The English suffix -nik is of Slavic origin. It approximately corresponds to the suffix "-er" and nearly always denotes an agent noun (that is, it describes a person related to the thing, state, habit, or action described by the word to which the suffix is attached).V. V. Kabakchi, Charles Clay Doyle, "Of Sputniks, Beatniks, and Nogoodniks", American Speech, Vol. 65, No. 3 (1990), pp. 275-278 In the cases where a native English language coinage may occur, the "-nik"-word often bears an ironic connotation, as in the case of the terms coined for the failed rocket launch of the U.S. satellite rival to Sputnik, such as kaputnik, dudnik and flopnik among others.
History The suffix existed in English for a long time. An example is raskolnik, recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary as known since 1723. There have been two main waves of the introduction of this suffix into English language. The first was driven by Yinglish words contributed by Yiddish speakers from Eastern Europe. The second surge was observed after the launch of the first Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957.
In the fourth edition of his book The American Language, H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) credited the mania for adding "-nik" to the ends of adjectives to create nouns to Al Capp's American comic strip Li'l Abner (1934–1977) rather than to the influence of "Sputnik", first recorded in 1957,Recorded in the OED from October 1957. or "beatnik", first recorded in 1958.
Vocabulary
Mainstream Words of significant context or usage: Beatnik Chainik Potatonik, Jewish potato dish Refusenik Sputnik
Casual Casual neologisms: Alrightnik: one who has been successful; nouveau riche, especially one who forgot his friends and origins; used as an insultHow To Insult Someone In Yiddish Artnik, a UK publisher (defunct); the word predates its establishment Muttnik, the first dog in space Neatnik: a neat-freak Nogoodnik: a lazy, incompetent or malicious person Peacenik: a pacifist; a hippie Wordnik
Jewish adaptation Words originally used by Jews of Europe, America, and Israel, often referring to concepts related to their experiences or things happening in Israel or among the Jewish people: Chabadnik or Habadnik: follower of Chabad Kadimanik: member of United Synagogue Youth's Kadima program Ka-tzetnik: a Nazi concentration camp prisoner or survivor, derived from abbreviation KZ, pronounced "Ka-tzet" Kibbutznik: member of a Kibbutz Lamedvavnik Likudnik: supporter of Israeli political party Likud Limmudnik: participant or attendee of Limmud events Mapainik: supporter of the historical Israeli labor party Mapai Moshavnik: member of a Moshav Mossadnik: Mossad agent Netzernik: Member of the Netzer Olami youth movement Nudnik: a nagging, boring or awkward person Shinuinik: supporter of Israeli political party Shinui Hamasnik: A member or supporter of Hamas
Slavic languages Native or constructed Slavic words originating in Slavic-speaking environments:
There are quite a few proper nouns (surnames and place names) with this suffix.
See also English terms suffixed with -nik Wiktionary: -ник
References
External links