syn

See also: syn., syn-, -syn, sýn, and ␖

Languages (23)

Translingual • English

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Afrikaans • Czech • Danish • Kashubian • Lower Sorbian • Middle English • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Old Czech • Old English • Old Polish • Old Slovak • Old Swedish • Polish • Silesian • Slovak • Slovincian • Swedish • Upper Sorbian • Welsh • West Frisian

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Page categories

Translingual

Etymology

Abbreviation of English Senaya with n and y interchanged.

Symbol

syn

1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Senaya.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Senaya terms

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek συν- (sun-, “with, together”), having the same function as co- (“synthesis, synoptic”).

Adjective

syn (not comparable)

1. (chemistry) That has a torsion angle between 0° and 90°.

Coordinate terms

• (chemistry): anti

Etymology 2

Clipping of synonym.

Alternative forms

• syn.

Noun

syn (plural syns)

1. Abbreviation of synonym.

Etymology 3

Clipping of synthetic.

Alternative forms

• synth

Adjective

syn (comparative more syn, superlative most syn)

1. Abbreviation of synthetic.

Anagrams

• NYS, sny

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Pronoun

syn

1. obsolete form of sy (“his”)

Particle

syn

1. obsolete form of se
2. obsolete form of s'n

Czech

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Czech syn

Czech syn

Inherited from Old Czech syn, from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈsɪn]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: syn
• Rhymes: -ɪn

Noun

syn m anim

1. son

   Coordinate term: dcera

Declension

Declension of syn (hard masculine animate)

	singular	plural
nominative	syn	synové
genitive	syna	synů
dative	synovi, synu	synům
accusative	syna	syny
vocative	synu	synové
locative	synovi, synu	synech
instrumental	synem	syny

Coordinate terms

Czech family terms

rodina (“family”)		Male	Female	Neutral
parent		otec (“father”) nursery: táta	matka (“mother”) nursery: máma	rodič (“parent”)
grandparent	paternal	dědeček (“paternal grandfather”) nursery: děda	babička (“paternal grandmother”) nursery: bába	prarodič (“grandparent”)
	maternal1	stařeček (“maternal grandfather”)	stařenka (“maternal grandmother”)
sibling		bratr (“brother”)	sestra (“sister”)	sourozenec (“sibling”)
cousin		bratranec (“male cousin”)	sestřenice (“female cousin”)	–
second cousin		vlastník, bratránek (“male second cousin”)	vlastnice, sestřenka (“female second cousin”)	–
child		syn (“son”)	dcera (“daughter”)	dítě (“child”)
grandchild		vnuk (“grandson”)	vnučka (“granddaughter”)	vnouče (“grandchild”)
parent's sibling	paternal	strýc (“paternal uncle”)	strýna (“paternal aunt”)2	–
	maternal	ujec (“maternal uncle”)2	teta (“maternal aunt”)	–
sibling's child		synovec (“nephew”)	neteř (“niece”)	–
spouse		manžel (“husband”)	manželka (“wife”)	choť (“spouse”)
spouse's parent		tchán (“father-in-law”)	tchyně (“mother-in-law”)	–
child's spouse		zeť (“son-in-law”)	snacha (“daughter-in-law”)	–
child's spouse's parent		svat (“co-father-in-law”)	svatka (“co-mother-in-law”)	–
sibling's spouse		švagr (“sibilar brother-in-law”)	švagrová (“sibilar sister-in-law”)	–
spouse's sibling3	marital	deveř (“marital brother-in-law”)	zelva (“marital sister-in-law”)	–
	uxorial	šír (“uxorial brother-in-law”)	svěst (“uxorial sister-in-law”)	–
stepparent		otčím (“stepfather”)	macecha (“stepmother”)	–
stepchild		pastorek (“stepson”)	pastorkyně (“stepdaughter”)	pastorče (“stepchild”)
more distant: pra- (“grand- / once removed”) through a more distant ancestor: z druhého kolena (“second”) only through one parent: poloviční (“half-”) not blood relative: nevlastní (“step-”)

¹ Literary (the usual terms today are dědeček and babička).
² Literary (the usual terms today are strýc and teta).
³ Obsolete (replaced by švagr and švagrová).

