Meaning

Added to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives meaning “having the quality of”, either “involving the referent” or “analogous to it”..

Definitions by Sense

1. Added to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives meaning “having the quality of”, either “involving the referent” or “analogous to it”.
2. Added to verbs to form adjectives meaning "inclined to".
3. Forming diminutive nouns.
4. Forming familiar names, pet names, nicknames and terms of endearment.
5. Added for metrical reasons to songs, often in children's music where it may carry diminutive associations.
6. (occasionally derogatory) Forming colloquial nouns signifying the person or thing associated with suffixed noun or verb.
7. Forming nouns relative to an adjective.
8. Forming colloquial interjections or phrases.

Example Sentences

mess + -y → messy

mouse + -y → mousy

blue + -y → bluey

clay + -y → clayey

tree + -y → treey

hole + -y → holey

sponge + -y → spongy

cake + -y → caky

Word Forms

• -ie
• -ey
• -ee

Synonyms for -y

Antonyms for -y

When Should You Use -y?

Use -y 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