-iwr
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Welsh[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From gŵr (“man”), but semantically influenced due to similarity in form to English -er and Latin -or.
Pronunciation[edit]
Suffix[edit]
-iwr m (plural -wyr)
- suffix indicating a person, especially an agent noun: -er, -or
- Synonyms: -edydd, -iedydd, -wr, -ydd
- pêl-droed (“football, soccer”) + -iwr → pêl-droediwr (“footballer, soccer player”)
- cyfraith (“law”) + -iwr → cyfreithiwr (“solictor, lawyer, attorney”)
- Rhufain (“Rome”) + -iwr → Rhufeiniwr (“Roman”)
Usage notes[edit]
- Despite being grammatically masculine, -iwr only refers solely to males when a coordinate female term is available, for example, Rhufeiniwr (“Roman (male)”) vs Rhufeines (“Roman (female)”). When no female term is in current use, the grammatically masculine term in -iwr is neutral as regards biological sex, for example cyfreithiwr (“solictor, lawyer, attorney (male or female)”). Use of the explicitly female suffix -wraig is old-fashioned outside of certain established terms.
Derived terms[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-iwr”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies