-o

See also: Appendix:Variations of "o"

English

Pronunciation

(UK, General Australian) IPA^(key): /əʊ/
(General American) IPA^(key): /oʊ/
Homophones: o, owe, oh

Etymology 1

Perhaps from a special use of the interjection O, oh; and/or perhaps from o (“one”), from Middle English o, oo, variant of a, on, oon, an (“one”). See one and -y.

Suffix

-o (plural -os or -oes)

A colloquializing suffix, typically appended to names, abbreviations of long words, or substantive uses of adjectives.
‎kid + ‎-o → ‎kiddo
‎ugly + ‎-o → ‎uggo
- 1991, Stephen Fry, chapter III, in The Liar, London: William Heinemann, →ISBN, page 26:
  Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’

Usage notes

-o generally does not change the meaning of the word or name but only makes it more colloquial, as with cheapo and Jacko. It is often appended to clipped or elided forms of longer words, as with ambo and parmo. Occasionally, the terminal consonant of the clipped form is doubled for clarity of meaning or pronunciation, as with uggo and doggo. It sometimes does change the meaning of words, usually by being applied to adjectives to indicate a person with a pronounced trait, as with weirdo (“weird person”), or to nouns used metonymously to indicate a person with a pronounced connection to the other object, as with wino (“poor or vagrant alcoholic”). Especially in American English, some uses of this suffix are understood as dated slang, as with bucko and neato. The suffix is most frequently and widely encountered in Australian English, which has additional uses (such as rego for registration and nasho for national service) that are never or only extremely rarely encountered in other dialects.

Its meaning is very similar to some uses of -y and its use is particularly common where use of -y might cause misunderstanding, as with randy and rando, journey and journo, whiny and wino.

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -o

agro, aggro
ambo
bucko
cheapo
convo
daddy-o
Davo
friendo
journo
kiddo
lesbo
neato
parmo
preggo
preso
psycho
rando
resto
righto
sicko
thingo
wacko
weirdo
whammo
wino, wine-o
yobbo

Australianisms

arvo
biffo
bizzo
bottlo
compo
dero, derro
doco
fisho
Freo
garbo
goodo
gyno
kero
lezzo
metho
milko
muso
nasho, Nasho
reffo
rego
relo
seppo, Seppo
servo
smoko
the Salvos
veggo

Etymology 2

From many Spanish or Italian words that end in o. This ending in such Spanish or Italian words generally derives from -um, the accusative singular inflectional ending for masculine and neuter nouns in Latin.

Suffix

-o

(humorous) Converts certain words to faux Italian or Spanish. Can be used with Spanish el for expressions such as el stinko.
no problemo

Derived terms

problemo
stinko

Etymology 3

Back-formation from typo.

Suffix

-o (plural -os)

Added to verb stems to create a noun describing an error relating to the action described by the verb.

Derived terms

clicko
scanno
speako
spello
thinko
writo

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -o

Afar

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-ˈo/

Suffix

-ó

Used to form feminine nouns from verbs.

Derived terms

Afar terms suffixed with -o

References

Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015) L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎, Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis)

Albanian

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɔ/

Suffix

-ó

Creates a second-person singular active imperative verb form from a non-verb.
• adverb/preposition: afër (“close, nearby”) (drop of ë) + -o → afro (“bring closer!”)
• adverb: baraz (“equal”) + -o → barazo (“equalize!”)
• adverb/preposition: krahas (“arm in arm, side by side”) + -o → krahaso (“compare!”)
• adjective/adverb: pastër (“clean”) (drop of ë) + -o → pastro (“cleanse!”)
• noun: zhurmë (drop of ë) + -o → zhurmo (“make a noise, scream!”)

