-ian
- other
- Specialized
- The word 'Brazilian' uses the suffix -ian to refer to someone from Brazil.
Examples
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An -ian suffix creates words like 'musician' and 'historian'.
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Many country names form their demonyms by adding -ian at the end.
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Adding -ian to 'Shakespeare' creates 'Shakespearean', meaning related to Shakespeare.
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The word -ian is often added to indicate someone's profession.
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The word 'Brazilian' uses the suffix -ian to refer to someone from Brazil.
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Adding -ian to 'Shakespeare' creates 'Shakespearean', meaning related to Shakespeare.
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Many country names form their demonyms by adding -ian at the end.
Synonyms
A word ending that makes a noun for a person who does something
Adds to a word to make a noun meaning a person who does or studies something
A suffix that forms nouns naming a person who does a job or has a role
Surface Forms
Etymology
-Ian is a suffix that comes from the old Latin ending -ianus, which meant 'belonging to' or 'connected with'. So when you add -ian to a name you make a word for someone or something 'from' or 'related to' that name, as in Brazilian (from Brazil) or Shakespearean (related to Shakespeare).