Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
-lei. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-lei, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-lei in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-lei you have here. The definition of the word
-lei will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
-lei, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Dutch
Etymology
From Old French lei (“law, custom”), possibly through Middle High German lei.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-lei
- means sort, kind, type; added to numerals or some pronouns: indicates the specified number of types
- Synonym: -hand
Usage notes
Always preceded in a compound by a determiner or numeral in the genitive feminine singular (with lei being historically a feminine noun), i.e. ending in -er.
Derived terms
German
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle High German lei f (“kind”), from Old French lei, from Latin lex. Cognate with Dutch -lei.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-lei
- Suffix added to numerals and pronouns to create determiners/pronouns indicating variety
- Synonym: -hand
- alle (“all”) + -lei → allerlei (“all kinds ”)
- drei (“three”) + -lei → dreierlei (“three kinds ”)
Usage notes
- The noun following a determiner in -lei may be singular or plural. It is usually singular with abstract nouns, but alternatively plural with concrete nouns. Thus in zweierlei Hinsicht (“in two different aspects”), but mit zweierlei Öl or Ölen (“with two kinds of oils”).
Derived terms
Further reading
Middle English
Etymology 1
Suffix
-lei
- Alternative form of -ly (“adjectival suffix”)
Etymology 2
Suffix
-lei
- Alternative form of -ly (“adverbial suffix”)
Romanian
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Suffix
-lei (pl)
- variant of -a
- the (definite article)
Usage notes
- This form of the definite article is used for feminine nouns in the genitive and dative cases which end in a stressed vowel or diphthong:
- basmalei, from basma, fem.
- cafelei, from cafea, fem.
- Monosyllables ending in vowels also take this suffix:
- zilei, from zi, fem.