Derived terms

• synáček
• synek
• synovec
• synovský
• zkurvysyn
• zlosyn

Further reading

• “syn”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “syn”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “syn”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026

Anagrams

• sny

Danish

Etymology

From Old Danish siun, sȳn, from Old Norse sýn, sjón, from Proto-Germanic *siuniz. Related to se.

Noun

syn n (singular definite synet, plural indefinite syn)

1. vision, faculty of sight

   Hun har nedsat syn på det højre øje.

   She has reduced vision in the right eye.

2. a way of perceiving something

   De havde et ganske andet syn på sandsynlighedsfeltsbegrebet.

   They had quite another view of the concept of the probability field.

   Sikke dog et forskruet og forældet menneskesyn!

   What a twisted and antiquated view of humans!

Declension

Declension of syn

neuter gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	syn	synet	syn	synene
genitive	syns	synets	syns	synenes

Derived terms

• bilsyn
• dobbeltsyn
• drømmesyn
• eftersyn
• fjernsyn
• fremsyn
• fremsynet
• gammelsyn
• gennemsyn
• gensyn
• grundsyn
• helhedssyn
• historiesyn
• indsyn
• klarsyn
• kvindesyn
• langsynet
• ligsyn
• livssyn
• lyssyn
• menneskesyn
• nattesyn
• natursyn
• nysyn
• nærsynet
• omsyn
• opsyn
• påsyn
• samfundssyn
• samsyn
• selvsyn
• skarpsyn
• snæversynet
• sortsyn
• sprogsyn
• svagsynet
• synbar
• syne
• synlig
• synsbedrag
• synsevne
• synsfejl
• synsfelt
• synsforstyrrelse
• synshæmmet
• synsindtryk
• synsk
• synsmæssig
• synsmåde
• synsnerve
• synsoplevelse
• synsorgan
• synsprøve
• synspunkt
• synssans
• synstest
• synsvidde
• synsvinkel
• særsyn
• tilsyn
• tunnelsyn
• tvesyn
• udsyn
• varmesyn
• verdenssyn
• videnskabssyn
• vidsyn
• øjesyn
• åndesyn

Noun

syn n (singular definite synet, plural indefinite syner)

1. vision (mystical event)

   Shamanen påstår at have fået et syn.

   The shaman claims to have received a vision.

Declension

Declension of syn

neuter gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	syn	synet	syner	synerne
genitive	syns	synets	syners	synernes

References

• “syn” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “syn” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

Kashubian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Kashubian syn

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsin/
• Rhymes: -in
• Syllabification: syn

Noun

syn m pers (diminutive synk or synulk, related adjective sënowsczi)

1. son (male offspring)

   Coordinate term: córka

2. son (familiar address to a male person from an older or otherwise more authoritative person)

Declension

Declension of syn

	singular	plural
nominative	syn	sënowie
genitive	sëna	sënów
dative	sënowi	sënóm
accusative	sëna	sënów
instrumental	sënã	sënama
locative	sënie	sënach
vocative	sënie/syn	sënowie

Related terms

nouns

• synôszk
• sënostwò
• sënowô
• sënëcha
• sënëszka

Further reading

• Stefan Ramułt (1893), “sin”, in Słownik języka pomorskiego czyli kaszubskiego (in Kashubian), page 193
• Jan Trepczyk (1994), “syn”, in Słownik polsko-kaszubski (in Kashubian), volumes 1–2
• Eùgeniusz Gòłąbk (2011), “syn”, in Słownik Polsko-Kaszubski / Słowôrz Pòlskò-Kaszëbsczi‎^[2]
• “syn”, in Internetowi Słowôrz Kaszëbsczégò Jãzëka [Internet Dictionary of the Kashubian Language], Fundacja Kaszuby, 2022

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *synъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus, from Proto-Indo-European *suHnús.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɨn/

Noun

syn m anim (diminutive synk)

1. son (male offspring)

Declension

Declension of syn

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	syn	syna	syny
genitive	syna	synowu	synow
dative	synoju	synoma	synam
accusative	syna	synowu	syny, synow
instrumental	synom	synoma	synami
locative	synje	synoma	synach

Coordinate terms

• źowka (“daughter”)
• nan (“father”)
• maś (“mother”)

Derived terms

• synašk

References

• Muka, Arnošt (1921, 1928), “syn”, in Słownik dolnoserbskeje rěcy a jeje narěcow (in German), St. Petersburg, Prague: ОРЯС РАН, ČAVU; Reprinted Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag, 2008
• Starosta, Manfred (1999), “syn”, in Dolnoserbsko-nimski słownik / Niedersorbisch-deutsches Wörterbuch (in German), Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag

Middle English

Etymology 1

Noun

syn

1. alternative form of synne

Etymology 2

Noun

syn

1. alternative form of synnen

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse sýn.

