Meaning

Forming diminutive or affectionate forms of nouns or names..

Definitions by Sense

1. Forming diminutive or affectionate forms of nouns or names.
2. Forming feminine or gender‐neutral forms of given names.
3. (chiefly Australia, New Zealand, UK) Forms colloquial clippings (often functioning as familiarizers), truncating the root to a single stressed syllable.
4. (occasionally derogatory) Forming colloquial nouns signifying the person or thing associated with the suffixed noun or verb.
5. Forming nouns relative to an adjective.
6. Forming colloquial interjections or phrases.
7. (now rare) Alternative spelling of -y (adjectival suffix).
8. A photograph, especially a selfie.

Example Sentences

dear → dearie

sweet → sweetie

smile → smilie (also smiley)

Catherine → Cathie (also Cathi, Cathy); Katherine → Kathie (also Kathi, Kathy)

Bill → Billie (also Billi, Billy)

“Polly, I wish you ’d let me call you Marie,” said Fanny one day, as they were shopping together. ¶ “You may call me Mary, if you like; but I won’t have any ie put on to my name. I’m Polly at home and I’m fond of being called so; but Marie is Frenchified and silly.” ¶ “I spell my own name with an ie, and so do all the girls.” ¶ “And what a jumble of Netties, Nellies, Hatties, and Sallies there is. How ‘Pollie’ would look spelt so!”

Jesse → Jessie

Bill → Billie

Word Forms

• -ee
• -ey

Synonyms for -ie

When Should You Use -ie?

Use -ie when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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Frequently Asked Questions