What this suffix does
-esque means "in the style of" or "reminiscent of", mostly attaching to the names of artists or writers: Kafkaesque (absurd, bureaucratic, like Kafka's novels), Dantesque. Also with common words: picturesque, grotesque.
ESEN
Suffix · forms adjectives
-esque
From Italian "-esco": means "in the style of" or "reminiscent of". Kafkaesque, picturesque, grotesque.
In Spanish: -esco / in the style ofIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Kafkaesque vs Orwellian: not the same thing
"Kafkaesque" describes an ATMOSPHERE (absurd, illogical bureaucracy: "the visa process was completely Kafkaesque"). "Orwellian" describes political IDEAS (surveillance, control of language). They are not interchangeable.
How it is formed
Proper noun or noun + esque. Always produces an adjective.
- artist/writer name + esqueKafka = KafkaesqueRembrandt = RembrandtesqueDante = Dantesque
- style noun + esquepicture = picturesquegrotto = grotesqueArab = arabesqueburla = burlesqueRoman = Romanesque
- cultural term + esquestatue = statuesqueclown = clownesquerobot = robotesque
Unlike -ian (Orwellian, Dickensian), -esque emphasises STYLE or ATMOSPHERE rather than ideas or values. "Kafkaesque" = Kafka's atmosphere. "Orwellian" = Orwell's political ideas. The two suffixes are not interchangeable.
How it is pronounced
-esque/ɛsk/ · rhymes with 'desk'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -esque
In a phrase
- KafkaKafkaesqueWaiting three hours for a form that made no sense felt completely Kafkaesque.
- picturepicturesqueThe village by the lake is absolutely picturesque.
- grottogrotesqueThe monster in the movie was grotesque, almost too scary to watch.
- ArabarabesqueThe dancer held a perfect arabesque for several seconds.
- burlaburlesqueThey went to see a burlesque show downtown.
- statuestatuesqueShe walked in looking statuesque in her long black dress.
- DanteDantesqueThe abandoned factory had a Dantesque, almost hellish feel to it.
- RomanRomanesqueThe old church is a great example of Romanesque architecture.
- clownclownesqueHis clownesque outfit made all the kids laugh.
- RembrandtRembrandtesqueThe photographer used Rembrandtesque lighting for the portrait.
Common mistakes
confusing -esque and -ian for authors
-esque = style/atmosphere; -ian = ideas/values of the author
"Kafkaesque" = the suffocating atmosphere of his novels. "Orwellian" = Orwell's political ideas (surveillance, state control). -esque is aesthetic; -ian is ideology.
picturesque = that can be photographed
picturesque = visually charming, like a painting
"picturesque" comes from "picture" (painting), not from "photography". It describes landscapes or scenes that look like paintings: "a picturesque village".
grotesque = only monstrous or frightening
grotesque = ridiculously distorted or exaggerated in a disturbing or ugly way
"grotesque" covers the ridiculous, the exaggerated, the aesthetically distorted. Not a synonym for "terrifying": "the grotesque costume" = the grotesque/ridiculous costume.
A trick to remember it
"-esque" = "as if painted in the style of". Picture literally painting something with a famous artist's brush: Kafkaesque = painted in Kafka's absurd, bureaucratic style. picturesque = painted like a picture.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"A Kafkaesque situation" describes...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "Kafkaesque" and "Orwellian"?
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -esque mean in English?
The suffix -esque from Italian "-esco": means "in the style of" or "reminiscent of". Kafkaesque, picturesque, grotesque. In Spanish it usually maps to -esco / in the style of.
How do you pronounce -esque?
The ending -esque is pronounced /ɛsk/ · rhymes with 'desk'. For example, "Kafkaesque".
Can you give an example of a word with -esque?
"Kafka" becomes "Kafkaesque". It is a typical example of the -esque suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-ian / -ean
Turns proper nouns into style or period adjectives: Orwellian = relating to Orwell's ideas of surveillance and totalitarianism.
-itude
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
-ous / -ious
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having that quality": danger becomes dangerous.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.