-els
Low German
Alternative forms
- -else
- -elsch
- -sel
- -el
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /əlsə/, [əlts], [əlz]
Suffix
-els n
- Alternative form of -else
Usage notes
- Some dictionaries whose authors lack knowledge of Middle Low German or southern Low German dialects (i.e. do not know about the original form -else) might mistake this ending as having a plural -s and thus either create a pseudo-singular or mistake it for a plurale tantum.
- Some words might show a variant form which is not in general use, like -elsch or -sel. For example, the word Schüddels is more commonly found as Schüddelsch, and the word Fegels has nearly disappeared and gave place to its variant Feegsel.
Derived terms
- Radels
- Drinkels
- Hackels
- Schüddelsch
- Feegsel
- Backels
- Riemels
Old English
Etymology
A metathetic form of Proto-Germanic *-isliją.
Suffix
-els m
- (masculine suffix for inanimate objects) suffix creating nouns from verbs
- rǣdels (“counsel, advise, riddle, enigma”)
- rēcels (“incense, frankincense”)
- wǣfels (“covering, cloak, garment”)
- byrgels (“burial, sepulchre, tomb”)
Declension
Declension of -els (strong a-stem)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -els | -elsas |
| accusative | -els | -elsas |
| genitive | -elses | -elsa |
| dative | -else | -elsum |
Synonyms
- -else
Descendants
- English -le (riddle), -al (burial)