-an

See also: Appendix:Variations of "an"

Languages (44)

Azerbaijani • Cebuano • Central Bikol • Chuukese • Cimbrian • Cornish • Czech • Danish • Finnish • French • Fula • German • Hiligaynon • Hungarian • Ilocano • Indonesian • Irish • Japanese • Kapampangan • Malay • Manx • Middle English • Mokilese • Norwegian Bokmål • Ojibwe • Old English • Old Galician-Portuguese • Old Norse • Old Saxon • Oromo • Palula • Polish • Romanian • Scottish Gaelic • Serbo-Croatian • Slovak • Somali • Spanish • Swedish • Tagalog • Turkish • Volapük • Welsh

Page categories

English

Alternative forms

-ian (euphonic variant, also spelled -aean or -æan)
-n (when added to a word ending in a)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Italic *-nosder.

Proto-Italic *-ānos

Latin -ānus

Old French -ainder.

Middle English -an

English -an

From Middle English -an, regularly -ain, -ein, -en, from Old French -ain, -ein, or before i, -en (modern French -ain, -en, feminine -aine, -enne), from Latin -ānus (feminine -āna), which forms adjectives of belonging or origin from a noun, being -nus [cognate with Ancient Greek -νος (-nos)] preceded by a vowel, from Proto-Indo-European *-nós. Cognate with English -en. Compare with -in, -ine.

Pronunciation

(Standard Southern British) IPA^(key): /ən/

Suffix

-an (adjective-forming suffix, comparative more -an, superlative most -an)
-an (noun-forming suffix, plural -ans)

Of or pertaining to; an adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. (Often added to words of Latin origin, but also used with words of other origins. When a word ends in a, -n is used instead.)
Synonyms: -al, -ar, -ese, -esque, -ic, -id, -ish, -like, -oid, -ous, -y

‎Rome + ‎-an → ‎Roman
One from, belonging to, relating to, or like.
Appended to nouns to form an occupation. (When males with a profession are distinguished from females, males are -an, females -(i)enne.)
‎comedy + ‎-an → ‎comedian

‎history + ‎-an → ‎historian
Appended to words indicating sugars to form a polysaccharide.
‎glucose + ‎-an → ‎glucan

‎dextrose + ‎-an → ‎dextran

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -an

Translations

of or pertaining to

Arabic: ـِيّ (ar) (-iyy)
Catalan: -à (ca)
Czech: -ský (cs)
Finnish: -lainen (fi), -läinen (fi)
Galician: -an m, -á f
German: -isch (de)
Hungarian: -i (hu), -s (hu)
Ido: -an-
Interlingua: -an
Italian: -ano (it)
Latin: -ānus
Portuguese: -ão (pt) m, -ano (pt) m, -ana f
Spanish: -ano (es)
Swedish: -sk, -isk (sv),

occupational suffix

Hungarian: -ász (hu), -ész (hu), -ikus
Interlingua: -ano m, -ana f

Anagrams

n.a., NA, -na, N/A, N.A., n/a, Na, na

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Inherited from Old Anatolian Turkish [Term?], from Proto-Turkic *-gan.

Suffix

	preceding vowel
	a / ı / o / u	e / ə / i̇ / ö / ü
postconsonantal	-an	-ən
postvocalic	-yan	-yən

-an

Postconsonantal form of -ən after the vowels A / I / O / U.

Cebuano

Alternative forms

-han

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

(Standard Cebuano) IPA^(key): /an/ [an̪]
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: -an

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix, inchoative gi- -an, contemplative -an, imperative -i, negative -i)

locative trigger verb suffix; to do at, in, on a place
Palitan nako ang tindahan og kendi
I will buy candy at the store (store is focused.)
1. directive verb suffix; to do at, towards someone
  Gikataw-an niya ang lalaki ― He laughed at the man
2. partitive verb suffix; to do to a part of something
  Gikuhaan niyag gamay ang keyk ― He took a little of the cake.
benefactive trigger verb suffix; to do something for someone/something else
Palitan nako ang bata og keyk
I will buy cake for the child (child is focused.)
1. causative verb affix; to do because of, due to
  Unsay gihilakan nimo? ― What is it you are crying about?
(with adjective bases) to consider something as
Lisoran siya magtinagalog ― He finds speaking in Tagalog hard
(with noun bases) to put something on someone; to give someone
Serohan ta ka ― I will give you a zero

Sapatosan nako ang bata ― I will put shoes on the child

Derived terms

Suffix

-an (noun-forming suffix)

(added to nouns and verbs) indicates a place where such objects are found, placed, or action done
Synonyms: -anan, ka- -an

‎humay (“rice”) + ‎-an → ‎humayan (“rice paddy”)

‎tinda (“to sell”) + ‎-an → ‎tindahan (“store”)

‎tuba (“palm toddy”) + ‎-an → ‎tubaan (“place where toddy is sold”)

‎basketbol + ‎-an → ‎basketbolan (“basketball court”)
(uncommon) indicates an object used as an instrument
Synonym: pang-

‎baid (“to sharpen”) + ‎-an → ‎bairan (“whetstone”)

Suffix

-an (adjective-forming suffix)

(added to nouns) characterized by having something in abundance; -ful
‎utok (“brain”) + ‎-an → ‎utokan (“brainy”)

‎kuwarta (“money”) + ‎-an → ‎kuwartahan (“rich”)
(uncommon, added to adjectives or verbs) characterized by being or doing such; -ly
Synonyms: -on, -anon

‎talaw (“to back off”) + ‎-an → ‎talawan (“cowardly”)

‎langas (“moving about a lot”) + ‎-an → ‎langasan (same meaning)

Derived terms

-in- -an

References

John U. Wolff (1972), A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan‎^[1] (overall work in Cebuano and English), Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, page 41

Central Bikol

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Suffix

-an

a place where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found
‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basurahan (“trash can”)
a place where the action expressed by the root is performed
‎kawat (“play”) + ‎-an → ‎kawatan (“playground”)

Chuukese

Suffix

-an

(added to possessive nouns) his, hers, its

Related terms

Chuukese possessive determiners
		small objects, concepts	large objects, living things	suffix
singular	first person	ai	nei	-ei
	second person	omw, om	noum	-om
	third person	an	noun	-an
plural	first person	äm (exclusive) ach (inclusive)	nöu̇m (exclusive) nöüch (inclusive)	-em (exclusive) -ach (inclusive)
	second person	ämi, ami	noumi	-emi
	third person	ar	nour	-er

Cimbrian

Etymology

From Middle High German -en, a merger of various terminations in Old High German reflecting different conjugational patterns, namely -an, -ōn, -en (-ien), and -nen, from Proto-Germanic *-aną, *-ōną, *-janą, *-āną, and *-naną. Cognate with German -en.