Noun

syn n (definite singular synet, indefinite plural syn or syner, definite plural syna or synene, genitive syne)

1. sight, eyesight, vision (ability to see)
2. a sight

   et vakkert syn ― a beautiful sight

   komme til syne [old genitive form] ― come into sight

3. a vision or hallucination
4. a premonition
5. a view (opinion)

Derived terms

• ettersyn
• fjernsyn
• innsyn
• livssyn
• nattsyn
• nærsynt
• oppsyn
• synlig
• synsfelt
• synsk
• synspunkt
• synstest
• synsvinkel
• tunnelsyn

References

• “syn” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /syːn/

Etymology 1

From Old Norse sýn.

Noun

syn n (definite singular synet, indefinite plural syn, definite plural syna)
syn f (definite singular syna, indefinite plural syner, definite plural synene)

1. sight, eyesight, vision (ability to see)
2. a sight

   eit vakkert syn - a beautiful sight

3. (especially feminine) a vision
4. (feminine plural only) hallucinations

   Ser eg syner no eller er det berre eit vanleg spøkjelse?

   Do I see hallucinations now or is it just a usual ghost?

5. a view (opinion)

Derived terms

• ettersyn
• innsyn
• livssyn
• menneskesyn
• nattsyn
• nærsynt
• oppsyn
• sjølvsyn
• synkverva
• synsfelt
• synsk
• synspunkt
• synstest
• synsvinkel
• tunnelsyn
• utsyn

Etymology 2

Verb

syn

1. imperative of syna

References

• “syn” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old Czech

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Czech syn

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (13^th CE) /ˈsɨn/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ˈsin/

Noun

syn m pers

1. son (male offspring)
2. son (male member of a group, especially a family community)
3. (Christianity) Son

Declension

Declension of syn (u-stem)

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	syn	syny	synové, syni
genitive	syna	synú	synóv
dative	synovi, synu	synoma	synóm
accusative	syna	syny	syny
vocative	synu	syny	synové, syni
locative	synu	synú	syniech
instrumental	synem	synoma	syny

This table shows the most common forms around the 13th century.

Coordinate terms

Old Czech family terms

rodina (“family”)		Male	Female
parent		otec (“father”)	máti (“mother”)
grandparent		děd (“grandfather”)	bába (“grandmother”)
sibling		bratr (“brother”)	sestra (“sister”)
cousin	paternal	strýčěnec (“paternal male cousin”)	strýčěna (“paternal female cousin”)
	maternal	ujčěnec, tetěnec (“maternal male cousin”)	ujčěna, tetěna (“maternal female cousin”)
child		syn (“son”)	dci (“daughter”)
grandchild		vnuk (“grandson”)	vnuka (“granddaughter”)
parent's sibling	paternal	strýc (“paternal uncle”)	strýna (“paternal aunt”)
	maternal	ujec (“maternal uncle”)	teta (“maternal aunt”)
sibling's child	fraternal	bratranec (“fraternal nephew”)	bratranicě (“fraternal niece”)
	sororial	sestřěnec (“sororial nephew”)	sestřěnicě (“sororial niece”)
spouse		malžen (“husband”), chot (“spouse”)	malženka (“wife”), chot (“spouse”)
spouse's parent		test (“father-in-law”)	tščě (“mother-in-law”)
child's spouse		zět (“son-in-law”)	nevěsta (“daughter-in-law”)
sibling's spouse		svekr (“sibilar brother-in-law”)	svekrev (“sibilar sister-in-law”)
spouse's sibling	marital	deveř (“marital brother-in-law”)	zelva (“marital sister-in-law”)
	uxorial	šúr (“uxorial brother-in-law”)	svěst (“uxorial sister-in-law”)
stepparent		otčím (“stepfather”)	macecha (“stepmother”)
stepchild		pastorek (“stepson”)	pastorkyni (“stepdaughter”)