Particle

-o

Alternative form of o

Esperanto

Etymology

From the masculine singular of the Romance languages, such as Italian (amico); perhaps also the neuter singular of Russian (окно (okno))
Perhaps from the above (Italian quello, Russian то (to))

Pronunciation

Audio (file)
IPA^(key): /o/

Suffix

-o

Nominal suffix. Most Esperanto nouns end in -o. (A few nouns end in -aŭ, and with some writers some feminine names end in -a.)
- amiko (“friend”)
- patro (“father”)
- vorto (“word”)
-thing. (correlative object ending.)
- kio (“what?, what”)
- tio (“that”)
- ĉio (“everything”)
- io (“something”)
- nenio (“nothing”)

Finnish

Etymology

Conflated:

from Proto-Finnic *-o (forms action/result nouns), from Proto-Uralic *-w (as applied to stems ending in -a).
from Proto-Finnic *-oi (variant/diminutive), from Proto-Uralic *-j (diminutive ending); the -o- is a re-extraction from the suffix being applied to stems ending in -a which was labialized by -j.

Suffix

-o (front vowel harmony variant -ö)

Forms result or action nouns from verbs.
‎huutaa (“shout”) + ‎-o → ‎huuto (“shout”)
‎keittää (“boil, cook”) + ‎-o → ‎keitto (“cooking; soup”)
‎nähdä (“see”) + ‎-o → ‎näkö (“vision”) (ability to see)
Forms variants or diminutives from a few nominal roots.
‎hilla (“cloudberry”) + ‎-o → ‎hillo (“jam”)
‎lehti (“leaf”) + ‎-o → ‎lehto (“grove”)
‎tasa (“level”) + ‎-o → ‎taso (“plane”)

Usage notes

Used deverbally especially with those verbs whose citation form ends with -aa or -ää. In stems with e or i, the suffix has its back vowel form, -o.

Declension

Inflection of -o (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		-o	-ot
genitive		-on	-ojen
partitive		-oa	-oja
illative		-oon	-oihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-o	-ot
accusative	nom.	-o	-ot
accusative	gen.	-on	-ot
genitive		-on	-ojen
partitive		-oa	-oja
inessive		-ossa	-oissa
elative		-osta	-oista
illative		-oon	-oihin
adessive		-olla	-oilla
ablative		-olta	-oilta
allative		-olle	-oille
essive		-ona	-oina
translative		-oksi	-oiksi
instructive		—	-oin
abessive		-otta	-oitta
comitative		—	-oineen

Possessive forms of -o (type valo)
possessor	singular	plural
1st person	-oni	-omme
2nd person	-osi	-onne
3rd person	-onsa

Derived terms

Finnish terms suffixed with -o

French

Etymology

Corresponds to -ot, -(e)au

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /o/

Suffix

-o

added to a noun or an adjective after apocope, to create a familiar synonym

Derived terms

French terms suffixed with -o

dico
hosto
populo
ramollo
réglo
resto
rigolo
socialo

Garo

Etymology

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

Suffix

-o

(inflectional suffix) forms the locative case

Synonyms

-no (“forms locative”)

Gothic

Romanization

-o

Romanization of -𐍉

Ido

Etymology

From Esperanto -o, from Romance languages.

Suffix

-o

Nominal suffix. All Ido nouns end in -o.

Italian

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -um, from Proto-Indo-European *-os (creates action nouns from verbs).

Suffix

-o m (noun-forming suffix, plural -i)

(productive) used with a stem to form a masculine singular noun, usually a deverbal
Synonym: -a

Derived terms

Italian terms suffixed with -o (deverbal)

Etymology 2

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

Suffix

-o (past participle-forming suffix, feminine -a, masculine plural -i, feminine plural -e)

(not productive) used with a verb stem to form a past participle

Derived terms

Italian terms suffixed with -o (participle)

Etymology 3

From Latin -ō.

Suffix

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

(productive) used with a stem to form the first-person singular present of regular are and ere verbs and those -ire verbs that do not take -isc-

Latin

Pronunciation

(Classical) IPA^(key): /oː/, [oː]

(Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /o/, [ɔː]

Etymology 1

See Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (with nominative ō made common to all cases).