Suffix

-an

A suffix of all verbs in their infinitive form.

Cornish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-agnos. Cognate with Welsh -an.

Suffix

-an

diminutive suffix

Derived terms

Cornish terms suffixed with -an

Czech

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Slavic *-janъ

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos

Proto-Slavic *-inъ

Proto-Slavic *-janinъ

Old Czech -ěnín

Czech -an

Inherited from Old Czech -ěnín.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ an]

Suffix

-an m anim (noun-forming suffix, female equivalent -anka)

forms nouns, including inhabitant names

Derived terms

Czech terms suffixed with -an

Danish

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin -anus.

Suffix

-an

-an; making a noun, describing a person or characteristic
‎-an → ‎human

‎-an → ‎sopran
(organic chemistry) suffix used for acyclic saturated hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, etc.).

References

“-an” in Den Danske Ordbog

Finnish

Etymology 1

From earlier -han, -hVn (now dialectal), from Proto-Finnic *-hën, *-sën (passive or reflexive suffix), the same as the third-person singular possessive suffix (see the possessive suffix entry on -Vn). Initial -ta- is from the passive marker *-tta-.

Suffix

-an (front-vowel variant -än, linguistic notation -An)

(personal) Forms the impersonal indicative present forms of verbs, appended to the first infinitive.

Usage notes

Attached to the passive verb stem.

Etymology 2

See -Vn (illative suffix).

Suffix

-an (front-vowel variant -än, linguistic notation -An)

one form of -Vn (illative case ending)
‎laiva + ‎-an → ‎laivaan

Etymology 3

See -Vn (possessive suffix).

Suffix

-an (front-vowel variant -än, linguistic notation -An)

(possessive) A variant for the third-person suffix -nsa.

Usage notes

See the usage notes under -Vn and -nsa.

Anagrams

-na

French

Pronunciation

Audio (France (Somain)): (file)

Suffix

-an m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ans, feminine -ane)
-an (adjective-forming suffix, feminine -ane, masculine plural -ans, feminine plural -anes)

alternative form of -ain

Derived terms

Fula

Affix

-an

(Pulaar) indicates that the subject is doing the verb for someone or something
‎defde (“to cook”) + ‎-an → ‎defande (“to cook for someone”)

References

M. Niang (1997), Pulaar–English English–Pulaar Standard Dictionary, New York: Hippocrene Books

German

Etymology

From Latin -ānus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /aːn/

Suffix

-an n (genitive -ans, plural -ane)

(organic chemistry) -ane

Related terms

Hiligaynon

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *-an

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an

Proto-Philippine *-an

Hiligaynon -an

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *-an.

Suffix

-an

used to form place names
‎tigbaw (“common reed”) + ‎-an → ‎Tigbauan (“the place where there is common reed”)

‎balas (“sand”) + ‎-an → ‎Balasan (“the place where there is sand”)
used to form adjectives

Hungarian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ɒn]
Rhymes: -ɒn

Etymology 1

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

Suffix

-an

(deadjectival adverb-forming suffix) Added to an adjective to create an adverb. However, it cannot be added to adjectives suffixed with -i, -beli, -nyi, -tlan -talan, -atlan.
‎pontos (“accurate”) + ‎-an → ‎pontosan (“accurately”)
(denumeral and depronominal adverb-forming suffix) Added to a numeral or a pronoun with this sense to create an adverb, expressing the number of people.
‎hat (“six”) + ‎-an → ‎hatan (“six people, six of us/you/them”)

Hatan mentünk moziba. ― Six of us went to the cinema.

‎nyolc (“eight”) + ‎-an → ‎nyolcan (“eight people, eight of us/you/them”)

Nyolcan vannak a szobában. ― There are eight people in the room.

‎hány (“how many”) + ‎-an → ‎hányan (“how many (of us/you/them)”)

‎néhány (“some, a few”) + ‎-an → ‎néhányan (“some (of us/you/them)”)

‎sok (“many”) + ‎-an → ‎sokan (“many (of us/you/them)”)

Sokan vannak a meghívottak, de kevesen a választottak. ― For many are called, but few are chosen.

‎millió (“million”) + ‎-an → ‎millióan (“a million (of us/you/them)”)

Usage notes

(deadjectival adverb-forming suffix) Variants:
-n is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.

-an is added to most back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-on is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-en is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant, as well as some front-vowel words ending in a vowel. Their original word-final vowel may be lost (e.g. könnyű) or supplemented with a consonant (e.g. bő, hű).
(denumeral and depronominal adverb-forming suffix) Variants:
-n is added to some (very few) words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.

-an is added to back-vowel words ending in a consonant

-en is added to front-vowel words ending in a consonant, as well as some front-vowel words ending in a vowel. Their original word-final vowel may be lost (e.g. kettő).

Derived terms

Hungarian adverbs suffixed with -an

Hungarian adverbs suffixed with -an (number)

Etymology 2

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

Suffix

-an

(verb-forming suffix) Added to a stem ― often an onomatopoeia ― to form a verb expressing an instantaneous action.
kattan (“to click, to make one clicking sound”)

robban (“to explode”)

Usage notes

(verb-forming suffix) Variants:
-on is added to some back-vowel words

-an is added to back-vowel words

-en is added to front-vowel words

Derived terms

Hungarian verbs suffixed with -an

Ilocano

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *-an

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an

Proto-Philippine *-an

Ilocano -an

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *-an.

Suffix

-an (perfective -in- -an, past progressive CinVC- -an, progressive CVC- -an, future -anto, potentive ma- -an) (verb-forming suffix)

specifies directional focus
denotes an action performed by the actor on behalf of someone else (in focused object position)
sometimes used to express augmentation or diminishment
sometimes specifies human patient, as opposed to -en
used to express payment or offering
may indicate that something is earned by the action

Suffix

-an

(of body parts) used to denote existence or unusual size
used to name species for their renowned large body part

Suffix

-an (nominalizing suffix)

used for instrumental purposes
used for finite verbs; forms aspectual gerunds
used for denoting occupation; forms agentive nouns

Derived terms

Category Ilocano terms prefixed with -an not found

Related terms

References

Rubino, Carl Ralph Galvez (2000), “-an”, in Byron W. Bender, editor, Ilocano Dictionary and Grammar: Ilocano-English, English-Ilocano‎^[2] (overall work in English and Ilocano), Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, pages 37-38

Indonesian

Pronunciation

(Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈan/ [ˈan]
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: -an

Etymology 1

From Malay -an, from Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an. False cognate of English -ant, -and, and Arabic ان (“adjective forming suffix”).

