-iwr

Welsh

Alternative forms

• -wr

Etymology

From gŵr (“man”), but semantically influenced due to similarity in form to English -er and Latin -or.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jʊr/

Suffix

-iwr m (plural -wyr)

1. suffix indicating a person, especially an agent noun: -er, -or

   Synonyms: -edydd, -iedydd, -wr, -ydd

   ‎pêl-droed (“football, soccer”) + ‎-iwr → ‎pêl-droediwr (“footballer, soccer player”)

   ‎cyfraith (“law”) + ‎-iwr → ‎cyfreithiwr (“solictor, lawyer, attorney”)

   ‎Rhufain (“Rome”) + ‎-iwr → ‎Rhufeiniwr (“Roman”)

Usage notes

• Despite being grammatically masculine, -iwr only refers solely to males when a coordinate female term is available, for example, Rhufeiniwr (“Roman (male)”) vs Rhufeines (“Roman (female)”). When no female term is in current use, the grammatically masculine term in -iwr is neutral as regards biological sex, for example cyfreithiwr (“solictor, lawyer, attorney (male or female)”). Use of the explicitly female suffix -wraig is old-fashioned outside of certain established terms.

Derived terms

Welsh terms suffixed with -iwr

Further reading

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-iwr”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies