-s

See also Appendix:Variations of "s"

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /s/ (following an unvoiced consonant)
• IPA: /z/ (postvocalic or following a voiced consonant)
• IPA: /ɨz/ (following a sibilant consonant /s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/—usually written -es)

Etymology 1

From Middle English -s, -es, from Old English -as, nominative-accusative plural ending of masculine a-stem (i.e. strong) declension nouns, from Proto-Germanic *-ōs, *-ōz, from Proto-Indo-European *-es, *-oes (plural ending). Most common Old English plural marker (c. 40% of Old English nouns). Cognate with Scots -s (plural ending), West Frisian -s (plural ending), Dutch -s (plural ending), Low German -s (plural ending), Danish -er (plural ending), Swedish -r, -ar, -or (plural ending), Icelandic -ir (plural ending), Gothic  (-os, nominative plural ending of a-stem masculine nouns).

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form regular plurals of nouns.

   one computer → five computers

2. Used to form many pluralia tantum (nouns that are almost or entirely without singular forms).

   shorts, sunglasses, days

Usage notes

• (regular plurals): In semi-formal or formal contexts, where the plurality of a noun depends on some unknown aspect of the sentence, the s may be parenthesised: "The winner(s) will be invited to a prize ceremony."

See also

other plural-forming suffixes

-en -es

-a -z (nonstandard)

Derived terms

• see Category:English plurals

Etymology 2

Middle English -(e)s (third person singular ending of verbs) from Northern Old English (Northumbian dialect) -es, -as (third person singular ending). Replaced historical Old English third person singular ending -(e)þ, -aþ (-eth). Possibly due to Scandinavian influence or related to -es, -as, second-person singular ending of verbs. More at -est

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the third-person singular indicative present tense of verbs.

   to eat → he eats

See also

other verb endings

-ed -en

-ing -t

Derived terms

see Category:English third-person singular forms

Etymology 3

From Middle English -es, from Old English -es (“masc-neut genitive ending of most nouns”). More at -'s

Suffix

-s

1. (not productive) used in the formation of certain English adverbs.

   backwards; towards

   always; sometimes

Derived terms

[+] English words suffixed with -s

Etymology 4

By dropping the apostrophe in 's.

Suffix

-s

1. (UK) Possessive in business names.

Usage notes

In British English, an -s (without the apostrophe) is sometimes used both in business names that derive from a possessive, such as Harrods (originally Harrod’s), but compare Sainsbury’s – see possessives in business names – and, by generalization, for businesses that do not have a possessive in their name, such as Tescos for Tesco, this latter usage being called the s-form and being used primarily in speech.

Related terms

• ’s

Etymology 5

Shortened form of -sy.

Suffix

-s

1. Diminutive suffix

   Babs; moms; pops; homes; Toots

Derived terms

[+] English words suffixed with -s

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Danish

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the genitive case of nouns.

   Danmarks dronning — the Queen of Denmark

   Københavns snefald — snowfall in Copenhagen

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Dutch

Etymology 1

Unknown. Not present in Old Dutch, which used -a from Proto-Germanic *-ōz as the plural ending. Possibly spread from Middle Low German -s, -es, from Old Saxon -os, -as, from Proto-Germanic *-ōs. Further etymology is unknown, but cognate with Old English -as. See above.

Suffix

-s pl

1. Used to form regular plurals of certain nouns (ending in e.g. -el,-er,-en,-em,-aar or diminutive -je).

   bodem - bodems

Usage notes

In cases regarding words of Latin origins ending with -um, the -s plural as a suffix is placed behind the word ending with -um. Thus the plural of -um is -um + -s. It is 1 of 2 plurals of -um, the other being -um becomes -a.

Etymology 2

From the genitive case of masculine and neuter nouns and adjectives, Middle Dutch -s, -es, from Old Dutch -es, -is, from Proto-Germanic *-as, *-is.

Suffix

-s

1. (archaic) Used to form the genitive case of (strong) masculine and neuter nouns.

   tijd - de tand des tijds

2. Used to form the partitive form of the adjective

   lief - iets liefs

3. Used to form adverbs

   stad - steeds

Derived terms

The adverbial/adjectival -s combines with other suffixes like :

• -lijk → -lijks
• -je → -jes
• -ling → -lings
• -waarts

Etymology 3

From earlier -sch, from Middle Dutch -sc, -sch, from Old Dutch -isc, from Proto-Germanic *-iskaz (from which also -isch via German), from Proto-Indo-European *-iskos.

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form adjectives of characteristic from nouns.

   winter - winters

   spel - speels

2. Used to form adjectives or language names from names of nations or countries.

   Engeland - Engels

   Finland - Fins

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Finnish

Suffix

-s

1. (case suffix, colloquial or dialectal) Used to form the inessive case.

