-iu

See also: iu, IU, Iu, .iu, and -iú

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -īvus.

Suffix

-iu (adjective-forming suffix, feminine -iva, masculine plural -ius, feminine plural -ives)

1. -ive; forms adjectives denoting characteristics or qualities

Derived terms

Catalan terms suffixed with -iu

Old Irish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-yūs, from Proto-Indo-European *-yōs.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [u]

Suffix

-iu

1. Used to form the comparative degree of adjectives -er, more (if possible it palatalises the preceding consonant and raises preceding vowel)

   ‎sen (“old”) + ‎-iu → ‎siniu (“older”)

   ‎oll (“ample”) + ‎-iu → ‎uilliu (“more ample”)

   ‎dían (“swift”) + ‎-iu → ‎déniu (“swifter”)

   ‎tiug (“thick”) + ‎-iu → ‎tigiu (“thick”)

   ‎tanae (“thin”) + ‎-iu → ‎tanu (“thinner”)

   ‎lobur (“weak”) + ‎-iu → ‎lobru (“weaker”)

Inflection

Indeclinable.

Alternative forms

• -u (when the preceding consonant (cluster) isn't palatalised)
• -a (in irregular comparatives)

Derived terms

Old Irish terms suffixed with -iu

Descendants

• Middle Irish: -iu
  • Irish: -e

Further reading

• Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940) D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, § 369, pages 233f.; reprinted 2017

Romanian

Etymology

Probably from Latin -īvus. Mostly found in older, popular words; compare the neological borrowing -iv.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iw/

Suffix

-iu m or n (feminine singular -ie, plural -ii)

1. Forms adjectives denoting characteristics or qualities, especially relating to color; roughly equivalent to -ive or sometimes -ish.

Usage notes

The terms formed from the suffix often have the meaning of approximating or being similar to a certain quality (from the noun or adjective it modifies); it can be comparable to some uses of -ish in English: somewhat, approximately, slightly, rather: e.g. cenușiu (“grayish”), albăstriu (“bluish”). A suffix playing a similar role in Romanian is also -ui, especially with colors.

Declension

		singular				plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine		masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative- accusative	indefinite	-iu		-ie		-ii	-ii
	definite	-iul		-ia		-iii	-iile
genitive- dative	indefinite	-iu		-ii		-ii	-ii
	definite	-iului		-iei		-iilor	-iilor

Derived terms

• auriu, arămiu, căpriu, castaniu, cenușiu, corbiu, cărămiziu, cafeniu, portocaliu, albăstriu, negriu, gălbiu, ruginiu, sângeriu, tuciuriu, etc.

Romanian terms suffixed with -iu

See also

• -esc
• -ui