What this suffix does
-ery/-ry forms nouns with several senses: a place (bakery, brewery), an activity (archery, carpentry), or a quality/behavior (bravery, trickery, snobbery).
ESEN
Suffix · forms nouns
-ery / -ry
From Old French "-erie": forms nouns of activity, place, collective quality or state. Chivalry, trickery, wizardry, bravery, mockery.
In Spanish: -eria / -iaIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Key phrase: "make a mockery of"
"mockery" = ridicule. "to make a mockery of something" = to completely ridicule it, turn it into a farce: "The trial was a mockery of justice." A very common phrase in news and criticism.
How it is formed
Noun or verb + ery or + ry. Always produces a noun.
- activity or art + ery/-ryarch = archerywizard = wizardrycarpenter = carpentry
- person or place + ery (collective/place)baker = bakerybrewer = brewerynurse = nursery
- moral quality or behaviour + ery/-rybrave = braverytrick = trickerychivalrous = chivalryrival = rivalrymock = mockerysnob = snobbery
The variant -ry (without e) appears when the root ends in -er: wizard = wizardry, carpenter = carpentry, rival = rivalry. The form -ery appears otherwise: baker = bakery, trick = trickery. Learn word by word.
How it is pronounced
-ery / -ry/əri/ · sounds like uh-ree
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -ery / -ry
In a phrase
- chivalrouschivalryThe knight showed real chivalry by helping the old woman with her bags.
- rivalrivalryThere's a big rivalry between the two soccer teams.
- wizardwizardryThe special effects in the movie are pure wizardry.
- tricktrickeryHe got the job through trickery, not real skill.
- bakerbakeryWe buy fresh bread from the bakery every morning.
- bravebraveryThe firefighter was praised for his bravery during the rescue.
- treacheroustreacheryThe story is full of treachery, nobody can be trusted.
- mockmockeryThe comedian's mockery of the president made everyone laugh.
- archarcheryShe joined an archery class last month.
- snobsnobberyHis snobbery about wine annoys everyone at dinner parties.
Common mistakes
make a mockery = to mock someone
make a mockery of something = to reduce something to a farce, ridicule it completely
to make a mockery of something is a fixed phrase: The verdict made a mockery of justice. Not simply used to mock a person.
chivalry = cavalry (military)
chivalry = the knight's code of honour; cavalry = mounted military force
chivalry /ˈʃɪvəlri/ = the medieval knight's code. cavalry /ˈkævəlri/ = a mounted military unit. Different pronunciation and completely different meaning.
wizardry = only fantasy magic
wizardry can be used metaphorically for any extraordinary skill
financial wizardry = exceptional financial skill. wizardry with data = extraordinary data skills. In journalistic English, wizardry = skill that seems almost magical.
A trick to remember it
Picture 3 boxes: a PLACE (bakERY), an ACTIVITY (archERY), or a QUALITY (bravERY). Before translating, ask yourself which box the word falls into.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Financial wizardry means...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between chivalry and cavalry?
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -ery / -ry mean in English?
The suffix -ery / -ry from Old French "-erie": forms nouns of activity, place, collective quality or state. Chivalry, trickery, wizardry, bravery, mockery. In Spanish it usually maps to -eria / -ia.
How do you pronounce -ery / -ry?
The ending -ery / -ry is pronounced /əri/ · sounds like uh-ree. For example, "chivalry".
Can you give an example of a word with -ery / -ry?
"chivalrous" becomes "chivalry". It is a typical example of the -ery / -ry suffix.
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