-le

See also: Appendix:Variations of "le"

English

Alternative forms

-el

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /əl/, /l̩/

Etymology 1

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-lōn, from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix).

Cognate with West Frisian -elje, Dutch -elen, German -eln, Danish -le, Norwegian Bokmål -le, Norwegian Nynorsk -la, Swedish -la, Icelandic -la. Compare -er.

Suffix

-le

A frequentative suffix of verbs, indicating repetition or continuousness:
assle, buzzle, crackle, cuddle, dazzle, draggle, drawl, dribble, drizzle, fumble, gamble, grapple, handle, jostle, kissle, maddle, mingle, nestle, nuzzle, prattle, quible, ramble, rattle, ripple, scribble, sile, sizzle, sniffle, snuggle, startle, stopple, suckle, tattle, tickle, topple, waggle, whemmle, wiggle, wrestle

Derived terms

Translations

frequentative suffix

Finnish: -ella (fi), -skella
Galician: -exar
Polish: -wać impf
Portuguese: -ejar (pt)
Spanish: -ear (es)
Swedish: -la (sv)

Etymology 2

From Middle English -el, -le (adjectival), from Old English -el, -ol, from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz and *-ilaz (adjective suffixes). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el, Icelandic -ill.

Suffix

-le

Forming adjectives from verbs with the meaning of "prone to", "tending to", "apt to", "capable of"; compare -ative:
battle, breakle, brittle, fickle, forgettle, little, newfangle, nimble, wankle

Etymology 3

From Middle English -el (agent suffix), from a combination of two suffixes:

Old English -el, -il (diminutive suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (diminutive suffix).
Old English -el, -ol, -ul (agent suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent suffix). Cognate with West Frisian -el, Dutch -el, Low German -el, German -el.

Alternative forms

-el

Suffix

-le

Forming diminutives from other nouns.
Synonyms: (suffixes) -cule, -ee, -el, -et, -ette, -icle, -ie, -kin, -let, -ling, -ole, -ule, -y, (prefixes) mini-, micro-, nano-

‎dump + ‎-le → ‎dimple

‎dung + ‎-le → ‎dingle

‎hatch + ‎-le → ‎hatchel

‎hose + ‎-le → ‎hosel

‎howf + ‎-le → ‎hovel

‎gome + ‎-le → ‎gomeral

‎corn + ‎-le → ‎kernel

‎new + ‎-le → ‎newel

‎nose + ‎-le → ‎nozzle

‎puck + ‎-le → ‎puckle

‎turd + ‎-le → ‎treddle
Forming agent nouns from verbs:
beadle, beetle, bridle, bundle, cripple, fettle, girdle, ladle, losel, runnel, shovel, spindle, spittle, steeple, stile, stopple, thimble, tool, towel, trundle

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -le (diminutive)

Unsorted:

English terms suffixed with -le

Anagrams

-el, EL, El, el

Basque

Alternative forms

-tzaile (see usage notes)

Suffix

-le

Forms agent noun from verbs.
‎ikasi (“study”) + ‎-le → ‎ikasle (“student”)

Usage notes

It is used with verbs ending in -i preceded by a sibilant or -r(r)-. If the sibilant is an affricate, it is reduced to a fricative.
‎idatzi (“write”) + ‎-le → ‎idazle (“writer”)

‎irakatsi (“teach”) + ‎-le → ‎irakasle (“teacher”)

‎irakurri (“read”) + ‎-le → ‎irakurle (“reader”)
For other verbs the alternative form -tzaile is used.

Derived terms

Basque terms suffixed with -le

Cimbrian

Etymology

From a reduced form of Middle High German -līn. Compare Yiddish ־ל (-l).

Suffix

-le

forms diminutives

Derived terms

Cimbrian terms suffixed with -le

Finnish

Etymology 1

-l(a) +‎ -e

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-leˣ/, [-le̞(ʔ)]

Suffix

-le

Forms diminutive nouns.

Declension

Inflection of -le (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)
nominative		-le	-leet
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-letta	-leita
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-le	-leet
accusative	nom.	-le	-leet
accusative	gen.	-leen	-leet
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-letta	-leita
inessive		-leessa	-leissa
elative		-leesta	-leista
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
adessive		-leella	-leilla
ablative		-leelta	-leilta
allative		-leelle	-leille
essive		-leena	-leina
translative		-leeksi	-leiksi
abessive		-leetta	-leitta
instructive		—	-lein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -le (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leeni	-leeni
accusative	nom.	-leeni	-leeni
accusative	gen.	-leeni	-leeni
genitive		-leeni	-leideni -leitteni
partitive		-lettani	-leitani
inessive		-leessani	-leissani
elative		-leestani	-leistani
illative		-leeseeni	-leisiini -leihini
adessive		-leellani	-leillani
ablative		-leeltani	-leiltani
allative		-leelleni	-leilleni
essive		-leenani	-leinani
translative		-leekseni	-leikseni
abessive		-leettani	-leittani
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leineni

