in-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "in"

English

Etymology 1

PIE word
*h₁én

From Middle English in-, from Old English in- (“in, into”, prefix), from Proto-Germanic *in, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én. More at in.

Alternative forms

• i-, il-
• en-

Prefix

in-

1. in, into, towards, within.

   inhold, inmove, intake, inthrill

   inborn, inbound

   infield, infighting, insight, intalk, inwork

Synonyms

• (within): intra-, en-/em-/im-, end-/endo-

Antonyms

• (within): out-, ex-, exo-, ecto-

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with in-

terms derived from in-: toward

• inbound
• inbox
• ingrown
• inlaid
• inner
• input
• inside
• inward

 

Translations

in, into, towards

• French: in- (fr) en- (fr)
• Galician: in- (gl)
• Greek: εισ- (eis-), εν- (el) (en-)
• Italian: in- (it)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: inn- (no)

• Portuguese: em- (pt), in- (pt)

Etymology 2

From Middle English in-, borrowed (in words of Latinate origin) from Latin in-, from Latin in, from Proto-Indo-European *en (cognate to Germanic in-, above). Often borrowed from French in- (e.g. incise, incite, incline, indication), or as French en-, originally from Latin in.

Prefix

in-

1. in, into

   Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:

   • il- before l, e.g. illusion
   • im- before b, m, or p, e.g. imperil
   • ir- before r, e.g. irrigate

Usage notes

In direction sense, used in Latinate terms, and opposed by ex-, e-, rather than Germanic out-; senses not always strict antonyms. Examples include infiltrate/exfiltrate, ingress/egress, invade/evade.

Synonyms

• (within): intra-, en-/em-/im-, end-/endo-

Antonyms

• (within): out-, ex-, exo-, ecto-

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with in-

terms derived from in-: direction

• infiltrate
• ingress
• invade

 

terms derived from in-: tendency

• inflammable

 

Etymology 3

PIE word
*ne

From Middle English in-, borrowed (in words of latinate origin) from Latin in- (“not”). Sometimes the Latin word has passed through French before reaching English (e.g. incapable, incertainty, inclement, incompatible). Compare un-.

Prefix

in-

1. (non-productive) Used with certain words to reverse their meaning

   Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:

   • ig- before n, e.g. ignoble
   • il- before l, e.g. illegal
   • im- before b, m, or p, e.g. improper
   • ir- before r, e.g. irresistible

   1. (non-productive) Added to adjectives to mean not

      inedible

      inaccurate

   2. (non-productive) Added to nouns to mean lacking or without

      incredulity

      ineptitude

Synonyms

• (not): a-, an-, dys-, i-/il-/im-/ir-, mal-, non-, un-

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with in-

terms derived from in-: reversing meaning

• inability
• inaccuracy
• inaccurate
• inadmissible
• inanimate
• incapable
• incredible
• incredulity
• incredulous
• indefinite
• inedible
• ineffable
• inequitable
• infinite
• inhospitable
• inimitable
• injustice
• insobriety
• intolerance
• inviolable
• invisible

 

Related terms

• em-
• en-

Translations

reversal of meaning

• Armenian: ան- (an-)
• Catalan: in- (ca)
• Czech: ne- (cs)
• Esperanto: mal- (eo)
• Finnish: epä- (fi)
• French: in- (fr)
• Greek: α- (el) (a-), αν- (el) (an-)
• Hebrew: אִי (he) (i), בִּלְתִּי (he) (bílti)
• Ido: ne-
• Indonesian: in-
• Italian: in- (it)
• Japanese: 不 (ja) (ふ, fu)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: ikke- (no), u- (no), van- (no), mis-

  Nynorsk: ikkje- (nn), u-, van-, mis-

• Polish: nie- (pl)
• Portuguese: in- (pt)
• Russian: не (ru) (ne)
• Spanish: in- (es)
• Swedish: o- (sv), in- (sv)

See also

• a- (Greek)
• an-
• non-
• un-
• wan-

Anagrams

• N.I., NI, ni

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in- (“un-, not”).

