ‎bărbatule!

‎tatăl (masc.) + ‎-e → ‎tatăle!

‎visul (neut.) + ‎-e → ‎visule!

This suffix is absorbed in masculine and neuter definite nouns in -le:

‎fratele (masc.) + ‎-e → ‎fratele!

‎numele (neut.) + ‎-e → ‎numele!

Related terms

-o

Etymology 3

Inherited from Latin -ere, the ending of the present active infinitive form of third conjugation verbs. Cognate with Spanish -er, Italian -ere, etc.

Suffix

-e

A suffix forming infinitives of many verbs.

Conjugation

conjugation of -e (third conjugation, past participle in -s)

number		singular			plural
infinitive			a -e
gerund			-ând
past participle			s
person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		eu	tu	el/ea	noi	voi	ei/ele
	present	-	-i	-e	-em	-eți	-
	imperfect	-eam	-eai	-ea	-eam	-eați	-eau
	simple perfect	sei	seși	se	serăm	serăți	seră
	pluperfect	sesem	seseși	sese	seserăm	seserăți	seseră
subjunctive		eu	tu	el/ea	noi	voi	ei/ele
subjunctive	present	să -	să -i	să -ă	să -em	să -eți	să -ă
imperative		—	tu	—	—	voi	—
	affirmative		-e			-eți
	negative		nu -e			nu -eți

Related terms

Saterland Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian -a, from Proto-West Germanic *-ōn. Cognates include West Frisian -e and German -en.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-ə/

Suffix

-e (type 2 form -je)

Used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives.

Conjugation

Conjugation of -e (weak type 1)
		present	past
grúundfoarme		-e
infinitive		tou -en

singular	iek	-e	-de
	du	-st	-dest
	hie/ju/dät	-t	-de
plural		-e	-den

		imperative
singular		-
plural		-et

		present	past
participle		-end	-d
auxiliary verb		—	häbe

Derived terms

Saterland Frisian terms suffixed with -e

floitje

References

Horst Haider Munske, editor (2001), “Das Saterfriesische”, in Handbuch des Friesischen [Handbook of Frisian studies], Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag, →ISBN, page 414

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ę.

Suffix

-e (Cyrillic spelling -е)

Suffix appended to words to create a neuter noun, usually denoting a young animal, plant, place name or is used as a collective noun.

Declension

Nouns denoting inanimate objects
	singular	plural
nominative	-e	-eta
genitive	-ta	-etā
dative	-etu	-etima
accusative	-e	-eta
vocative	-e	-eta
locative	-etu	-etima
instrumental	-etom	-etima

Nouns denoting animate objects
	singular	plural
nominative	-e	-ad
genitive	-ta	-adi
dative	-etu	-adi
accusative	-e	-ad
vocative	-e	-adi
locative	-etu	-adi
instrumental	-etom	-ađu / -adi

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Suffix

-e (Cyrillic spelling -е)

Suffix appended to the truncated stem (up to the second syllable) of a proper name to create a masculine or feminine hypocoristic.
‎Katarína + ‎-e → ‎Káte

‎Màrija + ‎-e → ‎Máre

‎Jȕrāj + ‎-e → ‎Júre

‎Màtija + ‎-e → ‎Máte

Etymology 3

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-e, from Proto-Indo-European *-e, not a desinence per se but a thematic vowel in e-grade.

Suffix

-e (Cyrillic spelling -е)

Suffix appended to the nominal stem to create vocative singular. Used for masculine and neuter a-stems.
‎vȗk + ‎-e → ‎vȗče (vocative singular)

Slovak

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-e.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /e/, [e]

Suffix

-e (adverb-forming suffix)

used to form adverbs from adjectives

Derived terms

Slovak terms suffixed with -e

Spanish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-e/ [-e]
Syllabification: -e

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -et, the third-person singular present active indicative ending of second conjugation verbs, and Latin -it, the third-person singular present active indicative ending of third and fourth conjugation verbs.

