A single ending can change everything: care becomes careful and careless. Master suffixes and you will understand thousands of words without memorising them one by one. 171 suffixes explained step by step.
They name things, ideas or actions (the action, the happiness).
Names a collective action, process or result: dam becomes damage.
From Latin "-aticum" via Old French: forms nouns of action, result, condition, or collective. Courage, voyage, heritage, lineage, visage, homage, vintage, language, bondage, foliage.
Turns a verb or adjective into the noun naming that state or quality: import becomes importance.
From Germanic "-hard" (persistently excessive): forms pejorative nouns for a person who takes a negative trait to excess. Drunkard, braggart, dullard, dotard, laggard.
Biochemical suffix naming enzymes: lipase = the enzyme that breaks down fats.
From Latin "caedere" (to kill): names either the act of killing or the agent that kills. Homicide, pesticide.
Forms compounds naming a specialized skill, art, or type of vehicle: aircraft, spacecraft, witchcraft, stagecraft, statecraft, wordcraft.
From Greek "kytos" (hollow vessel, cell): names specific types of cells. Erythrocyte, leukocyte, lymphocyte.
Names a state, condition or domain: free becomes freedom.
From Greek "ektome" (excision): names surgeries that remove an organ or tissue. Appendectomy, mastectomy.
From French "-ier": forms nouns for a person who works with something or carries out an activity. Pioneer, privateer, profiteer, buccaneer, engineer.
From Greek "haima" (blood): indicates a blood condition or the presence of a substance in the blood. Anemia, leukemia, hyperglycemia.
Turns a verb into the noun that names who or what does that action: teach becomes teacher.
From Old French "-erie": forms nouns of activity, place, collective quality or state. Chivalry, trickery, wizardry, bravery, mockery.
Forms compounds naming types of descent, precipitation, or figurative collapse: downfall, nightfall, rainfall, windfall, pitfall, waterfall, shortfall.
From Greek "genein" (to produce, to originate): names what produces something or the origin of a process. Oxygen, pathogen.
Names recording techniques or disciplines: photo + graphy = photography.
Names a stage of life, a state or a community: child becomes childhood.
Names a doctrine, system, movement or practice: capital becomes capitalism.
Names a person who practises, believes in, or specialises in something: art becomes artist.
Indicates inflammation of an organ or body part: arthr + itis = arthritis.
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
Turns an adjective into the noun that names that abstract quality: active becomes activity.
Names the person who guards, tends, or manages something: gatekeeper, beekeeper, peacekeeper, timekeeper, shopkeeper, lighthouse keeper.
From Middle Dutch "-kijn" (little): forms diminutives, often archaic or literary. Lambkin, catkin, napkin, bodkin, bumpkin, manikin, firkin, gherkin, pumpkin.
Forms compounds naming territories with a defined identity: homeland, wasteland, heartland, highland, lowland, farmland, woodland.
From French "-elet": forms diminutives of small or secondary things. Droplet, rivulet, hamlet, islet, booklet, leaflet, inlet, outlet.
From Old English "-ling": forms diminutives of young creatures, small beings or subordinate persons. Duckling, fledgling, sibling, underling, changeling.
From Greek "lysis" (loosening, dissolving): indicates decomposition, separation or dissolution. Analysis, dialysis.
Names the person who makes or creates a specific thing: peacemaker, troublemaker, filmmaker, matchmaker, policymaker, dealmaker.
From Greek "mania" (madness, obsession): names a compulsive obsession or extreme passion. Kleptomania.
Forms compounds naming marks, signs, or reference points: hallmark, benchmark, landmark, trademark, earmark, watermark.
Names one who masters or directs something with authority: grandmaster, taskmaster, ringmaster, schoolmaster, headmaster, webmaster.
Turns a verb into the noun that names the action, process or its result: develop becomes development.
From Greek "metron" (to measure): names measuring instruments or metric units. Thermometer, kilometer.
the process or science of measuring something; a system or method of measurement for a specified domain
From Old English "mangere" (dealer, trader): forms nouns for traders and — more powerfully — spreaders of harmful things. Warmonger, scaremonger, fishmonger, ironmonger.