Descendants

• Czech: syn

References

• Jan Gebauer (1903–1916), “syn”, in Slovník staročeský (in Czech), Prague: Česká grafická společnost "unie", Česká akademie císaře Františka Josefa pro vědy, slovesnost a umění

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /syːn/

Etymology 1

Noun

sȳn f

1. alternative form of sīen

Declension

Strong i-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	sȳn	sȳne, sȳna
accusative	sȳn, sȳne	sȳne, sȳna
genitive	sȳne	sȳna
dative	sȳne	sȳnum

Etymology 2

Verb

sȳn

1. alternative form of sīen

Old Polish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Polish syn

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ. First attested in the 14th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /sin/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /sin/

Noun

syn m pers (diminutive synek)

1. (attested in Greater Poland) son (male offspring)
   • 1967 [1408], Henryk Kowalewicz, Władysław Kuraszkiewicz, editors, Wielkopolskie roty sądowe XIV-XV wieku, Roty kościańskie, volume III, number 364, Kościan:

     Jaco Jacub stawal trzi czloweki paney Ketliczskey y gey sinu

     [Jako Jakub stawiał trzy człowieki paniej Kietliczskiej i jej synu]

   • Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎^[3], page 765:

     Kupylem rolya od Ananytel, syna stryka mego (ab... filio patrui mei Jer 32, 9)

     [Kupiłem rolą od Anamehel, syna stryka mego (ab... filio patrui mei Jer 32, 9)]

   • c. 1500, Wokabularz lubiński, Lubiń: inkunabuł Archiwum Archidiecezjalnego w Gnieźnie, sygn. Inc. 78d., page 52r:

     Filius eyn sune, filiosus filiolus idem szyn

     [Filius eyn sune, filiosus filiolus idem syn]

2. (Christianity, attested in Lesser Poland) Son

   Synonyms: Syn dziewiczy, Syn Boży, jedyny Syn Boga wszechmogącego, Syn Człowieczy, Syn Nawyszszego

   • 1939 [end of the 14th century], Ryszard Ganszyniec, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Kubica, Ludwik Bernacki, editors, Psałterz florjański łacińsko-polsko-niemiecki [Sankt Florian Psalter]‎^{scan transliteration, transcription}, numbers 1, 8, Krakow: Zakład Narodowy imienia Ossolińskich, z zasiłkiem Sejmu Śląskiego [The Ossoliński National Institute: with the benefit of the Silesian Parliament]:

     Slawa oczczu y sinowi (filio), y swøtemu duchu

     [Sława Oćcu i Synowi (filio), i Świętemu Duchu]

3. (figuratively) son (someone that one views as a son)
   • 1874-1891 [End of the 15th century], Rozprawy i Sprawozdania z Posiedzeń Wydziału Filologicznego Akademii Umiejętności‎^{[4], [5], [6]}, volume I, page XLIII:

     Kto syą rad w nych (sc. kłamnikach i szpilmanach) cocha, bąndzye myąl zoną gymyenyem wbosstwo, a thą zoną nassladuge syn (filius), gymenem nassmyewanye

     [Kto się rad w nich (sc. kłamnikach i szpilmanach) kocha, będzie miał żonę jimieniem ubostwo, a tę żonę naśladuje syn (filius), jimieniem naśmiewanie]

4. (attested in Greater Poland) used in some curses
   • 1960 [1396], Henryk Kowalewicz, Władysław Kuraszkiewicz, editors, Wielkopolskie roty sądowe XIV-XV wieku, Roty pyzdrskie, volume II, number 32, Pyzdry:

     Czso Spitek vczinil *Sencowy, to vczinil za yego poczathkem, isz mv layal kurwe maczerze sini

     [Cso Spytek uczynił Bieńkowi, to uczynił za jego początkiem, iż mu łajał kurwie macierze syny]

5. (biblical, attested in Lesser Poland) son (male member of a community)
   • 1939 [end of the 14th century], Ryszard Ganszyniec, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Kubica, Ludwik Bernacki, editors, Psałterz florjański łacińsko-polsko-niemiecki [Sankt Florian Psalter]‎^{scan transliteration, transcription}, numbers 102, 17, Krakow: Zakład Narodowy imienia Ossolińskich, z zasiłkiem Sejmu Śląskiego [The Ossoliński National Institute: with the benefit of the Silesian Parliament]:

