-lus

From Proto-Italic *-elos, From Proto-Indo-European *-lós. Cognate with Faliscan -𐌄𐌋𐌏𐌔 (-elos)). See also the Proto-Germanic suffix *-(ku)laz, as seen in the etymology at ickle.

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /lus/, [ɫʊs]

-lus m (feminine -la, neuter -lum); first/second declension

1. Used to form a diminutive of a noun, indicating small size or youth and thus sometimes depreciation.

The suffix -lus is added to a noun to form a diminutive of that noun.

Examples:

‎porcus (“pig”) + ‎-lus → ‎porculus (“little pig”)

On nouns ending in -ius/-eus or -ia/-ea:

‎filius (“son”) + ‎-lus → ‎filiolus (“little son”)

‎gladius (“sword”) + ‎-lus → ‎gladiolus (“little sword”)

‎bestia (“beast”) + ‎-lus → ‎bestiola (“little beast”)

‎acūleus (“needle”) + ‎-lus → ‎acūleolus (“little needle”)

On nouns ending in -vus or -va:

‎parvus (“small, little”) + ‎-lus → ‎parvulus (“very small, very little”) or parvolus

‎servus (“servant”) + ‎-lus → ‎servulus (“little or young servant”) or servolus

First/second declension.