Turns an adjective into the noun that names that quality or state: happy becomes happiness.
a system of laws, rules, or knowledge governing a field; the science or study of the management or ordering of something
Names a science or field of study: bio + ology = biology.
From Greek "-osis" (process, condition): indicates a disease, pathological state or biological process. Fibrosis, psychosis, metamorphosis.
From Greek "pathos" (feeling, suffering): indicates a deep emotion or a disease. Empathy, neuropathy.
Names an intense irrational fear: claustro + phobia = claustrophobia.
From Greek "plastos" (moulded): names reconstructive or cosmetic surgeries. Rhinoplasty, angioplasty.
From Dutch "landschap" (landscape): forms nouns for panoramic views or entire realms. Landscape, seascape, moonscape, cityscape, dreamscape, soundscape, mindscape, cloudscape.
From Greek "skopein" (to look): names instruments for viewing or examining. Microscope, telescope.
Names a relationship, skill or condition: friend becomes friendship.
Variant of -tion that turns verbs into nouns: decide becomes decision.
Names a craftsperson skilled in working a specific material or medium: blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, wordsmith, locksmith, gunsmith.
From Greek "soma" (body): names cellular structures or bodies. Chromosome, ribosome.
From Old English "-estre": forms person nouns associated with an activity or group. Trickster, gangster, prankster, youngster, spinster, mobster, hipster.
Forms compounds naming types of stone, places, or concepts involving permanence and foundation: milestone, cornerstone, tombstone, keystone, limestone.
Turns adjectives into nouns naming a dimension or abstract quality: wide becomes width.
From Greek "therapeia" (healing, treatment): names medical or therapeutic methods. Chemotherapy, physiotherapy.
Turns verbs into nouns that name an action or its result: educate becomes education.
From Greek "tome" (cutting): names surgical incisions without removing the organ. Anatomy, tracheotomy.
From Greek "trophe" (nourishment, growth): indicates the nutritional or developmental state of a tissue. Atrophy, hypertrophy, dystrophy.
Turns a verb into a noun naming the result or process: fail becomes failure.
Forms compound nouns naming a type of organized activity, a structure, or a crafted material: teamwork, framework, network, groundwork, handiwork, patchwork.
From Old English "wryhta" (worker, maker): forms nouns for skilled craftsmen and makers. Playwright, wheelwright, shipwright, wainwright, millwright.
They describe what something is like (useful, readable, dangerous).
Turns a verb into an adjective meaning "can be done": wash becomes washable.
From Latin "-ax/-acis": means "full of" or "having the quality of" to a high degree. Tenacious, audacious, malicious, delicious.
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "related to" or "belonging to": nation becomes national.
Forms adjectives meaning "related to" and nouns naming places or collections: dictionary, laboratory.
having blood of a specified temperature or nature; having a specific type of temperament or passion
From Old English "boren" (born): forms adjectives of birth condition, origin or destiny. Firstborn, highborn, stillborn, freeborn, newborn.
carried, transmitted, or transported by a specified medium or force
From the past participle of "bind": forms adjectives meaning "confined by," "heading toward," or "obligated by." Spellbound, earthbound, homebound, hidebound, snowbound, inbound.
having a brain (or mental capacity) of a specified type; characterising the quality, power, or reliability of someone's thinking
raised, trained, or produced in a specified manner or place; describing origin, upbringing, and the character that results from it
selected in a specified manner or with a specified degree of care; evaluating the quality of selection
covered or clothed in a specified material or substance; wearing or enveloped in something
having relationships, networks, or links of a specified quality or extent; describing social capital and access through personal relationships
shaped, defined, or formed by cutting in a specified manner; having edges or outlines of a specified clarity and sharpness
specified, delimited, or given precise meaning in a specified manner; evaluating the clarity and precision of boundaries, terms, or scope
pulled by a specified agent or force; or (of a face/person) made haggard or tense by a specified cause; extending to describe the manner of creation
clothed or attired in a specified manner; evaluating the quality, suitability, or degree of one's clothing
Uses the past participle as an adjective to describe how a person feels: I am bored, she is excited.
having an edge of a specified kind; having a quality that cuts, sharpens, or creates a dangerous boundary
From Old English "-en": turns material nouns into adjectives meaning made of or having the qualities of that material. Golden, silken, brazen, ashen, leaden, wooden.