second-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leesi	-leesi
accusative	nom.	-leesi	-leesi
accusative	gen.	-leesi	-leesi
genitive		-leesi	-leidesi -leittesi
partitive		-lettasi	-leitasi
inessive		-leessasi	-leissasi
elative		-leestasi	-leistasi
illative		-leeseesi	-leisiisi -leihisi
adessive		-leellasi	-leillasi
ablative		-leeltasi	-leiltasi
allative		-leellesi	-leillesi
essive		-leenasi	-leinasi
translative		-leeksesi	-leiksesi
abessive		-leettasi	-leittasi
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leinesi

first-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leemme	-leemme
accusative	nom.	-leemme	-leemme
accusative	gen.	-leemme	-leemme
genitive		-leemme	-leidemme -leittemme
partitive		-lettamme	-leitamme
inessive		-leessamme	-leissamme
elative		-leestamme	-leistamme
illative		-leeseemme	-leisiimme -leihimme
adessive		-leellamme	-leillamme
ablative		-leeltamme	-leiltamme
allative		-leellemme	-leillemme
essive		-leenamme	-leinamme
translative		-leeksemme	-leiksemme
abessive		-leettamme	-leittamme
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leinemme

second-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leenne	-leenne
accusative	nom.	-leenne	-leenne
accusative	gen.	-leenne	-leenne
genitive		-leenne	-leidenne -leittenne
partitive		-lettanne	-leitanne
inessive		-leessanne	-leissanne
elative		-leestanne	-leistanne
illative		-leeseenne	-leisiinne -leihinne
adessive		-leellanne	-leillanne
ablative		-leeltanne	-leiltanne
allative		-leellenne	-leillenne
essive		-leenanne	-leinanne
translative		-leeksenne	-leiksenne
abessive		-leettanne	-leittanne
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leinenne

third-person possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leensa	-leensa
accusative	nom.	-leensa	-leensa
accusative	gen.	-leensa	-leensa
genitive		-leensa	-leidensa -leittensa
partitive		-lettaan -lettansa	-leitaan -leitansa
inessive		-leessaan -leessansa	-leissaan -leissansa
elative		-leestaan -leestansa	-leistaan -leistansa
illative		-leeseensa	-leisiinsa -leihinsa
adessive		-leellaan -leellansa	-leillaan -leillansa
ablative		-leeltaan -leeltansa	-leiltaan -leiltansa
allative		-leelleen -leellensa	-leilleen -leillensa
essive		-leenaan -leenansa	-leinaan -leinansa
translative		-leekseen -leeksensa	-leikseen -leiksensa
abessive		-leettaan -leettansa	-leittaan -leittansa
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leineen -leinensa

Inflection of -le (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)
nominative		-le	-leet
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-lettä	-leitä
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
		singular	plural
nominative		-le	-leet
accusative	nom.	-le	-leet
accusative	gen.	-leen	-leet
genitive		-leen	-leiden -leitten
partitive		-lettä	-leitä
inessive		-leessä	-leissä
elative		-leestä	-leistä
illative		-leeseen	-leisiin -leihin
adessive		-leellä	-leillä
ablative		-leeltä	-leiltä
allative		-leelle	-leille
essive		-leenä	-leinä
translative		-leeksi	-leiksi
abessive		-leettä	-leittä
instructive		—	-lein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of -le (Kotus type 48/hame, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leeni	-leeni
accusative	nom.	-leeni	-leeni
accusative	gen.	-leeni	-leeni
genitive		-leeni	-leideni -leitteni
partitive		-lettäni	-leitäni
inessive		-leessäni	-leissäni
elative		-leestäni	-leistäni
illative		-leeseeni	-leisiini -leihini
adessive		-leelläni	-leilläni
ablative		-leeltäni	-leiltäni
allative		-leelleni	-leilleni
essive		-leenäni	-leinäni
translative		-leekseni	-leikseni
abessive		-leettäni	-leittäni
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leineni

second-person singular possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leesi	-leesi
accusative	nom.	-leesi	-leesi
accusative	gen.	-leesi	-leesi
genitive		-leesi	-leidesi -leittesi
partitive		-lettäsi	-leitäsi
inessive		-leessäsi	-leissäsi
elative		-leestäsi	-leistäsi
illative		-leeseesi	-leisiisi -leihisi
adessive		-leelläsi	-leilläsi
ablative		-leeltäsi	-leiltäsi
allative		-leellesi	-leillesi
essive		-leenäsi	-leinäsi
translative		-leeksesi	-leiksesi
abessive		-leettäsi	-leittäsi
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leinesi

