-ese

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English -eys, from Old French -eis, from Latin -ēnsis (in some cases from Late Latin -iscus). Compare Italian -ese.

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-ese

  1. Used to form adjectives and nouns describing things and characteristics of a city, region, or country, such as the people and the language spoken by these people.
    Viennese waltz (sausage, etc), Maltese falcon, Chinese, Togolese, Beninese, Congolese, Milanese, Parmese, Japanese, Faroese, Portuguese, Vietnamese
  2. Used to form nouns meaning the jargon or language used by a particular profession or being or in a particular context.
    Synonym: -speak
    journal + ‎-ese → ‎journalese
    legal + ‎-ese → ‎legalese
    translation + ‎-ese → ‎translationese

Usage notes[edit]

Generally speaking, nouns formed with the suffix -ese have no distinct plural form (two Viennese) and, with the definite article, are plural and refer to an entire group (the Ravennese). They are also generally not used in the singular, as in "I am a Chinese"; instead, phrases like "I am a Chinese person" are used. (In some British dialects, "a Chinese" can be used, but to refer to a Chinese meal, rather than a person.) This is not always the case, particularly for speakers from East Asia who use it to translate demonyms such as 日本人 and 中国人, but such countable uses may have nonstandard meanings.

Derived terms[edit]

Adjectives and nouns describing characteristics of a region
Nouns denoting jargon

Translations[edit]

Note: these translations are a guide only. For more precise translations, see individual words ending in -ese.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ See e.g.
    Annamese”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. / “Annamese”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. / “Annamese”, in Collins English Dictionary. / “Annamese”, in The Century Dictionary [], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.,
    Chinese”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. / “Chinese”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. / “Chinese”, in Collins English Dictionary. / “Chinese”, in The Century Dictionary [], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.,
    legalese”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. / “legalese”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.,
    Viennese”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. / “Viennese”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. / “Viennese”, in Collins English Dictionary. / “Viennese”, in The Century Dictionary [], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC., etc.

Anagrams[edit]

German[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ˈeː.zə]
  • (file)

Suffix[edit]

-ese m (weak, genitive -esen, plural -esen)

  1. Forms nouns indicating an inhabitant of a place.

Usage notes[edit]

The suffix -er is more common.

Declension[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Interlingua[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English -an, French -ain, Italian -ano, Portuguese -ano/Spanish -ano, all ultimately from Latin -ānus.

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-ese

  1. forms nouns and adjectives from nouns, denoting or pertaining to a native, citizen or inhabitant; -ese
    Synonyms: (noun) -ano, -ana, -ita, (adjective) -an
    China (China) + ‎-ese → ‎chinese (Chinese)
    Geneva (Geneva) + ‎-ese → ‎genevese (Genevese)
    Francia (France) + ‎-ese → ‎francese (French)
  2. forms nouns and adjectives from nouns, denoting or pertaining to a language; -ese
    Synonyms: (noun) -ano, (adjective) -an
    China (China) + ‎-ese → ‎chinese (Chinese)
    Brooklyn (Brooklyn) + ‎-ese → ‎brooklynese (Brooklynese, Brooklyn dialect)

Derived terms[edit]

References[edit]

Italian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Latin -ēnsem (originating in), whence also Italian -ense.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈe.ze/, (traditional) /ˈe.se/
  • Rhymes: -eze, (traditional) -ese
  • Hyphenation: -é‧se

Suffix[edit]

-ese m

  1. -ese (both senses); -er
    Libano (Lebanon) + ‎-ese → ‎libanese (Lebanese)
    Cina (China) + ‎-ese → ‎cinese (Chinese)
    sinistra (left) + ‎-ese → ‎sinistrese (left-wing political jargon)
    giornalista (journalist) + ‎-ese → ‎giornalistese (journalese)

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]