Suffix

-an

added to a noun
1. suffix for collectivity
  ‎laut (“sea”) + ‎-an → ‎lautan (“ocean”)
2. suffix for place
  ‎pangkal (“origin”) + ‎-an → ‎pangkalan (“base”)
3. suffix for value
  ‎ribu (“thousand”) + ‎-an → ‎ribuan
4. suffix for measurement result; -s
  ‎kilo (“kilo”) + ‎-an → ‎kiloan
5. (colloquial) -s; suffix for quantity (about value)
  ‎ratus (“hundred”) + ‎-an → ‎ratusan (“hundreds”)
6. -ly, specifying time intervals, having the sense of "occurring at such intervals"
  ‎hari (“day”) + ‎-an → ‎harian (“daily”)
added to a verb to create a noun
1. suffix for object
  ‎makan (“to eat”) + ‎-an → ‎makanan (“food”)
2. suffix for place
  ‎kubur (“to bury”) + ‎-an → ‎kuburan (“grave”)
3. suffix for result
  ‎didik (“to educate”) + ‎-an → ‎didikan
4. suffix for tool
  ‎timbang (“to weigh”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“balance”)
5. suffix for way or method
  ‎pimpin (“to lead”) + ‎-an → ‎pimpinan (“leader”)
added to an adjective to create a noun
1. suffix for having property
  ‎asin (“salty”) + ‎-an → ‎asinan (“pickle”)
2. (colloquial) suffix for intensity (quality or quantity)
  ‎tinggi (“high”) + ‎-an → ‎tinggian (“higher”)
suffix for similarity

Etymology 2

Semantic loan from Javanese -ꦲꦤ꧀ (-an).

Suffix

-an

verb-forming
Synonym: ber-
1. (colloquial) to use of [base]
  ‎sepeda (“bicycle”) + ‎-an → ‎sepedaan (“to ride a bicycle”)
2. (colloquial) to hold or to have [base]
  ‎selamat (“safe”) + ‎-an → ‎selamatan (“to celebrate with offerings to the spirits to assure safety”)
  
  ‎rujak (“a kind of salad”) + ‎-an → ‎rujakan (“to have rujak to be eaten or made”)
3. (colloquial) to do as indicated by the [base]
  ‎sendiri (“alone”) + ‎-an → ‎sendirian (“by oneself”)
noun-forming
1. (colloquial) the location of [base]
  ‎sekolah (“school”) + ‎-an → ‎sekolahan (“school complex”)
2. (colloquial) the cost of [base]
  ‎becak (“rickshaw”) + ‎-an → ‎becakan (“rickshaw fare”)
3. (colloquial) [base]-usage
  ‎sepeda (“bicycle”) + ‎-an → ‎sepedaan (“bicycle-riding”)
4. (colloquial) event of [base]
  ‎selamat (“safe”) + ‎-an → ‎selamatan (“celebration with offerings to the spirits to assure safety”)
  
  ‎rujak (“a kind of salad”) + ‎-an → ‎rujakan (“rujak eating or production”)
  
  ‎susu (“milk”) + ‎-an → ‎susuan (“breast-feeding period”)

Etymology 3

Semantic loan from Javanese -ꦲꦼꦤ꧀ (-en).

Suffix

-an

(colloquial) suffering of [base]
‎koreng (“ulcer”) + ‎-an → ‎korengan (“serious infection disease”)

‎uban (“grey hair”) + ‎-an → ‎ubanan (“grey haired condition”)

Derived terms

Indonesian terms suffixed with -an

References

Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (2017), Tata Bahasa Baku Bahasa Indonesia [Standard Grammar of Indonesian Language]‎^[3] (in Indonesian), 4 edition, Jakarta: Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, →ISBN, archived from the original on 13 June 2022
James N. Sneddon (2010), Indonesian : a comprehensive grammar, 2 edition, London: Roultedge, →ISBN, →OCLC

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish -on, -an, -en.^[1]

Suffix

-an

forms verbal nouns

Derived terms

Irish terms suffixed with -an

References

^ Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940) [1909], D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, translation of Handbuch des Alt-Irischen (in German), →ISBN, § 736, page 454; reprinted 2017

Japanese

Romanization

-an

Rōmaji transcription of あん

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

-nan

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *-an

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an

Proto-Philippine *-an

Kapampangan -an

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an. Compare Tagalog -an Central Bikol -an, Cebuano -an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Suffix

-an

object trigger: to do something to a person or a thing
Buklatan me ining lata. ― (You) open this can (can is focused).)
object trigger: to cause something to become; to make; because; due
Begalan neng Julia ing pamamasa. ― Julia slowed down her reading. (reading is focused.)
directional trigger: to do something in the direction of
Salubungan ke I Reniel. ― I'm going to meet Reniel. (Reniel is focused).)
benefactive trigger: to do something for
Panagan keng pamangan I Simon. ― I'll leave some food for Simon. (food is focused).)
object trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Wawasan-wasan koreng pinggan. ― I'm washing the plates. (The plates is focused).)
directional trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something in the direction of, occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Susopan-sopan neng Eli I Kate. ― Eli helped Kate a bit. (Kate is focused).)
object trigger: to perform the action of the verb on something
Esusulatanan ing libru. ― Don't write anything on the book.