Forms adjectives describing a quality and nouns naming people with that quality: different, student, assistant.
Forms the comparative of short adjectives: big becomes bigger.
Indicates geographic direction or relative position: north becomes northern.
From Italian "-esco": means "in the style of" or "reminiscent of". Kafkaesque, picturesque, grotesque.
Forms the superlative of short adjectives: tall becomes the tallest.
having eyes of a specified kind, or looking at the world in a specified way
having a face (or manner of presenting oneself) of a specified character; describing expression, tone, or moral boldness
using the fist or grip in a specified way; exercising control or spending money with a particular quality
From Old English "-feald" (layer, fold): forms multipliers. Tenfold = ten times; manifold = multiple; twofold = double. Very common in journalism and formal prose.
moving or standing in a specified way; having a specified quality of balance, speed, or steadiness on one's feet
based or established on a specified type or quality of foundation; describing the logical or evidential basis of a claim, belief, or concern
without; lacking; exempt from; not affected by
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having": care becomes careful.
moving in a specified direction; regularly attending or participating in; suited for
having a secure foundation in a specified reality or domain; firmly connected to the ground of evidence, experience, or psychological stability
having grown in a specified manner, place, or to a specified degree; describing the process and origin of growth
using or characterized by hands in a specified way; having a specified number of people; done with a particular quality of fairness or force
having a specified type of mental clarity, character, or state of mind
having a specified disposition, spirit, or emotional character
having heels (or a financial/social position) of a specified quality; describing wealth, social status, or the condition of one's footwear and by extension one's circumstances
shaped or cut by hewing; describing the roughness, finish, or origin of material shaped through cutting or carving
Turns proper nouns into style or period adjectives: Orwellian = relating to Orwell's ideas of surveillance and totalitarianism.
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "of", "relating to" or "characteristic of": economy becomes economic.
Uses the gerund as an adjective to describe what causes a feeling: boring, exciting, interesting.
having intentions of a specified quality; describing the moral quality or adequacy of the motivations behind an action
Adds the nuance of "somewhat", "a bit" or "resembling": red becomes reddish.
Turns a verb or noun into an adjective showing tendency or capacity: create becomes creative.
maintained, cared for, or preserved in a specified manner; describing the quality of maintenance and the standards of order applied
held together or connected in a specified way; describing the degree of cohesion in a group, community, or structure
carrying a heavy load of; burdened or weighed down with
having legs of a specified number, length, or character; describing physical structure or the quality of movement
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "without": care becomes careless.
From Old Norse "líkr" (similar): forms adjectives meaning "resembling X" or "characteristic of X." Godlike, dreamlike, lifelike, warlike, childlike, ghostlike, wavelike, businesslike.
having lips (or speech habits) of a specified character; describing secretiveness, expressiveness, or the restraint of speech
illuminated by a specified light source or in a specified manner; describing the quality and source of light by which something is seen or exists
having a life or existence of a specified duration or character
lasting or extending for the entire duration of a specified period
having manners or a social style of a specified quality; describing the outward social conduct and bearing of a person
having a particular way of thinking, values, or mental outlook
From Old English "-mast": forms superlatives of absolute position or degree. Utmost, foremost, innermost, uttermost, topmost, northernmost.
having a specified kind of innate nature, personality, or fundamental disposition
having a nose of a specified shape or character; figuratively, having an attitude that is tough, sharp, or searching
From Greek "eidos" (form): means "shaped like" or "resembling". Android = resembling a human.
From Latin "-orius/-orium": forms adjectives meaning "relating to" or "serving for," and nouns for places/instruments. Mandatory, laudatory, contradictory, purgatory, oratory, dormitory, promontory.
