-lui

From earlier luide or luiden, cognate with German Leute.

• IPA^(key): /lœy̯/

-lui pl

1. alternative plural form of Dutch words suffixed with -man, -vrouw or -mens

   sportman (“sportsman”) → sportlui (“athletes”)

   brandweerman (“fireman”) → brandweerlui (“firefighters”)

Only used in the spoken language. Replaced by -lieden in the formal language.

• brandweerlui
• sportlui

• -ului — for masculine and neuter nouns that do not end in a vowel other than -i

From Late Latin illui, a variant of Latin illī, dative of Latin ille, by analogy with the ending of Latin cui, whence Romanian cui. Unlike Western Romance languages, the suffix came to be appended at the end of the respective noun as part of influence from nearby languages, a characteristic of the Balkan Sprachbund. The article then underwent aphaeresis and was subsequently degeminated.

• IPA^(key): /luj/

-lui m or n

1. (definite article) masculine/neuter genitive and dative; of the, 's, belonging to, to the

This form of the definite article is used for both masculine and neuter nouns in the genitive and dative cases which end in a vowel (including -e, but not -i):

• tatălui, from tată, masc.
• fiului, from fiu, masc.
• fratelui, from frate, masc.
• numelui, from nume, neut.
• soarelui, from soare, masc.

The suffix is also used with masculine and neuter singular adjectives in the genitive and dative cases to make the definite form, often for emphasis, and it is used before the noun it modifies.

• osul iutelui câine, from osul câinelui iute (both meaning, "the swift dog's bone")

• lui