Suffix

-an

Forms locative nouns indicating places where a significant object referred to by the root is placed, planted, or commonly found.
‎tambay (“idle”) + ‎-an → ‎tambayan (“place to hangout”)

‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basuran (“trash can”)
Forms Locative nouns for places where the root's action occurs
‎pagawa (“create”) + ‎-an → ‎pagawaan (“workshop”)

‎sake (“ride”) + ‎-an → ‎sakayan (“station, car, vehicle...”)
Forms nouns for periods when the root's action is collectively performed.
‎libang (“hobby”) + ‎-an → ‎libangan (“entertainment”)

‎pilub (“entry, class, work”) + ‎-an → ‎piluban (“school time, school year”)
Forms nouns indicating a tool or an object that is used to perform what is meant by the root
‎oras (“time”) + ‎-an → ‎orasan (“clock, watch”)

‎timbang (“weight”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“weighing scale”)
Forms nouns signifying reciprocal or joint performance of the action expressed by the root
‎terak (“dance”) + ‎-an → ‎terakan (“dancing together”)

‎dalit (“sing”) + ‎-an → ‎dalitan (“singing together”)
Used to create a diminutive, pretensive, or imitative form of something (used with reduplication of root word)
‎bale (“house”) + ‎-an → ‎bale-balayan (“toy house”)

‎biasa (“knowledge”) + ‎-an → ‎biasa-biasan (“know-it-all”)

‎baril (“gun”) + ‎-an → ‎baril-barilan (“toy gun”)

Suffix

-an

(appended to numbers) Used to indicate groups.
‎Adua (“two”) + ‎-an → ‎aduaan (“in twos, two at a time”)

‎Atlu (“three”) + ‎-an → ‎atluan (“in groups of three, three at a time”)

Usage notes

Phoneme change can occur by adding /n/.
‎Samasan + ‎-an → ‎samasnan

‎kabiasa + ‎-an → ‎kabiasnan

‎Kutang + ‎-an → ‎kutnan
Sometimes, the final vowel of the root word disappears when the suffix is added.
‎dakap + ‎-an → ‎dakpan

‎takap + ‎-an → ‎takpan

‎talan + ‎-an → ‎talnan
Due to allophony, /d/ turns into /r/ when inserted before -an.
‎lugud + ‎-an → ‎luguran

‎bakud + ‎-an → ‎bakuran

‎bayad + ‎-an → ‎bayaran

Derived terms

Related terms

Malay

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayic *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-an/
- (after consonant) IPA^(key): [-an]^{[n 1]}
- (after [u]) IPA^(key): [-wan]
- (after [i]) IPA^(key): [-jan]
- (after non-[i] or [u] vowel) IPA^(key): [-ʔan]
Hyphenation: -an

Suffix

-an (Jawi spelling after consonant or [i] ـن, Jawi spelling after [u] ـان, Jawi spelling after non-[i] or [u] vowel ـاءن)

Forms a noun representing the result or product of an action, or the object being acted upon.
‎tulis (“to write”) + ‎-an → ‎tulisan (“writing; something written”)

‎makan (“to eat”) + ‎-an → ‎makanan (“food; something eaten”)
Forms a noun representing a tool or instrument used to perform an action.
‎timbang (“to weigh”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“a weighing scale”)

‎tapis (“to filter”) + ‎-an → ‎tapisan (“a filter; a strainer”)
Forms a noun representing a place or location associated with the action.
‎kurung (“to confine”) + ‎-an → ‎kurungan (“a cage; a prison”)

‎henti (“to stop”) + ‎-an → ‎hentian (“a stop; a station”)
Forms a noun representing a collection, variety, or large expanse of something.
‎laut (“sea”) + ‎-an → ‎lautan (“ocean; vast sea”)

‎sayur (“vegetable”) + ‎-an → ‎sayur-sayuran (“a variety of vegetables”)
Forms a noun or adjective indicating something that resembles the root or possesses its quality.
‎manis (“sweet”) + ‎-an → ‎manisan (“sweets; candy”)

‎kuning (“yellow”) + ‎-an → ‎kekuningan (“yellowish”)

Usage notes

^ For some speakers, when the Etymology 1 form of this suffix (along with -i) is added to a stem that starts with any consonant except /r/, the consonant would be geminated, so that tarikan (“attraction”) and makanan (“food”) which respectively are affixations of tarik (“to pull”) and makan (“to eat”) with the -an suffix, are pronounced as /tarikkan/ [ta.riʔ.kan] and /makannan/ [ma.kan.nan], not as /tarikan/ [ta.ri.kan] and /makanan/ [ma.ka.nan].

Descendants

Indonesian: -an

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English -ant, from Middle English -ant, -aunt, partly from Old French -ant, from Latin -āns; and partly (in adjectival derivations) continuing Middle English -ant, a variant of -and, -end, from Old English -ende (present participle ending).

Pronunciation

(English-based) IPA^(key): [-ən]
(spelling-based) IPA^(key): [-an]
Hyphenation: -an

Suffix

-an (Jawi spelling ـن)

(unproductive) Forms words borrowed from English ending in -ant.
‎-an → ‎militan (“militant”)

‎-an → ‎reaktan (“reactant”)

Derived terms

Malay terms suffixed with -an

Manx

Etymology

From Old Irish -án, from Primitive Irish -ᚐᚌᚅᚔ (-agni).

Suffix

-an m

alternative form of -ane

Derived terms

Manx terms suffixed with -an

Middle English

Suffix

-an

alternative form of -ene

Mokilese

Suffix

-an

Used to form stative verbs from nouns

References

Harrison, Sheldon P.; Albert, Salich Y. (1977), Mokilese-English Dictionary‎^[4], Honolulu: The University Press of Hawaii, →ISBN, page 8

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑːn/
Rhymes: -ɑːn
Hyphenation: -an

Etymology 1

Derived from Latin -ānus (“of or pertaining to; noun- and adjective-forming suffix”), with many individual words entering Bokmål through other European languages.

Compare Danish -an, Swedish -an and German -an (“noun-forming suffix”).

Suffix

-an m (definite singular -anen, indefinite plural -aner, definite plural -anene)

A suffix occurring in masculine nouns, especially learned loanwords.
membran (“membrane”)

meridian (“meridian”)

Usage notes

Nouns containing this suffix normally form the definite singular in -anen, the indefinite plural in -aner and the definite plural in -anene:
- membran (“membrane”) — membranen (“the membrane”) — membraner (“membranes”) — membranene (“the membranes”)
- veteran (“veteran”) — veteranen (“the veteran”) — veteraner (“veterans”) — veteranene (“the veterans”)
The ending is found chiefly in borrowed and learned vocabulary and is not freely added to arbitrary native Bokmål words.
The precise historical formation and immediate source language may differ between individual words.

Derived terms

dekan (“dean”)
median (“median”)
membran (“membrane”)
meridian (“meridian”)
roman (“novel”)
sopran (“soprano”)
veteran (“veteran”)

Etymology 2

Ultimately from Latin -ānus (“noun- and adjective-forming suffix”), specialized through international chemical nomenclature.