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having that quality": danger becomes dangerous.
moving, progressing, or unfolding at a specified speed or rhythm
positioned or situated in a specified location or manner; describing the quality of positioning, placement, or strategic location
Forms adjectives meaning "resistant to" or "that cannot be penetrated or damaged by": bulletproof, waterproof, foolproof, soundproof, fireproof, childproof.
having read to a specified degree or breadth; describing the extent and depth of a person's reading
argued or supported by a specified quality of reasoning; evaluating the logical quality of an argument or position
Forms adjectives describing something persistently dominated or plagued by something negative: guilt-ridden, debt-ridden, crime-ridden, anxiety-ridden, corruption-ridden.
fixed or established in a specified depth or manner; describing how firmly embedded something is in a place, person, or system
placed, embedded, or established in a specified manner or depth; describing position, disposition, or the depth of establishment
having the shape of a specified object or form; figuratively, having developed in a manner resembling a specified shape
having a specified kind of vision or foresight; able (or unable) to see clearly at a distance or into the future
having skin of a specified thickness, colour, or sensitivity; figuratively, describing emotional resilience or vulnerability
From Old English "-sum": forms adjectives meaning producing that effect or characterised by that quality. Gruesome, winsome, loathsome, wholesome, awesome.
having a spirit or energy of a specified kind; describing the vitality, moral disposition, or social orientation of a person
speaking in a specified way, with a particular style, tone, or degree of openness
Forms adjectives describing someone or something severely affected by an emotion, condition, or calamity: poverty-stricken, grief-stricken, panic-stricken, awe-stricken, drought-stricken.
Forms adjectives describing someone suddenly and intensely affected: awestruck, thunderstruck, starstruck, dumbstruck, moonstruck, horror-struck.
having the nerves, tension, or emotional state stretched to a specified degree; describing the level of tension in a person or system
having a particular type of temperament or emotional disposition
occurring, delivered, or executed at a specified moment; evaluating whether the timing was appropriate or appropriate to the circumstances
speaking in a specified way; having a tongue with a particular quality of persuasion, sharpness, or deception
violently disrupted, split, or devastated by a specified force or conflict
shaped, formed, or expressed in a specified manner through turning or crafting; describing the quality of expression, form, or transformation
From Latin "-ulentus/-uosus": means "full of" or "abounding in". Turbulent, virulent, succulent, sensuous, meticulous.
experienced or knowledgeable in a specified subject; having been thoroughly engaged with a body of knowledge or skill
having a will of a specified strength or character; describing the force, direction, or quality of a person's determination
having wings of a specified character, span, or quality; capable of a specified kind of flight or movement
having a specified level or quality of mental sharpness, intelligence, or quick thinking
damaged, exhausted, or diminished through prolonged exposure to or use of
made, shaped, or worked by a specified process or to a specified degree; describing the craft, intensity, or emotional state produced by working
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having": rain becomes rainy.
They say how something is done (quickly, carefully).
Turns an adjective into an adverb that describes how something is done: slow becomes slowly.
From Old English "-weard" (direction): forms adverbs and adjectives of direction or tendency. Inward, outward, forward, wayward, awkward.
Combines with some, no, every, any, and else to create indefinite place adverbs: somewhere, nowhere, everywhere, anywhere, elsewhere.
From Old English "wise" (manner, way): converts nouns and adjectives into adverbs of manner. Otherwise, likewise, clockwise, contrariwise, streetwise.
They turn words into actions (modernize, simplify).
to perform an action, to cause a state, or to become something; forming verbs from Latin and Greek roots that describe processes and actions
Turns an adjective into a verb meaning "to make X" or "to become X": dark becomes darken.
From Old English "-nian": turns adjectives into causative verbs meaning to make more X or to become X. Darken, enlighten, deepen, strengthen, heighten.
From Latin "-ficare" (to make): turns nouns or adjectives into verbs meaning to make X or to become X. Magnify, rectify, petrify, glorify, vilify, mortify.
Turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make" or "to convert into": simple becomes simplify.
Turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make" or "to convert into": modern becomes modernize.
Endings with particular uses.
Added to question words (what, who, where, when, how, which) to create free relatives meaning "no matter what/who/where/when/how/which."
Forms compounds naming types of fire or gunfire: gunfire, crossfire, campfire, hellfire, wildfire, ceasefire, backfire.
Forms reflexive and emphatic pronouns: my + self = myself.
Forms compounds naming a place next to or at the edge of something: bedside, fireside, lakeside, hillside, ringside, alongside.
Forms compounds naming periods, moments, or eras with a distinct identity: lifetime, peacetime, wartime, pastime, overtime, daytime, nighttime, bedtime.
Forms adjectives and adverbs meaning "extending throughout, covering the whole of": nationwide, worldwide, citywide, statewide, industry-wide.