-éu

From French -eau, -el.[1]

-éu m (noun-forming suffix, plural -éus)

1. forms the diminutive of nouns
   1. indicates smallness

      ‎ilha (“island”) + ‎-éu → ‎ilhéu (“islet”)

      ‎mastro (“mast”) + ‎-éu → ‎mastaréu (“topmast, small mast”)

      ‎manto (“cloak”) + ‎-éu → ‎mantéu (“ruff”)

      ‎arpão (“harpoon”) + ‎-éu → ‎arpéu (“grappling hook”)

   2. belittles the suffixed noun

      ‎terra (“land”) + ‎-éu → ‎terréu (“wasteland”)

      ‎malandro (“rascal”) + ‎-éu → ‎malandréu

      ‎casa (“house”) + ‎-éu → ‎casaréu (“shack”)

2. forms nouns, from nouns, denoting something that is related to or engages with the suffixed noun

   ‎lebre (“hare”) + ‎-éu → ‎lebréu (“sighthound”)

3. forms nouns, from nouns, indication a collection or a large quantity of the suffixed noun

   ‎fogo (“fire”) + ‎-r- -éu → ‎fogaréu (“bonfire”)

   ‎mata (“bush”) + ‎-r- -éu → ‎mataréu (“thicket”)

   ‎povo (“people”) + ‎-éu → ‎povéu (“rabble”)

-éu (adjective-forming suffix, feminine oa or eia, masculine plural -éus, feminine plural oas or eias)

1. forms adjectives meaning “of, from or related to”

   ‎ilha (“island”) + ‎-éu → ‎ilhéu (“islander”)

   ‎Guiné (“Guinea”) + ‎-éu → ‎guinéu (“Guinean”)

• “-éu” in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa. Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2024.