Prefix

in- (before l il-, before b, m, or p im-, before r ir-)

1. in-; un- (reversal of meaning or lack of an attribute)

Derived terms

Catalan terms prefixed with in-

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Prefix

in-

1. from the adverb in
2. prepended to a noun or adjective, it reinforces the quality signified thereby
3. prepended to an adjective to negate its meaning; occurs mostly in borrowed terms from French: in-, un-

Dutch terms prefixed with in-

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in- (“un-, not”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (before a consonant) /ɛ̃/, (before a vowel) /in/

• Audio

  (file)

Prefix

in-

1. in-; un- (indicates negation)

Derived terms

French terms prefixed with in-

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn/

Etymology 1

Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *in, from Proto-Indo-European *en. More at in and inne-.

Prefix

in-

1. (rare, only in nouns) in, inside, interior

   ‎in- + ‎Land (“land”) → ‎Inland (“domestic territory”)

   ‎in- + ‎Schrift (“writing”) → ‎Inschrift (“inscription”)

   ‎in- + ‎Sasse (“someone who sits”) → ‎Insasse (“passenger, inhabitant”)

   ‎in- + ‎Begriff (“concept”) → ‎Inbegriff (“embodiment”)

Usage notes

• In- is more frequent in nominalisations of verbal phrases: in Betrieb nehmen → Inbetriebnahme, in Stand setzen → Instandsetzung. However, these formations cannot be considered to involve a prefix, but rather the preposition in directly.

Alternative forms

• inne- (in verbs)

Related terms

• ein-, inner-, binnen-

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin in-.

Prefix

in-

1. (rarely productive, only with Latinate stems) in, into

   ‎in- + ‎filtrieren (“to filter”) → ‎infiltrieren (“to infiltrate”)

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Latin in-.

Prefix

in-

1. (rarely productive, only with Latinate stems) in-, un- (indicates negation)

   Synonyms: un-, nicht-

   ‎in- + ‎konsequent (“consistent”) → ‎inkonsequent (“inconsistent”)

Derived terms

German terms prefixed with in-

Further reading

• “in-” in Duden online
• “in-” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Gothic

Romanization

in-

1. Romanization of 𐌹𐌽-

Indonesian

Etymology

From Dutch in-, from French in-, from Latin in- (“un-, not”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɪn]
• Hyphenation: in

Prefix

in-

1. in-: used with certain words to reverse their meaning.

Derived terms

Indonesian terms prefixed with in-

Further reading

• “in-” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Irish

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

in-

1. capable of, fit for, fit to be

   Antonym: do-

Etymology 2

From i, in (“in”).

Prefix

in-

1. en-, in-, il-, im-, ir-
2. endo-
3. intra-

Alternative forms

• ion- (broad)

Derived terms

Irish terms prefixed with in-

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Eclipsis	with h-prothesis	with t-prothesis
in-	n-in-	hin-	t-in-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “in-”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• “in-”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

Italian

Alternative forms

• im- (assimilated form before b-/m-/p-)
• il- (assimilated form before l-)
• ir- (assimilated form before r-)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in/
  • Hyphenation: in-
• IPA^(key): [iɱ] (before f or v)
• IPA^(key): [iŋ] (before c or g)

Etymology 1

From Latin in-, a prefixation of in (“in, into”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én.

Prefix

in-

1. (forms verbs) used to denote derivation
2. (obsolete, rare) used as an intensifier

Usage notes

• The prefix is used together with a verbal ending suffix to derive causative verbs from adjectives or nouns:

Examples:

‎in- + ‎arido (“dry”, “arid”) → ‎inaridire (“to parch”, “to dry up”)

‎in- + ‎fiamma (“flame”) → ‎infiammare (“to enflame”, “to kindle”)

• When used with verbs, it's usually a reflection of derivation in Latin, and retains the original meaning of “into”, “inside”:

Example:

‎in- + ‎fondere → ‎infondere (“to infuse”, “to instill”) (cfr. Latin īnfundere)

• In some cases, the meaning of “into” can also be found in verbs of modern derivation:

Example:

‎in- + ‎carcere (“jail”, “prison”) → ‎incarcerare (“to imprison”, “to incarcerate”)

Etymology 2

From Latin in- (“un-, not”), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, zero grade form of the sentence negative *ne.

