Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “-lein” come from?

-lein (German) comes from Middle High German -elīn, from Old High German -ilī.

-lein (German): suffix used to create a diminutive form; e.g.,...

Definitions

  1. suffix used to create a diminutive form; e.g.,...

Ancestry of “-lein”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High German-elīn—
2Old High German-ilī—

Words derived from “-lein”

  • Männlein
  • Welplein
  • Kindlein
  • Schneiderlein
  • Händlein
  • Mütterlein
  • Mägdlein
  • Kirchlein
  • Gänslein
  • Entlein
  • Knäblein
  • Jüdlein
  • Weiblein
  • Männlein
  • Küchlein
Every word from Old High German -ilī →