-άκης

See also: ἀκῆς and -άκις

Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Byzantine Greek -άκης (-ákēs), or “more correct -άκις (-ákis)[1]” from -άκ(ι) < -άκ(ιν) < -άκ(ιον), diminutive suffix (for neuters) + -ης suffix for masculine.[2]
.

Suffix

-άκης • (-ákis) m

  1. Gives a diminutive form of a masculine first name:
    ‎Γιώργος (Giórgos) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎Γιωργάκης (Giorgákis)
    ‎Γιάννης (Giánnis) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎Γιαννάκης (Giannákis)
  2. An ending for family names, chiefly Cretan, also of diminutive derivation (See Usage Notes)
    ‎Θεόδωρος (Theódoros) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎Θεοδωράκης (Theodorákis)
    η οικογένεια των Βροντάκηδων ― i oikogéneia ton Vrontákidon ― the Vrondakides family
  3. (rare, derogatory)
    ‎κόσμος (kósmos) + ‎-άκης (-ákis) → ‎κοσμάκης (kosmákis, “the poor people”)

Usage notes

Family names suffixed -άκης are attested in Byzantine times: e.g. Ραβδοκανάκης (Rabdokanákēs) c.1250.[3] A systematic registering of surnames in Greece started in the 19th century. -άκης was frequent in Mani (where more often it became -άκος (-ákos)) and chiefly in the island of Crete (where also the augmentative -ακας (-akas) is found in contrast to the diminutive -άκης).

Which of the two alternative spellings (-άκις or -άκης) is more correct, is still debated.[4] Currently (2010s), some people insist on -άκις, although -άκης is much more frequent.

Declension
declension of -άκης
case     \     number singular plural
nominative -άκης • -άκηδες •
genitive -άκη • -άκηδων •
accusative -άκη • -άκηδες •
vocative -άκη • -άκηδες •

Derived terms
Greek terms suffixed with -άκης

References
  1. -άκης - Babiniotis, Georgios (2002) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας: […] [Dictionary of Modern Greek (language)] (in Greek), 2nd edition, Athens: Kentro Lexikologias [Lexicology Centre], 1st edition 1998, →ISBN.
  2. -άκης - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
  3. Laiou, Angeliki E. (1977) Peasant society in the late Byzantine Empire, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, →ISBN
  4. Babiniotis is a champion of -άκις (-άκης - Babiniotis, Georgios (2002) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας: […] [Dictionary of Modern Greek (language)] (in Greek), 2nd edition, Athens: Kentro Lexikologias [Lexicology Centre], 1st edition 1998, →ISBN.)
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