-s

Pronunciation

• IPA: /s/ following an unvoiced consonant
• IPA: /z/ postvocalic or following a voiced consonant
• IPA: /ɨz/ following a sibilant consonant /s, z, ʃ, Ê’, tʃ, dÊ’/—usually written -es#English, -es

From Middle English -s, -es, from Old English -as, nominative-accusative plural ending of masculine a-stem (i.e. strong) declension nouns, from Proto-Germanic *-ōs, *-ōz, from Proto-Indo-European *-es, *-oes. Most common Old English plural marker (c. 40% of Old English nouns). Cognate with Scots -s (plural ending.), West Frisian -s (plural ending.), Dutch -s (plural ending.), Low German -s (plural ending.), Danish -er (plural ending.), Swedish -r, -ar, -or (plural ending.), Icelandic -ir (plural ending.), Gothic -𐍉𐍃 (-os, nominative plural ending of a-stem masculine nouns.).

Full definition of -s

Suffix

1. Used to form regular plurals of nouns.one computer → five computers
2. Used to form many plurale tantumshorts, sunglasses

Usage notes

(regular plurals) In semi-formal or formal contexts, where the plurality of a noun depends on some unknown aspect of the sentence, the s may be parenthesised: "The winner(s) will be invited to a prize ceremony."

Derived terms

• see

Middle English -(e)s (third person singular ending of verbs) from Northern Old English (Northumbian dialect) -es, -as (third person singular ending). Replaced historical Old English third person singular ending -(e)þ, -aþ (-eth). Possibly due to Scandinavian influence or related to -es, -as, second-person singular ending of verbs. More at -est

Suffix

1. Used to form the third-person singular indicative present tense of verbs.to eat → he eats

Derived terms

From Middle English -es, from Old English -es ("masc-neut genitive ending of most nouns"). More at -'s

Suffix

1. (not productive) used in the formation of certain English adverbs.backwards; towards always; sometimes

Derived terms

• -st

By dropping the apostrophe in 's.

Suffix

1. (British) Possessive in business names.

Usage notes

In British English, an -s (without the apostrophe) is sometimes used both in business names that derive from a possessive, such as Harrods (originally Harrod’s), but compare Sainsbury's – see – and, by generalization, for businesses that do not have a possessive in their name, such as Tescos for Tesco, this latter usage being called the s-form and being used primarily in speech.

Related terms

• ’s

Shortened form of -sy.

Suffix

1. Diminutive suffixBabs; moms; pops; homes; Toots

Derived terms