     Prawda yego nad syny synowymy (in filios filiorum)

     [Prawda jego nad syny synowymi (in filios filiorum)]

6. (attested in Lesser Poland) son (familiar address to a male person from an older or otherwise more authoritative person)
   • 1939 [end of the 14th century], Ryszard Ganszyniec, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Kubica, Ludwik Bernacki, editors, Psałterz florjański łacińsko-polsko-niemiecki [Sankt Florian Psalter]‎^{scan transliteration, transcription}, numbers 33, 11, Krakow: Zakład Narodowy imienia Ossolińskich, z zasiłkiem Sejmu Śląskiego [The Ossoliński National Institute: with the benefit of the Silesian Parliament]:

     Przydzicze, sinowe (filii), sluchaycze mne

     [Przydzicie, synowie (filii), słuchajcie mnie]

   • Middle of the 15th century, Kanon mszy św., Canon missae., volume V, Kraków, page 260:

     Opyekacz, zachowacz [raczy]... yednako, pospolicze sluga, szynem s twym, papyeszem (cum famulo tuo papa)

     [Opiekać, zachować [raczy]... jednako z slugą twym [papie]żem (cum famulo tuo papa), pospolicie z synem]

   • 1892 [1484], Hieronim Łopaciński, editor, Reguła trzeciego zakonu św. Franciszka i drobniejsze zabytki języka polskiego z końca w. XV i początku XVI‎^[7], Krakow, page 704:

     Nikolay, papyez..., mylym synom... zakonu pokuthuyączego... apostolschkye przezegnanye

     [Nikołaj, papież..., miłym synom... zakonu pokutującego... apostolskie przeżegnanie]

Derived terms

adjectives

• synowski
• synów

nouns

• jedyny Syn Boga wszechmogącego
• marnotrawny syn
• sirotny syn
• syn betlejemski
• Syn Boży
• syn czystego łoża
• Syn Człowieczy
• Syn dziewiczy
• Syn Nawyszszego
• syn powłoczniej niewiasty
• syn żydowski
• synowa
• wybrany syn

Related terms

adjectives

• synowców

nouns

• synaczek
• synowbrat
• synowica
• synowiec
• synowię

Descendants

• Polish: syn
• Silesian: syn

References

• Boryś, Wiesław (2005), “syn”, in Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, →ISBN
• Mańczak, Witold (2017), “syn”, in Polski słownik etymologiczny (in Polish), Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejętności, →ISBN
• Bożena Sieradzka-Baziur, et al., editors (2011–2015), “syn”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN
• Ewa Deptuchowa, et al., editors (2023), “syn”, in Rozariusze z polskimi glosami. Internetowa baza danych [Dictionaries of Polish glosses, an Internet database] (in Polish), Kraków: Pracownia Języka Staropolskiego Instytut Języka Polskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Old Slovak

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Slovak syn

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ.

Noun

syn m pers

1. son (male offspring)
2. son (male member of some community)
3. son (familiar address to a male person from an older or otherwise more authoritative person)

Descendants

• Pannonian Rusyn: син (sin)
• Slovak: syn

References

• Majtán, Milan et al., editors (1991–2008), “syn”, in Historický slovník slovenského jazyka [Historical Dictionary of the Slovak Language] (in Slovak), volumes 1–7 (A – Ž), Bratislava: VEDA, →OCLC

Old Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse sjón, from Proto-Germanic *siuniz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /syːn/

Noun

sȳn f

1. sight, ability to see
2. appearance

Declension

Declension of sȳn (i-stem)

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	sȳn	sȳnin	sȳni(r), -e(r)	sȳnina(r), sȳnena(r)
accusative	sȳn	sȳnina, -ena	sȳni(r), -e(r)	sȳnina(r), sȳnena(r)
dative	sȳn	sȳninni, -inne	sȳnum, -om	sȳnumin, -omen
genitive	sȳna(r)	sȳninna(r)	sȳna	sȳnanna

Descendants

• Swedish: syn

Polish

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Polish syn

Polish syn

Inherited from Old Polish syn.

