-wr

See also: wr, WR, and ŵr

Welsh

Alternative forms

• -iwr

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʊr/

Suffix

-wr m (plural -wyr)

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

   Synonyms: -edydd, -iedydd, -iwr, -ydd

   ‎tafarn (“pub”) + ‎-wr → ‎tafarnwr (“landlord”)

   ‎trydan (“electricity”) + ‎-wr → ‎trydanwr (“electrician”)

   ‎Sbaen (“Spain”) + ‎-wr → ‎Sbaenwr (“Spaniard”)

   ‎darlledu (“broadcast”) + ‎-wr → ‎darlledwr (“broadcaster”)

2. suffix indicating an instrument or machine: -er, -or

   Synonyms: -adur, -edydd, -iadur, -iedydd, -ydd

   ‎copïo (“to copy”) + ‎-wr → ‎copïwr (“copier”)

   ‎sychu (“to dry”) + ‎-wr → ‎sychwr (“drier”)

Usage notes

• Despite being grammatically masculine, -wr only refers solely to males when a coordinate female term is available, for example, Sbaenwr (“Spaniard (male)”) vs Sbaenes (“Spaniard (female)”). When no female term is in current use, the grammatically masculine term in -wr is neutral as regards biological sex, for example trydanwr (“electrician (male or female)”). Use of the explicitly female suffix -wraig is old-fashioned outside of certain established terms.

• -wr is used on occasion to indicate an instrument or machine but other suffixes such as -ydd are more common.

Derived terms

Welsh terms suffixed with -wr

Further reading

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