clitic
What is another word for clitic? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.
Noun — In linguistics, a short word-like unit that cannot stand on its own and is always joined to the word before or after it.
We haven't recorded synonyms for clitic yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.
How to use clitic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
subject clitic
object clitic
clitic pronoun
clitic attachment
Clitic is a specialist term used in linguistics rather than in everyday conversation.
Etymology
Clitic comes from the Ancient Greek word klitikos, meaning inflexional.
Full origin of clitic →Frequently asked questions
What is a clitic in linguistics?
It is a small grammatical element that behaves like a word in meaning but can never stand alone, always attaching to a neighbouring word.
Is a clitic the same as an affix?
No, clitics and affixes are treated as separate, related categories, with clitics attaching more loosely than typical affixes.
What are some types of clitic?
Linguists distinguish types such as enclitics, proclitics, mesoclitics and endoclitics, depending on where the clitic attaches.