Prefix

in-

1. used to denote negation or opposition or privation; un-; in-; a-

Usage notes

• The suffix is usually found in adjectives (and nouns therefrom derived):

Examples:

‎in- + ‎coerente (“coherent”, “consistent”) → ‎incoerente (“incoherent”, “inconsistent”)

‎in- + ‎abile (“able”, “capable”) → ‎inabile (“unable”, “incapable”)

‎in- + ‎felice (“happy”) → ‎infelice (“unhappy”)

‎in- + ‎desiderabile (“desirable; advisable”) → ‎indesiderabile (“undesirable, unwelcome”)

• More rarely, it is found in adjectives derived from nouns:

Example:

‎in- + ‎colore (“colour/color”) → ‎incolore (“uncoloured/uncolored”)

Derived terms

Italian terms prefixed with in-

Anagrams

• ni, nì

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /in/, [ɪn]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /in/, [in]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Italic *ən-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- (“not”), zero-grade form of the negative particle *ne (“not”). Akin to ne-, nē, nī.

Prefix

in-

2. un-, non-, not

Usage notes

Affixed primarily to adjectives.

The pronunciation or spelling of the prefix may be changed in some situations:

• Before b, p or m, it may become im-. The spelling in- is also found in this context.

  ‎in- + ‎barba (“beard”) → ‎imberbis (“beardless”) or inberbis.

  ‎in- + ‎patiēns (“patient”) → ‎impatiēns (“impatient”) or inpatiēns.

  ‎in- + ‎mātūrus (“mature”) → ‎immātūrus (“immature”) or inmātūrus.

• Before l or r, it may become il- or ir-, respectively. These assimilations only became usual in post-Augustan Latin: until a late date, the usual Roman spellings were inl- and inr-.

  ‎in- + ‎labōrātus (“worked, toilsome”) → ‎illabōrātus (“unworked, uncultivated”) (post-Augustan) or inlabōrātus.

  ‎in- + ‎reverēns (“reverent”) → ‎irreverēns (“irreverent”) (post-Augustan) or inreverēns.

• Before gn and sometimes n, it becomes ig- (pronounced [ɪŋ-]).

  ‎in- + ‎gnārus (“knowlegable”) → ‎ignārus (“ignorant”)

  ‎in- + ‎nōmen (“name”) → ‎ignōminia (“dishonor”)

• Before f or s, it becomes īn- (pronounced [ĩː-]).

  ‎in- + ‎fīnītus (“finite”) → ‎īnfīnītus (“endless, infinite”)

  ‎in- + ‎sānus (“healthy, sane”) → ‎īnsānus (“mad, insane”)

• Before g, c or q, the spelling remains in-, but the pronunciation becomes [ɪŋ-].

Derived terms

• in- -is

Latin terms prefixed with in- (not)

Descendants

• → Catalan: in- (sometimes i-, or im- before p, b and m)
• → French: in-
• → Italian: in-
• → Middle English: in-
  • English: in-, ir-, il-, im-
• → Portuguese: in- (im- before p or b, i- before l, n, or m, and ir- before r)
• → Sicilian: n- (m- before p, b or m, il- before l, and ir- before r)
• → Spanish: in- (im- before p or b, i- before l, and ir- before r)

Etymology 2

Prefixation of the preposition in.

Alternative forms

• ind-, indu-

Prefix

in-

2. Prepositional prefix, generally attached to verbs to derive new verbs with a range of meanings.
   1. in, within, inside

      ‎in- + ‎hālō (“breathe”) → ‎inhālō (“breathe in, inhale”)

   2. into, upon, on, against

      ‎in- + ‎gradior (“step, go”) → ‎ingredior (“go into, enter”)

      ‎in- + ‎nūbō (“marry”) → ‎innūbō (“marry into”)

      ‎in- + ‎cadō (“fall”) → ‎incidō (“fall into, fall upon”)

      ‎in- + ‎pangō (“set, fix, settle, fasten”) → ‎impingō (“fasten upon, dash against, strike against”)

      ‎in- + ‎flīgō (“strike”) → ‎īnflīgō (“strike on, strike against, inflict, impose upon”)

      ‎in- + ‎vocō (“call”) → ‎invocō (“call on, call upon, invoke”)

   3. Used as an intensifier.

      ‎in- + ‎crepō (“I rattle”) → ‎increpō (“I rattle, rebuke”)

   4. Attached to inchoative verbs, can express the sense of a change being started or reaching partial completion

      ‎in- + ‎ārēscō (“I am drying, am growing drier”) → ‎inārēscō (“I start becoming dry, become somewhat dry”)

Usage notes

Affixed primarily to verbs.

The same spelling rules apply as for Etymology 1 above; see the usage notes there.

