Alex

See also: Alex.

English

Etymology

Short form of Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros) 'he who wards off men', i.e. protector, possibly of Hittite origin. Also from Alexius, from the same Ancient Greek first element, "helping, defending". These two origins of Alex are indistinguishable in most languages. The female name has the same root, shortened from Alexandra or the female name Alexis, in some cases also a spelling variant of Alix.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˈæ.lɪks/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name from Ancient Greek.
   • 2006 Kate Atkinson, One Good Turn (Black Swan(2007), →ISBN, page 81:

     Martin was pretty dull as names went but 'Alex Blake' had a certain dash to it. His publishers hadn't considered Martin's own name to be 'punchy' enough. The pseudonym Alex Blake was chosen after much deliberation, most of which excluded Martin. 'A strong, no-nonsense sort of name', his editor said, 'to compensate'. For what, she didn't say.

2. A female given name from Ancient Greek.
   • 2008 Philip Hensher, The Northern Clemency (Harpercollins, →ISBN, page 588:

     'I had a Christmas card from someone calling herself Alex the year before last,' Daniel said. 'I couldn't think who it was.'

     'Oh, yes, she's changed again,' Alice said. 'I never got used to Alexandra, either. It never occurred to me that Sandra was short for Alexandra - anyway, she's Sandra on her birth certificate.'

Translations

male given name — see Alexius

Anagrams

• Axel, Lexa, axel, axle

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Danish

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name, equivalent to English Alex.

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Dutch

Etymology

Short form of Alexander.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaːlɛks/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Alex

Proper noun

Alex m

1. A male given name.

References

• J. van der Schaar, “Woordenboek van voornamen”, Utrecht, Antwerpen 1964, Aula-boeken 176, Uitgeverij Het Spectrum

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Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑleks/, [ˈɑle̞ks̠]
• Rhymes: -ɑleks
• Syllabification: A‧lex

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name of rare usage, variant of Aleksi.

Declension

Inflection of Alex (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Alex	Alexit
genitive		Alexin	Alexien
partitive		Alexia	Alexeja
illative		Alexiin	Alexeihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Alex	Alexit
accusative	nom.	Alex	Alexit
	gen.	Alexin
genitive		Alexin	Alexien
partitive		Alexia	Alexeja
inessive		Alexissa	Alexeissa
elative		Alexista	Alexeista
illative		Alexiin	Alexeihin
adessive		Alexilla	Alexeilla
ablative		Alexilta	Alexeilta
allative		Alexille	Alexeille
essive		Alexina	Alexeina
translative		Alexiksi	Alexeiksi
instructive		—	Alexein
abessive		Alexitta	Alexeitta
comitative		—	Alexeineen

Possessive forms of Alex (type risti)
possessor	singular	plural
1st person	Alexini	Aleximme
2nd person	Alexisi	Alexinne
3rd person	Alexinsa

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French

Etymology

Short form of Alexandre and Alexis, ultimately from Ancient Greek.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.lɛks/

Proper noun

Alex ?

1. A male given name, equivalent to English Alex.

Anagrams

• Axel

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German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈalɛks/ (most regions)
• IPA^(key): /ˈaːlɛks/ (predominant in northern Germany)

  • Audio

    (file)

Proper noun

Alex m (genitive Alex')

1. A male given name, equivalent to English Alex

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Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒlɛks]
• Hyphenation: Alex
• Rhymes: -ɛks

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name, equivalent to English Alex.

Declension

Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	Alex	Alexek
accusative	Alexet	Alexeket
dative	Alexnek	Alexeknek
instrumental	Alexszel	Alexekkel
causal-final	Alexért	Alexekért
translative	Alexszé	Alexekké
terminative	Alexig	Alexekig
essive-formal	Alexként	Alexekként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	Alexben	Alexekben
superessive	Alexen	Alexeken
adessive	Alexnél	Alexeknél
illative	Alexbe	Alexekbe
sublative	Alexre	Alexekre
allative	Alexhez	Alexekhez
elative	Alexből	Alexekből
delative	Alexről	Alexekről
ablative	Alextől	Alexektől
non-attributive possessive - singular	Alexé	Alexeké
non-attributive possessive - plural	Alexéi	Alexekéi

Possessive forms of Alex
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	Alexem	Alexeim
2nd person sing.	Alexed	Alexeid
3rd person sing.	Alexe	Alexei
1st person plural	Alexünk	Alexeink
2nd person plural	Alexetek	Alexeitek
3rd person plural	Alexük	Alexeik

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Swedish

Proper noun

Alex c (genitive Alex)

1. A male given name, equivalent to English Alex.

Anagrams

• Axel, axel