-al

See also: Appendix:Variations of "al"

English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English -al, from the Latin adjective suffix -ālis, or French, Middle French and Old French -el, -al.

Alternative forms[edit]

-all (obsolete)
-ual

Pronunciation[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.
‎base + ‎-al → ‎basal

‎cranium + ‎-al → ‎cranial
Forming nouns, especially of verbal action.
‎propose + ‎-al → ‎proposal

‎deny + ‎-al → ‎denial

‎bestow + ‎-al → ‎bestowal

Usage notes[edit]

If 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

Etymology 2[edit]

Back-formation from aldehyde.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /æl/

Suffix[edit]

-al

(organic chemistry) Forms the names of aldehydes.

Translations[edit]

aldehyde

Danish: -al
Dutch: -al (nl)
Galician: -al (gl)
Hungarian: -al (hu)
Swedish: -al (sv)

Anagrams[edit]

L. A., L.A., LA, La, La-, La., la, lä

Abenaki[edit]

Suffix[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[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.
See the usage notes at -ak.

Asturian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Latin -ālis.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /ˈal/, [ˈal]

Suffix[edit]

-al (epicene, adjective-forming suffix, plural -als)

-al (of or pertaining to)

Derived terms[edit]

Asturian terms suffixed with -al

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Latin -ālis.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic, Valencian) [ˈal]

Suffix[edit]

-al m or f (adjective-forming suffix, masculine and feminine plural -als)

in adjectives, indicating relation
‎estructura (“structure”) + ‎-al → ‎estructural (“structural”)

Derived terms[edit]

Catalan terms suffixed with -al

Danish[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-al

(organic chemistry) -al

Dutch[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /ɑl/
Audio (file)

Suffix[edit]

-al

(organic chemistry) -al

Synonyms[edit]

oxo-

Derived terms[edit]

Dutch terms suffixed with -al

Esperanto[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Audio (file)

Suffix[edit]

-al

for [...] reason (ending for correlatives of reason)

Derived terms[edit]

alial (“for another reason”)
ĉial (“for every reason”)
ial (“for any/some reason”)
kial (“for what reason, why”)
nenial (“for no reason”)
tial (“for that reason, therefore”)

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Middle French -al, from Old French -al, borrowed from Latin -ālis. Doublet of -el, which is inherited.

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Suffix[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[edit]

French terms suffixed with -al

Descendants[edit]

Norwegian Bokmål: -al
→ Turkish: -al (learned)

German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin -ālis.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): [aːl]
Audio (file)

Suffix[edit]

-al

pertaining to, using; adjectival suffix appended to nouns

Derived terms[edit]

German terms suffixed with -al

Hungarian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From -a- (linking vowel) +‎ -l (verb-forming suffix).

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): [ɒl]

Suffix[edit]

-al

(verb-forming suffix) Added to a noun to form a verb.
‎szárny (“a wing”) + ‎-al → ‎szárnyal (“to soar”)
(noun-forming suffix) Added to a verb to form a noun. No longer productive in this role.
‎von (“to pull”) + ‎-al → ‎vonal (“line”)
(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[edit]

Hungarian verbs suffixed with -al

Hungarian nouns suffixed with -al

K'iche'[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /aːl/

Suffix[edit]

-al

Forms nouns from adjectives
‎tew (“cold”) + ‎-al → ‎tewal (“coldness”)

‎k’ak’ (“new”) + ‎-al → ‎k’ak’al (“youngster”)
Forms nouns from -aj verb suffix
‎mujaj (“to shade”) + ‎-al → ‎mujaj (“shadow”)

‎q’ebaj (“to go across”) + ‎-al → ‎q’ebal (“large earthen jar”)
Forms nouns from adverbs
‎nojim (“slowly”) + ‎-al → ‎nojimal (“slowness”)

‎nabe (“firstly”) + ‎-al → ‎nabeal (“firstborn”)
Forms nouns from nouns
‎k’o’x (“gourd cup”) + ‎-al → ‎k’o’xal (“shell of a dead animal”)

‎süb (“tamalito of corn”) + ‎-al → ‎sübal (“pot for making tamales”)

References[edit]

Allen J. Christenson, Kʼiche-English dictionary

Latin[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

-āle
-ar, -āre (when preceded by l)

Etymology[edit]

From apocope of final e in -āle, neuter of -ālis.

Suffix[edit]

-al n (genitive -ālis); third declension

noun-forming suffix

Declension[edit]

Third-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[edit]

Latin terms suffixed with -al

Lepontic[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-al

Romanization of -𐌀𐌋

Malay[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English -al.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /-al/
Hyphenation: -al

Suffix[edit]

-al (Jawi spelling -ل)

-al

Derived terms[edit]

Malay terms suffixed with -al

Manx[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

-ail

Etymology 1[edit]

Extracted from goaill.

Suffix[edit]

-al f

suffix used to form verbal nouns

Etymology 2[edit]

Extracted from goaill.

Suffix[edit]

-al

suffix used productively to form denominative verbs and their associated verbal nouns
‎yiarn (“iron”) + ‎-al → ‎yiarnal (“to iron”)

‎post (“post”) + ‎-al → ‎postal (“to post”)

Etymology 3[edit]

From 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[edit]

Manx terms suffixed with -al

Middle English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

-ale, -all, -alle, -eel, -el, -ele, -ell, -elle

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Old French -al, -el and its source Latin -ālis.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /-al/, /-aːl/, /-ɛl/, /-ɛːl/

Suffix[edit]

-al

(chiefly not productive) Forms adjectives from Latin and Romance vocabulary.

