-yl

suffix

A univalent radical or functional group formed from a given molecule. Thus propyl from propane, benzyl from benzene, and so forth.

OriginAncient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? →
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Meanings

suffix
  1. chemistryA univalent radical or functional group formed from a given molecule. Thus propyl from propane, benzyl from benzene, and so forth.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  2. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  3. English-yl

Via French méthylène from Ancient Greek ὕλη (húlē, “wood, material”).

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish -yyli
  • -yyliradical or functional group
German -yl
  • -ylradical or functional group
Hindi -ल
  • -ल (-l)radical or functional group
Italian -ile
  • -ileradical or functional group
Norwegian Bokmål -yl
  • -ylradical or functional group
Polish -yl
  • -ylradical or functional group
Portuguese -ilo, -ila
  • -iloradical or functional group
  • -ilaradical or functional group
Russian -ил
  • -ил (-il)radical or functional group
Spanish -ila
  • -ilaradical or functional group
Swedish -yl
  • -ylradical or functional group
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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