Suffix

-ō m (genitive -ōnis); third declension

forms masculine agent nouns, positive and especially negative nicknames and other designations, especially in colloquial language.
combibere (“to drink together”) → combibō (“drinking buddy”)
vāpulāre (“to get beaten”) → vāpulō (“who gets frequently flogged”)
?cōci- → cōciō (“broker”)
centuria (“century”) → centuriō (“centurion”)
mūlus (“mule”) → mūliō (“muleteer”)
Ancient Greek μωρός (mōrós, “dull, sluggish”) → mōriō (“idiot”)
also forms names, especially cognomina.
aquila (“eagle”) → Aquilō (“the North wind”)
incubāre (“to lie on top”) → Incubō (“a spirit that watches over buried treasures”)
cūria (“curia”) → Cūriō
cicer (“chickpea”) → Cicerō
vārus (“bow-legged”) → Varrō
catus (“clever, shrewd”) → Catō
conger (“sea-eel”) → Congriō (“name of a cook in Plautus”)

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	-ō	-ōnēs
Genitive	-ōnis	-ōnum
Dative	-ōnī	-ōnibus
Accusative	-ōnem	-ōnēs
Ablative	-ōne	-ōnibus
Vocative	-ō	-ōnēs

Synonyms

(forms masculine agent nouns): -a¹, -ārius

Derived terms

Latin terms suffixed with -o (agent noun)

Latin terms suffixed with -o (name)

Descendants

French: -on
- → English: -oon
Italian: -one
Portuguese: -ão
Romanian: -oi
Sicilian: -uni, -una
Spanish: -ón

References

“-ō¹” on page 1,210/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Italic *-ōd, an ablative suffix, derived from Proto-Indo-European *-éad.

Suffix

-ō (comparative -ius, superlative -issimō)

forms adverbs
prīmus + -ō → prīmō
tūtus + -ō → tūtō

Derived terms

Latin terms suffixed with -o (adverb)

References

“-ō²” on page 1,210/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)

Etymology 3

From Proto-Italic *-āō or *-aēō, from the following sources:

Denominative verbs with *-eh₂yéti (e.g. dōnō, pugnō, cūrō)
Verbs from roots in *-h₁-. (e.g. flō)
Verbs from roots in *-h₂-. (e.g. for, nō, hiō, domō, iuvō)
Verbs from roots in *-h₃-. (e.g. dō, lavō, arō)
By sound laws acting on *-h₂ + *-éh₁yeti. (singular case of stō)

Alternative forms

-aō

Suffix

-ō (present infinitive -āre, perfect active -āvī, supine -ātum); first conjugation

suffixed to nouns or adjectives — originally a-stem nouns, but later nouns with other stems — forms regular first-conjugation verbs
cūra + -ō → cūrō
dōnum + -ō → dōnō
laus (stem: laud-) + -ō → laudō
multa + -ō → multō
nūndinae + -or → nūndinor (deponent)
suffixed to third-conjugation verbs in composition, forms regular first-conjugation verbs
com- + pellō (pres. act. inf.: pellere) + -ō → compellō (pres. act. inf.: compellāre)
prō- + flīgō (pres. act. inf.: flīgere) + -ō → prōflīgō (pres. act. inf.: prōflīgāre)

