-elchen

See also: Elchen

German

Etymology

A lengthened variant of -chen. Possibly a blend of -chen and one of the southern diminutive suffixes containing -l- (see -lein).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əlçən/

• Audio:

  (file)

Suffix

-elchen n (plural -elchen)

1. (standard) used to make diminutives of nouns with a stem ending in -ch, and a few with a stem ending in -g.

   Strichelchen ― little dash, thin line

   Wägelchen ― small trolley

2. (regional) used to make diminutives of words with other final sounds, particularly -k and -ng.

   Säckelchen ― little sack, little bag

   Jüngelchen ― little boy

Luxembourgish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /elχen/, [əlɕən]

Suffix

-elchen (plural -elcher)

1. Alternative form of -chen; creates diminutives of nouns with a stem ending in -k, -g, -ch, -ng