Derived terms[edit]

Middle English terms suffixed with -al

Descendants[edit]

English: -al
Scots: -al

References[edit]

“-al, suf.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Munsee[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-al

A suffix used to form the plurals of inanimate words.
síipuw (“river”) → siipúwal (“rivers”)

máxkeew (“it is red”) → maxkéewal (“they are red”)

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[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From 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[edit]

Norman terms suffixed with -al

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

-all (pre-1917)

Etymology[edit]

From 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.
‎våga (“dare”) + ‎-al → ‎vågal (“daring, risky”)

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

References[edit]

“-al” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
“*all” in Ivar Aasen (1873) Norsk Ordbog med dansk Forklaring

Old French[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

-el

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin -ālis. Compare the inherited -el.

Suffix[edit]

-al

suffix used to form adjectives from nouns
mesnal (from mesnee) ― domestic; household

Descendants[edit]

Middle French: -al
- French: -al

Polish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-aľь.

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Suffix[edit]

-al m

forms masculine nouns, usually augmentative in nature
‎nos + ‎-al → ‎nochal

Declension[edit]

Animate/personal:

Declension of -al

	singular	plural
nominative	-al	-ale
genitive	-ala	-ali
dative	-alowi	-alom
accusative	-ala	-ali
instrumental	-alem	-alami
locative	-alu	-alach
vocative	-alu	-ale

Inanimate:

Declension of -al

	singular	plural
nominative	-al	-ale
genitive	-alu	-ali
dative	-alowi	-alom
accusative	-al	-ale
instrumental	-alem	-alami
locative	-alu	-alach
vocative	-alu	-ale

Surnames:

Declension of -al

	singular	plural
nominative	-al	-alowie
genitive	-ala	alów
dative	-alowi	-alom
accusative	-ala	alów
instrumental	-alem	-alami
locative	-alu	-alach
vocative	-alu	-alowie

Derived terms[edit]

Polish terms suffixed with -al

Portuguese[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈaw/ [ˈaʊ̯]

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈal/ [ˈaɫ]
- (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈa.li/

Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw

Etymology 1[edit]

From 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”
Synonyms: -ar, -ário, -eal, -eiro, -ial, -ico, -inal

‎abismo (“abyss”) + ‎-al → ‎abismal (“abyssal; abysmal”)

‎indústria (“factory; industry”) + ‎-al → ‎industrial (“industrial”)
forms synonyms of adjectives containing the suffix -ico
‎angélico (“angelic”) + ‎-al → ‎angelical (“angelical”)

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”
Synonym: -ário

‎ninho (“nest”) + ‎-al → ‎ninhal (“a bunch of nests”)

‎edito (“edict”) + ‎-al → ‎edital (“notice board”)
appended to noun X, forms nouns meaning “a place where there is plenty of X” or "field where a plant is cultivated"
Synonyms: -açal, -egal, -eiro

‎trigo (“wheat”) + ‎-al → ‎trigal (“wheatfield”)

‎sobreiro (“cork oak”) + ‎-al → ‎sobreiral (“an orchard of cork oaks”)

‎pedra (“rock”) + ‎-al → ‎pedregal (“a rocky field”)

‎colmeia (“beehive”) + ‎-al → ‎colmeal (“a place with many beehives”)

Derived terms[edit]

Portuguese terms suffixed with -al

Etymology 2[edit]

From the first syllable of álcool (“alcohol”) and aldeído (“aldehyde”).

Suffix[edit]

-al m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ais)

(chemistry) forms the names of alcohols
(chemistry) forms the names of aldehydes

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin -alis. Compare French -al, Italian -ale.

Pronunciation[edit]

IPA^(key): /al/

Suffix[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[edit]

Declension of -al

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	-al		-ală	-ali	-ale
nominative/ accusative	definite	-alul		-ala	-alii	-alele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	-al		-ale	-ali	-ale
genitive/ dative	definite	-alului		-alei	-alilor	-alelor

Derived terms[edit]

Romanian terms suffixed with -al

Related terms[edit]

-aie

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Latin -ālis.

Suffix[edit]

-al m or f (adjective-forming suffix, masculine and feminine plural -ales)

In adjectives, indicating relation.
‎cultura (“culture”) + ‎-al → ‎cultural (“cultural”)

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.
Synonym: -ar

‎maíz (“corn”) + ‎-al → ‎maizal (“corn field”)

‎naranja (“orange”) + ‎-al → ‎naranjal (“orange grove”)

‎escoria (“scoria”) + ‎-al → ‎escorial (“bed of lava”)

Derived terms[edit]

Spanish terms suffixed with -al

Swedish[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-al

-al, of or pertaining to; forming an adjective from a noun

Derived terms[edit]

Swedish terms suffixed with -al

Anagrams[edit]

l:a, la

-al

English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Usage notes[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

See also[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Abenaki[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Usage notes[edit]

Asturian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Danish[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Dutch[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Esperanto[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Hungarian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Usage notes[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

See also[edit]

K'iche'[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

References[edit]

Latin[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Declension[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Lepontic[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Malay[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Manx[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

Suffix[edit]

Etymology 3[edit]