Conjugation

Conjugation of -ō (first conjugation, verbs with the perfect infix -av-)
indicative		singular			plural
indicative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	-ō	-ās	-at	-āmus	-ātis	-ant
	imperfect	-ābam	-ābās	-ābat	-ābāmus	-ābātis	-ābant
	future	-ābō	-ābis	-ābit	-ābimus	-ābitis	-ābunt
	perfect	-āvī	-āvistī, -āstī³	-āvit, -āt³	-āvimus, -āmus³	-āvistis, -āstis³	-āvērunt, -āvēre, -ārunt³
	pluperfect	-āveram, -āram³	-āverās, -ārās³	-āverat, -ārat³	-āverāmus, -ārāmus³	-āverātis, -ārātis³	-āverant, -ārant³
	future perfect	-āverō, -ārō³	-āveris, -āris³	-āverit, -ārit³	-āverimus, -ārimus³	-āveritis, -āritis³	-āverint, -ārint³
	sigmatic future¹	-āssō	-āssis	-āssit	-āssimus	-āssitis	-āssint
passive	present	-or	-āris, -āre	-ātur	-āmur	-āminī	-antur
	imperfect	-ābar	-ābāris, -ābāre	-ābātur	-ābāmur	-ābāminī	-ābantur
	future	-ābor	-āberis, -ābere	-ābitur	-ābimur	-ābiminī	-ābuntur
	perfect	-ātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	-ātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	-ātus + future active indicative of sum
	sigmatic future¹	-āssor	-āsseris	-āssitur	—	—	—
subjunctive		singular			plural
subjunctive		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	-em	-ēs	-et	-ēmus	-ētis	-ent
	imperfect	-ārem	-ārēs	-āret	-ārēmus	-ārētis	-ārent
	perfect	-āverim, -ārim³	-āverīs, -ārīs³	-āverit, -ārit³	-āverīmus, -ārīmus³	-āverītis, -ārītis³	-āverint, -ārint³
	pluperfect	-āvissem, -āssem³	-āvissēs, -āssēs³	-āvisset, -āsset³	-āvissēmus, -āssēmus³	-āvissētis, -āssētis³	-āvissent, -āssent³
	sigmatic aorist¹	-āssim	-āssīs	-āssīt	-āssīmus	-āssītis	-āssint
passive	present	-er	-ēris, -ēre	-ētur	-ēmur	-ēminī	-entur
	imperfect	-ārer	-ārēris, -ārēre	-ārētur	-ārēmur	-ārēminī	-ārentur
	perfect	-ātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	-ātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
imperative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	-ā	—	—	-āte	—
active	future	—	-ātō	-ātō	—	-ātōte	-antō
passive	present	—	-āre	—	—	-āminī	—
passive	future	—	-ātor	-ātor	—	—	-antor
non-finite forms		active			passive
non-finite forms		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		-āre	-āvisse, -āsse³	-ātūrum esse	-ārī, -ārier²	-ātum esse	-ātum īrī
participles		-āns	—	-ātūrus	—	-ātus	-andus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		-andī	-andō	-andum	-andō	-ātum	-ātū

Conjugation of -ō (first conjugation, verbs with the perfect infix -u-)
indicative		singular			plural
indicative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	-ō	-ās	-at	-āmus	-ātis	-ant
	imperfect	-ābam	-ābās	-ābat	-ābāmus	-ābātis	-ābant
	future	-ābō	-ābis	-ābit	-ābimus	-ābitis	-ābunt
	perfect	-uī	-uistī	-uit	-uimus	-uistis	-uērunt, -uēre
	pluperfect	-ueram	-uerās	-uerat	-uerāmus	-uerātis	-uerant
	future perfect	-uerō	-ueris	-uerit	-uerimus	-ueritis	-uerint
	sigmatic future¹	-āssō	-āssis	-āssit	-āssimus	-āssitis	-āssint
passive	present	-or	-āris, -āre	-ātur	-āmur	-āminī	-antur
	imperfect	-ābar	-ābāris, -ābāre	-ābātur	-ābāmur	-ābāminī	-ābantur
	future	-ābor	-āberis, -ābere	-ābitur	-ābimur	-ābiminī	-ābuntur
	perfect	-ātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	-ātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	-ātus + future active indicative of sum
	sigmatic future¹	-āssor	-āsseris	-āssitur	—	—	—
subjunctive		singular			plural
subjunctive		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	-em	-ēs	-et	-ēmus	-ētis	-ent
	imperfect	-ārem	-ārēs	-āret	-ārēmus	-ārētis	-ārent
	perfect	-uerim	-uerīs	-uerit	-uerīmus	-uerītis	-uerint
	pluperfect	-uissem	-uissēs	-uisset	-uissēmus	-uissētis	-uissent
	sigmatic aorist¹	-āssim	-āssīs	-āssīt	-āssīmus	-āssītis	-āssint
passive	present	-er	-ēris, -ēre	-ētur	-ēmur	-ēminī	-entur
	imperfect	-ārer	-ārēris, -ārēre	-ārētur	-ārēmur	-ārēminī	-ārentur
	perfect	-ātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	-ātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
imperative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	-ā	—	—	-āte	—
active	future	—	-ātō	-ātō	—	-ātōte	-antō
passive	present	—	-āre	—	—	-āminī	—
passive	future	—	-ātor	-ātor	—	—	-antor
non-finite forms		active			passive
non-finite forms		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		-āre	-uisse	-ātūrum esse	-ārī, -ārier²	-ātum esse	-ātum īrī
participles		-āns	—	-ātūrus	—	-ātus	-andus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		-andī	-andō	-andum	-andō	-ātum	-ātū