Alternative forms

• sen (Kuyavia, Wistka Królewska, Brześć Kujawski, Chodecz, Western Kraków, Sosnowiec)

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɘn/

• (Middle Polish) IPA^(key): /sɨn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɘn
• Syllabification: syn

Noun

syn m pers (diminutive synek, related adjective synowski)

1. son (male offspring)

   Coordinate term: córka

2. son (familiar address to a male person from an older or otherwise more authoritative person)
3. (literary) son (member of a community)

Declension

Declension of syn

	singular	plural
nominative	syn	synowie, syny1
genitive	syna	synów
dative	synowi	synom
accusative	syna	synów
instrumental	synem	synami
locative	synu	synach
vocative	synu	synowie

¹Deprecative.

Attested dialectal forms of syn

	singular	plural
nominative	—	syny1,2
genitive	—	—
dative	—	—
accusative	sena3	—
instrumental	—	synmi4
locative	synie5	—
vocative	—	—

¹Kuyavia (Lubień Kujawski).
²Western Kraków (Skała).
³Western Kraków (Sosnowiec).
⁴Near Masovian (Zalesie, Sułkowice).
⁵Biecz (Ropczyce-Sędziszów County).

• The Central Greater Poland dialect (Krotoszyn, Odolanów) and Southern Greater Poland dialect (Jutrosin) show softening of the stem in oblique forms: synia; syniowi/syniu; syniem.

Coordinate terms

Polish family terms

rodzina (“family”)		Male	Female	Neutral
parent		ojciec (“father”) nursery: tata	matka (“mother”) nursery: mama	rodzic (“parent”)
grandparent		dziadek (“grandfather”)	babcia (“grandmother”)	prarodzic (“grandparent”)
sibling		brat (“brother”)	siostra (“sister”)	rodzeństwo (“siblings”)
cousin		kuzyn (“male cousin”)	kuzynka (“female cousin”)	–
child		syn (“son”)	córka (“daughter”)	dziecko (“child”)
grandchild		wnuk (“grandson”)	wnuczka (“granddaughter”)	wnuczę (“grandchild”)
parent's sibling	paternal	stryj (“paternal uncle”)	ciotka (“aunt”)	–
	maternal	wuj (“maternal uncle”)		–
sibling's child	fraternal	bratanek (“fraternal nephew”)	bratanica (“fraternal niece”)	–
	sororal	siostrzeniec (“sororal nephew”)	siostrzenica (“sororal niece”)	–
spouse		mąż (“husband”)	żona (“wife”)	–
spouse's parent	marital	świekier (“marital father-in-law”)	świekra (“marital mother-in-law”)	–
	uxorial	teść (“uxorial father-in-law”)	teściowa (“uxorial mother-in-law”)	–
child's spouse		zięć (“son-in-law”)	synowa (“daughter-in-law”)	–
sibling's spouse		szwagier (“brother-in-law”)	bratowa (“sibilar ister-in-law”)	–
spouse's sibling			szwagierka (“sister-in-law”)	–
stepparent		ojczym (“stepfather”)	macocha (“stepmother”)	–
stepchild		pasierb (“stepson”)	pasierbica (“stepdaughter”)	–

Derived terms

interjections

• w imię Ojca i Syna, i Ducha Świętego

nouns

• psi syn
• psynek
• Syn Boży
• syn chrzestny
• syn ciemności
• syn pułku
• synal
• synalek
• syncio
• syneczek
• synek
• synulek
• synuś

Trivia

According to Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej (1990), syn is one of the most used words in Polish, appearing 5 times in scientific texts, 9 times in news, 4 times in essays, 41 times in fiction, and 36 times in plays, each out of a corpus of 100,000 words, totaling 95 times, making it the 668th most common word in a corpus of 500,000 words.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɘn/
• Rhymes: -ɘn
• Syllabification: syn

