-al
English
editEtymology 1
editFrom Middle English -al, from the Latin adjective suffix -ālis, or French, Middle French and Old French -el, -al.
Alternative forms
editPronunciation
edit- IPA(key): /əl/, [l̩], [ɫ̩]
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Suffix
edit-al
- Of or pertaining to. Adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also.
- Forming nouns, especially of verbal action.
Usage notes
editIf the root word contains l, the variant -ar is often used instead (e.g. solar, lunar, columnar, lumbar), unless the root contains r after the l (lateral, plural). Sometimes both forms are found: linear, lineal. One also sees -ial, as in manorial.
As nominalizer, some verbs have two corresponding nouns, one ending in -al and the other in -tion/-sion (more common suffix), with one or the other being more common, sometimes with different nuances. Notable examples: disposition/disposal (dispose), proposition/proposal (propose), submission/submittal (submit), transmission/transmittal (transmit). Some superficial pairs are actually of different origin, notably reversion/reversal (revert/reverse, not both from reverse).
Derived terms
edit- (of or pertaining to): Category:English terms suffixed with -al
- (forming nouns, especially of verbal action.): arousal, arrival, bestowal, betrothal, denial, disposal, proposal, rental, rival, reversal, removal, subdual, submittal, transmittal
- -ical
See also
editEtymology 2
editBack-formation from aldehyde.
Pronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al
- (organic chemistry) Forms the names of aldehydes.
Translations
editAnagrams
editAbenaki
editSuffix
edit-al
- A suffix used to form the plurals of inanimate words.
- pessimen (“currant”) → pessimenal (“currants”)
- wôbigen (“it is white”) → wôbigenal (“they are white”)
Usage notes
editAsturian
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al (epicene, adjective-forming suffix, plural -als)
- -al (of or pertaining to)
Derived terms
editCatalan
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al m or f (adjective-forming suffix, masculine and feminine plural -als)
- in adjectives, indicating relation
- estructura (“structure”) + -al → estructural (“structural”)
Derived terms
editDanish
editSuffix
edit-al
Dutch
editPronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al
Synonyms
editDerived terms
editEsperanto
editPronunciation
editAudio: (file)
Suffix
edit-al
- for [...] reason (ending for correlatives of reason)
Derived terms
editFrench
editEtymology
editInherited from Middle French -al, from Old French -al, borrowed from Latin -ālis. Doublet of -el, which is inherited.
Pronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al (feminine -ale, masculine plural -aux, feminine plural -ales)
- -al; appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form; often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also
Derived terms
editDescendants
editGerman
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al
- pertaining to, using; adjectival suffix appended to nouns
Derived terms
editHungarian
editEtymology
editFrom -a- (linking vowel) + -l (verb-forming suffix).
Pronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al
- (verb-forming suffix) Added to a noun to form a verb.
- (noun-forming suffix) Added to a verb to form a noun. No longer productive in this role.
- (organic chemistry) -al (forms the names of aldehydes)
- etanal ― ethanal
Usage notes
edit- (verb-forming suffix) Variants:
- -l is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-. Final long vowels may shorten, e.g. ű → ü.
- -ol is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -al is added to other back-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -el is added to unrounded (and some rounded) front-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -öl is added to most rounded front-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -ál is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant
Note: Certain words take another, synonymous suffix, -z/-oz/-az/-ez/-öz/-áz or -zik/-ozik/-azik/-ezik/-özik.
- (noun-forming suffix) Variants:
- -al is added to back-vowel words
- -el is added to front-vowel words
Derived terms
editSee also
editK'iche'
editPronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al
- Forms nouns from adjectives
- Forms nouns from -aj verb suffix
- Forms nouns from adverbs
- Forms nouns from nouns
References
edit- Allen J. Christenson, Kʼiche-English dictionary
Latin
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom apocope of final e in -āle, neuter of -ālis.
Suffix
edit-al n (genitive -ālis); third declension
- noun-forming suffix
Declension
editThird-declension noun (neuter, “pure” i-stem).
Case | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Nominative | -al | -ālia |
Genitive | -ālis | -ālium |
Dative | -ālī | -ālibus |
Accusative | -al | -ālia |
Ablative | -ālī | -ālibus |
Vocative | -al | -ālia |
Derived terms
editLepontic
editSuffix
edit-al
- Romanization of -𐌀𐌋
Malay
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al (Jawi spelling -ل)
- -al
- konvensional ― conventional
Derived terms
editManx
editAlternative forms
editEtymology 1
editExtracted from goaill.
