-ie, suffix

/i/
Forms:
-etjie, -jieShow more Also -etjie, -jie, -kie, -pie, -tjie.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, from Dutch -je.
An Afrikaans suffix found in words originating in that language, forming a diminutive, affectionate, or informal term; occasionally also added to words of English origin with similar effect. The Afrikaans rules governing the use of the variant forms are as follows: If the word ends:
1. with -f, -g, -k, -p, or -s: add -ie. If the preceding vowel is short, double the final consonant and add -ie.
2. with -d or -t: add -jie.
3.
a. with -ng: if monosyllabic, or if polysyllabic with the stress on the last syllable, add -etjie.
b. with -ng, in cases not covered by 3 a: replace the final -g with -kie.
4. with a vowel, add -tjie (in South African English sometimes represented by the pronunciation spelling -kie).
5.
a. with -l, -n, or -r, preceded by a diphthong, long vowel, or unaccented neutral vowel (schwa), add -tjie.
b. with -n, preceded by -oe- or -ie-, add -tjie.
c. with -l, -m, or -r, preceded by -oe- or -ie-, add either -tjie or -etjie; there is no fixed pattern to be found in these cases.
d. with -l, -m, -n, or -r, preceded by a short, accented vowel apart from -oe- or -ie-, double the final consonant and add -etjie.
6. with -m, preceded by -l or -r, or by a long vowel, diphthong or unaccented neutral vowel (schwa), add -pie. For examples, see agretjie, boetebossie, boetie, bokhorinkie, duiweltjie, liedjie, pruimpie, waterblommetjie, and, added to an English word, boykie.
with -f, -g, -k, -p, or -s:add -ie. If the preceding vowel is short, double the final consonant and add -ie.
with -d or -t:add -jie.
with -ng:if monosyllabic, or if polysyllabic with the stress on the last syllable, add -etjie.
with -ng, in cases not covered by 3 a:replace the final -g with -kie.
with a vowel, add -tjie (in South African English sometimes represented by the pronunciation spelling -kie).
with -l, -n, or -r, preceded by a diphthong, long vowel, or unaccented neutral vowel (schwa),add -tjie.
with -n, preceded by -oe- or -ie-,add -tjie.
with -l, -m, or -r, preceded by -oe- or -ie-,add either -tjie or -etjie; there is no fixed pattern to be found in these cases.
with -l, -m, -n, or -r, preceded by a short, accented vowel apart from -oe- or -ie-,double the final consonant and add -etjie.
with -m, preceded by -l or -r, or by a long vowel, diphthong or unaccented neutral vowel (schwa),add -pie. For examples, see agretjie, boetebossie, boetie, bokhorinkie, duiweltjie, liedjie, pruimpie, waterblommetjie, and, added to an English word, boykie.
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