-ling

/lɪŋ/

suffix

small, immature, miniature

Similar
-cule-ee-el-et-ette-icle-ie-kin
OriginMiddle English -ling ← Old English -ling ← Proto-West Germanic *-ling →
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Meanings

-ling1

suffix

alternative obsolete -lyng · alternative dialectal -lin

  1. small, immature, miniature

    Synonyms: -cule, -ee, -el, -et, -ette, -icle, -ie, -kin

  2. follower or resident

-ling2

suffix

alternative -lings · alternative dialectal -lin

  1. idiomaticAn adverbial suffix denoting manner, direction, or position.

Synonyms & antonyms

suffixsmall, immature, miniature

Similar
-cule-ee-el-et-ette-icle-ie-kin-le-let-ole-ule-ymini-micro-nano-
Also see
-cule-ee-el-et-ette-icle-ie-kin-le-letmicro-mini-nano--ole-ule-y

Origin

-ling · suffix

  1. Proto-Germanic*-ingaz
  2. Proto-Germanic*-ilaz
  3. Proto-Germanic*-lingaz
  4. Proto-West Germanic*-ling
  5. Old English-ling
  6. Middle English-ling
  7. English-ling

From Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, from Proto-West Germanic *-ling, from Proto-Germanic *-lingaz, a nominal suffix, probably composed of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent/instrumental/diminutive suffix) + Proto-Germanic *-ingaz (patronymic suffix). Akin to Dutch -ling, German -ling, Icelandic -lingur, Gothic -𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (-liggs). More at -le, -ing.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

-ling · suffix

  1. Old English-ling
  2. Middle English-ling
  3. English-ling

From Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, -linga, -lunga (adverbial suffix). Compare -long.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 小, 崽
  • 小 (xiǎo-)Diminutive
  • 崽 (-zǎi)Diminutive
  • -子 (-zi)Diminutive
Dutch -je, -pje
  • -jeDiminutive
  • -pjeDiminutive
  • -tjeDiminutive
  • -lingDiminutive
Estonian -kene, -lane
  • -keneDiminutive
  • -laneDiminutive
Finnish -nen, -lainen
  • -nenDiminutive
  • -lainenDiminutive
French -et, -ette
  • -etDiminutive
  • -etteDiminutive
  • -inDiminutive
  • -ineDiminutive
German -chen, -lein
  • -chenDiminutive
  • -leinDiminutive
  • -erlDiminutive
Irish -án, -ín
  • -ánDiminutive
  • -ínDiminutive
  • -ógDiminutive
Italian -ino, -ina
  • -inoDiminutive
  • -inaDiminutive
  • -ettoDiminutive
  • -ettaDiminutive
  • -elloDiminutive
  • -ellaDiminutive
Japanese 子
  • 子 (ko-)Diminutive
Polish -ę
  • -ęDiminutive
Portuguese -inho
  • -inhoDiminutive
Romanian -el, -șor
  • -elDiminutive
  • -șorDiminutive
  • -uțDiminutive
  • -ușDiminutive
  • -așDiminutive
Russian -ёнок, -о́нок
  • -ёнок (-jónok)Diminutive
  • -о́нок (-ónok)Diminutive
  • -ок (-ok)Diminutive
  • -ёк (-jók)Diminutive
Scottish Gaelic -an, -ag
  • -anDiminutive
  • -agDiminutive
Spanish -ito, -ita
  • -itoDiminutive
  • -itaDiminutive
  • -illoDiminutive
  • -illaDiminutive
Swedish -is
  • -isDiminutive
Ukrainian -еня́, -о́чок
  • -еня́ (-enjá)Diminutive
  • -о́чок (-óčok)Diminutive
  • -е́нько (-énʹko)Diminutive
Welsh -ig, -cyn
  • -igDiminutive
  • -cynDiminutive
  • -osDiminutive
Cite this entry
APA

-ling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ling

MLA

“-ling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ling. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ling,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ling.

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