Geralmente aprendemos que ao acrescentar a letra “y” a certos substantivos, os tornamos adjetivos. Por exemplo com comidas (salty, spicy, greasy, juicy, etc.) e com palavras relacionadas ao clima (sunny, rainy, cloudy, foggy, etc.)

O runner-up do programa American Idol, Adam Lambert, disse que sua performance de Black and White, de Michael Jackson, foi um tanto shouty (gritado).

Há vários substantivos que, ao acrescentar o “y”, tomam um significado completamente diferente.

ANTSY - very nervous, anxious or unpleasantly excited: It was a long drive and the children started to get antsy. / I always get antsy about meeting my husband’s boss.

BAGGY - (of clothes) hanging loosely because of being too big or having been stretched: baggy trousers / My T-shirt went all baggy in the wash.

BEEFY – 1. describes someone who looks strong, heavy and powerful: a beefy footballer; 2. powerful and effective: I want to buy myself a beefier computer.

BONY – very thin: She has long bony fingers.

BOSSY – authoritative, always telling people what to do: She’s very bossy. She keeps telling me what to do all the time.

BRAINY – clever, intelligent, smart: She’s a very brainy young lady.

BUBBLY - (especially of a woman or girl) attractively full of energy and enthusiasm: Who’s that bubbly girl over there?

CHEEKY - slightly rude or showing a lack of respect, but often in a funny way: She’s got such a cheeky grin. / Don’t be so cheeky!

CHUBBY – (especially of children) fat in a pleasant and attractive way: chubby legs / chubby cheeks

CHUNKY – 1 describes clothes that are thick and heavy, or jewellery made of large pieces: a chunky sweater / a chunky necklace; 2 describes a person who is short and heavy

CLASSY – stylish or fashionable: What a classy car you’ve got!

CLINGY – 1. an emotionally dependent person: Her boyfriend is so clingy, he never leaves her side. ; 2. clothes that show off your curves: That dress is really clingy, my boyfriend will never let me wear it.

CLUMSY – 1 awkward in movement or manner: The first mobile phones were heavy and clumsy to use, but nowadays they are much easier to handle. / My attempts to apologize were very clumsy.; 2 describes someone who often has accidents because they do not behave in a careful, controlled way: That’s the third glass you’ve smashed this week, – you’re so clumsy!

COCKY – describes a young person who is confident in a way that is unpleasant and sometimes rude:
He’s a bit cocky for my liking.

COMFY – comfortable: a very comfy chair

CORNY – 1. (especially of jokes, films, stories, etc.) lacking new ideas and sincerity; too often repeated and therefore not amusing or interesting: corny jokes / I couldn’t watch the whole movie – it was just too corny.; 2. overly sentimental: That song is so corny…

CRABBY / CRANKY – easily annoyed and complaining: You’re very crabby today. What’s upset you?

CREEPY – strange or unnatural and making you feel frightened: a creepy film / a creepy smile

CUDDLY - liking to cuddle, or making you want to cuddle: a very cuddly child

CURVY – containing a lot of curves: a very curvy road

CUSHY – (usually said of a job) very easy: That was a very cushy job.

CUTESY - artificially attractive and charming, especially in a childish way: She sent me one of those awful birthday cards with a cutesy kitten on it.