-er en · X · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- ər (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ɐ/ (Northumbria)
- [ɹ̩] (General-American)
- /ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ɚ/ (General-American)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er Inherited from Middle English -ere, -er, from Old English -ere, from Proto-West Germanic *-ārī, from Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz, usually thought to have been borrowed from Latin -ārius; see Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz for an alternate theory. Reinforced by Middle English -er, from Old French -ier, also from Latin -ārius; compare the synonymous but unrelated Old French -or, -eor (Anglo-Norman variant -our), from Latin -(ā)tor, from Proto-Indo-European *-tōr. The "inhabitant" sense is sometimes connected to Middle English -wær(r)e, -ware, from Old English -ware (suffix denoting residency), from Proto-West Germanic *-wari, from Proto-Germanic *warjaz (“inhabitant”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to protect”). Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian -er, West Frisian -er, Dutch -er, German Low German -er, German -er, Danish -er, Swedish -are and Icelandic -ari.
Meanings
-
(added to verbs, morpheme) A person or thing that does an action indicated by the root verb; used to form an agent noun.
cook + -er → cooker
do good + -er → do-gooder
see + -er → seer
compute + -er → computer
read + -er → reader
toast + -er → toaster
swim + -er → swimmer
run + -er → runner
-
(added to verbs, informal, morpheme) A person or thing to which the root verb is done or can be done satisfactorily.
look + -er → looker (“an attractive person”)
keep + -er → keeper (“a person or thing worth keeping”)
-
(added to nouns, morpheme, qualifier:chiefly denoting occupations) A person whose occupation is the root noun; (more broadly, occasionally with adjectives) a person characterized by the root.
baby boom + -er → baby boomer
trumpet + -er → trumpeter
astrology + -er → astrologer
zine + -er → ziner
cricket + -er → cricketer
conlang + -er → conlanger
-
(added to numbers, morpheme, qualifier:measurements or nouns denoting quantified sets) A person or thing to which a certain number or measurement applies.
three-wheel + -er → three-wheeler
six + -er → sixer
first grade + -er → first grader
six foot + -er → six-footer
-
(morpheme, slang, with few limitations) Used to form nouns shorter than more formal synonyms.
oat + -er → oater (“a Western-themed movie”)
one hand + -er → one-hander (“one-man show”)
percent + -er → percenter (“commission agent”)
-
(added to nouns, morpheme) A person who is associated with, or supports a particular theory, doctrine, or political movement.
flat earth + -er → flat-earther
woke + -er → woker
birth + -er → birther
truth + -er → truther
-
(added to nouns or occasionally adjectives, morpheme) A thing that is related in some way to the root, such as by location or purpose.
bacon + -er → baconer (“pig raised for bacon”)
chocolate chip + -er → chocolate chipper (“cookie containing chocolate chips”)
sternwheel + -er → sternwheeler (“vessel driven by a sternwheel”)
-
(added in slang speech to verbs or adjectives, morpheme, slang) Indicates a correspondence or coincidence between the action or condition indicated by the root and the noun being described.
piss + -er → pisser (“a hilariously funny event or situation”)
-
(added to a proper noun, morpheme) Suffix denoting a resident or inhabitant of (the place denoted by the proper noun); used to form a demonym.
New England + -er → New Englander
London + -er → Londoner
Dublin + -er → Dubliner
New York + -er → New Yorker
-
(morpheme) Suffix denoting residency in or around a place, district, area, or region.
