What this suffix does
-age forms nouns of action, result, or condition: voyage, heritage, courage, language.
ESEN
Suffix · forms nouns
-age
From Latin "-aticum" via Old French: forms nouns of action, result, condition, or collective. Courage, voyage, heritage, lineage, visage, homage, vintage, language, bondage, foliage.
In Spanish: -aje / resultado de la accionIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Pronunciation trap
"-age" is pronounced /ɪdʒ/ (rhymes with "bridge"), NOT like the word "age" /eɪdʒ/. "voyage", "courage", "heritage" do not rhyme with "age".
How it is formed
Latin/French root + age. Produces nouns of action, result, condition, or collective:
- action / resultvoy- = voyagepass- = passagedrain = drainagewreck = wreckageblock = blockage
- collectivefoli- (leaf) = foliageplum- (feather) = plumageton = tonnageherb = herbage
- condition / elevated registercor- (heart) = courageherit- = heritageline = lineagevis- (face) = visagehom- (man) = homagebon- (bond) = bondage
English reduces -age to /ɪdʒ/ (rhymes with "bridge"), not /eɪdʒ/ (like the word "age"). "Voyage" = /vɔɪɪdʒ/, "courage" = /kɜrɪdʒ/, "heritage" = /hɛrɪtɪdʒ/.
How it is pronounced
-age/ɪdʒ/ · rhymes with bridge (NOT with "age" the word)
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -age
In a phrase
- voy- (travel)voyageThey're planning a voyage across the Atlantic next summer.
- herit- (inherit)heritageThe festival celebrates the town's Mexican heritage.
- line (descent)lineageHe can trace his family's lineage back three generations.
- vis- (face)visageHer tired visage told me she hadn't slept in days.
- hom- (man/lord)homageThe movie pays homage to classic horror films from the 80s.
- cor- (heart)courageIt took a lot of courage to speak up in that meeting.
- vint- (vine/year)vintageShe collects vintage clothes from the 1960s.
- foli- (leaf)foliageThe mountains are beautiful in fall because of the colorful foliage.
- bond (tied)bondageThe story is about a man who finally escapes bondage.
- lang- (tongue)languageLearning a new language takes time and practice.
Common mistakes
-age is pronounced /eɪdʒ/ (like the word "age")
-age in English is almost always reduced to /ɪdʒ/ (like "bridge")
English reduces -age: "voyage" = /vɔɪɪdʒ/, not /vɔɪeɪdʒ/. "Heritage" = /hɛrɪtɪdʒ/, not /hɛrɪteɪdʒ/. "Courage" = /kɜrɪdʒ/, not /kɜreɪdʒ/.
visage = village
visage = face (literary); village = a small settlement
"visage" (/vɪzɪdʒ/) = face, especially in literary or formal contexts: "her pale visage." "village" (/vɪlɪdʒ/) = a small settlement. Same -age ending, completely different roots and meanings. Do not confuse.
A trick to remember it
Watch the sound: -age NEVER sounds like the word "age". Picture the word "bridge": courage, voyage, heritage ALL rhyme with bridge, not with age.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
How is the -age in "courage" pronounced?
Exercise 2 · Form the word
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -age mean in English?
The suffix -age from Latin "-aticum" via Old French: forms nouns of action, result, condition, or collective. Courage, voyage, heritage, lineage, visage, homage, vintage, language, bondage, foliage. In Spanish it usually maps to -aje / resultado de la accion.
How do you pronounce -age?
The ending -age is pronounced /ɪdʒ/ · rhymes with bridge (NOT with "age" the word). For example, "voyage".
Can you give an example of a word with -age?
"voy- (travel)" becomes "voyage". It is a typical example of the -age suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-ery / -ry
From Old French "-erie": forms nouns of activity, place, collective quality or state. Chivalry, trickery, wizardry, bravery, mockery.
-itude
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
-ory
Forms adjectives that mean "relating to" or "mandatory" (mandatory, contradictory) and nouns naming a place (dormitory, laboratory).
Learn every English suffix
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