first-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leemme	-leemme
accusative	nom.	-leemme	-leemme
accusative	gen.	-leemme	-leemme
genitive		-leemme	-leidemme -leittemme
partitive		-lettämme	-leitämme
inessive		-leessämme	-leissämme
elative		-leestämme	-leistämme
illative		-leeseemme	-leisiimme -leihimme
adessive		-leellämme	-leillämme
ablative		-leeltämme	-leiltämme
allative		-leellemme	-leillemme
essive		-leenämme	-leinämme
translative		-leeksemme	-leiksemme
abessive		-leettämme	-leittämme
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leinemme

second-person plural possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leenne	-leenne
accusative	nom.	-leenne	-leenne
accusative	gen.	-leenne	-leenne
genitive		-leenne	-leidenne -leittenne
partitive		-lettänne	-leitänne
inessive		-leessänne	-leissänne
elative		-leestänne	-leistänne
illative		-leeseenne	-leisiinne -leihinne
adessive		-leellänne	-leillänne
ablative		-leeltänne	-leiltänne
allative		-leellenne	-leillenne
essive		-leenänne	-leinänne
translative		-leeksenne	-leiksenne
abessive		-leettänne	-leittänne
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leinenne

third-person possessor
		singular	plural
nominative		-leensä	-leensä
accusative	nom.	-leensä	-leensä
accusative	gen.	-leensä	-leensä
genitive		-leensä	-leidensä -leittensä
partitive		-lettään -lettänsä	-leitään -leitänsä
inessive		-leessään -leessänsä	-leissään -leissänsä
elative		-leestään -leestänsä	-leistään -leistänsä
illative		-leeseensä	-leisiinsä -leihinsä
adessive		-leellään -leellänsä	-leillään -leillänsä
ablative		-leeltään -leeltänsä	-leiltään -leiltänsä
allative		-leelleen -leellensä	-leilleen -leillensä
essive		-leenään -leenänsä	-leinään -leinänsä
translative		-leekseen -leeksensä	-leikseen -leiksensä
abessive		-leettään -leettänsä	-leittään -leittänsä
instructive		—	—
comitative		—	-leineen -leinensä

Derived terms

Etymology 2

See the main entry.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-leˣ/, [-le̞(ʔ)]

Suffix

-le (dialectal)

alternative form of -lle
- 1878, J. Krohn, Kertomuksia Suomen Historiasta, →ISBN:
  Keisarilainen sotawoima riensi kaupungile awuksi ja ankara tappelu syttyi sen likellä.
  The imperial military came in haste to aid the town, and violent combat erupted near it.
- 1996, Rosa Liksom, Kreisland, →ISBN:
  Siinä nirppanokkanen kotifrouva istu kiitävässä avoautossa ja sano J. Edgar Hooverin näkselle miehele: »Tämä on unta.»
  There sat a stuck up housewife in a dashing convertible and said to a man that looked like J. Edgar Hoover: "This is a dream."

German

Etymology

From Middle High German -elīn, -līn, from Old High German -ilī, -ilīn.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [lə]
Audio: (file)
Audio (Germany (Berlin)): (file)

Suffix

-le

(chiefly dialectal) suffix used to create a diminutive form; e.g., Haus → Häusle

Derived terms

Ingrian

Pronunciation

(Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /-le/, [-lʲe̞]
(Soikkola) IPA^(key): /-lʲe/, [-lʲe̞]

Particle

-le

alternative form of -lee

Italian

Pronoun

-le

(enclitic) alternative form of le
dare (“to give”) → darle (“to give them; to give for her”)

vendere (“to sell”) → venderle (“to sell them; to sell to her”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirle (“to serve them; to serve to her”)

Usage notes

Appended to present active infinitive verb forms to derive accusative forms when the object is third plural feminine person and the dative form when the object is third singular feminine person. The final -e of the original infinitive is removed :

-are → -arle

-ere → -erle

-ire → -irle

Where the verb ends in -rre, the final re is removed, leaving behind just an -r:

introdurre (“to introduce”) → introdurle (“to introduce them; to insert in her”)

In any case, after the suffixation, there is only a single r and no vowels immediately before -le.