Compare Danish -an, Swedish -an and German -an, as well as -ane (“alkane-name ending”).

Suffix

-an n (definite singular -anet, indefinite plural -an, definite plural -ana)

(organic chemistry) A suffix used in the names of alkanes, saturated acyclic hydrocarbons.
metan (“methane”)

etan (“ethane”)

propan (“propane”)

butan (“butane”)

Usage notes

In systematic alkane names, -an indicates that the compound is a saturated hydrocarbon containing only single carbon–carbon bonds.
The first four members of the series have the retained names metan (“methane”), etan (“ethane”), propan (“propane”) and butan (“butane”). Longer unbranched alkanes are named using a numerical stem followed by -an.
As a neuter suffix, it has definite singular -anet, an unchanged indefinite plural in -an, and definite plural -ana.
The corresponding endings for hydrocarbons containing double and triple bonds are -en and -yn, respectively.

Derived terms

metan (“methane”)
etan (“ethane”)
propan (“propane”)
butan (“butane”)
pentan (“pentane”)
heksan (“hexane”)
heptan (“heptane”)
oktan (“octane”)
nonan (“nonane”)
dekan (“decane”)

Etymology 3

Derived from Latin -ānus (“of or pertaining to”), often through learned words borrowed from other European languages.

Compare Danish -an, Swedish -an and German -an (“adjective-forming suffix”).

Suffix

-an (neuter singular -ant, definite singular and plural -ane)

A suffix occurring in adjectives and expressing that something is of the kind or has the characteristics indicated by the base.
human (“humane, human”)

momentan (“momentary, instantaneous”)

simultan (“simultaneous”)

Usage notes

Adjectives in -an normally form the neuter singular in -ant and the definite singular and plural in -ane:
- human (“humane, human”) — humant (“humane, human; neuter singular”) — humane (“humane, human; definite singular and plural”)
- spontan (“spontaneous”) — spontant (“spontaneous; neuter singular”) — spontane (“spontaneous; definite singular and plural”)
- urban (“urban”) — urbant (“urban; neuter singular”) — urbane (“urban; definite singular and plural”)
The suffix occurs chiefly in learned and international vocabulary.

Derived terms

human (“humane, human”)
mediterran (“Mediterranean”)
momentan (“momentary, instantaneous”)
profan (“profane, secular”)
simultan (“simultaneous”)
spontan (“spontaneous”)
urban (“urban”)

References

“-an” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
“-an” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).
Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013, section P-15.1.7.1.1.

Ojibwe

Final

-an

be in a state or condition

Derived terms

waaban
aawan

References

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

Suffix

-an

A suffix denoting the plural of an inanimate noun
A suffix denoting the obviative form of an animate noun
A suffix denoting the second-person singular imperative of a transitive inanimate verb (vti)

Usage notes

As the suffix denoting the second-person singular imperative form, -an also acts as the class marker for unmarked (-am theme) transitive inanimate verbs (vti).

Old English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑn/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *-aną and Proto-Germanic *-janą.

Suffix

-an (verb inflectional suffix)

marks the infinitive of most strong, class I weak, and preterite-present verbs (exceptions are verbs like flēon (“to flee”))
singan ― to sing

niman ― to take

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix)

forms transitive, often causative, class I weak verbs from nouns and adjectives, with i-mutation
‎fōda (“food”) + ‎-an → ‎fēdan (“to feed”)

‎dōm (“judgment”) + ‎-an → ‎dēman (“to judge, to decide”)

‎fūl (“dirty, foul”) + ‎-an → ‎fȳlan (“to befoul, to defile, to pollute”)

‎full (“full”) + ‎-an → ‎fyllan (“to fill”)

‎frōfor (“consolation, joy”) + ‎-an → ‎frēfran (“to console, to cheer”)

Conjugation

Conjugation of -an (weak, class 1)

indicative mood	present tense	past tense
infinitive	-an	-enne
first person singular	-e	-de
second person singular	-est, -st	-dest
third person singular	-eþ, -þ	-de
plural	-aþ	-don
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	-e	-de
plural	-en	-den
imperative
singular	-
plural	-aþ
participle	present	past
	-ende	-ed

Conjugation of -an (weak class 1 Anglian)

🛈 This feature is under development and may not always produce the expected forms

indicative mood	present tense	past tense
infinitive	-an¹	-enne, -anne
first person singular	-u, -e	-de
second person singular	-es³	-des³
third person singular	-eþ²	-de
plural	-aþ²	-dun, -don
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	-e	-de
plural	-en¹	-den¹
imperative
singular	-
plural	-aþ²
participle	present	past
	-ende	-ed

¹In Northumbrian, final -n was regularly lost from these forms
²In Late Northumbrian, final -þ was frequently changed to -s
³In Mercian, final -t was sometimes added to these forms due to West Saxon influence

Descendants

Middle English: -en, -e, -yn (especially Norfolk), -n (after vowels)
- English: -en (obsolete)
- → Middle Scots: -en, -in (literary, under Chaucerian influence)

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *-anā, from Proto-Germanic *-anē.

Alternative forms

-ane

Suffix

-an (adverb-forming suffix)

forms adverbs with ablative direction
ēastan ― from the east

westan ― from the west

Etymology 3

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *-an, from a conflation of several Proto-Germanic n-stem suffixes: *-anų (accusative singular), *-aniz (genitive singular, nominative/vocative plural) and *-anunz (accusative plural).

Supplanted Proto-West Germanic *-ōn during the prehistory of Old English except for in relic forms such as ēastron and foldu.

Suffix

-an (noun inflectional suffix)

marks the accusative, genitive, and dative singular and nominative and accusative plural of n-stem nouns
beran ― bear, bear's, bears

Declension

Weak:

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

Descendants

Middle English: -en
- English: -en (mostly unproductive)
- Middle Scots: -n, -en, -in (unproductive, in e.g. ene and owsyn)
  - Scots: -n, -en (unproductive, in e.g. een and ousen)

Etymology 4

Suffix

-an (verb inflectional suffix)

alternative form of -on (strong plural past indicative suffix)

Etymology 5

Suffix

-an (adjective inflectional suffix)

marks the following inflections of weak adjectives:
1. masculine and feminine accusative, genitive, dative, and instrumental singular
2. neuter genitive, dative, and instrumental singular
3. masculine, feminine, and neuter nominative and accusative plural

Etymology 6

Suffix

-an (noun and adjective inflectional suffix)

(Late Old English) alternative form of -um

Usage notes

This form appears in late texts either due to reduction of the original -um ending, influence from the n-stem oblique singular and nominative/accusative plural -an, or most likely, a combination of both.

