-ain

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ain"

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French -ain, from Latin -ānus, whence also French -an and -ien.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Suffix

-ain m (plural -ains, feminine -aine)

1. suffix used to form noun (uppercase) demonyms

   ‎Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎Jamaïcain

   ‎Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎Mexicain

2. suffix used to form adjective (lowercase) demonyms

   ‎Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎jamaïcain

   ‎Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎mexicain

3. indicates the old oblique case (cas régime) of certain nouns

   ‎pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain

Derived terms

French terms suffixed with -ain

Related terms

• -an
• -en
• -ien

Old French

Etymology

From Latin -ānus.

Suffix

-ain

1. Forms the oblique case, especially for feminine nouns.

   ‎pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain

   ‎none + ‎-ain → ‎nonain

2. Forms adjectives from nouns.

   ‎castel + ‎-ain → ‎castelain

Descendants

• French: -ain