island + -er → islander
East End + -er → East-Ender
highland + -er → highlander
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| -'er | alternative | lexicographic | |
| -ers | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| -r | alternative | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Relateds
Translations (340)
ga -éir (person whose occupation is...) · tr -cı ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · es -dora ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · gd -iche ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · nl -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tl taga- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fa ـکننده ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -āja ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ta -காரன் (person whose occupation is...) · ta -இ (person whose occupation is...) · ia -era ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · th นัก... (person whose occupation is...) · ba -сы (person whose occupation is...) · gl -eiro (person whose occupation is...) · sq -ës ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -ец ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ja ...家 ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fi -ari ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ta -அர் (person whose occupation is...) · ms orang ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · gd -air (person whose occupation is...) · lv -ers ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -ник ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ia -ario ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -as ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · fi -ja (person whose occupation is...) · tr -çi (person whose occupation is...) · az -çu (person whose occupation is...) · tr -ci (person whose occupation is...) · hy -ցի ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · az -an ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ang -ere ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · eo -ano ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · gd -each ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · egy -y ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -ieris ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sq -ëse ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · nup -ci (person whose occupation is...) · lv -ājs ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sv -spelare (person whose occupation is...) · pl -niczka (person whose occupation is...) · nl -se ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cy -wraig ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ro -tor ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · el -ού ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -çi ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -анка ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · fi -inen ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · az -yan ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ja ...手 ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pl -cielka (person whose occupation is...) · ms peng- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -çü (person whose occupation is...) · uk -а́тор ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cmn ...的 (person whose occupation is...) · cy -wr (person whose occupation is...) · fi -lainen ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -átor ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -ő ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · el -ού (person whose occupation is...) · az -ici ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -ista ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · th ผู้... ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -тель ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cmn ...者 ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · wrh -daayn ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cmn ...员 (person whose occupation is...) · io -ist (person whose occupation is...) · cy -ydd ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · af -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cmn ...师 (person whose occupation is...) · tr -cu (person whose occupation is...) · uk -ер ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -lakó ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · kmr -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -ик ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ba -сы ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tr -çı ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -graf (person whose occupation is...) · hy -իչ ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ba -сө ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -dor ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -er (person whose occupation is...) · tr -yen ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · he participle ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -eiro (person whose occupation is...) · gd -ach ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ru -ка ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -ač ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ro -toare ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · nl -er ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -ák ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · hu -s ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · kg mu- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -iste ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · th นัก... ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · uk -чик ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tr -cü (person whose occupation is...) · ky -чи ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · mi kai- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ms pem- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · th ช่าง... ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ta -ஆளன் (person whose occupation is...) · mn -гч ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -ense ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · nup -ci ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · gl -eira ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -lógus (person whose occupation is...) · kmr -er (person whose occupation is...) · cs -ák (person whose occupation is...) · tr -çü (person whose occupation is...) · lv -nieks ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · gd -aire ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fr -eur ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · gd -ear ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -iere ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · es -dora (person whose occupation is...) · az -ıcı ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -os (person whose occupation is...) · ja 人 ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · hu -s (person whose occupation is...) · ba -со ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pl -arka (person whose occupation is...) · tr -çi ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · id pem- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ca -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -yən ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ca -triu ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · de -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -ējs ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · it -ore ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · es -ista (person whose occupation is...) · wrh -daayn (person whose occupation is...) · ru -анин ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ta -ஆளர் (person whose occupation is...) · uk -ник ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ia -era (person whose occupation is...) · fi -nen ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · tr -çü ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sq -es ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fo -ari ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -ere ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ky -чи (person whose occupation is...) · az -çı ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · io -an ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ar مُـ ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sq -tare ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ky -чу ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -niece ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · ba -се (person whose occupation is...) · gd -air ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -ão ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · az -ən ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -çu ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tr -cu ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fa ـی ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ru -щик ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fr -euse ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sv -ist (person whose occupation is...) · ang -a ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · he ־ַאי (person whose occupation is...) · he ־ָן (person whose occupation is...) · cs -itel ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · yo oní- ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · ka -ელი ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ca -er (person whose occupation is...) · ba -сө (person whose occupation is...) · lv -ente ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pl -czyni (person whose occupation is...) · is -ari ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fa ـکار (person whose occupation is...) · ia -ario (person whose occupation is...) · ta -அள் (person whose occupation is...) · pl -arz (person whose occupation is...) · hu -us (person whose occupation is...) · es -dor (person whose occupation is...) · gd -adair ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -ücü ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ca -era ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · id peng- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · nv -é ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ia -aria (person whose occupation is...) · hu -ász (person whose occupation is...) · uk -їк ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -ář (person whose occupation is...) · sv -spelare (person whose occupation is...) · cs -ař (person whose occupation is...) · es -era (person whose occupation is...) · ba -се ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ia -ista ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pl -ak ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · ca -er ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ia -ero ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sq -ese ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tr -cü ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -о́вщик ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · el -άς (person whose occupation is...) · tr -çı (person whose occupation is...) · pl -ca (person whose occupation is...) · ta -அன் (person whose occupation is...) · gl -eiro ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · nup -ci ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ru -а́ч ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fi -uri ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hy -իչ (person whose occupation is...) · unm -t ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -ês ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -ec (person whose occupation is...) · ca -dor ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -çi (person whose occupation is...) · cmn ...家 ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · it -tore ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ja ...者 ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -ák ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · es -dor ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ta -ஆளி (person whose occupation is...) · ga -éir ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sv -are (person whose occupation is...) · th คน... ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -ű ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · lv -ors ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lv -ore ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fa ـگر ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sw m- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · fi -ri (person whose occupation is...) · ba -со (person whose occupation is...) · fi -in ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tl taga- (person whose occupation is...) · fi -ri ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · th ช่าง... (person whose occupation is...) · lv -eris ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · az -çı (person whose occupation is...) · ky -чы (person whose occupation is...) · az -ucu ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cy -ydd (person whose occupation is...) · yua -náal (person whose occupation is...) · ky -чү (person whose occupation is...) · pl -nik (person whose occupation is...) · nci -qui ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tr -çu ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · la -tor ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -as (person whose occupation is...) · ru -а́тор ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -íř (person whose occupation is...) · tr -cı (person whose occupation is...) · az -çü ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ca -era (person whose occupation is...) · yo oní- ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · ru -ец ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -ik (person whose occupation is...) · ta -இ ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -ész (person whose occupation is...) · cmn ...手 (person whose occupation is...) · lv -ēja ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · lo -ການ ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · yo oní- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -и́к ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · sa -क ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -enho ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · id pe ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -ös ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · mn -чин (person whose occupation is...) · cs -ník (person whose occupation is...) · uk -ік ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -i ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · sv -are ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · pl -acz (person whose occupation is...) · hu -es ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · sq -tar ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · kmr -van ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -es (person whose occupation is...) · io -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · es -ero (person whose occupation is...) · ta -காரி (person whose occupation is...) · eo -isto (person whose occupation is...) · sv -re ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pl -ciel (person whose occupation is...) · cs -ér (person whose occupation is...) · ta -காரர் (person whose occupation is...) · cy -wr ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ky -чү ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · uk -ар ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cy -wraig (person whose occupation is...) · ig onye- ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cmn ...工 (person whose occupation is...) · hu -os ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · tr -yan ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pl -aczka (person whose occupation is...) · sv -bo ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · hu -ös (person whose occupation is...) · mn -ч (person whose occupation is...) · it -ista (person whose occupation is...) · tr -en ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ia -ero (person whose occupation is...) · ia -ista (person whose occupation is...) · cs -an ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · lv -ents ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -ó ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · gl -eira ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -or (person whose occupation is...) · tr -çu (person whose occupation is...) · lv -ists ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -jú ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · gl -eiro ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · it -ista (person whose occupation is...) · cs -ista (person whose occupation is...) · fi -ja ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ia -aria ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · es -era ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ca -era ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · gd -adair (person whose occupation is...) · cs -ič ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cmn ...家 (person whose occupation is...) · es -ero ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · tr -ci ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · gl -eira (person whose occupation is...) · arz مِـ ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · da -er ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · af -er (person whose occupation is...) · uk -а́ч ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ca -dora ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · is -maður (person whose occupation is...) · uk -ець ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · pt -eiro ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · cs -ec ((used form a demonym) resident or inhabitant of...) · tr -an ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ky -чу (person whose occupation is...) · ru -ер ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -ec ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · uk -щик ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ru -чик ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ps -ونکی ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · uk -тель ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -ú ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · kmr -kar (person whose occupation is...) · ru -щи́к ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · ky -чы ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · hu -jű ((with numbers, measurements or quantified sets) ranked by or having...) · el -άς ((used to form agent nouns) person or thing that does...) · cs -log (person whose occupation is...)