-ste

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ste"

Afrikaans

Etymology 1

Inherited from Dutch -st.

Suffix

-ste

1. -st; Appended to an adjective to form the superlative.

   ‎vreemd (“strange”) + ‎-ste → ‎vreemdste (“strangest”)

Etymology 2

Inherited from Dutch -ste.

Suffix

-ste

1. -st, -th, -nd; Forms ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers.

   ‎agt + ‎-ste → ‎agtste

   ‎twintig + ‎-ste → ‎twintigste

Usage notes

The ordinal numbers eerste (“first”) and agtste (“eighth”) are formed with this suffix, as well as ordinals of numbers 20 and above. The ordinals of numbers 2-19 are formed with -de.

The suffix can also be written after a number written in digits (8ste, 20ste).

Coordinate terms

• -de

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /stə/

Suffix

-ste

1. Forms ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers.

   Synonyms: -e, -de

   ‎acht + ‎-ste → ‎achtste

   ‎twintig + ‎-ste → ‎twintigste

Usage notes

The ordinal number achtste (“eighth”) is formed with this suffix, as well as ordinals of numbers 20 and above. (The ordinal number eerste (“first”) is better explained as an inflected form of the superlative eerst.) The ordinals of the other cardinal numbers in the range 0 to 19 are formed with -de. The adjectives hoeveelste and zoveelste also employ the suffix -ste.

The suffix can also be written after a number written in digits (8ste, 20ste). The e is sometimes written in superscript, like in French (8^ste, 20^ste), but this is discouraged by the Dutch Language Union.

Estonian

Suffix

-ste

1. genitive plural of -ne

German

Suffix

-ste

1. -th, -nd etc; Used to form the ordinal form of a cardinal number

Derived terms

German terms suffixed with -ste