What this suffix does
-fire forms compounds about fire or shooting: campfire, gunfire, crossfire, ceasefire. "wildfire" is also used figuratively: "the rumor spread like wildfire".
ESEN
Suffix · forms nouns / adjectives / verbs
-fire
Forms compounds naming types of fire or gunfire: gunfire, crossfire, campfire, hellfire, wildfire, ceasefire, backfire.
Intermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Noun + fire.
- gun + firegunfire
- camp + firecampfire
- cease + fireceasefire
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
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
- gungunfireThey heard gunfire in the distance and ran for cover.
- crosscrossfireThe reporter got caught in the crossfire of the debate.
- campcampfireWe sat around the campfire telling stories.
- wildwildfireThe wildfire spread quickly because of the strong wind.
- backbackfireHis plan to surprise her totally backfired.
- ceaseceasefireBoth sides agreed to a ceasefire after months of fighting.
- hellhellfireThe old preacher warned the crowd about hellfire.
- rapidrapid-fireShe answered the rapid-fire questions without missing a beat.
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
"-fire" = fire, almost always literal: camp-FIRE. gun-FIRE = the "fire" coming out of a gun. wild-FIRE is also used for a rumor that spreads as fast as a forest fire.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"The plan backfired." What does this mean?
Exercise 3 · Form the word
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.
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
Turns a direction word into a direction adverb/adjective: inward, outward, forward. Works with almost any direction word, it is productive.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.