¹At least one use of the archaic "sigmatic future" and "sigmatic aorist" tenses is attested, which are used by Old Latin writers; most notably Plautus and Terence. The sigmatic future is generally ascribed a future or future perfect meaning, while the sigmatic aorist expresses a possible desire ("might want to"). It is also attested as having a rare sigmatic future passive indicative form ("will have been"), which is not attested in the plural for any verb.
²The present passive infinitive in -ier is a rare poetic form which is attested.
³At least one rare poetic syncopated perfect form is attested.

Derived terms

Latin terms suffixed with -o (denominative)

Latin terms suffixed with -o (compound verb)

Descendants

Catalan: -ar
→ English: -ate
→ Ido: -ar
Italian: -are
Spanish: -ar
Old French: -er, -ier
- Middle French: -ier, -er
  - French: -er
- Gallo: -ieu
- → Middle High German: -ieren
  - German: -ieren, -iren
    - → Russian: -ировать (-irovatʹ)
    - → Serbo-Croatian: -irati
- Norman: -yi (Jersey)
Romanian: -a
Sardinian: -are
Sicilian: -ari

References

Sihler, Andrew L. (1995) New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN
“-ō³” on page 1,210/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)

Etymology 4

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

Alternative forms

-iō

Suffix

-ō (present infinitive -ere, perfect active -ī, supine -um); third conjugation

forms regular third-conjugation verbs

Conjugation

Conjugation of -ō (third conjugation)
indicative		singular			plural
indicative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	-ō	-is	-it	-imus	-itis	-unt
	imperfect	-ēbam	-ēbās	-ēbat	-ēbāmus	-ēbātis	-ēbant
	future	-am	-ēs	-et	-ēmus	-ētis	-ent
	perfect	-ī	-istī	-it	-imus	-istis	-ērunt, -ēre
	pluperfect	-eram	-erās	-erat	-erāmus	-erātis	-erant
	future perfect	-erō	-eris	-erit	-erimus	-eritis	-erint
	sigmatic future¹	-ō	-is	-it	-imus	-itis	-int
passive	present	-or	-eris, -ere	-itur	-imur	-iminī	-untur
	imperfect	-ēbar	-ēbāris, -ēbāre	-ēbātur	-ēbāmur	-ēbāminī	-ēbantur
	future	-ar	-ēris, -ēre	-ētur	-ēmur	-ēminī	-entur
	perfect	-us + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	-us + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	-us + future active indicative of sum
	sigmatic future¹	-or	-eris	-itur	—	—	—
subjunctive		singular			plural
subjunctive		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	-am	-ās	-at	-āmus	-ātis	-ant
	imperfect	-erem	-erēs	-eret	-erēmus	-erētis	-erent
	perfect	-erim	-erīs	-erit	-erīmus	-erītis	-erint
	pluperfect	-issem	-issēs	-isset	-issēmus	-issētis	-issent
	sigmatic aorist¹	-im	-īs	-īt	-īmus	-ītis	-int
passive	present	-ar	-āris, -āre	-ātur	-āmur	-āminī	-antur
	imperfect	-erer	-erēris, -erēre	-erētur	-erēmur	-erēminī	-erentur
	perfect	-us + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	-us + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
imperative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	-e	—	—	-ite	—
active	future	—	-itō	-itō	—	-itōte	-untō
passive	present	—	-ere	—	—	-iminī	—
passive	future	—	-itor	-itor	—	—	-untor
non-finite forms		active			passive
non-finite forms		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		-ere	-isse	-ūrum esse	-ī	-um esse	-um īrī
participles		-ēns	—	-ūrus	—	-us	-endus, -undus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		-endī	-endō	-endum	-endō	-um	-ū

¹At least one use of the archaic "sigmatic future" and "sigmatic aorist" tenses is attested, which are used by Old Latin writers; most notably Plautus and Terence. The sigmatic future is generally ascribed a future or future perfect meaning, while the sigmatic aorist expresses a possible desire ("might want to"). It is also attested as having a rare sigmatic future passive indicative form ("will have been"), which is not attested in the plural for any verb.

