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そんな態度は慣れっこだ

そんな難しいことはできっこない

From my exposure so far it seems っこ is along the lines of having been able to
do something, and っこない is not being able to do something. What's the precise
meaning?

Also, where does it come from - is it dialectical or regional? Is it a new
usage uncommon in older speakers? Is it considered slang?
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2017-02-24T05:18:11.063
43825
2017-02-24T06:48:00.373
3221
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words
What's the precise meaning and usage of the っこ construction?
Etymologically, っこ can be considered as one of the Japanese suffixes that work
as an [diminutive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutive), like `-ie` as in
doggie. It can attach to some nouns and the masu-stem of certain verbs. It may
or may not mean the same thing as the original word. It can have many unique
meanings derived from the original word, especially when it's used with a
verb.

>   * 端っこ ≒ 端
>   * すみっこ ≒ すみ
>   * 根っこ ≒ 根
>   * 慣れっこ ≠ 慣れ
>   * かけっこ ≠ かけ
>   * にらめっこ (from 睨む)
>   * とりかえっこ
>

Perhaps other common words like ごっこ and おしっこ are etymologically related to
this. These words sound more or less cute or childlike. Basically you have to
memorize each word with its meaning. It's not necessarily dialectal (the words
listed above are not dialectal), but [some dialects such as Tohoku-ben use it
a lot](http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q10111215510).
Words like 嫁っこ or 飴っこ sound dialectal to me.

It does not mean "able" by itself, but `masu-stem of verb + っこ + ない` is a
colloquial pattern that means "cannot / no way".

>   * 泳げっこない。 No way I can swim.
>   * 見えっこないって。 No way we can see it.
>   * 受かりっこありませんよ。 There is no way you will pass (the exam).
>

There is another っこ (っ子), which is a suffix that means "child".

>   * ひとりっ子 an only child
>   * 博多っ子 children in Hakata (city)
>   * [おばあちゃんっ子](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/43207/5010)
>   * ぶりっこ
>   * テレビっ子
>
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2017-02-24T06:48:00.373
43826
2017-02-24T06:48:00.373
2017-04-13T12:43:44.740
-1
5010
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answer