The suffix -esque means “like” or “resembling.” You can add -esque to almost any noun, including proper nouns. Use restraint. ... Don't pile on redundant suffixes that mean the same thing as -esque (e.g., “picturesque-like”).

Is esque formal?

All three of these suffixes mean the same thing, but using esque can make something sound more official or formal. ... Unfortunately, there's no hard and fast rule, except that it usually depends on the context and the sound.

Where does esque come from?

The suffix -esque, one of a class of what are called adjectival suffixes, is adopted from the French version of the Italian suffix -esco, related to the standard English adjectival suffix -ish, and all of them mean like, or “related to” or “characteristic of”; -esque is more specialized, while -ish has additional ...