Etymology 5

From Old Latin -ōi, from Proto-Italic *-ōi, from Proto-Indo-European *-oey.

Suffix

-ō

dative/ablative masculine/neuter singular of -us

Lithuanian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *-ā; compare Latvian -a, Proto-Slavic *-a (“id”). From the Proto-Indo-European thematic masculine ablative ending *-ōd, with regular Balto-Slavic loss of final d. Compare Sanskrit -आत् (-āt), Latin -ō and Ancient Greek ὄπ-ω (óp-ō, “whence”). In Balto-Slavic, the genitive merged with the ablative. The original genitive was retained, however, in West Baltic; compare Old Prussian -as, presumably from Proto-Indo-European *-os; compare Hittite 𒀸 (-as).

Suffix

-õ

Used to form genitive singulars of masculine a-stem nouns.
Used to form genitive singulars of masculine a-stem adjectives.

Suffix

-o

Used to form third person present tense forms in third declension verbs.
Used to form third person past tense forms in first declension verbs.

Suffix

-õ

An illative suffix.
‎namas + ‎-o → ‎namo

Synonyms

-op
-on, -yn, -ėn

Lower Sorbian

Suffix

-o

-ly (used to turn an adjective into an adverb of manner)

Synonyms

-je

Derived terms

Lower Sorbian terms suffixed with -o

Norwegian Nynorsk

Suffix

-o

Used to make plural indefinite and definite forms for some neuter nouns
(non-standard since 1917) Used to make singular definite form for some weak feminine nouns
(archaic)(nonstandard) Used to mark plural form for strong verbs in past tense

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-ô.

Suffix

-o

Forms adverbs from adjectives.

Derived terms

Category Old Dutch terms suffixed with -o not found

Descendants

Middle Dutch: -e

Old High German

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *-ô.

Suffix

-o

Forms adverbs from adjectives.

Descendants

Middle High German: -e

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *-ô.Cognate to Old English -a, in ǣta (“eater”), Old Norse -i, Gothic -𐌰 (-a), in 𐌽𐌿𐍄𐌰 (nuta, “fisher”).In some cases, the root appears in the zero-grade as in boto (from biotan).

Suffix

-o m

used to form masculine agents from verbs
‎geban (“to give”) + ‎-o → ‎gëbo (“giver”)
‎sprehhan (“to speak”) + ‎-o → ‎sprëhho (“speaker”)
‎biotan (“to offer, send, command”) + ‎-o → ‎boto (“messenger”)
‎ziohan (“to pull, lead”) + ‎-o → ‎herizogo (“army leader”)
‎sagēn (“to say”) + ‎-o → ‎fora-sago (“prophet”)

Declension

Most nouns with this suffix follow the n-declension, like hano (“cock”), namo (“name”), gomo (“man”).

Descendants

Middle High German: -e
- German: -e

In Middle High German, the suffix is replaced by -er (whence German -er), as in Middle High German gëber instead of Old High German gëbo.Only a few German words still have a final -e that results from Old High German -o.

Old Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -ō.

Suffix

-o

a suffix indicating the first-person singular present indicative of verbs
‎amar (“to love”) + ‎-o → ‎amo (“[I] love”)
‎querer (“to want”) + ‎-o → ‎quero (“[I] want”)

Descendants

Galician: -o
Portuguese: -o

Old Saxon

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *-ô.

Suffix

-o

Forms adverbs from adjectives.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *-ô.Cognate to Old English -a, in ǣta (“eater”), Gothic -𐌰 (-a), in 𐌽𐌿𐍄𐌰 (nuta, “fisher”).

