-ção

See also: Appendix:Variations of "cao"

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• -ação

Etymology

From the accusative case of Latin -tiō (“-tion”), -tiōnem, from a Proto-Indo-European suffix -tiHō, which consists of Proto-Indo-European *-tis + *-Hō. The suffix is in many cases a semi-learned form partially borrowed from Latin to make new words, but also corresponds with the old inherited form that it was based on (as evidenced by words such as coração, canção), which could also be -zão in some cases (e.g. razão, sazão).

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɐ̃w̃/ [ˈsɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈsɐ̃w̃/

• (Northern Portuguese Dialects) IPA^(key): /sõw/

Suffix

-ção f (noun-forming suffix, plural -ções)

1. -tion

   ‎comercializar (“to commercialize”) + ‎-ção → ‎comercialização (“commercialization”)

   ‎esterilizar (“to sterilize”) + ‎-ção → ‎esterilização (“sterilization”)

Derived terms

Portuguese terms suffixed with -ção