Suffix
edit-al f
- suffix used to form verbal nouns
Etymology 2
editExtracted from goaill.
Suffix
edit-al
- suffix used productively to form denominative verbs and their associated verbal nouns
Etymology 3
editFrom Middle Irish -amail (compare Irish -úil, Scottish Gaelic -ail, -eil), from Old Irish -amail.
Suffix
edit-al
- An adjectival suffix applied to various words, usually nouns, to make an adjective.
Derived terms
editSee also
editMiddle English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Old French -al, -el and its source Latin -ālis.
Pronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al
- (chiefly not productive) Forms adjectives from Latin and Romance vocabulary.
Derived terms
editDescendants
editReferences
edit- “-al, suf.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Munsee
editSuffix
edit-al
- A suffix used to form the plurals of inanimate words.
Usage notes
edit- -al is the most common suffix used to form the plurals of inanimate words, including most body parts and some words ending in the vowel a.
Norman
editEtymology
editFrom Old French -al, from Latin -ālis.
Suffix
edit-al
- -al (of or pertaining to; adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form)
Derived terms
editNorwegian Nynorsk
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom Old Norse -all in adjectives like þagall and gamall, from Proto-Germanic *-alaz.
Suffix
edit-al (neuter -alt, definite singular and plural -ale, comparative -alare, indefinite superlative -alast, definite superlative -alaste)
- Forms adjectives from verbs meaning “doing” or “pertaining to doing” the verb.
Derived terms
editRelated terms
editReferences
editOld French
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Latin -ālis. Compare the inherited -el.
Suffix
edit-al
- suffix used to form adjectives from nouns
- mesnal (from mesnee) ― domestic; household
Descendants
editPolish
editEtymology
editInherited from Proto-Slavic *-aľь.
Pronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al m
Declension
editAnimate/personal:
Inanimate:
Surnames:
Derived terms
editFurther reading
edit- -al in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Portuguese
editPronunciation
edit
Etymology 1
editFrom Old Galician-Portuguese -al, from Latin -ālis.
Suffix
edit-al m or f (adjective-forming suffix, plural -ais)
- appended to noun X, forms adjectives meaning “of or relating to X”
- forms synonyms of adjectives containing the suffix -ico
Suffix
edit-al m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ais)
- appended to noun X, forms nouns meaning “a collection X” or “a large quantity of X”
- appended to noun X, forms nouns meaning “a place where there is plenty of X” or "field where a plant is cultivated"
Derived terms
editEtymology 2
editFrom the first syllable of álcool (“alcohol”) and aldeído (“aldehyde”).
Suffix
edit-al m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ais)
Romanian
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Latin -alis. Compare French -al, Italian -ale.
Pronunciation
editSuffix
edit-al m or n (feminine singular -ală, masculine plural -ali, feminine and neuter plural -ale)
- -al; of or pertaining to, forms adjectives from nouns.
- săptămână (“week”) + -al → săptămânal (“weekly”)
Declension
editDerived terms
editRelated terms
editSpanish
editEtymology
editSuffix
edit-al m or f (adjective-forming suffix, masculine and feminine plural -ales)
Suffix
edit-al m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ales)
- In nouns, indicating a place where something is grown, or where there is plenty of it.
