-lijn

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch -line (such as vogheline (“little bird”)), and it initially arose from -ing in words ending in -l. Cognate to German -lein (possibly influenced by the High German forms).

Pronunciation

• Audio:

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Suffix

-lijn

1. (obsolete) suffix used to create a diminutive form; e.g., vogel → vogelijn

Usage notes

No longer productive, but still found in a small number of fixed diminutives, like parelijn (“little pearl”), lievelijn (“sweetie”), maagdelijn (“virgin; maiden, girl”), sterrelijn (“little star”), vendelijn (“small flag”), vogelijn (“little bird”) and Duimelijntje (“Thumbelina”).