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Suffix · forms nouns / adjectives / verbs

-fire

Forms compounds naming types of fire or gunfire: gunfire, crossfire, campfire, hellfire, wildfire, ceasefire, backfire.

In Spanish: fuego de / incendio deLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated June 2026

What does -fire build?

-fire keeps the meaning of "fire" and creates two broad families of compounds: Literal fire or gunshots: • gunfire = shots fired from weapons • crossfire = gunfire from opposing sides crossing each other • campfire = a fire made at a campsite • hellfire = the fire of hell • rapid-fire = firing at high speed; figuratively, very fast and relentless • ceasefire = an agreement to stop firing (cease + fire) • friendly fire = accidental shooting of one's own allies Metaphorical fire or rapid spread: • wildfire = an uncontrolled fire in wild land; anything spreading very fast • backfire = to produce the opposite of the intended effect (the fire goes backward)

Wildfire: from forests to viral spread

"Wildfire" has given rise to one of the most common expressions in English for describing ultra-fast spread: "spread like wildfire." This expression is everywhere in modern journalism: "The rumor spread like wildfire on social media." "The protest spread like wildfire across the country." "The song went viral and spread like wildfire." Learning "spread like wildfire" and understanding its source image — an uncontrolled fire that advances rapidly and consumes everything — is essential for reading advanced journalistic and narrative texts in English.

Backfire and ceasefire: the most formal compounds

"Backfire" has two main uses: 1. Literal: when fuel in an engine explodes backward (the car backfires). 2. Figurative (most common): when a plan produces the opposite of its intended effect. "The strategy backfired spectacularly." "The attempt to silence critics backfired badly." It is one of the most elegant English verbs for describing a strategy's failure. "Ceasefire" is essential in international journalism and diplomacy: "declare a ceasefire," "negotiate a ceasefire," "violate the ceasefire." The compound cease (to stop) + fire (gunshots) captures precisely the moment when weapons fall silent.

How it is pronounced

-fire/faɪər/ · sounds like "fire"

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

Examples

Base word
With -fire
In a phrase
  • gungunfireThe soldiers took cover as gunfire broke out.
  • crosscrossfireCivilians were caught in the crossfire between the two factions.
  • campcampfireThey sat around the campfire telling stories until midnight.
  • wildwildfireThe news spread like wildfire across social media.
  • backbackfireThe strategy backfired, costing the company millions.
  • ceaseceasefireBoth sides agreed to a ceasefire after months of fighting.
  • hellhellfireThe preacher warned of hellfire and damnation.
  • rapidrapid-fireThe journalist asked rapid-fire questions during the interview.

Common mistakes

the news spread as a wildfire
the news spread like wildfire

The fixed expression is "spread LIKE wildfire" — using "like" for comparison, not "as a wildfire." One of the most common similes in journalistic English.

they signed a ceasefire of the war
they signed a ceasefire

"Ceasefire" already implies fighting or gunshots. "Ceasefire of the war" is redundant. Fixed collocations: "declare / negotiate / sign / violate a ceasefire."

A trick to remember it

Learn these three fixed expressions with -fire: "spread like wildfire" (to spread with uncontrollable speed), "caught in the crossfire" (trapped between two opposing forces, literal or figurative), "the plan backfired" (the plan produced the opposite of the intended effect). All three are very frequent in formal and journalistic English.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Fill in: "The rumor spread like ___ across social media." (uncontrolled spread)

Hint: The image of an uncontrolled forest fire advancing rapidly.

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

"The plan backfired." What does this mean?

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Fill in: "Both sides agreed to a ___ after weeks of fighting." (stop shooting)

Hint: Cease (to stop) + fire (shooting).

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -fire mean in English?

The suffix -fire forms compounds naming types of fire or gunfire: gunfire, crossfire, campfire, hellfire, wildfire, ceasefire, backfire. In Spanish it usually maps to fuego de / incendio de.

How do you pronounce -fire?

The ending -fire is pronounced /faɪər/ · sounds like "fire". For example, "gunfire".

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

"gun" becomes "gunfire". It is a typical example of the -fire suffix.

Other useful suffixes

  • -fall

    Forms compounds naming types of descent, precipitation, or figurative collapse: downfall, nightfall, rainfall, windfall, pitfall, waterfall, shortfall.

  • -stone

    Forms compounds naming types of stone, places, or concepts involving permanence and foundation: milestone, cornerstone, tombstone, keystone, limestone.

  • -ward / -wards

    From Old English "-weard" (direction): forms adverbs and adjectives of direction or tendency. Inward, outward, forward, wayward, awkward.

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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