Suffix · forms nouns
Turns a verb into the noun that names who or what does that action: teach becomes teacher.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -er (or -or in some cases) takes a verb and creates the noun that names the person or thing performing that action. From "teach" you get "teacher"; from "drive" you get "driver"; from "play" you get "player". It is one of the most productive suffixes in English for naming professions, roles, and tools. Know the verb and you almost always get the agent noun for free: verb + er.
Both -er and -or mean the same thing: the one who does the action. The choice between them mostly follows the word's origin. Native English verbs tend to take -er: teacher, driver, worker, singer. Verbs with Latin or French roots tend to take -or: actor, director, supervisor, professor. When in doubt, -er is the safe default for new words. When you see -or, it usually signals a more formal or Latin-derived word.
-er does not always name a person. It also names tools or machines that perform a function: printer = the thing that prints blender = the thing that blends dryer = the thing that dries When you see a -er word that is not a person, ask yourself: what verb is hiding here? blend → blender: the thing that blends.
The rule is: verb + er. Small spelling adjustments apply depending on the verb ending.
If the verb already ends in silent -e (drive, write, bake), just add -r. If it ends in consonant-vowel-consonant with stress on the final syllable (run, swim, win), double the last consonant before -er. Latin-origin verbs use -or: act → actor, direct → director.
-er / -or/ər/ · unstressed 'ur', like the end of 'butter'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
When the verb ends in consonant-vowel-consonant with final stress, double the last consonant: run → runner, swim → swimmer.
-er goes on the BASE verb, not the past form. teach → teacher, not "taught + er".
Some -er words are comparative adjectives (bigger, faster), not agent nouns. Context tells you which one it is.
A trick to remember it
The formula is verb + er = the one who does it. teach → teacher, drive → driver. If the verb ends in silent -e, just add -r: write → writer. When in doubt between -er and -or, go with -er.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the agent noun of "drive"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
Which -er word names a THING, not a person?
The suffix -er / -or turns a verb into the noun that names who or what does that action: teach becomes teacher. In Spanish it usually maps to -or / -dor.
The ending -er / -or is pronounced /ər/ · unstressed 'ur', like the end of 'butter'. For example, "teacher".
"teach" becomes "teacher". It is a typical example of the -er / -or suffix.
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