Catalan

Suffix

-iu m ‎(feminine -iva, masculine plural -ius, feminine plural -ives)

1. -ive; used in forming adjectives denoting characteristics or qualities.

Derived terms

Romanian

Etymology

Probably from Latin -īvus. Mostly found in older, popular words; compare the neological borrowing -iv.

Suffix

-iu m, n ‎(plural -ii, feminine singular -ie)

1. Forms adjectives denoting characteristics or qualities, especially relating to color; roughly equivalent to -ive or sometimes -ish.

Declension

Usage notes

The terms formed from the suffix often have the meaning of approximating or being similar to a certain quality (from the noun or adjective it modifies); it can be comparable to some uses of -ish in English: somewhat, approximately, slightly, rather: e.g. cenușiu ‎(“grayish”), albăstriu ‎(“bluish”). A suffix playing a similar role in Romanian is also -ui, especially with colors.

Derived terms

• auriu, arămiu, căpriu, castaniu, cenușiu, corbiu, cărămiziu, cafeniu, portocaliu, albăstriu, negriu, gălbiu, ruginiu, sângeriu, tuciuriu, etc.

See also

• -esc
• -ui