See also
editDerived terms
editFurther reading
edit- “-al”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
Swedish
editSuffix
edit-al
- -al, of or pertaining to; forming an adjective from a noun
Derived terms
editSee also
editAnagrams
edit- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English suffixes
- English adjective-forming suffixes
- English noun-forming suffixes
- English back-formations
- en:Organic chemistry
- Abenaki lemmas
- Abenaki suffixes
- Asturian terms inherited from Latin
- Asturian terms derived from Latin
- Asturian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Asturian adjective-forming suffixes
- Asturian lemmas
- Asturian suffixes
- Catalan terms inherited from Latin
- Catalan terms derived from Latin
- Catalan terms with IPA pronunciation
- Catalan lemmas
- Catalan suffixes
- Catalan adjective-forming suffixes
- Catalan epicene suffixes
- Catalan masculine suffixes
- Catalan feminine suffixes
- Catalan suffixes with multiple genders
- Danish lemmas
- Danish suffixes
- da:Organic chemistry
- Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation
- Dutch terms with audio links
- Dutch lemmas
- Dutch suffixes
- nl:Functional group suffixes
- Esperanto terms with audio links
- Esperanto lemmas
- Esperanto suffixes
- French terms inherited from Middle French
- French terms derived from Middle French
- French terms inherited from Old French
- French terms derived from Old French
- French terms borrowed from Latin
- French terms derived from Latin
- French doublets
- French 1-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French terms with audio links
- French lemmas
- French suffixes
- French adjective-forming suffixes
- German terms borrowed from Latin
- German terms derived from Latin
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- German lemmas
- German suffixes
- German adjective-forming suffixes
- Hungarian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Hungarian lemmas
- Hungarian suffixes
- Hungarian noun-forming suffixes
- Hungarian verb-forming suffixes
- hu:Organic chemistry
- Hungarian terms with usage examples
- K'iche' terms with IPA pronunciation
- K'iche' lemmas
- K'iche' suffixes
- Latin lemmas
- Latin suffixes
- Latin noun-forming suffixes
- Latin third declension suffixes
- Latin neuter suffixes in the third declension
- Latin neuter suffixes
- Lepontic lemmas
- Lepontic suffixes
- Malay terms borrowed from English
- Malay terms derived from English
- Malay terms with IPA pronunciation
- Malay lemmas
- Malay suffixes
- Malay terms with usage examples
- Malay unproductive suffixes
- Manx lemmas
- Manx suffixes
- Manx noun-forming suffixes
- Manx feminine suffixes
- Manx verb-forming suffixes
- Manx terms inherited from Middle Irish
- Manx terms derived from Middle Irish
- Manx terms inherited from Old Irish
- Manx terms derived from Old Irish
- Manx adjective-forming suffixes
- Middle English terms derived from Old French
- Middle English terms borrowed from Latin
- Middle English terms borrowed from Old French
- Middle English terms derived from Latin
- Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English suffixes
- Munsee lemmas
- Munsee suffixes
- Norman terms inherited from Old French
- Norman terms derived from Old French
- Norman terms borrowed from Latin
- Norman terms derived from Latin
- Norman lemmas
- Norman suffixes
- Norwegian Nynorsk terms inherited from Old Norse
- Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Old Norse
- Norwegian Nynorsk terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- Norwegian Nynorsk lemmas
- Norwegian Nynorsk adjectives
- Old French terms derived from Latin
- Old French terms borrowed from Latin
- Old French lemmas
- Old French suffixes
- Old French terms with usage examples
- Polish terms inherited from Proto-Slavic
- Polish terms derived from Proto-Slavic
- Polish 1-syllable words
- Polish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:Polish/al
- Rhymes:Polish/al/1 syllable
- Polish lemmas
- Polish suffixes
- Polish masculine suffixes
- Portuguese 1-syllable words
- Portuguese terms with IPA pronunciation
- Portuguese 2-syllable words
- Rhymes:Portuguese/al
- Rhymes:Portuguese/al/1 syllable
- Rhymes:Portuguese/aw
- Rhymes:Portuguese/aw/1 syllable
- Portuguese terms inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese
- Portuguese terms derived from Old Galician-Portuguese
- Portuguese terms inherited from Latin
- Portuguese terms derived from Latin
- Portuguese lemmas
- Portuguese suffixes
- Portuguese adjective-forming suffixes
- Portuguese masculine suffixes
- Portuguese feminine suffixes
- Portuguese suffixes with multiple genders
- Portuguese noun-forming suffixes
- Portuguese countable suffixes
- pt:Chemistry
- pt:Agriculture
- Romanian terms borrowed from Latin
- Romanian terms derived from Latin
- Romanian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Romanian lemmas
- Romanian suffixes
- Romanian adjective-forming suffixes
- Romanian masculine suffixes
- Romanian neuter suffixes
- Romanian suffixes with multiple genders
- Spanish terms inherited from Latin
- Spanish terms derived from Latin
- Spanish lemmas
- Spanish suffixes
- Spanish adjective-forming suffixes
- Spanish epicene suffixes
- Spanish masculine suffixes
- Spanish feminine suffixes
- Spanish suffixes with multiple genders
- Spanish noun-forming suffixes
- Spanish countable suffixes
- Swedish lemmas
- Swedish suffixes