Old Galician-Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -ant.

Suffix

-an (1st conj.)

a suffix indicating the third-person plural indicative present of a verb in -ar
‎amar (“to love”) + ‎-an → ‎aman (“[They] love”)

‎cantar (“to sing”) + ‎-an → ‎cantan (“[They] sing”)

Descendants

Galician: -an
Portuguese: -am

Old Norse

Etymology 1

Presumably from Proto-Germanic *-ōniz.

Suffix

-an

(deverbative suffix) used to derive nouns from class 2 weak verbs
‎friða (“to pacify”) + ‎-an → ‎friðan (“pacifying”)

‎sanna (“to assert, prove”) + ‎-an → ‎sannan (“assertion, confirmation”)

‎synja (“to deny”) + ‎-an → ‎synjan (“denial”)

Derived terms

Old Norse terms suffixed with -un

skipun

skǫpun

tǫpun

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Norse -ᚨᚾᚨ (-ana), from Proto-Germanic *-anē.

Suffix

-an

forms adverbs with ablative direction

Derived terms

Old Norse terms suffixed with -an (ablative adverb)

Etymology 3

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

Suffix

-an

strong masculine accusative singular ending of adjectives

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-aną.

Suffix

-an

(verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of strong verbs (exceptions are a few verbs ending in -ian like biddian or liggian)
drinkan (“to drink”)

hwerƀan (“to travel”)

Oromo

Etymology

Cognate with Borana -ani.

Suffix

-an

(obsolete, dialectal) plural suffix.

Derived terms

aannan (“milk”)
afaan (“mouth”)
bishaan (“water”)
fincaan (“urine”)
foon (“meat”)
isaan (“they”)
isin (“you (pl.)”)
-wwan (plural suffix)

Palula

Etymology

Inherited from Sanskrit -अन्ति (-anti).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-an/

Suffix

-an

third person plural suffix

Alternative forms

-íin (with e-ending verb stems)
-óon (with a-ending verb stems)
-en (Biori)
-éen (with e-ending verb stems, Biori)
-áan (with a-ending verb stems, Biori)

References

Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “-an”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎^[5], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Slavic *-anъ

Proto-Indo-European *-(e-)nós

Proto-Slavic *-ěnъ

Old Polish -any

Polish -anybf.

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Italic *-nosder.

Proto-Italic *-ānos

Latin -ānusbor.

Polish -an

Back-formation from -any, or borrowed from Latin -ānus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: -an

Suffix

-an m

(chemistry) -ate, used to form names of derivates of oxyacids whose name ends with -owy (-ic)
‎chlor (“chlorine”) + ‎-an → ‎chloran (“chlorate”)
forms people
‎młody + ‎-an → ‎młodzian

Declension

Inanimate declension:

Declension of *-an*
	singular	plural
nominative	-an	-any
genitive	-anu	-anów
dative	-anowi	-anom
accusative	-an	-any
instrumental	-anem	-anami
locative	-anie	-anach
vocative	-anie	-any

Animate declension:

Declension of *-an*
	singular	plural
nominative	-an	-ani, -any¹
genitive	-ana	-anów
dative	-anowi	-anom
accusative	-ana	-anów
instrumental	-anem	-anami
locative	-anie	-anach
vocative	-anie	-ani

¹Deprecative.

Derived terms

Romanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Italic *-nosder.

Proto-Italic *-ānos

Latin -anuslbor.

Romanian -an

Learned borrowing from Latin -anus. Doublet of -ân.

Suffix

-an m or n (feminine singular -ană, masculine plural -ani, feminine/neuter plural -ane)

Forms adjectives and nouns describing things and characteristics of a city, region, or country; -an
‎Australia (“Australia”) + ‎-an → ‎australian (“Australian”)

‎America (“America”) + ‎-an → ‎american (“American”)

Usage notes

For the countries that end in -ia, the plural form of the suffix is -ieni when masculine and -iene when feminine/neuter.

Etymology 2

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

Suffix

-an m or n (feminine singular -ană, masculine plural -ani, feminine/neuter plural -ane)

Added to nouns and adjectives as an augmentative suffix.
‎gras (“fat”) + ‎-an → ‎grăsan (“fatso”)
Forms names of male animals.
‎gâscă (“goose”) + ‎-an → ‎gâscan (“gander”)

Declension

Declension of *-an*
		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative- accusative	indefinite	-an		-ană	-ani	-ane
nominative- accusative	definite	-anul		-ana	-anii	-anele
genitive- dative	indefinite	-an		-ane	-ani	-ane
genitive- dative	definite	-anului		-anei	-anilor	-anelor

Derived terms

Romanian terms suffixed with -an

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology 1

From Middle Irish [Term?], from Old Irish -án.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-an/
Note the difference with Etymology 2

Suffix

-an m

A masculine suffix used to form nouns meaning a smaller form of something, often used for male given names.
‎crùb (“dug”) + ‎-an → ‎crùban (“crouching”)

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Originally the Old Irish accusative and vocative plural ending of n-stem nouns. For example Old Irish imbliu, vocative/accusative plural imblenna. Cognate with Irish -anna, Manx -yn.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ən/
Note the difference with Etymology 1

Suffix

-an

Used to form the regular nominative plurals of nouns.
‎clach (“stone”) + ‎-an → ‎clachan (“stones”)

References

Mark, Colin (2003), The Gaelic–English dictionary, London: Routledge, →ISBN, page 641

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology 1

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

Suffix

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

Suffix appended to words to create a masculine noun, usually denoting a (often negative) feature or endearment.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ьnъ.

Suffix

-an (Cyrillic spelling -ан)

Suffix appended to words to create an adjective.
‎jad(iti) + ‎-an → ‎jadan (“miserable”)

Derived terms

Serbo-Croatian terms suffixed with -an

Slovak

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Balto-Slavic *-ēnas

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos

Proto-Slavic *-inъ

Proto-Slavic *-ěninъ

Slovak -an

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-ěninъ.

