Yunnanese
/ˌjuː.nænˈiːz/noun
Relating to Yunnan, a province in southwestern China, or its people and culture.
Did you know?The ending “-ese” ultimately descends from Latin -ensis, an ancient suffix meaning “belonging to” or “from a place,” so Yunnanese literally marks someone as belonging to Yunnan.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
-ensis
“Belonging to, originating from, or associated with a place”
Medieval Latin
Latin
-ese
“A descendant and later Romance-language form of the place-based suffix -ensis”
Han dynasty period
Chinese
云南 / 雲南 (Yúnnán)
“Literally “south of the clouds”; the name became associated with the region in southwestern China”
Middle English to Early Modern English
English
-ese
“A suffix used to form names for peoples, languages, and places, often through French or Italian influence”
20th Century
English
Yunnanese
“An English adjective and noun referring to Yunnan or its people”
Modern English
English
Yunnanese
“Relating to Yunnan, its inhabitants, language varieties, cuisine, or culture”
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