when do you use -n, -ese, -ian, -vite, etc suffices in english

Question

As in Mexican, Canadian, Balinese, Muscovite, when describing someone’s nationality or ethnicity in english? How do you know which suffix to use to specific nationality?

In: 443

Answer 1

The rules of origin of these is too complicated to remember, so if you do not remember the precise form, just work around it. Mexican and Canadian are the ones you know for sure, because you heard it thousand times. Suddenly you see someone from Burkina Faso? Maybe its safe to say “person from Burkina Faso” than trying to come up with Burkinese, Fasoian or whatever your mind goes to. Or just Google it, to be sure.