-els

Low German

Alternative forms

• -else
• -elsch
• -sel
• -el

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əlsə/, [əlts], [əlz]

Suffix

-els n

1. Alternative form of -else

Usage notes

• Some dictionaries whose authors lack knowledge of Middle Low German or southern Low German dialects (i.e. do not know about the original form -else) might mistake this ending as having a plural -s and thus either create a pseudo-singular or mistake it for a plurale tantum.
• Some words might show a variant form which is not in general use, like -elsch or -sel. For example, the word Schüddels is more commonly found as Schüddelsch, and the word Fegels has nearly disappeared and gave place to its variant Feegsel.

Derived terms

• Radels
• Drinkels
• Hackels
• Schüddelsch

• Feegsel
• Backels
• Riemels

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Old English

Etymology

A metathetic form of Proto-Germanic *-isliją.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /els/, [eɫs]

Suffix

-els

1. (masculine suffix for inanimate objects) suffix creating nouns from verbs

   rǣdels ― counsel, advise, riddle, enigma

   rēcels ― incense, frankincense

   wǣfels ― covering, cloak, garment

   byrgels ― burial, sepulchre, tomb

Declension

Declension of -els (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	-els	-elsas
accusative	-els	-elsas
genitive	-elses	-elsa
dative	-else	-elsum

Synonyms

• -else

Descendants

• English: -le (riddle), -al (burial)