Suffix
-y
Added to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives meaning “having the quality of”, either “involving the referent” or “analogous to it”.
mess + -y → messy
mouse + -y → mousy
blue + -y → bluey
clay + -y → clayey
Added to verbs to form adjectives meaning "inclined to".
run + -y → runny
stick + -y → sticky
fiddle + -y → fiddly
-y
Forming diminutive nouns.
granny, pinny, tummy
Forming familiar names, pet names, nicknames and terms of endearment.
Billy, Jonesy, Johnny, lovey
-y
Forming abstract nouns denoting a condition, quality, or state.
modest + -y → modesty
honest + -y → honesty
-nym + -y → -nymy
as in toponym + -y → toponymy
-logue + -y → -logy
as in analogue + -y → analogy
Used in the name of some locations which end in -ia in Latin.
Italy, Germany, Saxony, Hungary, Sicily, Lombardy, Tuscany, Albany, Brittany, Gascony, Burgundy, Picardy, Normandy, Romandy, Savoy, Muscovy, Tartary, Arcady, Thessaly, Troy, Turkey.