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

forms the third-person singular (also used with usted) present indicative of -er and -ir verbs

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin -em, the first-person singular present active subjunctive ending of first conjugation verbs, and Latin -et, the third-person singular present active subjunctive ending of first conjugation verbs.

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

forms the first- and third-person singular present subjunctive of -ar verbs
forms the third-person singular imperative form of -ar verbs

Etymology 3

Inherited from Latin -ē, Latin -e, and Latin -ī, the second-person singular present active imperative endings of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively.

Suffix

-e (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

forms the second-person singular imperative form of -er and -ir verbs

Etymology 4

Neologistic suffix between -a and -o.

Suffix

-e gender-neutral (noun-forming suffix, plural -es)

(neologism) forms gender-neutral words
‎hermano (“brother”)/‎hermana (“sister”) + ‎-e → ‎hermane (“sibling”)

‎niño (“boy”)/‎niña (“girl”) + ‎-e → ‎niñe (“child”)

‎amigo (“male friend”)/‎amiga (“female friend”) + ‎-e → ‎amigue (“friend”)

‎abogado (“male lawyer”)/‎abogada (“female lawyer”) + ‎-e → ‎abogade (“lawyer”)

Derived terms

forms gender-neutral words

abogade (“lawyer”)
abuele (“grandparent”)
alumne (“student”)
amigue (“friend”)
argentine (“Argentinian”)
elle (“they, sie (gender-neutral third-person pronoun)”)
enemigue (“enemy”)
extranjere (“foreigner”)
hermane (“sibling”)
hije (“offspring”)
latine (“someone of Latin American descent”)
médique (“physician”)
niete (“grandchild”)
niñe (“child”)
novie (“romantic partner”)
prime (“cousin”)
sobrine (“nibling”)
vecine (“neighbor”)

Swahili

Etymology 1

Other scripts
Ajami	ـيْ, ـيِ

Suffix

-e

(without TAM infix, with -si-, or with -ka-) subjunctive marker
ili mwende nyumbani ― such that you would go home
- 18th century, Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir, Al-Inkishafi‎^[12], translation from R. Allen (1946), “Inkishafi—a translation from the Swahili”, in African Studies, volume 5, number 4, →DOI, pages 243–249, stanza 11:
  هُنِلِزِ نَمِ كَلِ بَيْنِ ، لِوَاپُ نَسُرَ نِسِ كَتَيْ
  Hunelezi nami kali baini, liwapo na-sura nisi katae.
  Can't you tell it me plainly that I may admit it?
1. (without TAM infix) imperative marker
  ikumbukwe ― let it be remembered

Usage notes

Borrowed verbs with indicative form not ending in -a do not take this suffix.

Etymology 2

Suffix

-e

suffix used to derive a noun denoting a person or object undergoing an action
‎-vimba (“to swell”) + ‎-e → ‎uvimbe (“swelling, expansion”)

‎-umba (“to create”) + ‎-e → ‎kiumbe (“creature”)

Swedish

Suffix

-e

Conjugates verbs into the subjunctive mood (archaic except for the past subjunctive of vara: vore)
Marker of definiteness on past participles ending in -ad
Marker of plural on past participles ending in -ad
Marker of definiteness on superlatives ending in -ast
Marker of definiteness on adjectives describing nouns with masculine semantic gender (sex)
Creates diminutives of given names and certain nouns, -ie, -y
Synonyms: -is, -a, -an

‎frukost (“breakfast”) + ‎-e → ‎frugge (“brekkie”)

‎fisk (“fish”) + ‎-e → ‎firre (“fishie”)

‎Jonatan (“Jonathan”) + ‎-e → ‎Jonte (nickname of Jonatan)

Tagalog

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈe/ [ˈɛ]
Rhymes: -e
Syllabification: -e

Suffix

-e (verb-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ᜒ) (dialectal, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, colloquial)

alternative form of -i

Turkish

	preceding vowel
	a / ı / o / u	e / i / ö / ü
postconsonantal	-a	-e
postvocalic	-ya	-ye

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈ-e/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Turkic *-ke.