Noun

syn m pers

1. nominative singular of psynek

Further reading

• “syn”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[8] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “syn”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[9] (in Polish)
• Maria Renata Mayenowa, et al., editors (2010-2023), “syn”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]
• “SYN”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century], 13.05.2021
• Samuel Bogumił Linde (1807–1814), “syn”, in Słownik języka polskiego
• Aleksander Zdanowicz (1861), “syn”, in Słownik języka polskiego, Wilno 1861
• J. Karłowicz, A. Kryński, W. Niedźwiedzki, editors (1915), “syn”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), volume 6, Warsaw, page 539
• Jan Karłowicz (1907), “syn”, in Jan Łoś, editors, Słownik gwar polskich [Dictionary of Polish dialects] (in Polish), volume 5: R S Ś T, Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności, page 275

Anagrams

• sny

Silesian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Polish syn

Silesian syn

Inherited from Old Polish syn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪn
• Syllabification: syn

Noun

syn m pers (diminutive synek, related adjective synowy)

1. son (male offspring)

   Coordinate term: cera

Declension

Declension of syn

	singular	plural
nominative	syn	synowie
genitive	syna	synōw
dative	synowi	synōm
accusative	syna	synōw
instrumental	synym	synami/synōma
locative	synu	synach
vocative	synu	synowie

Related terms

nouns

• syneczek

Further reading

• syn in silling.org

Slovak

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Old Slovak syn

Slovak syn

Inherited from Old Slovak syn, from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sin/, [ˈsin]

• Audio (Bratislava):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -in

Noun

syn m pers (relational adjective synovský, diminutive synček or synáčik)

1. son (male offspring)

   Coordinate term: dcéra

Declension

Declension of syn
(pattern chlap)

	singular	plural
nominative	syn	synovia
genitive	syna	synov
dative	synovi, synu	synom
accusative	syna	synov
vocative	synu, syn	synovia
locative	synovi, synu	synoch
instrumental	synom	synmi

Derived terms

• synovsky
• synovstvo

Further reading

• “syn”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026

Slovincian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sew-?

Proto-Indo-European *sewH-

Proto-Indo-European *suHnús

Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus

Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ

Slovincian syn

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *sy̑nъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɪn
• Syllabification: syn

Noun

syn m pers

1. son (male offspring)

Further reading

• Lorentz, Friedrich (1912), “sḯn”, in Slovinzisches Wörterbuch‎^[10] (in German), volume 2, Saint Petersburg: ОРЯС ИАН, page 1023

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Swedish sȳn, from Old Norse sýn, sjón, from Proto-Germanic *siuniz.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

syn c

1. sight (ability to see), vision
2. a sight, a view
3. a vision, a revelation (of the future)

Declension

Declension of syn

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	syn	syns
	definite	synen	synens
plural	indefinite	syner	syners
	definite	synerna	synernas

Derived terms

• syna
• synbar
• synlig
• åsyn

Further reading

• “syn”, in Svenska Akademiens ordböcker [Dictionaries of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)

Anagrams

• nys

Upper Sorbian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *synъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *sū́ˀnus, from Proto-Indo-European *suHnús.

Noun

syn m pers

1. son (male offspring)

Declension

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Further reading

• “syn” in Soblex

Welsh

Etymology

Back-formation from synnu (“to surprise”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /sɨːn/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /siːn/
• Rhymes: -ɨːn

Adjective

syn (not mutable, feminine singular syn, plural synion, comparative synach, equative syned, superlative synaf)

1. astonished, astounded
2. dazed, stunned
3. aghast, frightened
4. amazing, astonishing

   Synonyms: syndodol, syfrdanol

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “syn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

West Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian sīn, from Proto-West Germanic *sīn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sin/

Determiner

syn

1. his (third-person singular masculine possessive determiner)
2. its (third-person singular neuter possessive determiner)

See also

West Frisian personal pronouns and possessives

			personal				possessive
			subject case	object case			determiner	pronoun
				normal	reflexive
singular	1st		ik	my	mysels		myn	mines
	2nd	informal	do, dû1	dy	dysels		dyn	dines
		formal	jo	jo	josels		jo	jowes
	3rd	m	hy	him	himsels		syn	sines
		f	sy, hja1	har	harsels		har	harres
		n	it	it	himsels		syn	sines
plural	1st		wy	ús	ússels		ús	uzes
	2nd		jim(me)	jim(me)	jimsels, jinsels		jim(me)	jimmes
	3rd		sy, hja1	har(ren)	harsels		har(ren)	harres

¹ Now mostly archaic and unused.

Further reading

• “syn”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011