Suffix

-s

1. (nominal) Used to form ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers, or ordinal pronouns.

   mones

Usage notes

• The ordinal suffix is appended to the genitive singular stem of the numeral or other word.
• It has the form -s only in the nominative singular. The suffix has strong vowel stem -nte-, weak vowel stem -nne-, partitive singular stem -t- and plural stem -nsi-. For example, the genitive singular of viisi "5" is viiden, whence the genitive singular stem viide-:

case	form
nominative singular	viides
genitive singular	viidennen
partitive singular	viidettä
essive singular	viidentenä
genitive plural	viidensien
partitive plural	viidensiä

Particle

-s

1. (enclitic) When appended to a second-person singular or plural imperative, gives the command or request slightly rude or impatient tone—often with different verbs and different independent particles adjacent, the tone is different:

   • Kuules nyt! (addressing one person)
     • Now do listen! (with nyt, quite an established expression of frustration, speaker very impatient)
   • Kuulkaas nyt! (addressing many persons or formally one person)
     • Now do ye listen! (same tone as above)
   • Tees nämä tehtävät. (addressing one person, tone less impatient)
     • Go do these tasks.

2. (enclitic) When appended to the particle -pa/-pä that is appended to a second-person imperative, gives the command or request a slightly more persuasive or inspiring tone:

   • Laitapas lautaset pöytään.
     • Hey, go put the plates on the table.

3. (enclitic) Mainly in informal contexts: a particle appended to an interrogative suffix -ko/-kö of the verb conjugated (also -kö with the negation verb) in order to bring the conversation partner or a person outside the conversation, talked about, emotionally closer to the speaker, or to create familiarity into the conversation; also to express that closeness or familiarity—sometimes very difficult to translate well into English, in some cases corresponds the tag questions:

   • Jaksatkos sinä?
     • May you make it maybe?
   • Eikös Saara opiskele oikeustieteitä?
     • Saara studies law, nuh?

4. (enclitic, colloquial) appended to the shortened impersonal indicative present form (-n omitted) to soften the command or request or to make it more persuasive:

   • Tehdääs tämä huomenna.
     • Let's go do this tomorrow.

See also

• -kin
• -kaan / -kään
• -han / -hän
• -ko / -kö
• -pa / -pä

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French

Etymology

Middle French -s < Old French -s.

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the regular plural of nouns.

   hommes

See also

• -x

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German

Alternative forms

• -es

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the genitive of many nouns.

See also

• -s-

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Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʃ/

Suffix

-s

1. Added to a noun to form an adjective meaning "having something, a quality".

   só (“salt”) → sós (“salty”)

2. Added to a noun to form an occupation or a collective noun.

   hajó (“ship”) → hajós (“sailor”)

3. Added to an ordinal number to form a digit or figure.

   nulla (“zero”) → nullás (“the digit or figure 0”)

Usage notes

• Member of the following suffix cluster:

  -s is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-.

  -os is added to some back vowel words ending in a consonant

  -as is added to other back vowel words ending in a consonant

  -es is added to unrounded front vowel words ending in a consonant

  -ös is added to rounded front vowel words ending in a consonant

See also

• Category:Hungarian adjectives suffixed with -s
• Category:Hungarian nouns suffixed with -s
• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes

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Manx

Alternative forms

• -ish
• -sh

Suffix

-s

1. -self (emphatic)

Usage notes

• Added to prepositional pronouns (ending in a broad consonant) to add emphasis:
  • Used in first-person singular: (e.g., lhiams).
  • Used in second-person singular: (e.g., orts).

See also

• -yn
• -syn

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Norwegian

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the genitive case of nouns.
2. Used to form the passive of verbs.

Usage notes

• If the genitive noun already ends with a sibilant, only an apostrophe (-') is added. It is incorrect to use an apostrophe before the s.

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Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-isjō, *-usjō.

Suffix

-s f

1. (often affects the value or quality of preceding consonants, may or may not cause i-mutation) Feminine noun suffix forming nouns from adjectives and verbs

   milts "mercy" (earlier milds), from milde "gentle, mild"

   liss "grace" (earlier liþs, līþs), from līþe "gentle, limber"

   cwiss (earlier cwiþs) "a saying", from cweþan "to say, speak"

Declension

    Declension of -s (strong ō-stem)

	Singular	Plural
nominative	-s	-sa, -se
accusative	-se	-sa, -se
genitive	-se	-sa
dative	-se	-sum

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Portuguese

Suffix

-s m and f, pl

1. Used to form the regular plural of nouns which end in vowels.
   • 2007, Lya Wyler (translator), J. K. Rowling (English author), Harry Potter e as Relíquias da Morte (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Rocco, page 308:

     Você notou os cabelos dela, são negros e brilhantes e macios...

     Did you notice her hair, it's dark and bright and soft...

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Spanish

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the regular plural of nouns which end in vowels.

   amigo (“friend”) → amigos (“friends”)

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Swedish

Suffix

-s

1. Used to form the genitive case of nouns.
2. Used to inflect verbs for the passive voice.