Anagrams

el

Latin

Suffix

-le

vocative masculine singular of -lus

Malay

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈlə/ [ˈlə]

Suffix

-le

(colloquial) alternative form of -lah
- 2024 July 31, @IkanBaracudda, X (formerly Twitter)‎^[1] (post), archived from the original on 7-2-2026:
  Benda jadi kes mahkamah dik. Biarle mahkamah buat keje, takkan nak suh menteri jadi hakim plk.
  The thing is it becomes a court case, kid. Let the court do its job, you don't want to ask the ministers to be the judge, do you?

Middle English

Etymology 1

Suffix

-le

alternative form of -el (adjectival suffix)

Etymology 2

Suffix

-le

alternative form of -el (agentive suffix)

Etymology 3

Suffix

-le

alternative form of -el (diminutive suffix)

Etymology 4

Suffix

-le

alternative form of -ly (“adjectival”)

Etymology 5

Suffix

-le

alternative form of -ly (“adverbial”)

Mwan

Suffix

-le

nominalising suffix

Old English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /le/

Suffix

-le

dative singular of -el

Romanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /le/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -ae (“first-declension ending”), with intrusive l.

Suffix

-le

(in the plural) -s (feminine/neuter)

Usage notes

This form of the plural is indefinite, and used for feminine nouns in the nominative/accusative and genitive/dative cases which end in a stressed vowel, or is monosyllabic:
zile, from zi, fem.
basmale, from basma, fem.
cafele, from cafe, fem.

Alternative forms

-e

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin ille.

Suffix

-le

variant of -l: the (definite article)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for both masculine and neuter singular nouns in the nominative and accusative cases which end in -e, whom earlier in Latin were third declension nouns:

fratele, from frate, from Latin frātrem, masc.
numele, from nume, from Latin nōmen, neut.
muntele, from munte, from Latin mōntem, masc.

Etymology 3

Inherited from Latin illae, nominative feminine plural of ille.

Suffix

-le

(definite article) the (feminine/neuter plural, nominative and accusative)

Usage notes

This form of the definite article is used for both feminine and neuter plural nouns in the nominative and accusative cases

amintirile, from amintiri, fem.
visurile, from visuri, neut.

Note that this suffix is also added to indefinite feminine plurals in -le:

zilele, from zile, fem.
basmalele, from basmale, fem.
cafelele, from cafele, fem.

The suffix is also used with feminine plural adjectives in the nominative and accusative cases to make the articulated definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies:

caldele plăcinte, from plăcintele calde (both meaning, "the warm pies")

Related terms

-l (masculine/neuter singular nominative and accusative)
-a (feminine singular nominative and accusative)
-i (masculine/neuter plural nominative and accusative)
-lui (masculine/neuter singular genitive and dative)
-ei (feminine singular genitive and dative)
-lor (plural genitive and dative)

Scots

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ʌl], [əl], [l]

Etymology 1

From Middle English -el, -le, from Old English -el, -ol (adjective suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz (adjective suffix).

Suffix

-le

used for forming adjectives signifying 'having a tendency to' or 'able to'; e.g. forgettle, smittle, fodgle

Etymology 2

Suffix

-le

a contracted form of full; e.g. cairtle (“cartful, cart-load”), cogle (“bowlful”)

Etymology 3

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *-lōną

Old English -lian

Middle English -elen

Scots -le

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix).

Suffix

-le

frequentative or diminutive suffix, added to verbs
forms adverbs implying direction towards

Swabian

Etymology

From a reduced form of Middle High German -līn. Compare Yiddish ־ל (-l).

Suffix

-le n

Used to form diminutives.

Turkish

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Turkic *-le (“suffix forming denominal verbs”). Possibly related to Proto-Mongolic *-le and Proto-Tungusic *-le.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈle/

Suffix

preceding vowel
a / ı / o / u	e / i / ö / ü
-la	-le

-le

Suffix appended to nouns to derive verbs with various meanings.
‎alkış (“applause”) + ‎la → ‎alkışlamak (“to applaud”)

‎temiz (“clean”) + ‎-le → ‎temizlemek (“to clean”)

Derived terms

Turkish verbs suffixed with -le

Etymology 2

From ile.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /le/

Suffix

	preceding vowel
	a / ı / o / u	e / i / ö / ü
postconsonantal	-la	-le
postvocalic	-yla	-yle

-le

with, shortened form of ile
annemle okula gidiyorum
I am going to school with my mother
by, shortened form of ile
Okula otobüsle gidiyorum
I am going to school by bus

Usage notes

If it's added to a proper noun, it must be used with an apostrophe.
Zafer'le - with Zafer.

Emre'yle - with Emre.
Unlike most Turkish suffixes, this suffix is always unstressed; the stress in the combined word remains where it was in the word before suffixing.