Pronunciation

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

Suffix

-an m pers

suffix used to form masculine demonyms from the names of places (cities, countries, regions)
‎Prievidza + ‎-an → ‎Prievidžan (“Prievidza inhabitant”)

‎Liptovský Mikuláš + ‎-an → ‎Liptovskomikulášan (“Liptovský Mikuláš inhabitant”)

‎Paríž (“Paris”) + ‎-an → ‎Parížan (“Parisian”)

‎Rím (“Rome”) + ‎-an → ‎Riman (“Roman”)

‎sever (“North”) + ‎-an → ‎severan (“Northerner”)

‎ostrov (“island”) + ‎-an → ‎ostrovan (“islander”)
suffix used to form agent nouns from verbs, typically denoting a person characterized by excessive or negative behavior
‎ožrať sa (“to get drunk”) + ‎-an → ‎ožran (“drunkard”)

‎pije (“he drinks”) + ‎-an → ‎pijan (“drunkard; heavy drinker”)

Usage notes

In Slovak, the formation of masculine demonyms (names of inhabitants) is closely tied to the corresponding adjective ending in -ský or -cký. The choice between -an, -čan, and -šťan follows three primary patterns:
1. Stems with -ský (where -s- is not part of the stem):
  The suffix -ský is removed and replaced by either -an or -čan. The choice depends usually on the final consonant of the stem, although these are not exact rules:
  1. If the stem ends in a sibilant (s, z, š, ž, c, dz, č, dž), -an is usually preferred (e.g., Praha → pražský → Pražan).
  2. If the stem ends in any other consonant, -čan is the standard choice (e.g., Bratislava → bratislavský → Bratislavčan).
2. Stems with -ský (where -s- is merged with the stem):
  If the adjective's -sk- cluster is the result of assimilation or reduction (e.g., novoveský from Nová Ves or mestský from mesto), the suffix -šťan is applied.
  
  Examples: Nová Ves → novoveský → Novovešťan; mesto → mestský (pron. as “meský”) → mešťan.
3. Stems with -cký:
  The adjectival ending -cký is removed and replaced by the suffix -čan.
  
  Examples: Maroko → marocký → Maročan; Belgicko → belgický → Belgičan.
The suffix -an causes the preceding consonant to soften, e.g. Čína → čínsky → Číňan or Čile → čilský → Čiľan, whereas -čan always preserves the original hardness of the stem.
While these rules cover the vast majority of cases, exceptions exist due to historical development (e.g. Turiec → Turčan, Orava → Oravan).
The feminine equivalent is formed using the suffix -anka (-an + -ka; e.g., Belgičan → Belgičanka).

Declension

Declension of *-an*
(pattern *chlap*)
	singular	plural
nominative	-an	-ania
genitive	-ana	-anov
dative	-anovi	-anom
accusative	-ana	-anov
locative	-anovi	-anoch
instrumental	-anom	-anmi

Derived terms

Slovak terms suffixed with -an

Somali

Etymology

Compare Rendille -an.

Suffix

-án

Forms adjectives from verbs and nouns.

Derived terms

Somali terms suffixed with -an

cagaaran

References

Saeed, John (1999), Somali, John Benjamins Publishing, page 147

Spanish

Etymology 1

From Latin -ant, the third-person plural present active indicative ending of first conjugation verbs. Cognate with Asturian and Catalan -en, French -ent, Italian -ano, Portuguese -am, Romanian -ă.

Suffix

-an

third-person plural present indicative of -ar

Etymology 2

From Latin -eant, Latin -ant, and Latin -iant, the third-person plural present active subjunctive endings of second, third, and fourth conjugation verbs, respectively.

Suffix

-an

inflection of -er:
1. third-person plural present subjunctive
2. third-person plural imperative
inflection of -ir:
1. third-person plural present subjunctive
2. third-person plural imperative

Swedish

Etymology 1

From Old Norse -an.

Suffix

-an

making a noun from a verb, similar to -ing and -ning, having -ningar as the plural.
‎predika (“to preach”) + ‎-an → ‎predikan (“a sermon”)

Etymology 2

Ultimately from Latin -anus.

Suffix

-an

-an; making a noun, describing a person by belief or nationality
‎Tibet + ‎-an → ‎tibetan

‎Luther + ‎-an → ‎lutheran

vegetarian

Derived terms

Anagrams

-na, na

Tagalog

Alternative forms

-han
-nan

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *-an

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an

Proto-Philippine *-an

Tagalog -an

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /an/ [ɐn̪]
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: -an

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ◌ᜈ᜔ or ᜀᜈ᜔)

object trigger: to do something to a person or a thing
Buksan mo ang pinto. ― (You) open the door (door is focused).)
object trigger: to cause something to become; to make
Binagalan ni Sue ang kotse. ― Sue slowed down the car. (The car is focused.)
directional trigger: to do something in the (physical or psychological) direction of
Tinitingnan ko ang manwal. ― I'm looking at the manual. (The manual is focused).)
benefactive trigger: to do something for
Titirhan ko si Roy ng keyk. ― I'll leave some cake for Roy. (Roy is focused).)
object trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Winawalis-walisan ko ang sahig. ― I'm sweeping the floor a bit. (The floor is focused).)
directional trigger: (with root word reduplication) to do something in the (physical or psychological) direction of, occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then or here and there
Tinutulung-tulungan ni Jessy si Patty. ― Jessy helped Patty a bit. (Patty is focused).)
object trigger: to perform the action of the verb on something
Huwag mong sulatan ang dokumento. ― Don't write anything on the document.

