-ean

/-ˈiːən//-iən/

suffix

Forms adjectives, usually from proper nouns.

“Eastern Europe + -ean → Eastern European”

OriginLatin -aeus//-ēus//-eus →
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Meanings

suffix-ean (adjective-forming suffix, comparative more -ean, superlative most -ean)

comparative more -ean · superlative most -ean · alternative -aean · alternative -æan

  1. Forms adjectives, usually from proper nouns.

    Eastern Europe + -ean → Eastern European

Origin

  1. Latin-aeus//-ēus//-eus
  2. Latin-aeus//-ēus//-eus
  3. English-ean

Adapted borrowing of Latin -aeus /-ēus /-eus + -an (itself from -ānus). Latin -aeus and -ēus are in turn often found in borrowings from Ancient Greek words in -αῖος (-aîos) and -εῖος (-eîos) respectively.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French -éen
  • -éenTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

-ean. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ean

MLA

“-ean.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ean. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ean,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ean.

Source: -ean on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.