LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
suffix · feminine

-polis

-polis f (genitive -polis, -polēos, -polios)
Classical[pɔ.lɪs]Ecclesiastical[po.lis]

Meaning

  1. femininemorphemeForms names of cities
  2. New Latinfemininemorphemeas a declinable word to introduce a placename named after a Saint, e.g. Fanum Sancti Iohannis for the various places named Saint John('s), San Juan, etc.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*tpelH-
  2. Proto-Hellenic*ptólis
  3. Latin-polis

Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis)bor. Latin -polis Borrowed from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis, “city”).

Descendants
  • English-polis
  • Portuguese-polis

Quick answers

What does -polis mean in Latin?
-polis, a suffix, means “Forms names of cities; as a declinable word to introduce a placename named after a Saint, e.g. Fanum Sancti Iohannis for the various places named Saint John('s), San Juan, etc.”.
How do you pronounce -polis?
In classical Latin, [pɔ.lɪs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [po.lis].
Where does -polis come from?
Proto-Indo-European *tpelH- → Proto-Hellenic *ptólis → Latin -polis.