Suffix

-an (noun-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ◌ᜈ᜔ or ᜀᜈ᜔)

Forms locative nouns expressing where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found
‎aklat (“book”) + ‎-an → ‎aklatan (“library”)

‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basurahan (“trash can”)
Forms locative nouns where the action expressed by the root is performed
‎kain (“eat”) + ‎-an → ‎kainan (“place where people eat e.g. restaurant, café,...”)
Forms nouns expressing period in which the action expressed by the root is collectively performed
‎ani (“harvest”) + ‎-an → ‎anihan (“harvest time”)

‎pasok (“entry, class, work”) + ‎-an → ‎pasukan (“school time, school year”)
Forms nouns indicating a tool or an object that is used to perform what is meant by the root
‎oras (“time”) + ‎-an → ‎orasan (“clock, watch”)

‎timbang (“weight”) + ‎-an → ‎timbangan (“weighing scale”)
Forms nouns signifying reciprocal or joint performance of the action expressed by the root
‎sayaw (“dance”) + ‎-an → ‎sayawan (“dancing together”)

‎kanta (“sing”) + ‎-an → ‎kantahan (“singing together”)
Used to create a diminutive, pretensive, or imitative form of something (used with reduplication of root word)
‎bahay (“house”) + ‎-an → ‎bahay-bahayan (“toy house”)

‎Diyos (“God”) + ‎-an → ‎diyos-diyosan (“false god”)

‎baril (“gun”) + ‎-an → ‎baril-barilan (“toy gun”)

Suffix

-an (adverb-forming suffix, Baybayin spelling ◌ᜈ᜔ or ᜀᜈ᜔)

(appended to numbers) Used to indicate groups.
‎tatlo (“three”) + ‎-an → ‎tatluhan (“in threes, three at a time”)

‎dalawampu (“twenty”) + ‎-an → ‎dalawampuan (“in groups of twenty, twenty at a time”)

Usage notes

Normally, /h/ is inserted before -an when a root word ending with a vowel is not followed by a glottal stop. In some cases, phoneme change can occur and /h/ becomes /n/.
‎ganti + ‎-an → ‎gantihan

‎talo + ‎-an → ‎talunan
Sometimes, the final vowel of the root word disappears when the suffix is added.
‎sunod + ‎-an → ‎sundan

‎takip + ‎-an → ‎takpan
Due to allophony, /d/ turns into /r/ when inserted before -an.
‎buklod + ‎-an → ‎bukluran

‎bakod + ‎-an → ‎bakuran

‎bayad + ‎-an → ‎bayaran

Turkish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Turkic *-gan

Old Anatolian Turkish ـان (-an)

Ottoman Turkish ـان (-ân)

Turkish -an

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ـان (-ân), from Old Anatolian Turkish ـان (-an), from Proto-Turkic *-gan.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɑn/

	preceding vowel
	a / ı / o / u	e / i / ö / ü
postconsonantal	-an	-en
postvocalic	-yan	-yen

Suffix

-an

Creates participles and relative clauses where
1. the relativized element is the grammatical subject of the clause
  şarkı söyleyen çocuk ― the child who is singing
  
  burada satılan bir ürün ― a product which is sold here
2. the relativized element is the possessor of the grammatical subject of the clause
  bacağı ağrıyan hasta ― a patient whose leg hurts
  
  şapkası ters duran adam ― a man whose hat is backwards
3. the relativized element is the possessor of some other element of the clause, and the subject is categorial and indefinite
  koyunlarını kurt kapan köylü ― a villager whose sheep were caught by wolves
  
  kafasında şapka olan çocuk ― a child who has a hat on their head
Creates nouns with the meaning of "the one who ...", "those who ...", "those which ..." etc. when one of the aforementioned conditions apply
savaşı kaybedenler ― those who lost the war

trenden inenler ― those who are disembarking the train
Combines with the dative suffix and the postpositions kadar, dek or değin to mean until
ölene kadar ― till I die/he dies

dönene dek ― till I return/he returns

Usage notes

For all other relative clauses, see -dık and -acak

References

Turkish: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2005, →ISBN

Volapük

Suffix

-an

Used to indicate someone who is or does something

Derived terms

Welsh

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *-agnos.

Suffix

-an m or f (noun-forming suffix, plural -anau (in terms for objects) or -ion (in terms for male people) or -anod (in terms for female people and animals))

(obsolete) forms diminutive nouns; -let
‎bwyell (“axe”) + ‎-an → ‎bwyellan (“small axe, hatchet”)

‎gwraig (“woman, wife”) + ‎-an → ‎gwreigan (“little woman, little wife”)

‎barf (“beard”) + ‎-an → ‎barfan (“little beard, goatee, whiskers”)
forms nouns from adjectives and nouns that have the characteristics of the root word
‎mud (“mute”) + ‎-an → ‎mudan (“mute person”)

‎llai (“grey”) + ‎-an → ‎lleian (“nun”)

‎crwm (“crooked, curved”) + ‎-an → ‎cryman (“sickle, pruning hook”)

‎teg (“pretty, beautiful”) + ‎-an → ‎tegan (“toy”)

‎sur (“sour”) + ‎-an → ‎suran (“sorrel”)

‎pair (“cauldron”) + ‎-an → ‎peiran (“cirque, cwm”)

‎cyngaf (“burdock, burr”) + ‎-an → ‎cynghafan (“cleavers, goosegrass”)

Suffix

-an m or f by sense (proper noun-forming suffix)

forms diminutives of given names
‎Gwen f + ‎-an → ‎Gwennan

‎Dai m (“Dave”) + ‎-an → ‎Deian

‎Elisabeth f → ‎Beth + ‎-an → ‎Bethan

‎Elisabeth f → ‎Betsi + ‎-an → ‎Betsan

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

-ian

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix, first-person singular present -af)

forms verbnouns

Etymology 3

Suffix

-an (verb inflectional suffix)

(colloquial) marks the third-person future plural of verbs

Derived terms

Welsh terms suffixed with -an

References

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

[1] Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940) [1909], D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, translation of Handbuch des Alt-Irischen (in German), →ISBN, § 736, page 454; reprinted 2017

[2] For some speakers, when the Etymology 1 form of this suffix (along with -i) is added to a stem that starts with any consonant except /r/, the consonant would be geminated, so that tarikan (“attraction”) and makanan (“food”) which respectively are affixations of tarik (“to pull”) and makan (“to eat”) with the -an suffix, are pronounced as /tarikkan/ [ta.riʔ.kan] and /makannan/ [ma.kan.nan], not as /tarikan/ [ta.ri.kan] and /makanan/ [ma.ka.nan].

[1]

[n 1]

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Suffix

Cebuano

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Suffix

Suffix

Derived terms

References

Central Bikol

Etymology

Suffix

Chuukese

Suffix

Related terms

Cimbrian

Etymology

Suffix

Cornish

Etymology

Suffix

Derived terms

Czech

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Further reading

Danish

Etymology

Suffix

References

Finnish

Etymology 1

Suffix

Usage notes

Etymology 2

Suffix

Etymology 3

Suffix

Usage notes

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation

Suffix

Derived terms

Fula

Affix

References

German

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Related terms

Hiligaynon

Etymology

Suffix

Hungarian

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

See also