-oir

See also: oir, OIr, oír, óir, óír, òir, oïr, and -óir

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /waʁ/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin -orium or -oria, feminine words end in -oire. Cognate to English -ory and -or.

Suffix

-oir

1. A suffix used on verbs to form masculine words for objects or tools used to do something.

   ‎accouder + ‎-oir → ‎accoudoir (“armrest”)

   ‎mirer + ‎-oir → ‎miroir (“mirror”)

2. A suffix used on verbs to form masculine words for places where something is done.

   ‎dormir + ‎-oir → ‎dortoir (“dormitory”)

   ‎abattre + ‎-oir → ‎abattoir (“slaughterhouse”)

Derived terms

French terms suffixed with -oir

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin -ēre, the ending of the present active infinitive form of second conjugation verbs. Compare Italian -ere, Romanian -ea, Romansch -air.

Suffix

-oir

1. A suffix forming infinitives of some verbs.

Usage notes

• Verbs in -oir are fairly few and all of them are irregular to different degrees. The most important ones are asseoir, avoir, devoir, falloir, pleuvoir, pouvoir, recevoir, savoir, valoir, voir, vouloir.

See also

French terms suffixed with -oir