-eln

From Middle High German -eln, -elen, from Old High German -alōn, from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix). Cognate with English -le, West Frisian -elje, Dutch -elen, Danish -le, Swedish -la, Icelandic -la.

• IPA^(key): [-əln], [-l̩n]

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-eln

1. Suffix used to form verbs, chiefly from other verbs, but also from nouns and adjectives. The resulting verb often has an iterative/frequentative or a diminutive meaning.

   Synonym: -ern

   ‎kippen (“to tilt”) + ‎-eln → ‎kippeln (“to tilt back and forth”)

   ‎husten (“to cough”) + ‎-eln → ‎hüsteln (“to cough slightly”)