Not to be confused with Etymology 1 above, which means "not".

Derived terms

Latin terms prefixed with in- (in)

Descendants

• Aromanian: ãn-, n-, an-
• Catalan: en-
• English: in-
• French: en-
• Italian: in-, en-
• Portuguese: en-
• Romanian: în-
• Spanish: en-

Etymology 3

From Proto-Indo-European *énu (“along, after”). Cognate with Sanskrit अनु (after, “ánu-”), Avestan 𐬀𐬥𐬎 (anu, “after; corresponding to”), Old Persian 𐎠𐎵𐎺 (a-nu-v /⁠anuv⁠/), and Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌿 (inu, “without”) (whose meaning developed “along” > “past” > “without”).

Alternative forms

• īn-, ī-

Prefix

in-

2. after

Derived terms

Latin terms prefixed with in- (after)

Further reading

• “in-”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• De Vaan, Michiel (2008) Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 301

Maltese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn/

Article

in-

1. Alternative form of il-

Usage notes

• Used before the letter n. For details on usage, see the main lemma.

Northern Ndebele

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix

in-

1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

Ojibwe

Initial

in- (root)

1. Alternative form of iN-

Prefix

in-

1. Alternative form of nin-

See also

Ojibwe personal prefixes

		stem begins with...	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
Consonants		p t k h ch m n s sh w y	ni-	gi-	o-
		d g ' j z zh	nin-
		b	nim-
Vowels		o	nindo-	gido-	odo-
		a aa e i	nind-	gid-	od-
		oo	n-	g-
		ii			w-

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in/

Etymology 1

From in (“in”). More at in.

Prefix

in-

1. in, into

   ‎in- + ‎ēþung (“breathing”) → ‎inēþung (“inspiration”)

2. internal, inside

   ‎in- + ‎coþu (“disease”) → ‎incoþu (“internal disease”)

   ‎in- + ‎weorc (“work”) → ‎inweorc (“indoor work”)

Descendants

• Middle English: in-
  • English: in-

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *in- (“strong”, adj), from Proto-Indo-European *indʰro- (“swelling; strong”), from *oyd- (“to swell”).

Prefix

in-

1. (intensifying) very

   ‎in- + ‎frōd (“wise”) → ‎infrōd (“very wise”)

   ‎in- + ‎dryhten (“noble”) → ‎indryhten (“very noble”)

Derived terms

Old English terms prefixed with in-

Old Irish

Etymology 1

From conflated Proto-Celtic *en- and Proto-Celtic *eni-; these two are variants of the same prefix. Prefix form of i. Conflated with ind- quite early.

Alternative forms

• en-

Prefix

in-

1. in

Usage notes

Very frequently replaced by ad- in pretonic position in verbs where the meaning ‘in’ is not transparent, e.g.:

• ad·cota from *in-com-tá-
• ad·fét from *in-fét-
• ad·greinn from *in-grenn-
• ad·snádi from *in-snádi-

Sometimes replaced by as- in pretonic position in verbs where the meaning ‘in’ is not transparent, e.g.:

• as·dloing from *in-dlong-

Derived terms

Old Irish terms prefixed with in- (in)

References

• Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2017) D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, pages 518–22

Etymology 2

From Proto-Celtic *an-. In is the regular outcome of *an before voiced stops unless lowered to an via a-affection.

Prefix

in-

1. Alternative form of an- (“un-, not”)

Usage notes

Used before d and g and occasionally other sounds.

Derived terms

Old Irish terms prefixed with in- (not)

Etymology 3

Prefix

in- (class C infixed pronoun)

1. Alternative form of id-

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• im- (before p or b)
• ir- (before r)
• i- (before m, n or l)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in- (“un-, not”).

Prefix

in-

1. un-; not

Derived terms

Portuguese terms prefixed with in-

Spanish

Alternative forms

• im- (before p or b)
• ir- (before r)
• i- (before l)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in- (“un-, not”).

Prefix

in-

1. not (negation)

Derived terms

Spanish terms prefixed with in-

Further reading

• “in-”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

Swazi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix

in-

1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

Tagalog

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: in-
• IPA^(key): /ʔin/, [ʔɪn]

Prefix

1. Prefix form of -in-.

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with in-

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix

in-

1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix

ín-

1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v). Before l, m or n, the prefix becomes i-.

References

• C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “im-, in-”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “im-, in-”