־עלע

Yiddish

Suffix

־עלע • (-elen

  1. Used to express an emphasised diminutive, to indicate that something is extremely small.
  2. alternative form of ־ל (-l): dialectal alternative diminutive

Usage notes

  • When added to a word of Hebrew origin ending in ־ה (-e), the suffix becomes ־לע (-le) in writing, for example דירה (dire) + ‎־עלע (-ele) → ‎דירהלע (direle) rather than *דירהעלע (direle).

Derived terms