Suffix

-o m

used to form masculine agents from verbs and nouns
‎gevan (“to give”) + ‎-o → ‎gevo (“giver”)
‎beddi (“bed”) + ‎-o → ‎gibeddio (“bedfellow”)

Descendants

Middle Low German: -e

Polish

Pronunciation

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

Suffix

-o

Forms adverbs from adjectives
‎beztroski + ‎-o → ‎beztrosko
Forms diminutives, softening the previous consonant
‎dziad + ‎-o → ‎dziadzio

Derived terms

Polish terms suffixed with -o

Portuguese

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /u/

Etymology 1

From Old Portuguese -o, from Latin -um.

Suffix

-o

forms masculine singular nouns and adjectives

Etymology 2

Inherited from Old Portuguese -o, from Latin -ō. Compare Galician and Spanish -o.

Suffix

-o

a suffix indicating the first-person singular present indicative of verbs
‎amar (“to love”) + ‎-o → ‎amo (“[I] love”)
‎comer (“to eat”) + ‎-o → ‎como (“[I] eat”)
‎unir (“to unite”) + ‎-o → ‎uno (“[I] unite”)

Romani

Suffix

-o

Forms the nominative singular of vocalic oikoclitic masculine nouns
Forms the nominative masculine singular of vocalic oikoclitic adjectives
Attaches to the perfective stem to form the third-person singular masculine past tense of intransitive verbs

Romanian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic.

Suffix

-o

Vocative singular (feminine)
‎mamă (“mother”) + ‎-o → ‎mamo
‎focă (“seal”) + ‎-o → ‎foco

Usage notes

This form of the vocative is informal, especially when referring to a person. The nominative/accusative ending is preferred.

Related terms

-e (vocative used for masculine and neuter adjectives or nouns)

Spanish

Etymology 1

From Latin -um, accusative of -us.

Suffix

-o

Used with a stem to form a masculine singular noun
‎azafata (“female flight-attendant”) + ‎-o → ‎azafato (“male flight-attendant”)

Etymology 2

From Latin -ō.

Suffix

-o

suffix indicating the first-person singular present indicative of verbs

Swedish

Etymology 1

Possibly from Tavringer Romani -o, a masculine ending for nouns, cf. buro (“non-Traveller, farmer”), bölo (“bull”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ʊ/
When combined the stress is always on the first syllable.

Suffix

-o

(colloquial) Combines with an (often clipped) word to create a noun referring to a person with a related property. Gives a familiar and to some extent diminutive nuance.
‎fylla (“drunkenness”) + ‎-o → ‎fyllo (“drunkard”)
‎fet (“fat”) + ‎-o → ‎fetto (“a fatty”)
‎snygg (“handsome”) + ‎-o → ‎snyggo (“handsome (noun)”)
‎puckad (“stupid”) + ‎-o → ‎pucko (“a stupid person”)
‎lycklig (“lucky, fortunate”) + ‎-o → ‎lyllo (“a fortunate person”)

Etymology 2

Inherited from Old Swedish -u, -o, from Old Norse -u.

Suffix

-o

(archaic) In the indicative mood, conjugates verbs into the plural number.
de äro
they are
vi sutto
we sat

Volapük

Suffix

-o

adverb ending
-wise (in the matter of; with regard to)

Derived terms

Volapük terms suffixed with -o

Welsh

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɔ/

Suffix

-o

used to form pet names
‎Dai + ‎-o → ‎Deio
‎Gwen + ‎-o → ‎Gwenno
‎Iorwerth + ‎-o → ‎Iolo

Suffix

-o

(literary) verb suffix for the third-person singular present subjunctive

Etymology 3

From Middle Welsh -aw, from Proto-Brythonic *-ọβ̃.

Suffix

-o

Forms verbnouns from verb stems.
Synonyms: -i, -u

Usage notes

This suffix is mostly used for verbs where the stem ends in the consonant i (though for some such verbs, such as cynnig, the verbnoun is given by dropping the i from the stem) or the vowel in the last syllable is i, u, eu, or wy.[1]

Derived terms

Welsh terms suffixed with -o

Related terms

-io (Forms verbnouns from verbs and other parts of speech)

References

Morris Jones, John (1913) A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative, Oxford: Clarendon Press, § 202 iv

[1] Morris Jones, John (1913) A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative, Oxford: Clarendon Press, § 202 iv