-nen: difference between revisions

{{also|Appendix:Variations of "nen"}}

Originally a variant form of {{mfrom|fi|-inen}}. The ''-i-'' was dropped in certain dialects, particularly nouns with more than two syllables prior to the suffix. The distinction between using {{m|fi||-nen}} for nouns (including nouns with two or fewer syllables in the root) and {{m|fi|-inen}} for adjectives is a later literary invention, resulting in thesewhat were originally two variants of the same suffix being artificially separated in meaning.<ref>{{R:fi:SKRK}}</ref>

# {{non-gloss definition|Forms [[diminutive]]s nouns or terms expressing affection.}}

# {{non-gloss definition|Forms [[surname]]s of association (surnames of [[w:Virtanen type]]), by now devoid of meaning.}}

* Surnames ending in {{m|fi||-nen}} were first recorded in [[Savonia]] (and to a somewhat lessex extent [[Karelia]]) in the early 16th century, with {{m|fi||-nen}} affixed to nicknames ({{m|fi|Korhonen}}) and vernacular forms of given names ({{m|fi|Heikkinen}}) after the ancestor or patriarch of a family. In the 19th century surnames were required of all Finns, and many new names were created by adding {{m|fi||-nen}} to topographic terms ({{m|fi|Ahonen}}) and to words describing natural phenomena ({{m|fi|Aaltonen}}).