־ס

Middle High German did not have an s-plural. The Yiddish form probably comes from a confluence of two origins: The use after unstressed -e corresponds to Hebrew ־ות (-ôṯ), which is pronounced [əs] in Yiddish (and Ashkenazi Hebrew). The use after unstressed sonorants is very similar to Middle Low German and likely influenced by it. Compare German -s (also from Middle Low German), English -s (inherited).

־ס • (-s)

1. Marks the plural form of regular nouns ending in an unstressed ־ר (-r), ־ם (-m), ־ן (-n), or a vowel.

   ‎שרײַבער (shrayber) + ‎־ס (-s) → ‎שרײַבערס (shraybers)

   ‎שירעם (shirem) + ‎־ס (-s) → ‎שירעמס (shirems)

   ‎וואָלקן (volkn) + ‎־ס (-s) → ‎וואָלקנס (volkns)

   ‎קישקע (kishke) + ‎־ס (-s) → ‎קישקעס (kishkes)

• ־ן (-n)

Compare German -s, English -'s.

• ־עס (-es) (after a sibilant)

־ס • (-s)

1. Marks the possessive form of nouns used for people.

Adjectives and determiners associated with a noun with this suffix use the dative forms.

The suffix is rarely used with plural nouns, especially if the plural is formed with ־ס (-s).

• פֿון (fun, “of”)