-ese


a suffix forming adjectival derivatives of place names, especially countries or cities; frequently used nominally to denote the inhabitants of the place or their language: Faroese; Japanese; Vietnamese; Viennese. By analogy with such language names, -ese occurs in coinages denoting in a disparaging, often facetious way a characteristic jargon, style, or accent: Brooklynese; bureaucratese; journalese; computerese.

Origin of -ese

probably orig. < Italian -ese, later representing Spanish, Portuguese -es, French -ais, -ois, all < Latin -ēnsem -ensis

Words nearby -ese

British Dictionary definitions for -ese

-ese

suffix forming adjectives, suffix forming nouns

indicating place of origin, language, or style Cantonese; Japanese; journalese