Suffix

-e (inflectional)

Form of -a after the vowels E / İ / Ö / Ü. (Dative case suffix.)

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Afroasiatic *-t

Proto-Semitic *-at-

Arabic ـَة (-a)bor.

Classical Persian ـَه (-a)bor.

Ottoman Turkish ـه (-e)

Turkish -e

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ـه (-e), borrowed from Classical Persian ـَه (-a), borrowed from Arabic ـَة (-a), from Proto-Semitic *-at-, from Proto-Afroasiatic *-t.

Suffix

-e

Arabic feminine suffix
‎şair (“poet”) + ‎-e → ‎şaire (“poetess”)

Etymology 3

Borrowed from French -é.

Suffix

-e (partially productive)

Used to make past participial adjectives out of Latinate words; -ate, -ated

Tzotzil

Suffix

-e (clitic)

Phrase-final clitic used when an article precedes at least one word.
ti vinike ― the man

References

Aissen, Judith (1987) Tzotzil Clause Structure, p. 3. Dordrecht: D. Reidel. →ISBN

Ye'kwana

Variant orthographies
ALIV	-e
Brazilian standard	-e
New Tribes	-e

Alternative forms

-ye, -ke, -∅ (allomorphs)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [-e]

Suffix

-e

Forms adverbs with a participle-like meaning from verbs; must be accompanied by the prefix t- and an indicator specifying the role of the verb argument to which the participle refers (intransitive argument w-, transitive agent n-, or transitive patient ∅-).
Forms adverbs from verbs, expressing the purpose of the movement described by a main motion verb or copula to which the derived term becomes subordinate: in order to, for the purpose of, to, for

Usage notes

This suffix can trigger syllable reduction on the preceding syllable. The suffix takes the form -ke when the preceding syllable is reducible and has an onset of k, -ye when the preceding syllable ends in i, -e when it ends in u or ü or a reduced syllable, and -∅ (a null suffix) after other vowels (a, e, o, ö).

It is unclear if t- -e is best analyzed as an adverbializing circumfix or as a separate unspecified person prefix t- and adverbializing suffix -e.

The derivation expressing destination of motion also takes prefixes.

References

Cáceres, Natalia (2011), “-e”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎^[13], Lyon, pages 151–152, 154, 437

[1] Leer, Jeff (1996), Comparative Athabaskan Lexicon‎^[1], volume (h)E-(h)u, Alaska Native Language Archive, page 3

[2] Anna Bugaeva (2014), “Reconsidering Causative Constructions in Ainu”, in Northern Language Studies‎^[2], Graduate School of Letters, Hokkaido University, pages 127-147

[3] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20180531050044/http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/2

[4] Hakulinen, Lauri. 1941–2000. Suomen kielen rakenne ja kehitys ('The Structure and Development of the Finnish Language'). Helsinki: Otava/Helsingin yliopisto.

[5] “-e, suf.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

[6] Myers, Sara (26 November 2014), “Chapter 2: Genitive Plural Nouns”, in An investigation of certain aspects of the genitive noun phrase in Middle English (1150-1500) (Thesis)‎^[3], University of Edinburgh, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2025-08-22, § 2.5.1, page 46.

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[2]

Irish emphatic suffixes
	person		after a broad consonant	after a slender consonant
singular	first		-sa	-se
	second		-sa	-se
	third	m	-san	-sean
	third	f	-sa	-se
plural	first		-na	-ne -e (after nn in pronouns)
	second		-sa	-se
	third		-san	-sean

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

See also

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Suffix

Usage notes

Etymology 2

Suffix

Usage notes

Ahtna

Etymology 1

Postposition

Inflection

References

Etymology 2

Suffix

Derived terms

References

Etymology 3

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

References

Etymology 4

Suffix

Derived terms

References

Ainu

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Suffix

See also

References

Albanian

Etymology

Suffix

Derived terms

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Czech

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Suffix

Etymology 2

Suffix

Etymology 3

Suffix

See also

Further reading

Danish

Etymology

Suffix

Derived terms

References

Dutch

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Suffix