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Suffix · forms adjectives

-blooded

having blood of a specified temperature or nature; having a specific type of temperament or passion

In Spanish: de sangre / de temperamentoLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated June 2026

What this suffix does

-blooded forms compound adjectives with two related groups of meaning. The biological group describes an organism's relationship to temperature: warm-blooded and cold-blooded describe whether animals regulate their own body temperature. The figurative group — and the most literary — describes temperament and passion: hot-blooded (passionate and impulsive), cold-blooded (calculating and without emotion), full-blooded (complete and vigorous), red-blooded (energetic and virile). These figurative uses are deeply embedded in English idiom and literary tradition.

How it is pronounced

-blooded

Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

Base word
With -blooded
In a phrase
  • coldcold-bloodedThe prosecutor argued that the attack had been cold-blooded and premeditated, not a crime of passion.
  • hothot-bloodedThe hot-blooded young knight charged into battle before the plan had been properly discussed.
  • warmwarm-bloodedMammals and birds are warm-blooded, maintaining a constant body temperature regardless of their environment.
  • fullfull-bloodedThe conductor led a full-blooded performance of the symphony that left the audience on their feet.
  • redred-bloodedThe film appealed directly to the red-blooded patriotism of its audience with sweeping landscapes and heroic themes.

Common mistakes

cold-blooded = having a naturally cold body temperature (biological only)
cold-blooded most commonly means showing no emotion or remorse

"Cold-blooded" in everyday English nearly always means "done or performed without emotion, mercy, or remorse." A "cold-blooded killer" is one who acts deliberately and without feeling. The biological meaning (unable to regulate body temperature internally) still exists, but the figurative use is far more common in general writing.

warm-blooded = kind and emotional
warm-blooded (biological) means maintaining constant body temperature

"Warm-blooded" in biological contexts means an organism regulates its own body temperature (homeothermy). It is NOT a figurative term for emotional warmth — that would be "warmhearted." Do not confuse these: "warm-blooded" is for biology; "warmhearted" is for personality.

A trick to remember it

-blooded compounds map the temperature of the blood onto a spectrum of passion and calculation. Cold-blooded = no passion, pure calculation. Hot-blooded = too much passion, too little calculation. Full-blooded = vigorous, complete, and committed. These terms tap into a deep cultural metaphor in which blood represents life, passion, and identity. When you describe an action as "cold-blooded," you are saying it was done with the clinical efficiency of someone who has suppressed all human feeling.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Fill in: "The investigation concluded that the killing had been ___ — planned days in advance and carried out without hesitation." (done with no emotion or remorse, deliberately)

Hint: Cold + blooded = done without emotion, calculating and deliberate.

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

"The orchestra delivered a full-blooded performance of Beethoven's Fifth." What does "full-blooded" describe?

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Fill in: "The ___ young soldier threw himself into the fight with complete disregard for the tactical plan." (passionate and impulsive, driven by emotion)

Hint: Hot + blooded = whose blood runs hot with passion and impulse.

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -blooded mean in English?

The suffix -blooded having blood of a specified temperature or nature; having a specific type of temperament or passion In Spanish it usually maps to de sangre / de temperamento.

Can you give an example of a word with -blooded?

"cold" becomes "cold-blooded". It is a typical example of the -blooded suffix.

Other useful suffixes

  • -headed

    having a specified type of mental clarity, character, or state of mind

  • -hearted

    having a specified disposition, spirit, or emotional character

  • -tempered

    having a particular type of temperament or emotional disposition

Learn every English suffix

-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.

View all suffixes
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